Page 129 of Heavy Crown

“Everything I’ve ever wanted is right here in this bed.” I prop my head onto my hand. “But tomorrow is going to be rough,” I say. “But no matter what, you and I come out of the discussions together. Every department will be in crisis management, and those people speak very frankly when we’re trying to protect the Summerset brand or the country. But nothing anyone says has any bearing on where we’re headed. From now on, you come first. Always.”

“You and me,” she says. “No matter what.” She kisses my jaw. “I like the sound of that.”

Me too. But I’m not sure she can really comprehend what it’ll be like to go back to Bellerive after what I’ve done. She won’t be on the outside looking in anymore, she’ll be right in the center of the storm.

My father’s office is packed with my brother, my mother, Nick and Jules via video chat from Tanzania, secretaries, social media managers, diplomatic relations experts, and HR.

As soon as we arrived on the property, our HR manager whisked Rory off for the exit interview she should have had when she quit so abruptly. Rory told me just before this meeting that every question was centered around my relationship with her. They’re worried about a sexual harassment lawsuit or public perception that I abused my privilege as a prince to cajole Rory into a relationship. No one even knows Rory is pregnant—yet.

Currently, the room is buzzing, and questions are being hurled in my direction rapid-fire. Rory has a death grip on my hand, and I have to admit as an introduction to the machinery of royalty, this is a baptism by fire. I’ve basically thrown the monarchy to the wolves for breakfast, and each department is trying to triage the bite marks to our brand and family.

“What have you promised Denmark in exchange for the canceled contract?” Carol, our diplomatic relations expert has a notebook in front of her.

“Keep my relationship with Rory quiet for a few months to distance Simone from the fallout. That may be more complicated than I anticipated.” Seemed like an easy promise at the time. “Ease visa restrictions for Denmark citizens who want to live, work, or visit here. I’ll need to speak to Brice privately about the final piece.”

“Please don’t tell me you volunteered me as marriage tribute,” Brice groans. “I am capable of finding my own wife.” He glances around the room for confirmation, but no one is playing along with his ridiculous schtick.

Rory’s grip on my hand tightens to an almost unbearable pressure. Any time Simone’s name comes up, Rory white knuckles through it. Can’t blame her. I’d be the same if the roles were reversed. The thought of her with anyone else sours my stomach, and she had a front-row seat to that show for weeks.

“It’s not marriage related,” I say. “But I did make a promise on behalf of the family, and you’re the best one to fulfill it.”

“Well,” our social media coordinator says, “given what you’ve done, this doesn’t seem too complicated on the socials side. We can spin this. Harken back to your heroic actions at the car accident. Cinderella it up.”

“Right.” I glance at Rory. She knows we’re telling them, but I’m not sure she’s prepared for the roar that’s about to hit this room. “Just one last complication there. Rory is pregnant, and the timeline will be obvious for anyone who knows how to count.”

The room falls into a deathly silence for two beats before everyone lobs questions at us and frantically takes notes.

Brice crows from the back of the room. “Holy shit, you knocked her up. Nick, he beat you to it.”

Beside me, my father rises from his desk chair. It takes him a moment to say anything once the room quiets. He glances at me, and I can’t decide if he needs my help to find the words or if he’s contemplating murdering me. His frustrated expression is familiar for too many reasons lately.

“George?” My mother’s tone is uncertain on the other side.

“Everyone but family out. Desmond, stay.”

Perhaps I should have broken the grandparent news to them ahead of the full staff meeting. My parents might not be the only ones who sometimes blur the personal with the professional. It’d be something to work on if we were living this life. All these meetings are a formality. We’re not staying in Bellerive long-term. We won’t be tied to the fallout of my abrupt choices beyond Nick’s coronation. We’re in Bellerive to salvage what we can before we leave.

The various staff members file out in silence, but it just means the buzz has moved to the corridor outside. Whatever they think, I could care less.

“A little warning would have been nice,” my mother says as soon as the office door is closed. “Pregnant?”

On the video chat, Julia clears her throat. “First of all, congratulations! On a personal level, I’m very happy for you both. A baby is such a blessing. However, I don’t want to be the one to point this out, but, Alex, have you considered the public response to this?”

It’ll appear as though I’ve been playing both women. “As long as the poor perception lands on me, I’ll be fine.”

“There’s no guarantee,” Julia says. “I realize the two of you had your own hashtag, but we need to get out in front of this. Do you think Simone would agree to step out with someone else at the same time you and Rory go public? With the pregnancy, you’ve got to do that fast.”

I rub my face with the hand that isn’t in Rory’s death grip. “Our conversation didn’t go overly well.” Rory hasn’t asked for details, and I wouldn’t be keen to share anyway. The whole thing makes her uncomfortable, and Simone’s anger was justified. “Whatever impression the public has of us, it’ll be temporary since I won’t become king.”

“No,” my father says from where he’s standing by the window.

“No, what?” my mother asks.

“Alex may not have to step down,” my father says. “Helen, didn’t we find something in King Henry’s documents that mentioned a marriage because of an heir?”

My mother’s brow knits. “Henry married a foreigner, but it was a second marriage because his wife died.”

“Died without any children,” he says. “But this particular paramour was pregnant.”