33
20 March
Shuffington Palace
Although Shuffington Palace was one of the most recognizable buildings in the world, rivaling Buckingham Palace and the White House, it was merely home to Juliana. She never experienced awe at growing up here, and perhaps that said more about her and her experiences than anything else.
But as she and Rowan pulled up to answer their summons from the queen, she tried to view it through his eyes. For a man who had distanced himself from his own noble line, it must have seemed ostentatious. With its stone edifices and Moorish influences, it looked like a government building decorated with royal flare. And Juliana loved every inch of it. She couldn’t say how many rooms or bathrooms, but she’d hidden in every single one of them. She’d memorized the name of every person depicted in portraits throughout the building. She wasn’t a blood relation to any of them, but they were her family.
Rowan pulled her from her musings as the car circled around to the back of the building, where the entrance to Juliana’s apartment was located. “What do you think she’s going to say?”
Juliana turned to look at him. She tamped down on the happiness she felt. She’d woken with Rowan in her bed, not knowing what to expect. In her sleep, she’d moved as close to him as possible and held on to him as if she were afraid he would disappear. He didn’t seem to mind. And this morning, he’d been his same surly self, which ironically assured her that things were okay between them. She knew what had happened the night before wasn’t a promise, and she was fine with it because she knew he cared about her. She wasn’t a conquest for him or a notch on his bed. And she realized she could live with whatever ending they wrote to this story.
“I think she is going to scold us for being indiscreet.”
Rowan stiffened. “Scold?” he growled. “We’re not children.”
Juliana brought her fingers to her lips and drummed them, looking up at him from beneath her lashes. “I seem to recall a very belligerent guy taking me to task for much the same thing.” She batted her eyes at him. “Ring any bells?”
He pulled her hand away from her mouth, leaned forward, and nipped her lip with his. “Brat.”
She winked at him.
Noah got out of the car and came around to open the door for them. She scooted out first and waited for Rowan to get his crutches situated. Conscious not to help him or appear to be waiting on him, she slung her bag up on her shoulder and turned toward the door. Strangely attuned to his movements, she knew exactly when he was ready even though she wasn’t looking at him. She chalked it up to spending the last week living in such close proximity. The door opened, and Juliana glanced up to see her sister’s press secretary, Millie, waiting for her.
She smiled. “Ele sent you as backup?” Juliana asked.
Millie grinned. “Well, she didn’t want you to enter the lion’s den alone.”
Noah chuckled.
“I’ve been handling the queen my whole life. I’m not scared.”
“I know. Ele said you would say that.” Millie stepped back to let Juliana and then Rowan enter. “I am here for whatever we have to do after.”
Juliana shrugged, appreciating the gesture. “You know the way. We’ll reconvene after.”
Millie left them when the hallway split. Juliana’s apartments were in the west wing of the palace. The queen resided in the east wing. The governing took place in the middle. Normally, she would have walked through the portrait gallery because she couldn’t resist perusing the pictures, but it took longer to go that way. She took a direct route to the elevator. Most people remarked on her home. But Rowan had been here before, and she imagined even if he hadn’t, he wouldn’t have been awed and impressed by the structure. When they stepped inside, she met Rowan’s gaze for the first time since they’d arrived. She pressed the button, and the doors closed.
“You’re not going to pull the emergency stop, are you?” he groused.
She blushed as she thought about those moments in the elevator. Their gazes held, and his blazed.
“Come here,” he said.
Like she was a fish on a line, she walked straight to him. He leaned down and kissed her hard. She wrapped her arms around his neck and melded her body against him. One of his hands wrapped around her, and he pressed her to him. He released her just before the elevator came to a stop. She stepped back and took a deep breath. She could get used to kissing on demand.
Remembering where they were, she reached into her purse and pulled out her lipstick. With practiced efficiency, she applied it. She put it away and then looked up and inspected Rowan’s face. She stepped forward and wiped a smudge from his mouth.
The elevator glided to a stop, and he followed her out.
Margaret was waiting for them.
“Your Highness,” she said before she dropped into a barely there curtsy.
“Margaret.”
Down the hall, Margaret led them to Queen Liliana’s office. Juliana expected her to be seated behind her massive desk, so she was surprised to find the queen standing near the door to greet them. After they exchanged formal hellos, Juliana and Rowan were directed to the couch. Rowan sat gingerly and placed his crutches on the floor. Queen Liliana perched on a chair across from them and touched a small call button. Almost immediately, the door opened, and tea was presented.
“Mr. Beckwith,” the queen began, “you are looking well and moving quite proficiently.”
Rowan stiffened beside her. There wasn’t anything he could say to that, so he merely inclined his head.
The queen leaned forward, daintily picking up her saucer and tea. Without a clink, she brought it forward and took a sip, studying the two of them over the rim. Juliana fidgeted. This was some sort of test, she was sure, and she found she was waiting for the shoe to drop. The queen returned her tea to the table and straightened. But she didn’t seem to be in any hurry to get to the point, and it was making Juliana uncomfortable.
“I must say, I was quite surprised by the photo in all of the newspapers today.”
“Fucking tosser,” Rowan remarked so softly that Juliana barely heard.
“It was a surprise to us too,” Juliana said. She placed her hand on Rowan’s thigh and lightly squeezed.
“Yes. You looked as though a bomb could have exploded around you, and you would have continued making out.” The queen looked first at Juliana and then at Rowan. “I have to wonder, what were you trying to accomplish?”
Rowan bristled. “If I bloody well have to explain—”
Juliana dug her nails into his good leg and spoke over him. “We weren’t trying to accomplish anything. We were kissing merely to kiss. We obviously didn’t know anyone was around to witness it.”
“I’m sorry, Juliana, but I find that hard to believe.” Liliana cocked her head to the side. “You have a history of knowing where the cameras are. In fact, that’s how this whole thing started. Correct?”
Juliana didn’t like the knowing gleam in her grandmother’s eye. And she didn’t like the way Rowan seemed to be spoiling for a fight. His body was so rigid that he was a volcano bubbling with fury, ready to explode. And the queen looked like she knew it. A prickling sensation started on the back of Juliana’s neck.