The Spare and the Heir

by Carol Moncado

  “Thank you.”

  “I apologize for taking so much of your time. Mr. Wray will be taken before the judge. The judge will be told it has been turned over to the prosecutor. It won’t get him out of anything.”

  After another moment of pleasantries, Gabe and Esme left, heading for their quarters. They agreed to stick with their original plan. Fortunately, the screening room had several arrangement options. Gabe had Russell make certain it was set up for a comfortable evening for two and not a larger viewing session. Rather than rows of recliners, a large, almost bed-like couch full of pillows waited for them.

  Dinner was more like appetizers. Not fancy ones, but ones that could be eaten with their hands without too much mess.

  Esme curled into his side and let him pick the movie. He chose one he knew she would enjoy.

  “Gabe?” She wanted to make sure she had his attention as the first movie ended.

  “Want something with a few more explosives next?” He sounded so hopeful.

  “It’s not that.”

  “What is it?” He squeezed her with the arm wrapped around her waist.

  “When do you think is the right time for us to have children?” It had been on her mind since the doctor had told what happened, but more so since the discussion with security earlier in the day.

  His thumb rubbed against a bit of exposed skin on her stomach. “I have no idea. I suppose we pray about it and leave it up to God. When it’s time, it’s time.”

  “And if I can’t have children?” That had become her biggest fear.

  “We’ll cross that bridge when we get to it. There’s no reason to believe you can’t. The doctor said it’s perfectly normal and most women go on to have healthy pregnancies.”

  Her head knew that. Her heart was having a hard time accepting it. “But when do we try for that?”

  She didn’t look at him but could tell he was trying to formulate the right answer. “Maybe we don’t. We don’t try to prevent a pregnancy, but that doesn’t mean we have to actively attempt to have a baby either.”

  Esme liked that answer. It was the best she’d come up with as well. She wasn’t even sure it was legal for her to try to prevent herself from getting pregnant, not that anyone would actually check up on it - at least not for the first few years.

  “Are you worried about it?”

  “Not about the public relations side. If it comes out that I’ve had a miscarriage, I think the public will rally behind me, at least the first time, maybe two.”

  “And emotionally? Physically, the doctor said you should be fine by now, but you lost your mother and a baby within a couple of weeks of each other, followed by surgery. Are you really doing all right?”

  “I try not to think about any of it very often,” she admitted. “I could probably use a good cry or two. Maybe some time with a good therapist. I don’t like working in my mother’s office. I know it’s my own personalized chair in there, but I still think of it as hers and think I’ll never fill it quite the way she did.”

  “You don’t have to.” He kissed her head again. “You have to be the best queen you can be. That’s all. And to help, I’ve got your new massage therapist coming tomorrow for your first visit.”

  “Finally vetted?”

  “Yes.”

  “Thank you.” He always seemed to look out for her needs. It was one of the things she appreciated most about him.

  “And whatever comes from these accusations from Wray, we’ll face those together, too. Same if my father tries to claim we interfered. If I have to, I’ll go public with what I was having investigated. I don’t want to, because I don’t want to bring focus to that part of my life, but I will if I have to.”

  “I hope it won’t come to that, but no matter what happens, I’m glad I’ve got you by my side for all of this.” Something she never thought she’d say.

  “I wouldn’t want to be anywhere else.”

  Something else was going to happen and soon. Something that would threaten to destroy the foundation they were building. Esme didn’t know what it was, but despite the lighthearted Christmas movies, she could feel it building out there somewhere.

  She had no idea what it would be, but she prayed they’d be strong enough to weather it together.

  * * *

  With a wave to the assembled crowd, Gabe walked into the Natural History Museum of Ancora. He’d been working with the director from Auverignon to recreate the archaeological dig area for children. They were having a meeting about funding for it. He’d already decided to donate a sizable amount.

  Inside, Gabe met with the director as well as the director from Auverignon who had come for the grand opening. They introduced him to Prince Consort Charlemagne’s parents who had been instrumental in designing both areas, though they hadn’t made the grand opening in Auverignon.

  Speeches were given and the ribbon was cut. Children from one of the local schools were first to explore. Most of them had one or more parents in attendance as well.

  Gabe mingled with the adults. Esme was better with the kids than he was, but she still wasn’t quite up to something like this, even if her schedule had allowed for it. He didn’t know that it did.

  The camaraderie with the other parents surprised him, but he enjoyed talking with them, though he tried not to stay too long with any one knot of people.

  “My husband used to know the queen quite well,” one of the women told him, her hand squeezing her husband’s arm. “They went to school together.”

  There was something hard around the man’s eyes as he nodded. “Esme and I were close friends at one point.”

  The use of her nickname surprised Gabe, but the conversation moved on to other topics. Later, Gabe found himself alone with the man.

  “I didn’t catch your name,” he said, holding his hand out. “I’ll be sure to tell Esme I ran into you.”

  The man didn’t take it. “Bryant. We never dated, but we did attend a large number of functions together, including balls and such.”

