“And by royal family, you mean me,” Michael said in a matter-of-fact tone.
“Yes, Michael, you,” Richard answered tersely. He let out an aggravated sigh. “There are people at this table that felt as though this conversation should have taken place between just the two of us, but I wanted you to know that everyone at this table has not only agreed to but devised the plan we are going to present to you this evening.”
“Behind my back?” Michael seethed. He looked over the candlelight at his brother and around the room at the others at the table. “And why are you here?” he asked Thalia.
“I’m here because I love you, Michael,” Thalia said, looking at Hope. She twisted the engagement ring that Michael had given her around on her finger. “And I don’t want to see your future or this country’s future in peril.”
Hope bit her lip in frustration but kept a cool head. She was the one who suggested that they stay, she had to keep it together.
Michael’s face was impassive to her plea. “You love the crown, Thalia. There is nothing more than that to you.”
“That isn’t true. You never gave me a chance to explain myself that night. You just barged out. I was overcome with worry and pain,” she said, leaning into the table. “I just wanted you to understand that your place is with this country, with this family.”
Madeline picked up her crystal glass and rolled her eyes at her husband. She was very much against the entire notion of forcing Michael to choose love over country or country over love, and she absolutely disliked Thalia with every fiber of her being. She found the woman vulgar and overly ambitious. In fact, she did well not to leave Richard alone with her, lest she try her best to tempt him.
Michael waved a dismissive hand. “Please stop with your lies, Thalia. They burn my ears.”
“They are not lies,” the Duke of Matsworth said with respect. He put on his most concerned face. “She has been in agony since you left her. My daughter loves you. Anything that she might have said that would give you reason to think otherwise was a mistake…too much wine.” His words were desperate as he looked around the room for support.
“Michael, this relationship can go on no longer,” Richard said, looking away briefly. “The crown needs you. This family needs you to take your rightful place. It’s not that we do not respect your relationship with Ms. Daniels, which is why we brought her here. We completely respect her, but you have obligations.”
Thalia looked away from Michael over to Richard. “I’m willing to forgive him. I’m willing to forgive this entire mess. We can start over. I just want him back. Would I be here making a fool of myself otherwise?”
“Things can go back to the way that they were. In actually, this relationship has proven to the British public that they will forgive you rather than push you away,” William assured. “No offense to present company, but…”
“Offense taken,” Hope spoke up. She held her head high and stared William in the eye. “Regardless of whether you mean it or not, offense is taken, sir. I’m not a Duchess, but I am a human being, and I won’t be treated in this manner without sticking up for myself simply because you apologize first.” Hope held his hand tighter. Looking around the room at the vultures, she released a breath from her parted mouth.
“Forgive me?” Michael laughed sardonically. His strong arm flexed as he pointed down the table. “You have to be fucking kidding me. All of you. And Hope is right. You are not excused; this is an offense, and I’ll have no more of it. I don’t want your forgiveness. I don’t want your hand in marriage, Thalia. I’d rather be hung drawn and quartered first. I thought that I made that clear to you the last time your snakey little plan came to view.” He threw down his napkin. His sneer became more pronounced. “I didn’t come here for an ultimatum – to receive one or to give one. I came here to denounce my title as Prince of Wales.”
Thalia looked over at her father with an I-Told-You-So glare.
Everyone else froze.
Michael continued, realizing that he had their attention. “And don’t worry, I’ll be making a formal statement tomorrow about it. I will not put up with this shit. Not from you, Richard, not from your gaggle of idiots, minus my loving sister-in-law, whom I deeply apologize to for having to bear witness to this atrocity, and not the crown. I love my mother, but I’m a grown man.”
“There have been other developments,” Richard interrupted with a physical pain now evident in his face as he wiped his sweaty brow. “There far more important issues that have arisen outside of your relationship.” Richard eyed his brother. “And they cannot be ignored any longer.”
