Page 24 of Falling for the Queen Mother

This certainly wasn't a typical situation. Barring some odd occurrence, Nathaniel could be in her life for decades to come.

Her intercom buzzed. "Ma'am?"

"Yes?" she called.

"The king is here to see you."

Coming to see her without summoning her to his office? That was unusual. "Send him in."

Most people would have moved, stood or at least sat up, but she didn't. Not when she'd literally given birth to him and they were in one of the oddest situations to exist in the history of their country.

"Your appointment was with your eyelids?" Her normally serious son had a teasing tone in his voice.

"Are you surprised?" It wasn't the first time she'd done it. It wouldn't be the last. He also knew she only did it when she needed to get out of a situation and not for frivolous reasons.

"Not at all." She could hear him take a seat near her. "I haven't had a chance to check in with you after the last few days. How are you?"

"How would you be if you'd been widowed for a number of years, met a new woman you liked, kissed her, fell asleep, then woke up married, and it's about to be splashed all over the news?" It would be different since he was the monarch and not a prince consort, but the point remained.

"I know. I wish we'd had a chance to talk sooner, but it's been a crazy few days."

"I'm... fine." She wasn't sure how else to put it. "I like Nathaniel, but this whole being married business caught me off guard, and I don't know how to deal with it. I barely know the man."

"I've had him checked out."

"I would have been surprised if you hadn't. I would also feel safe presuming that you didn't find anything concerning or you would have brought it up before now." She wondered if any other Queen Mother had ever fallen asleep while talking to their monarch child. Given how well she'd slept the last few nights, it wouldn't surprise her if she did.

"You presume correctly. I've also spoken with Madeleine who has known Nathaniel since their University days. She speaks quite highly of him." He must have reached over because she felt his hand take hers - the one that belonged to the arm flopped over her face - and squeezed gently without letting go afterward.

It reminded her of his father. He would often hold her hand, just lightly, when he knew she needed human contact but not too much. Just enough for her to know she wasn't alone.

The reminder of the one great love of her life brought hot tears to her eyes. Alaina struggled to keep them from falling, but was unsuccessful. A few leaked out and made their way down the side of her face and into her ears. She hated that.

But wiping them off would only bring attention to them and the possibility did exist that her son hadn't noticed.

It wasn't a great possibility, but it was one nonetheless.

"Do you have any idea how you want to navigate this? It will be public tomorrow whether we want it to be or not." Sometimes, when her son spoke, she could hear his father.

"I know."

"I know you've spent some time with him the last few days. How is that going?" He gave her hand another gentle squeeze then let go of it.

"He's a lovely man. I enjoy spending time with him, but marriage? Even one of friendship and companionship and nothing more seems like far more than I want to deal with anytime soon." It had nothing to do with Nathaniel specifically. Alaina had enjoyed her time further from the spotlight. She was able to occasionally go places without being noticed and only needing light security or minimal disguises.

The announcement and interview the next day would destroy that for the foreseeable future. She doubted Nathaniel had considered what the spotlight would do for his life, though it wouldn't be quite as bad for him once he left Southern Santiero. In fact, outside of this country, he likely wouldn't be noticed often at all.

Could the same be said for her? The thought intrigued her in a way she wouldn't have anticipated. Could she travel fairly unencumbered?

She needed to say something to Frederick before she changed her mind.

"What would you think if I moved somewhere outside of the country? Maybe go to the States and slink into obscurity where no one has any idea who I am. The royal watchers are mostly Anglophiles and don't care much about following our family closely. Somewhere I could live a relatively normal life." She purposely hadn't moved her arm so she could see her son.

"I can understand why the idea has merit," he answered slowly. "But it doesn't change things. You're still legally married to Nathaniel here. That follows you to whatever country you might go to."

"I know. And I love you and your siblings and Elise, but if I go somewhere else... I'm not here."

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