  Gabe let his hand fall as the pieces fell into place. “I remember. There was speculation about the two of you in the media for several years. You were seventeen or eighteen, but Esme was a couple of years younger.”

  Bryant crossed his arms over his chest. “That’s right. Everyone thought we’d get married someday, but I knew the truth all along.”

  Gabe couldn’t stop the wince. “You did?”

  “And I know what you did to Esme. Even when we drifted apart when I graduated, I could see what it did to her. You broke her heart.”

  With his hands shoved deep in his pockets, Gabe’s shoulders slumped. “I know.”

  Bryant moved a little closer. “I don’t know what you were thinking when you became the man you were. You knew you would end up marrying Esme, so why would you do that to her?”

  After double checking no one was paying much attention, Gabe pulled the man into an empty office. “Look, I know I was a...” He stopped before calling himself what he was thinking. “I hate what I did to her. I was young and stupid. The truth is, I believed the news stories about you two and kind of went off the deep end about it. There’s a lot more to it...” Like his family insisting he wasn’t to have any contact with Esme for several more years. “...and that’s no excuse, but it’s the truth.”

  The man’s stance softened slightly. “There was never anything between us. I never held her hand. I certainly never kissed her. We danced at balls. That’s about it.”

  “I know that now. I didn’t then.” Gabe had to clench his hands into fists to keep from running them through his hair. That would draw comments on his appearance. “I hurt her. I know that. I’m doing my best to repair the damage I did. I have repaired a lot of it, though I know it could be years before she truly trusts me when I tell her I’m not that man anymore.”

  Bryant studied him carefully. “That’s the impression I’ve gotten over the last couple months. It might be years since I’ve seen her, but I knew at the enga
gement announcement that she didn’t really want to be there. She put up a good front, but I could tell. I didn’t say anything to anyone, not even my wife. I’ve kept an eye on both of you since then. I saw how she leaned on you at her mother’s service. It was subtle, because the queen isn’t supposed to lean on anyone, I guess. But I could tell things had changed.”

  “I’ll spend the rest of my life trying to be the man she needs at her side,” Gabe vowed.

  “I never would have been that man.” Bryant shuddered. “I hated being in the spotlight, but I don’t think I would have handled being Prince Consort very well. Esme’s quite capable, but to never be the one people turn to in a meeting, to always be second, I don’t think I’d have liked that.”

  It hit Gabe that, so far at least, he didn’t mind it nearly as much as he’d thought he would. When people turned to Esme first, it was because they adored her or because she was doing what she was supposed to - be the one her people looked to. He was proud of her for stepping into the role of queen so well and beginning to make it her own. He prayed he would always feel that way.

  Bryant stepped a little closer. “I will tell you this though, sir. If you ever become that guy again, I won’t be the only one your security team has to fight off. The people of Sargasso love their queen. I’m just one of many who won’t put up with you being the man her father is.”

  “I’ll be faithful to my wife,” Gabe promised him. “And do my best to be the father to our children that Esme and I never had.”

  The other man’s eyes went slightly wide at that.

  Before either of them could say anything else, the door opened. One of Gabe’s security team stood there. “I’m afraid it’s almost time to go, sir.”

  The way he said it meant Gabe had time to slowly work his way to the door, talking with others as he went. This time Bryant shook Gabe’s hand, though he admonished Gabe not to forget their conversation.

  It took about fifteen minutes for Gabe to work his way to the front door. As he walked to the SUV, reporters on the sidewalk asked what he thought about the press release. He had no idea what they were talking about. He ignored them and waved to the others still gathered there.

  Once in the vehicle, he turned to Russell. “What were they talking about?”

  31

  What was she supposed to do with this information? Esme looked up at Jared. “What exactly happened?”

  “Your father is getting married.” Jared remained stone-faced as he delivered the news again.

  Esme felt sucker-punched. Again. First, her marriage to Gabe, though that had turned out all right so far. She believed him when he said he wasn’t keeping anything else from her.

  Mostly.

  A tiny part of her still wondered.

  Then her mother’s death. The loss of a child. Surgery.

  It was all stacking up.

  Now her father, proving once again, exactly the kind of man he’d always been.

  After putting a tight lid on the emotions, Esme simply asked, “When?”

  “The press release didn’t say.”

  He hadn’t even called and left a message with one of her assistants. He’d just announced it to the world without telling her or her brother. “I would imagine we’re not invited?”

  The look on Jared’s face softened. “I would imagine not, ma’am. You can’t begin to know how much the strained relationship between all of you and your father bothered the late queen.”

  “We don’t have a relationship and haven’t in years. I’m not sure you could ever say we had a relationship at all.”

  “Precisely.”

  Esme sank back into her chair, unable to even pretend to be okay with all of this. “Is there anything else I need to do today?”

  “No, ma’am.”

  “I think I’m going to go relax. Would you call the new massage therapist for me and see if she can come for a visit?” It had only been a couple of days since her last craniosacral massage, but a regular massage sounded like a little slice of heaven.

  “I’m certain she will. Until then, though, why don’t you take a hot bubble bath? I’ll send Judy in when I hear back from her.”