Madeline looked over at her husband and wiped a tear from the corner of her eyes. Looking down the table at Michael, she broke her silence. “Michael, you should speak with your brother in private,” she pleaded.
“This can be said here,” Richard said sternly.
“No,” Michael said, standing up. His eye twitched. “This will be done in private, or not at all. I want to know what the hell is going on, and I don’t want to hear it from this bunch.”
“Please,” Madeline begged her husband. “Talk to him alone.”
Richard stood from the table. “We can step into the library alone,” he said, looking at Hope. “I do apologize. This isn’t about your caliber as a woman. This is a matter of state.”
“Enough with the state shit,” Michael said, offering his hand to Hope. “This is about a collective agenda of a very controlling family.”
“We need to talk completely alone,” Richard said, walking toward the door as the staff opened it for him.
“I’m not about to leave her here with these vultures,” Michael said, looking at Thalia. “You especially. I bet you can’t wait to be alone to say a bunch of bloody horrid things to her, but I won’t allow it.”
“Alone,” Richard insisted louder.
“I’ll be fine,” Hope assured. “Just go. Talk to your brother,” she said, letting go of his hand.
***
As soon as Michael and Richard left and were not in fear of returning soon, William turned to Hope awash in desperation. He only had a few minutes to present the last part of the proposal. He would have to suffer the wrath of his liege later, but for now, he had made a promise to this country and he planned to keep it.
Taking a deep breath, he smiled. “Prince Richard is sick, Thalia. He’s dying of cancer. In his stead, who will run this country when the Queen Mother is gone? Richard and Michael have no other siblings and while there are others who can take up the seat, the point is that Michael is the rightful and true heir.”
Hope frowned and looked over at Madeline. “Is this true?”
Madeline nodded. “He has three months at most. It’s very aggressive. The doctors are doing all that they can, but it doesn’t look good.”
William got up from his seat and walked over to Hope. Sitting beside her, he ran a hand through is silver hair. “This troubles me. I’ve been around Michael and Richard my entire life. And the Queen has insisted that if it did not affect the state, we should do well to stay out of their personal affairs, but this is bigger than both of you. Would you not agree?”
Hope pushed back in her seat. She would not agree. “What do you want of me?”
William took the question as a sign of temporary neutrality. “The Queen would like to make you a very generous offer. She realizes that you love her son, and she has the most respect for you. But he must now begin to be prepared to be king. Within the year, Prince Michael will lose his brother. And the country will look to him to lead it sooner or later. This task is already difficult enough, but he if he is dating an American then it will only further impact the British community. They are looking for a British bride, ma’am.”
“I love him,” Hope said, tears running down her face. “And he loves me.” She wiped her face. “He doesn’t want this. He doesn’t want any of it. You’re all forcing this on him. And that woman over there is a manipulative viper. She doesn’t love him, but y
ou’d rather see him married to her than to see him happy and with me. It’s senseless and archaic.”
William turned toward Thalia and gave a look of contempt. That part of his plan had wilted just as he thought it might. Thalia’s façade did little to entice the prince. Instead, she simply pissed him off. “If the Prince would be less burdened by being alone, then we will accept that. I speak for the Queen when I say that we won’t push for a marriage to Thalia.”
“He doesn’t want her. Didn’t you hear him? You can’t make him marry her anyway.” Hope finished.
Hearing enough, Thalia stood up appalled by the discussion about her like she wasn’t there. “This is insane. We’re placating to a black yank from Mississippi with the bloodline of a chimpanzee. Send her on her way, already.”
Hope had heard enough. Before she could think, she charged straight for Thalia with intention of taking her pretty little head off her shoulders. One of the other counselors quickly caught her by her waist along with William who held her back despite her struggles.
“You bitch!” Hope exclaimed. “He hates you. And it infuriates you that he found a real woman, someone who makes you look as shabby as you are, hiding behind a title but not worth the paper it’s written on. You’re just a gold digging heartless social climber. It wouldn’t matter if it was Michael or Satan, you’d marry anyone to be queen.”
