“You see, sweetie, family isn’t just what you’re born into. It’s also the friends and loved ones that find you along the way.” She smiled. “And the crown feels that way about you.”
“Is this something Max set up?”
“Max?” She frowned. “No, not as far as I’m aware.”
“Then he’s also here under orders from the queen?” The thought made me far sadder than it should.
“I don’t know Prince Maxwell very well, but I would assume whatever he is doing is because he wants to. I don’t believe he takes on many tasks that might require he be in the spotlight.”
“And why is that?”
“No one’s told you?” Rachel sighed heavily. “Max loathes the media.”
“Why?” I knew he hated the media, just not why.
“Max was at a school tournament when his father died. Before anyone could get to him, the media bombarded him.” She paused. “He found out his father died from a reporter who wanted a quote.”
EIGHT
I SWUNG MY LEGS over the side of my bed and ran my hands through my hair. I’d had the same dream about Dad again. He was riding his horse and fell just before I could get to him. I hadn’t been able to move, frozen in place as it happened in slow motion in front of me. I could hear the snap of his back as he hit the ground . . .
Standing up, I stretched to work out the kinks in my back. It felt like I had been asleep for days instead of a few hours. Those dreams always did a number on me. There was only one way to get rid of the pent-up tension, and that was to draw. I pulled my stool over to my desk and let my mind wander. Faint lines became darker lines, and it wasn’t until I was shading that I realized who I was drawing.
Meredith’s bright eyes were cut to the side as she looked at me, her hair trailing over one shoulder. My fingers itched to find a red that would do her hair justice, but I stopped myself. Why had it been her? The woman surrounded by trouble, the mother of a little boy.
But that kiss last night—that had been something else. It had hit all the right points. I could still remember the way she smelled, how she fit against my body. No wonder I was still thinking about her.
I stood up and left the paper on my desk, not sure what to do with it. Not ready to answer why it had been her face that had soothed my brain.
I slipped on some pants and headed outside. A run would get rid of the last of my lingering stress. When I got outside, I was surprised to see Cathy stretching while chatting on the phone. She quickly said good-bye and hung up when she saw me.
“What are you doing here?” I asked.
“Good morning to you too.”
“Shouldn’t you be at Rousseau Manor? Shacked up with what’s his name?” I sat down next to her. I knew David’s name, hell, I even liked him, but that didn’t mean I wasn’t going to give her a hard time about it.
“He’s doing a guest lecture in Minnesota.” She leaned over to touch her head to her knee. “And then going to visit his family.”
“You didn’t go with him? I thought you two were joined at the hip.” I shook my head as I watched her stretch. “You know, tall people aren’t supposed to be that flexible.”
“I guess I missed that memo.” She rolled her eyes at me. “And we’re not joined at the hip.”
“Yes you are. It’s disgusting.” I couldn’t help but smile. “You’re as bad as the other two.”
“Gee, are you jealous?” She stood up and made anime eyes at me. “Feeling wonewy?”
“Shuddup.” I laughed. I was not lonely. Nope. And if I was, it was because I liked it that way.
“Why are you out here then?” She pointed at my bare chest. “Trying to impress the ducks?”
“Har, har.” I bent down to retie my shoe. “Just needed some fresh air.”
“Rough night?” Her eyes took on a sad glint. She was one of the only people who knew about my nightmares.
I shrugged. To be honest, I wasn’t sure if it was the nightmare or Meredith’s face that I needed to run out of my system.
“Are we going to run or what?” I asked.
“See if you can keep up.” She took off and I followed. Actually, it was nice to spend a little time with one of my siblings without their “other half” being around. Not that I was jealous. As much as it pained me to admit it, I missed them.
There was no talking on the run, just the sound of the wind in the trees, the soft tweets of birds, and the lapping of the water along the lake. It was exactly what I needed. Well, it would be if my brain would shut the fuck up.
Apparently I had lost my balls overnight, because all I could do was worry. Worry about Meredith dealing with her father. Worry about Marty not having his great-grandfather to go fishing with. Worry about the way that stubborn woman made me feel. I was going to have a period any minute.
We rounded the corner and the sun glinted off the lake in a bright array of colors. It had been a while since I had worked a landscape painting. Lately I had been working on portraits. The nitty-gritty of real life, the beauty in the normal and real. It was part of a project I had started to counter all the stereotyping done in media. The touched-up pictures of movie stars, the airbrushed images of cover models. I wanted for people to see the beauty of the here and now, not how things could be better.
But maybe a landscape would be a nice change. Something rough, with a palette knife instead of the smooth stroke of a brush. It would capture the choppiness of the water much better.
By the time we made it back to the house, my muscles were burning. That good burn that meant they’d been used after a hiatus. I’d been wearing a suit and doing family duties too much lately. It was starting to mess with my head. No wonder I’d had that dream about Dad again. My mind felt less cluttered as well. I was already plotting out where I would set up my easel and the colors I would need.
“Anything you want to talk about?” Cathy sat down on a stone bench and took a swig of water from the bottle she had left behind.
