He took off his formal jacket and leaned on the desk. His hands gripped the sides and he said, “When you left the palace, I was sure you’d never return.”
I widened my stance and nodded. “That was the plan.”
He tapped the desk with the wedding ring he still wore, and said, “Ryder, your mother always said you were the most like me. When I saw you leave, it was like history repeating for me.”
My shoulders loosened. I’d not heard my father’s tone so … familial, and not formal, in years. I stepped closer and asked, “What?”
He reached behind him and showed me the picture of my mom he kept on his bookcase. “Your grandfather refused to allow me to marry Elsa, your mother.”
I came beside him and said, “I didn’t know that.”
He gave me the picture. It was from before I was born, and Mom was young and vibrant. Emily had her smile. My father spoke slowly, which was a sign he was sad. “It was a long time ago. He thought she’d distract me from my duties.”
I reached behind my head and massaged my neck. “I’m not the heir, father. I have no interest in being Harry.”
He bumped shoulders with me and met my gaze. “You’re still my son, and I pushed you away when … I started acting like my own father. I promised your mother I’d never stand in the way of your happiness.”
I hadn’t realized how much Emily, Harry and my father cared about me. We hadn’t acted like a family since Mom died, and I thought all I wanted was to get away from them and this life. Now, I wanted Nicole to know that the royal family were also good people.
I lowered my voice and said, “Father, I wanted to retire to the North Castle and only do occasional public events. But I will leave here forever, if I need to. Nicole leads an independent lifestyle, and people look to her and her Modern Life blog for advice. I won’t stop that.”
My father picked up the contract and showed me a draft of an amendment to it. “Look, we’ll set up a twenty-four-hour window and the only filter will be from the security team. If they think something strategically important will be leaked, then we inform you and your wife. Otherwise, she can post her opinions on spiritual living and yoga all she wants.”
“Good.” I relaxed and smiled as I said, “Thank you.”
He reached over and hugged me. I patted his back. This wasn’t what I’d expected, ever. I’d wanted to be part of my father’s life for years. As the hug ended, he said, “Thank you for giving your father a second chance.”
I straightened my shirt and said, “We’re still planning to get married today.”
He raised his eyebrows as he asked, “Is it okay to move the festivities here and let palace security handle precautions?”
This time, I brushed into him and said, “I’d like that father, after the church ceremony.”
He stood stiffly, like he’d be serious again, and said, “Then my chefs will officially get to work.”
I waved to him and headed to the door. “I have to go see Nicole.”
“I understand,” he said, and returned to his desk.
Growing up in this house had been strange, but good. I headed out of the office with a bounce in my step as I returned to my bride—who, I knew, would want to hear everything.
The halls were empty, and I made it to the other side of the palace quickly. As I neared the door of Nicole’s room, I stilled and wondered if she would answer. I rapped on the door. A minute later, it flew open and Nicole jumped into my arms. Behind her, I saw her sisters and mine, but they were all fuzzy in my mind. Only Nicole shone bright in my eyes.
Her hug held me in place as she said, “There you are! What happened?”
I stepped back to stare at her, holding her hand in mine as I asked, “You don’t want to talk through the door so I don’t see you before the wedding?”
She shrugged and squeezed my hands as she said, “I’m not superstitious. What happened?”
“Exactly what we wanted,” I said. But then my gaze narrowed and I decided to tell her exactly what the terms were, in case she wasn’t okay with them. “He will limit the restriction to security matters only, and all reviews will be done in twenty-four hours or less by the security team. They will be instructed that you can write whatever you want on yoga and your lifestyle choices.”
She gave me a thumbs-up, and said, “Sounds perfect.”
I let out an audible sigh. We had gotten what we’d agreed on, and she didn’t seem to blink. We probably should have discussed it all before we returned to the palace, but last night I’d only wanted her. And when I was near her, everything else in the world faded away. I held her hands and asked, “Is having the wedding reception here okay with you?”
She jumped like she wanted to fly but then landed back in my arms as she said, “That’s amazing. All my sisters are here! And this palace is beautiful.”
My family had lived here for almost a thousand years. I tugged her closer, as I didn’t want her to disappear from me, and said, “Then, I will see you at the wedding.”