Thalia retreated behind her father. “Do you see? She’s violent at the first thought of being offended. Is this what you want in your future queen? An irrational half-wit!”
Madeline stood up infuriated by Thalia’s words and threw her full glass of red wine across the table onto Thalia’s off-white dress. The glass landed on the floor and the staff quickly picked it up and moved out of the way. “Bitch!” Madeline sneered. “And what am I? Am I not Princess? My blood isn’t as pure as yours either. As a matter of fact, it has black blood from the 18th century. I’m sure you’d be happy to sell that to the rags also. Well go sell it! None of us are good enough for your Arian bloodline. Get out! Get her out of here!” she yelled. “I want her out! I’ve heard enough from this tramp!”
“Your Highness,” Thalia gasped. “I never meant to offend you. I had no idea. I apologize.”
“Your presence offends me,” Madeline said as the doors opened and Geoff waltzed in. She looked at Michael’s security and wiped her hands of the wine. “Take these people off the property at once. I’ve heard enough.”
“My apologies,” the duke said, nearly pushing his daughter out.
Hope pulled away from the men and straightened her dress. “One day, Thalia. You and I will finish this conversation,” she said, pointing at her.
“I doubt it. You’ll be out on your ass soon enough,” Thalia said, grabbing her purse and pushing past Geoff toward the door with her father following behind her.
William quickly closed the doors, hoping that the ruckus had not breeched the library on the other side of the castle. He looked at his watch and pulled out an envelope from his pocket. Walking back over to Hope, who stood by the window, he offered it.
“This will take care of you for the rest of your life. You can paint, travel, explore…all the things that you’ve ever wanted to do,” he said, opening the envelope.
Hope took the check and looked at it. “Twenty-five million pounds.”
“We’re not buying your silence. We’re buying our kingdom back. Our prince is a symbol of this country. We will need him in these trying times. Your presence here prevents him from being able to do his job. Please, madam, I beg of you. Resist your temptation for him and leave.”
Hope looked over at Madeline. “Is this what Richard and the Queen wants?”
Madeline fell back in her chair and rested her head in her hands. “Yes, it’s what they all want.” She wanted to say more but how could she go against her dying husband.
The room was rife with tension. Hope looked around in desperation. Who here was an ally? And would she ever have one if she chose to stay? Would they always be plotting against her – his Highness’s ridiculous girlfriend.
William’s voice was almost a whisper. “Richard is telling Michael the truth now. What do you think he will do when he finds out that his older brother is dying? Do you really think that he’ll denounce his thrown then, and if he does, you always wonder would he have done it, if you hadn’t been in the way?” He stepped closer to Hope. “Hate me if you must, but heed my word, you are an impairment to this kingdom. No good can come of it. Deep in your heart, you know that.”
Hope felt the room began to swim. She remembered in that moment every sweet word and promise that Michael had ever made to her, and she knew each of them to be true. She knew he would stand by her no matter what, loyal to a fault. She also knew that his true place was with this country, and if she loved him as much as she confessed, then she had to do what was best for him.
Maybe this was best.
“I’m not doing this for your money,” Hope said, looking around the room with tears in her eyes. “I’m quite happy just the way that I am and with what I have. I’m doing this for him,” she said, picking up her shawl. “It is apparent that if I stay, I will hurt him. And I can’t bare that. I love him too much.”
“The Queen insists that you take the check,” William said, pushing it into her hand gently. “If you don’t cash it, at least put it away. One day, you might change your mind.”
Looking down at Madeline who was awash with tears and grief, Hope gestured toward her. “I’m so sorry for your loss. This must be killing you. Please accept my sincerest sympathies for your family and your loss.”
Madeline wiped her face. “You’re all a bunch of monsters for what you’re doing to her,” she said, standing up. “And I’ll not have a second more of it.” Leaving out of the room, she disappeared down the hallway.