“What would I want to talk about?” I walked around the clearing, my hands on top of my head.
“How did the opening in London go?” She put her hands on her knees. “I saw the portrait you did of Mom. It was amazing.”
“Thanks.” I sat down next to her and grabbed her water bottle. “I was surprised she let me do it.”
“Why?”
“Most portraits of the crown are pretty, perfect pictures of them in their full regalia.” I shrugged. “She didn’t even blink an eye when I told her to wear regular clothes.”
“You know, I think that’s the first time I’ve ever seen her in a T-shirt and jeans.” Cathy laughed. “I didn’t even know she owned jeans.”
“I saw her wear them once when I was little. It was before she was pregnant with you.” I shrugged. “I think we were playing at a park.”
“Did it go over well at the opening?” Cathy took the bottle back from me and took a sip. “Were people shocked?”
“That’s the fun part. People either walked right by her, not a clue who she was, or knew immediately that they were looking at the Queen of Lilaria.” Mother was the only family member I had included in the show. The rest of the people were models, homeless people, rich bankers, students from the local schools.
“So people just assumed she was another model?”
“A banker asked if she was married.”
Cathy burst out laughing. “You’re joking.”
“No, I’m not. He had no idea who she was. One of the London bankers I used as a model.” I laughed along with her.
“Did you tell him?” She looked at me with her big blue eyes.
“I told him she was a widow.” I grinned.
“I wonder if he ever figured it out.” She leaned back.
I shrugged. It had been fun to watch the gallery owner, Eddie, gape through the entire conversation. Whether or not Eddie had told the man later, I didn’t know.
“Why aren’t you still in England? I figured you’d be there for a while.�
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“Alex asked me to do him a favor.”
“Ah, that’s right. You had to tell Meredith about her grandfather.” She sat up straight. “Alex shouldn’t have asked you to do that.”
“Why? I was the closest one to her.” I looked away from Cathy. “Better than her finding out another way.”
“Yeah, but—”
“Cathy, I’m a big boy.” I threw my arm around her. “I don’t need you to stick up for me.”
“Gah. What you need is a shower.” She scrunched up her face.
“Do I?” I squeezed her tighter. “You don’t smell so great either.”
“God, you’re gross.” She wiggled out from under my arm and stood up. “Are you going with us today?”
“Going with you where?” I undid my tennis shoes and kicked them off.
“Meredith is addressing the township today.”
“Of course not.” I rolled my shoulders. Suddenly anxious to get back to my room.
“Why not?” Cathy narrowed her eyes. “Sam wants to show solidarity. Apparently Meredith’s father isn’t going.”
“He’s not?” The wheels turned in my head. That meant that Meredith would have to do the speaking by herself and deal with the talk about her father. “I don’t do those types of things, Cathy. You know that. But you guys should definitely go.”
“Come with us.” Cathy put her hands on her hips.
“I want to paint.”
“Paint later.”
“No.” I stood up and picked up my shoes.
“You have a hole in your sock.” Cathy looked down at my feet.
“Yep.” I wiggled my big toe.
“You’re probably the only prince in the world that doesn’t throw away his holey socks.” She laughed.
“So?” I felt my eyebrows furrow. “They still work.”
“Come with us and I’ll buy you new socks while we’re out.”
“I can’t.” Shit on toast. I hadn’t meant to say that.
“What? Why not? You can paint later.”
“I need to catch the light right now.” I turned to walk back in the house but she kept pace with me.
“She’s not speaking until later.” She practically bounced. “That’s perfect. It’s been forever since we’ve all been together.”
Oh, low blow. She might look all sweet and innocent, but she was working the guilt angle now.
“It hasn’t been that long.” I ducked my head in the kitchen to make sure the cook wasn’t in there. She wasn’t, which meant I could drink straight out of the milk carton.
“Come with us.” She sat on the counter and frowned at me.
“No.”
“Come with us. Please.” She gave me her best smile.
“No.”
“Why are you being even more stubborn than normal?” She pouted.
“I’m not.” I lifted the carton to my mouth to forestall any more talking.
“Yes you are. What’s going on?” She crossed her arms. “Do you not like Meredith?”
“No.” I shook my head.
“No you don’t like her or no you do like her?” She watched my face carefully.
“She’s okay.” I shrugged again. I was shrugging a lot today.
“Okay? She’s gorgeous, funny, and can sing like an angel.”
“Didn’t notice.” I turned away from her and opened a cabinet looking for cereal.
“You didn’t notice that she’s a hottie?” She followed me around the kitchen. “You?”
“Did you just call a girl a hottie?” I raised an eyebrow.
“I’m straight, not blind.” She grabbed a handful of my cereal before I poured the milk in the bowl.
“Okay, she’s attractive.” I looked at her with a frown. “You’re really annoying, you know that?”
“I’ve been told before.” She leaned back against the kitchen island. “I thought you told Sam you would help her out.”
“Is that what this is about?” I shoved a spoonful of colored squares into my mouth.
“Well, you said you’d help, and she obviously needs help.”