  “Thank you.” She pushed back from the desk and went to her bathroom, running the water to the perfect temperature before going to the closet to change.

  After she sunk under the water with bubbles up to her chin, Gabe walked in.

  “Did you hear?” she asked.

  “I did,” he confirmed. “I take it your father didn’t call you?”

  “Of course not.”

  “Any word on when?”

  “No.” She kept her eyes closed as the water relaxed her.

  “It’s awfully fast.”

  “I would imagine he already knew her.” She didn’t want to dwell on the fact her father likely had a closer relationship with this woman over the last few years than he’d had with his late wife.

  “He did,” Gabe confirmed. “Her name was in the press release.” He sounded off.

  Esme opened her eyes and stared at him as he looked everywhere but at her.

  “Fine. She’s older than you, but not by much. She’s younger than I am. He’s known her for years, though at this point no one knows how long they’ve been in a relationship.”

  It didn’t surprise Esme, though it would have been nicer if it did. “If there’s evidence he was having an affair, I can have them take back all of his belongings that came from the family or from family funds and cut off his stipend from my mother’s estate. All of it has always been contingent on being faithful.”

  “I would imagine there will be more stories in the regular press, as well as the tabloids in the next few days.”

  “Probably. Jared will keep me apprised of anything I need to know. I can’t imagine much of it will be a surprise to me or be of much interest.”

  “I hope not.”

  “Do they have any idea how long he’s known her? Besides years?”

  “Five or six years, I think. They met while he was on a trip to the States.”

  “Not an official trip, I’m sure.”

  “Probably not.” Gabe finally sat down on the side of the tub. “He hasn’t taken any of those in years, decades even.”

  Esme moved her hands lightly under the water, feeling it wave over her. “Sometimes I wish my mother had left a diary or journal behind. I wish I knew what she was thinking and feeling sometimes. Why did she stay with my father? Why didn’t she cut him loose, even if she couldn’t marry again for love?” Except her mother had been in love with her father, once upon a time.

  “She felt bound by duty would be my guess. It happens often I’d think. She wasn’t going to be the one to break the vows she made. Even though he broke his, until he actually left, she wasn’t free to move on.”

  “Most likely. I still wish I knew for certain.”

  Esme didn’t open her eyes but felt him move to sit on the floor closer to her. He brushed the hair near her forehead with his fingers. “I hope you know I won’t be like that.”

  She didn’t immediately respond but sank a little lower under the bubbles.

  “It’s still hard for you to believe.” His tone was matter-of-fact.

  “I’m trying, Gabe. I really am. I believe it a lot more than I did a few months ago, but there is still a piece of me that wonders, yes. I want to believe it. You’ve given me no reason not to since we’ve been married, and I believe what you’ve said about the last few years, but everything I believed about you for so long... It’s hard to just turn that off like a light. The piece of me that doubts is still there, but it’s getting smaller all the time.”

  It had to hurt his feelings, to know that she still had a hard time with all of it.

  “I do understand,” Gabe told her, kissing her brow as he stood up after his phone buzzed. His tone didn’t completely convince her he meant what he said. “I know I’d have a hard time believing it if the tables were turned.”

  Esme wasn’t sure he r
eally meant it, but it was a nice thing for him to say.

  “I’ll be back to check on you soon.”

  “Thank you.”

  Judy would be in soon to tell her the massage therapist had arrived, or at least Esme hoped she would. Her water wouldn’t stay warm enough too much longer without a refresh.

  A few minutes later, Judy knocked to let her know her new therapist was ready whenever Esme was.

  Hopefully this was just what she needed to clear her mind and let herself truly believe the truth about Gabe.

  * * *

  Gabe reached for his phone as he left Esme soaking in her tub. “Yes?”

  “Sir, there’s something you need to see.” His assistant was asking permission to interrupt Gabe’s private time.

  “I’ll meet you in the office.” Probably some news story related to Esme’s father.

  Russell met him, with a tablet in hand. “Right now the story is only on CelebGossipNewz, but I’ve already received calls from regular news outlets.”

  “What is it?” He reached for the tablet to see the story.

  “Something that happened years ago. Maybe. It’s not something I can see you doing.”

  Gabe scrolled through the story. “This isn’t true. I don’t think.”

  “You mean you didn’t have a drunken night in the States and destroy a hotel?”

  “Drunken night in the States, maybe. Destroy a hotel? I don’t think so.”

  He skimmed the story. “My father paid to have it swept under the rug?”

  “That’s what the story says.”

  “My father would never pay to take care of something I did wrong.”

  “The story said he did.”

  Something about it niggled at Gabe. “What date was this?”

  “About six years ago, it looks like.”

  That’s what bothered him about the details. “I need a secure line to Jonathan Langley-Cranston, as quickly as possible.”

  As Russell hurried to make it happen, Gabe looked for the notes he’d made about Jonathan’s phone call several weeks earlier. He’d purposely left little information about the call in his notes, just dates and locations, but no indication of what the meaning was should anyone else find them.