“The people have never had a say in their government before so this . . . anarchy you’re aiming for will be disastrous if, God forbid, it came to that.” I stood quickly, the legs of the chair I was sitting on scraping the oak wood floors beneath me. “Furthermore, if you’d been here the last two meetings, you’d have been informed about the Parliament we’re hoping to form and incorporate, which will be voted on by the people.”
“Parliament?” he asked. “Voted on by the people?”
“I just said that.”
“Did my daughter put you up to this?”
“What if she did? What will you say then? That I’ve had my cock cut off and that an uninformed woman will now be ruling France?” I yelled.
He shook his head, seemingly still wrapping his head around the idea.
“I think Parliament is an excellent idea,” Monsieur Gaston said.
“I agree,” Monsieur Caron added.
“It gets my vote,” Monsieur Berger said.
Monsieur Bouchard was still silent.
“I do have one question,” Monsieur Gaston said. “What will become of us? Will we also be part of Parliament, voted on by the people?”
“That’s one of the things we need to discuss. I’ll need to keep a small cabinet of advisors,” I said. “As for the first Parliament, we’ll have to form a group that will go door to door and inform the people about this so that they can start campaigning. We should have a few representatives from each town. Men and women. We don’t want anyone to feel like they’re not being represented.”
“Would you keep this cabinet?” Monsieur Bouchard asked. “I don’t blame you if you want to get rid of us . . . of me, specifically.”
“You know what I don’t understand?” I sat back down, pulling my chair in again. “If you hate us so much, if you absolutely detest the idea of a monarchy of any kind, if you’d rather see us be attacked by every single person in our town, why be part of this cabinet at all? You could have easily walked away from my father’s cabinet. You could have easily quit when I claimed the throne. You could quit right now and go back to a life in journalism. Yet you stay. Why?”
He took a long moment to think about it. “I never liked your father as a leader. I never liked the violence or the attack-now-and-ask-questions-later mentality. I didn’t like the fact that he ignored the pleas that rang through the city and swept in here.” He paused for a beat. “He spoke about you and the way he was training you to think just like him and well, I guess I didn’t think to give you a chance. I didn’t think you’d want to change the way things were. I definitely didn’t expect talks of a Constitutional Monarchy.”
“Yet here we are.” I lifted the glass of water in front of me and took a sip.
“Yet here we are,” Monsieur Bouchard said, a small smile on his lips. “I never thought I’d see the day.”
“When will you know?” Monsieur Gaston asked. “About us being part of your board of advisors?”
“When will we know?” Monsieur Caron followed.
“All of you are in. If you accept.” I stood up, this time calmly, though I really had to get out and go to London as soon as possible. “We’ll have two meetings next week. Bring your best ideas.”
I walked out of the room. Pierre handed me my cellphone as soon as I stepped out. I looked at it. Still no calls or texts from Adeline. My stomach knotted. Had I really fucked up that badly? The door opened behind me and Pierre instantly moved between me and the person.
“Your Majesty.” Monsieur Bouchard bowed as I turned around. “I just want to apologize. I should not have made assumptions. Please know that I will do everything I can to support you and the Crown from here on out.”
“I appreciate that, Monsieur.” I gave him a nod and walked away. I only had one Bouchard to deal with right now and something told me she would be much less apologetic than her father.
Chapter 42
She was already gone when I showed up on her doorstep. The nosey neighbor told Pierre she’d left in a hurry. While Pierre called Mayra to ask where they were, I asked the driver to take us to the Pirouette offices. On the way there, I checked the internet. The paparazzi had a way of knowing where everyone was before anyone else and this couldn’t be much different. The last photo taken of her had been when she arrived yesterday. I’d missed her then because after I finished the cabinet meeting I had a slew of uninvited guests show up and delay me hours. The first moment I had to catch my breath was today, which was why I insisted we leave first thing this morning. As it was, the hour-long plane ride didn’t help my anxiety. I kept mulling over all of the things I wanted—no—needed to say to her, but every time I thought I had it, I came up short.