“Look, I know what I’m doing.” I turned away from her and poured the rest of my cereal in the trash. “I don’t do public appearances. You know that. God, when does David get back so you can annoy him?”
“Come with us.” She stepped in my path to the door. “If Sam thinks you aren’t helping Meredith right now, she’s going to send over a ton of people to take over.”
“Mother already sent someone from the palace.”
“Then come with us.”
“How old are you?” I glared at her.
“I’m twenty-two.” She smiled. “Why won’t you come with us?”
“I promised I wouldn’t.” I sighed. She wasn’t going to leave me alone.
“Promised who?” She stopped in her tracks.
“Meredith.” I growled her name. Knowing that she was doing all of this today on her own made me angry. Even more angry knowing that she had made me promise when she had such an important thing happening.
“Why?” A sly smile curved my sister’s lips. “Did you annoy her that fast?”
“Shut it.” I glared down at her. “She doesn’t want our help.”
“But does she need it?”
My chest clenched and something in my face must’ve shifted because Cathy smiled like the cat that swallowed the canary.
“You can’t force people to take your help,” I said.
“We don’t leave our own to deal with horrible stuff alone.” Cathy crossed her arms. “And look at you! It’s bothering you so much you were up at dawn.”
“I had a nightmare.” There, I’d give a dog a bone and let her gnaw on that. It would be better than her going on about Meredith.
“I wonder why.” She smiled up at me. “Be ready at two.”
“I’m not going with you.” Putting my hands on her shoulders, I moved her out of my way.
“Wear something nice. We want to look civilized.”
I shook my head. Little sisters were something else.
I showered and changed back in my room before gathering my stuff and heading to the lake. I hadn’t been lying about wanting to paint. The idea had stuck in my head and I needed to get it out.
I used one of the four-wheel terrain vehicles to get my supplies to where I wanted. It was a decent walk and would have been made difficult by carrying an easel, canvas, and paints.
Once I was set up, I tuned into the painting and let everything else melt away. And as I smoothed paint on the canvas, everything did melt away, except my nagging need to protect Meredith while she gave her speech today. It was in the back of my mind the entire time I worked. Like a quiet whisper stuck on repeat.
And I knew damn well there was only one way to deal with it. If I didn’t go to that damn event, I’d be pissed off for days. I also knew that if I went it would push Meredith even further away from me. Which could be good. Or at least that’s what I was trying to convince myself of. On the other hand, I didn’t break promises. It bothered me to think that I was even considering it right this moment.
As I slapped paint on the canvas, slowly carving out the waves along the bank, I went through the possible scenarios. Tell Sam, if Cathy hasn’t yet, that I promised to give Meredith some space. Surely Sam would understand that. She knew what it was like to end up royal all of a sudden. Explain that I thought they should go and I would keep myself busy.
Or I could go and try to stay out of sight. Which would be impossible with the media around.
Yet, maybe there was a third option. I could help without helping. Sort of behind-the-scenes help. That would allow me to not feel guilty, do something good, and hopefully make someone happy.
That solution went a long way to making me feel better and I was able to concentrate on my painting. Yes, a compromise would be a good solution. I would give her a day. A full twenty-four hours. If she wasn’t speaking until that afternoon then it would be at least a few more h
ours before she got home. Which would mean I’d have done what I said. I would have avoided her for an entire day.
Smiling to myself, I continued my work on the painting. Yes, painting had been exactly what I needed. I felt much better.
Once I was finished, I packed up and headed back to the house. Sam was sitting on one of the sofas near the fireplace, a book propped up on her stomach. She really wasn’t very big, but the baby bump was unmistakable.
“Oh, let me see what you did today.” She closed her book and leveraged herself up off the sofa.
I turned the canvas around so she could get a look at it.
“God, you’re so damn talented. It’s not really fair.” She smiled at me to take the sting out of her words. “I love the colors.”
“I’m happy with the way it turned out.” I leaned the painting against one of the walls and rubbed my hands on my jeans. “What are you reading?”
“Pride and Prejudice.” She smiled.
“I thought you just finished it.” I shook my head.
“I did.” She shrugged. “I wanted to read it again.”
“You’re a wee bit weird.” I raised my eyebrow and held my finger and thumb up to show a small little space between the two.
“Says the artist covered in mud and paint.” She laughed. “You look just like your brother when you do that.” She motioned toward my eyebrow.
“That won’t do.” I wiped my face clean. “I wanted to tell you, I’m not going to the speech today.”
“Cathy told me.” She sat back down on her spot. “I get it.”
“Cathy told you? She acted like I had to go.” I threw myself down in one of the armchairs. “She wouldn’t leave me alone about it.”
“She just wanted to know what had you so upset.” She waggled her finger at me. “You only run when something is bothering you.”
“You’ve officially been around too long.” I glared at her.
“Bah. You love me. I’m the sister you always wanted.” She giggled.
“I already have one annoying sister.” I closed my eyes so she wouldn’t see my amusement. Though I had a feeling that she knew me too well at this point to doubt it.
“Exactly.” Her tone turned serious. “I didn’t mean to put you in a bad spot, Max. I really can send someone else over there to help out.”
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