Taking the check in her hand, Hope walked toward the doors with the men watching her carefully. Geoff met her and escorted her to the car.
“He will be furious that you’ve taken their offer,” he said as they arrived at the front doors. The sun shined in on them both. She looked up into his eyes and smiled. Taking the check, Hope tore it to pieces. Leaving it Albert’s fragile hands, she sighed at Geoff. “I didn’t accept their offer,” she said as the doors opened to the motorcade. “I did what is best for him, because I’m just his girlfriend. And those are the wishes of his mother.”
“He’s a stubborn boy. Don’t go too far, and don’t be surprised, if he comes looking for you.”
Nodding, Geoff took her hand and walked with her to the car. He helped her inside and slowly closed it securely behind her. “It’s been a pleasure.”
***
Michael stood in the library against the backdrop of a thousand historic books with a look of vengeance in his eyes. While he had imagined a lot from his brother, he had never truly imagined him trying to get between himself and someone he loved. His tone was bitter as he spoke.
“You disappoint me, brother,” Michael said, hands in his pockets.
“I disappoint myself,” Richard said, pouring a stronger drink. The wine was not nearly enough to satisfy him today. “But all that I can offer in the form of advice is to get simply get used to certain disappointments.”
“I won’t leave her,” Michael said abruptly. “Nothing that you can say will make me.”
“This isn’t about the girl as much as it is about your country.”
Michael cringed when he heard the words. It seemed to be the only line these people had memorized. “The people don’t need me. They have you. You’re the great hope. Everyone loves you. Everyone trusts you. What do they need with me anyway, Richard?”
Richard turned to his brother and took a big gulp of scotch. “There is no easy way to say this to you. I wish there were. You’ve been like a son to me instead of a brother and I feel completely responsible for you, but I’m dying. I’ve got four months before this thing they call pancreatic cancer takes me away from this place, and I need
to whip you into shape.”
Michael stood in shook. Unable to blink, he felt his heart pounding in his chest. “Is this some sick joke?”
“You’d have to ask the oncologist,” Richard said, sitting down.
“There must be something that can be done,” Michael started. He pulled his hands from his pockets and went over to the desk. Leaning on it, eyes away from his brother, he felt himself getting light-headed. Tears welded to the edges of his eyes. Damn it to hell. He had lost his father…not his brother too.
Richard pulled out his pill bottle and opened it. Taking three of the strong pain meds, he downed them with scotch. “There is nothing that can be done. And instead of staying in a hospital, I’m going to spend my final days with my beautiful wife and children.”
Michael whispered. “This can’t be happening.”
“It’s happening,” Richard said in a matter-of-fact tone. “And it’s happening now, which is why I’ve asked you to leave Hope and lead this country.” He stared at his brother’s wide back turned to him. “You can do this, Michael. You always could. The only person who didn’t believe in you was you. It’s always been that way.”
“I don’t want it.”
“Most good kings don’t want it. Most good kings have other ambitions. But another life is not what you’ve been given. You were given this one. Prince of Wales. And your mother and your country needs you. “
Even dying, Richard couldn’t help but be a prick. Michael turned to him as he wiped the tears from his face and swallowed down his fear. “So this is why you think that it is best to run Hope off.”
“Having a girlfriend is not going to help you in your current situation. You’ll have enough critics as is. We need to get rid of some of your royal baggage and prepare you for the responsibilities that will be at hand as my cancer progresses to its full term. But I will agree that Thalia is a bad pick. I didn’t see it until today. God only knows why or how I’ve missed it for so long.” Richard set his glass down. “I want you to be happy. I’ve always wanted it. And I wouldn’t be asking you this now, had I not just been informed in the last three weeks that I’m dying.” He smiled sarcastically. “But the party is over.” He meant that in more way than one, especially when it came to his own life.
Highness (The Lonely Heart Series) Page 23