“She was with Etienne last night,” Pierre said. “So at least she was safe.”
“What do you mean at least?” I grabbed his phone and looked at the screen. It was a gossip magazine with a photograph of Adeline and Etienne on the front page. It looked like they were walking out of a restaurant. The headline: Future Queen or Queen No Longer? Adeline Bouchard Spotted with Childhood Friend, Investor, Etienne Bellerose out on the Town. Is She Back for Good or Just Packing Her Things?
I handed the phone back to Pierre and sighed. He was right. At least she was safe. In the photo, she wasn’t even smiling. Wasn’t even pretending to be happy. I wondered what Etienne thought about me now. He’d already had his reservations about me dating his friend and none of this would help that cause. It didn’t matter. At the end of the day, the only thing that mattered was what she thought of me and right now, I had a bad feeling about it.
Chapter 43
Adeline
One good thing about having Mayra as my security was that even though she was definitely reporting our every move to His Majesty, she was doing it hours after we left places and giving me the freedom to do whatever the hell I wanted—like get drunk on wine in a pub in Marbella. I’d driven straight to the meeting in London and flown right back out to Marbella on a commercial flight. As it turned out, there were no paparazzi following us there or here. I’d made it right on time for my uncle’s bookstore opening and now I was just drinking. With my bodyguard. Because that wasn’t the loneliest thing in the world.
“I’ll tell you what. Men absolutely have no brains.” I set down my wine. “I mean, they do, but they have no common sense.”
“Not where women are concerned,” Mayra said. She was drinking water, despite me pouring her two glasses of wine, which I’d drunk, because I wasn’t going to let it go to waste.
“Especially not where women are concerned.” I took another sip. “I just . . . I thought it would be different, you know? I was ready to give up everything. Everything. My life in London, my company, my friends.”
Mayra handed me a napkin. I looked at it in confusion, until I realized I was crying. Then, I wiped my face and cried harder.
“He’s an idiot.”
“He is,” she agreed.
“I can’t believe he used me.”
“Maybe we don’t have all of the facts straight.”
“We have all of the facts straight.” I slapped the napkin down on the table. “I asked Pierre and he confirmed it.”
“Right, but it’s clear the king has feelings for you.”
“Sure. Lustful ones.” I took a deep breath and hiccupped. “Ugh. I hate hiccups.”
“I think that’s a sign that you drank too much. Or too fast.”
“Well, you know what takes away the hiccups.” I lifted the wine glass and downed it. Then I hiccupped. “That’s supposed to help.” I frowned looking at the empty glass. “It’s not like I ever thought I’d be queen or anything. I mean, for a second I did imagine it but not in a legitimate, I’m going to be Queen of France kind of way, with people bowing at me and stuff.”
Mayra stood up suddenly and curtsied deeply. I laughed at the sight. “Sit down, you weirdo. I’m not queen.”
“Yet.”
I gasped, sitting up straight and looking over my sh
oulder at Elias. But it couldn’t be Elias. Except, Pierre was standing behind him and I knew I wouldn’t imagine him in my fantasy. I looked around the bar and witnessed everyone bowing and curtsying at him and it occurred to me that he was really here. I stood from my barstool, swaying a bit. Elias caught my arm and held it. I curtsied in front of him. Not as deeply as Mayra. Not as prettily. But as well as I could manage in my drunken state. When I straightened he pulled me into his arms.
“You don’t curtsy to me,” he said into my ear.
“Are you not my King?”
“Are you not my world?”
