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“No one is simply granted an audience with the queen because they request it. There are forms to be filled out,” Uther says.
“You can’t be serious!” Jo lays a gentle hand on my arm, and it instantly cools my boiling blood.
“Maybe I can help.”
Jo and I both spin around and are struck by the fact that the princess is offering to do us a favor.
Her eyes glint with mischief. “I have ways of bypassing all of the red tape.”
I bow my head to her in gratitude.
“None of that bowing and scraping now. Follow me. Brother.”
With a wink, we are off to find the king, as Doug’s protests echo off the walls of palace’s corridors.
It turns out that not even the princess can access the king and queen whenever she wants to.
“I’m sorry,” Flora says as she exits the monarchs’ private chambers, closing the door behind her. “Perhaps we can pull them aside at the press conference.”
Uther may pin me to the ground for trying to approach them, but I have to try.
“The king has to be prepared. There are DNA tests to conduct before we know anything for sure,” I say.
Flora shakes her head. “All in good time. But look at you. I think we have our answer. In the meantime, I think we should tell your brothers.”
The word “brother” does something to me. I feel strange. Not bad. But different.
Everything hits me all at once right there in the hall as we make our way toward Sigurd and Stasi’s chamber, where the other siblings are gathering to meet their new niece.
Emotions clog my throat. I had nothing mere months ago. And now I have a wife, and I may have a sister and three brothers. And a niece.
We arrive at Stasi and Sigurd’s chamber. Flora goes in first, while Jo and I wait out in the hall.
To my alarm, Jo’s face is downcast. “I’m happy for you, Jakob.”
“Jo, I know it’s a lot to take in. Yet we don’t know for sure.”
“I think we do. I just wish you’d told me about the affair.”
The light from the chandelier above us is reflected in the teardrops that fall to the floor.
“Would you have believed me?”
Jo lifts her chin finally and meets my gaze. “I would follow you to hell and back, Jakob. I would have kept all your secrets. It’s you who didn’t trust me.”
“Jo.”
“I need to lie down.”
“I’ll walk you,” I offer.
She walks away, her silvery blue gown glittering as it sweeps over the marble floor behind her. “I can find it on my own.”
Callum Black strides up, just then, looking perturbed.
“Have you seen Flora?”
I gesture at the door. “She’s in there, meeting her new niece.”
