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“This is unacceptable,” I said.
Alexandra, confused, asked, “Why did she not vacate, Lord William? She was told to do so.”
“The timeline was tricky. The new apartments were unsuitable. Work must be done. The Prime Minister will need to approve the money.”
“And you,” Celeste said, “will need to ask him. You didn’t ask.”
“I didn’t know,” Alexandra said.
She made herself smaller.
I hated this. She balled up and disappeared into herself, frightened of Celeste’s wrath.
“I am sure they are fine for now,” I said.
“I cannot navigate the bath. I have a bad hip. I require a larger shower,” Celeste protested.
“Why was none of this brought to our attention, Lord William?”
“Sir, you were not around long. And, either way, these are decisions which must be made by Her Majesty.”
“We speak united on this issue?—”
“It is nice you think that, Rick,” Celeste said. “But it’s not your place.”
Alexandra squeezed my hand. “We do. Rick has my best interest in mind, and we do need space and privacy. We will get none with the adjoining room that I share with Asti. We’re married. We live in a bloody palace, but have no space.”
“Well, I was set to move into a bank of rooms in the other wing. You see howyoulike it.”
“Put us there then,” Alexandra said. “Until the Dowager Queen can remedy her current situation. Moving back into my old quarters is unacceptable.”
“It will take time, ma’am,” Lord William sighed.
“Fine, then let’s find a way to make a move to more suitable accommodations,” I insisted.
“I think it will be fine down there. You have the second-best bank of rooms,” Celeste said. “But all you do is whinge.”
“Grand-Mama, I share a bathroom and a sitting room with Astrid. Rick and I need personal space. We’re a married couple. And his clothes won’t even fit in my wardrobe.”
“Perhaps you all can stick to your current arrangement?”
“That is unsuitable!” Alexandra livened.
“Why’s that?”
“You know why! We won’t be sleeping in separate rooms like teenagers.”
I nodded in agreement. “Do you want grandchildren, Celeste?”
“Very much, yes. But given that the two of you were so cold as of late, I didn’t think that would phase her.”
“Do not make assumptions about what we do or don’t do,” Alexandra said. “I can assure you we need the space and Astrid doesn’t want to be aware of our goings-on. We’re newlyweds, after all.”
She might have well said we were fucking like rabbits—which we were—but it was in the politest way possible. I rubbed Alexandra’s back. She found her voice. I tried not to talk over her. Undermining her was the worst thing I could do.
“I am retiring to our ridiculous, unacceptable quarters!” Alexandra grabbed my hand and led me down the hall towards her room.
We made it there, weary from a delayed flight from Paris. Fortunately, neither of us was particularly daunted.