I pulled away slightly and met his gaze. The conversation I overheard between him and Emily’s father replaying in my head. I wasn’t sure whether to slap him or walk away. Setting aside the fact that I was completely shocked to find him here, that is, because even if he did know where I was I hadn’t expected him to chase after me. Send Pierre after me? Maybe. Call me incessantly the way he had been? Maybe. But not actually show up. He was a King, for God’s sake. Traditionally, the King didn’t leave his throne unless he had important matters to take care of, and even then, the important matters went to him, not the other way around. The pub was so quiet you could hear the dripping of the not fully shut faucet nearby. Elias was still staring at me, waiting, assessing, the way a true King would. I let the silence drag on because I was enjoying his minimal discomfort, which no one else could see but I knew him well enough to take note. Finally, I licked my lips and spoke up.
“You don’t need to sweet-talk me. If you need me to pretend to be your girlfriend, you can just ask me. I would have done you the favor.”
“I don’t want any favors from you, Adeline. And I want you to be with me because you want to be, so I fully understand if you want to walk away from me, but you can’t expect me not to fight for what’s mine.”
“Maybe that’s the problem. Maybe I’m not yours.”
His eyes flashed. “Don’t say that. Say anything but that.”
“I’m not a prize, Elias.”
“To me, you are, Addie.” He stepped closer still. “The ultimate prize. One I don’t deserve, but will work an eternity to earn.”
“Elias.” I shook my head, swallowing back tears. He was impossible.
“Tu me manques, Adeline.” He exhaled lightly, his breath tickling me. He was so close. I could lean in an inch and kiss him, but I wouldn’t, not yet. “You are missing from me when you’re not with me and I don’t want to live in a world where we make this a habit. I want you to be mine. With or without the press. With or without the title. With or without the throne. I want you, Adeline Sofia Isabella Bouchard, to be my Queen.”
“What about Emily?” I asked finally, my voice hoarse as I blinked new tears. “What about going back to her if this doesn’t work out?”
“That’s what this is about?” He frowned, then sighed as he brought his forehead against mine. “Adeline. Adeline. Adeline.
You overheard my conversation with her father?”
I nodded against his forehead, tears still streaming. I wiped them quickly.
“That was careless. I was trying to appease him because he owes me some things. I never . . . ” He pulled away and brought his hand to my face. “I never meant for you to hear that and I definitely didn’t mean to hurt you. I am so sorry.”
“Thank you for saying that,” I whispered.
“I’m not just saying that.” He brought his other hand to my face and used both thumbs to wipe my tears. “I love you. I’m in love with you. There is no after you.”
My heart stopped beating. “You love me?”
“Yes, silly girl. Do you think I’d risk the throne over a woman I wasn’t completely head over heels in love with?”
“I thought I was helping your image.” I felt myself smile. He loved me.
“Well, it could have gone either way.” He tilted his head. “They could have hated me and said I was throwing away tradition.”
“You love me.” It was the one thing I was still stuck on. “A commoner.”
“There’s nothing common about you, Adeline.” He brought his lips to mine and kissed me.
“Sir, public display of affection,” Pierre said beside us. “People are snapping photos.”
“Fuck tradition,” Elias said, bringing his lips to mine again. I threw my arms around his neck and kissed him back with every ounce of devotion I had for him.
* * *
My head was pounding. I groaned as I sat up and realized I was in the underwear and bra I had on last night. Where was I? I looked at the wall in front of me, covered in an enormous television. It was a gray room and it smelled like . . . oh God.
“Feeling like shit, I bet,” Elias said from somewhere in the room.
“Oh, my God.” I gasped, bringing a hand to my chest. “You scared me.”
“Don’t tell me you don’t remember last night.”
I sat up in bed and looked over at where he was, putting a shirt over his head. I wish he’d be taking it off instead. He walked over to me, raking a hand through his wet hair, and sat in front of me, the bed sinking with his weight.
“I remember everything except the part where we left the bar and came home.”
“Oh, that was the fun part though.” He chuckled. “As soon as we got here, you started undressing and demanded sex.”
“What?” I squeaked. “In front of Pierre and Mayra?”
“And the four new security personnel we brought along, yes.”
“Oh, my God.” I threw myself onto the pillows behind me and covered my face with my arm. “So embarrassing.”
“They’ve seen worse.”
