Risking the Crown (The Crown 2) - Page 41
He huffed. “Don’t joke.”
I unfolded the letter and slid it toward him. “It’s not a joke. Sophia was pregnant when we broke up. She had the baby in the U.S.”
His forehead creased. “She did what?” He read the contents of the letter.
“I’ve enlisted Johannes Montclair’s help. He has located Sophia and the baby. They are in South Carolina.”
“In Molly’s home state?”
I nodded. “It appears so. Although, just a strange coincidence.”
“Have you spoken to Sophia? What are her terms?”
I shook my head. “There are no terms. She doesn’t know I know. It was clear she never wanted me to know. If it hadn’t been for the nurse who wrote this letter, I never would have known I have a child.”
“There is a Sauvage in the United States.”
“I want to bring her home. I want to know my daughter.”
He looked at me. “You have to. She belongs in the palace with her family. I know now more than ever what it means to have a child. She needs her family, Nic.”
“So you support it?”
“You have my full support.”
“Good. Then, I’m going to get her and bring her back, no matter what it takes.”
He pushed the lodestar out of the way. “And Kenley?” He shook his head. “I should have seen that one. She has loved you for years.”
“Wait. You knew?”
He huffed. “Everyone has known. Though I’ve never once questioned her integrity. But why else would a woman put up with your drunken debauchery? She has loved you longer than you deserved.”
I felt the guilt claw at me. He wasn’t wrong.
“Kenley knows about the baby. She wanted to stay on as my manager to coordinate everything, but I couldn’t let her be subjected to that kind of judgement. We need to stand beside each other. I need her support. Not her subservience. This resignation will show the palace I see her as an equal, not as my employee.”
He clasped his hands together. “Wise move. You know, Molly once accused me of labeling her as a royal concubine.”
“Did she?” I chuckled.
“And a number of other choice words.”
“You probably earned them,” I jabbed.
“I always do.” He grinned.
“I’ll be pleased to tell Kenley we have your support.”
“You do. And Molly is going to be excited. I think she was kind of expecting Isabel to be around. And you know that disaster with her roommate and Sebastian Roux. I think she’s been missing her girlfriends.”
“But Ayla is Molly’s manager?”
“She is.”
I shook my head. It was a tangled incestuous mess. Ayla and Kenley were close friends. Things would be awkward between them with our new arrangement.
I rose from my seat. “I need to get back. We have a lot of plans to make. And even more people to tell. I wanted your blessing first, brother.”
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