“Meaning what?” I uncovered my face and narrowed my eyes at him.
“I mean they’ve seen worse behavior.” He chuckled. “I can’t imagine they’ve seen a better body on a more gorgeous woman.”
“Shut up.” I groaned. “I can’t believe I did that.”
“I’ll let you shower and get dressed. We have a lot to discuss.” He stood up, leaned over and gave me a kiss on the forehead, and left the room.
I did as instructed, and when I was dressed in the clothing that was on top of the bed—a nice, conservative floral dress with tags on it, that hadn’t previously been in my wardrobe—I walked out of the room. I looked presentable and that was the important part. Only the security personnel were hanging out in the living room. Mayra pointed at the French doors that led to the balcony, so I headed there and found Elias sitting at the same table we’d had our first date. Pierre was standing by the edge of the balcony, looking at the ocean. It was a beautiful day to lay out in the sun.
“Let me guess, Pierre chose this.” I pointed to my dress.
“I figured after last night you might want to cover up a bit.” Pierre turned to look at me. My jaw dropped. I felt my cheeks heat. He laughed and added, “I’m just kidding.”
“He’s not kidding.” Elias, who was reading a newspaper, glanced up, mischief in his eyes.
“We need to replace your personal secretary,” I said, taking a seat beside Elias.
Pierre laughed louder. “I’ll be back with champagne and orange juice.”
“Oh God. Champagne?” I made a face.
“Not all of us drank our weight in wine last night.” Elias looked at me over the paper.
“Not all of us were moping and mourning the loss of a fake boyfriend.” I raised an eyebrow.
“Real boyfriend.” He folded the paper and set it down, reaching for my hand. “Nothing about this has ever been fake.”
“So, what did you want to talk about?” I asked after a moment of staring into his deep green eyes.
“Our future.” He let go of my hand. “I need to know if you’re genuinely okay with leaving your life in London and your company behind for this. For me.”
I thought about it for a moment. I’d been willing to leave it behind before, and now that I’d been without him for a just couple of days and felt how that was, even more so. He
looked nervous. I nodded.
“I’m ready.”
“Good.” He stood up, the chair scraping slightly on the pavement. Without warning, he took a knee beside me and pulled out a little black box from his pocket, opening it to show me the most beautiful engagement ring I’d ever seen. My heart pounded against my chest. I gasped, bringing a hand up to my mouth. “This stone has been in my family for centuries. Pieces of the original stone are on the crown of each King of France before me, and my own, and I thought it was time it was also in a queen’s possession.” He smiled.
“The first night I met you, right on this very balcony, you had no idea who I was. You just knew you liked me. You gave me a gift that evening when you went to bed with me. You showed me that I was more than my title. That I was more than what anyone said I was. You looked at me and you saw me. You knew me. Finding you again has been the best thing that’s happened since that night. At the end of my reign—because all of them must come to an end—I will still believe that keeping you has been the greatest achievement I will have accomplished.” He took a breath.
“I don’t want to die like King George IV. I don’t want to die with just a regretful memory of you and a locket with your picture on it. You make me a better man every single day. Your heart makes mine beat faster. Please accept me, Adeline. Rule with me, by my side.”
I cried throughout his entire proposal, and my voice shook with tears as I tried to say yes, so I nodded, and nodded, and nodded furiously.
“Yes?” he chuckled, standing up. I stood with him, throwing my arms around him. He carried my feet off the ground and swung me around. “Yes?”
“Yes. Yes. Yes a million times,” I said. When he set me down, I wiped my face and kissed him hard. “I love you, King Elias, even if you are a major pain in the neck.”
“I love you, Queen Adeline, even if you do drive me crazy most days.” He grinned. “Probably because you drive me crazy most days.”
I laughed as he took my hand and slid the ring on my finger. I marveled at it sitting there. The stone was large and navy blue and the band was encrusted in tiny diamonds around it.
The Sinful King: By New York Times Bestselling Author Page 21