He watched a few videos of her making speeches or visiting a charity, first with her father and Madeleine then on her own as she became an adult. He watched her go from a nervous, awkward, slightly gawky teen to a poised, self-confident, compassionate queen.
On his computer screen, he watched as she crouched in front of a girl of about six years old. The little girl handed the queen a bouquet of flowers and a small teddy bear. The commentary that went with it seemed to indicate the little girl told the queen it was for her new sibling. He looked at the date the video was posted, but didn’t match up. There had been no knew siblings, not in the last year. It must have been reposted by someone.
He let the ViewTube website choose the next video and continued down a rabbit hole studying the side of Catherine the outside world saw.
Eventually, he reached a video speculating on her relationship with a young man several years earlier. She looked more relaxed than he'd seen her in any of the other videos, but there was no sign of the woman who’d laugh-snorted in front of him that morning.
What happened with this relationship? Stopping the video, he pulled up a search box in another tab and typed in the name of the young man. He found a few articles speculating on their relationship, and then a few months later commentary on the apparent end of any relationship since he'd beenseen kissing another woman, believed to be a former friend of the queen.
If that was the case, it was no wonder Catherine had a hard time letting people in, letting them see the truth of her. Had it been an actual betrayal or did the two of them get together after he and the queen ended their relationship? If the former, Jake wondered if it was the first time someone had betrayed her like that?
It didn't seem likely.
A better supposition would be that she'd been hurt multiple times by someone she cared about but who cared more about her title than they did about who she was as a person.
Leaning back in his seat, Jake tried to study his own motives honestly. Did he want to get to know Catherine - Kinsey, even - or was he just enthralled by her royal status? While he hadn't realized she was the queen right away - something he would likely never stop beating himself up over - he had known all along that she was a member of the queen's family.
He didn't think it had played a role in wanting to get to know her. Once he'd made her laugh the first time, he'd found himself wanting to do so again. That had nothing to do with her job title.
His phone buzzed. Digging it out of his back pocket, Jake couldn't contain his smirk.
Catherine
I'm texting you myself. Would you care to join us for dinner tomorrow evening?
Jacob
Not exactly the contact I had in mind. ;-) I thought we discussed something closer to a phone call than a text message.
He tried to contain his smile as he watched the dots indicate an incoming messagebeing composed.
Catherine
This is the best I can do this evening. Would you care to join us?
He could almost hear the armor in her voice, trying to project an air of indifference. Attempting to protect herself from potential hurt because someone refused her invitation or insisting that she call, trying to force her hand.
Jacob
Just let me know when and where. I'll be in the archives for a while tomorrow, but I'm not certain what time I'll be done yet.
Catherine
I'll make sure you know tomorrow.
Jacob
Sleep well.
Jake set his phone down, suspecting that was also a test. If he'd insisted on knowing right now, it would have been counted as a mark against him. He didn't need to know until midday at the earliest, especially not since he'd be in the palace most of the day anyway.
He would need to make certain he took a change of clothes with him. If he'd known he'd be having dinner with anyone - much less the royal family - he would have done the same thing today.
A knock on his door, caused him to turn and tell whoever it was to come in.
It didn't surprise him when his grandmother popped her head around the open door. "Will you be home for dinner tomorrow, Jakey?"
Living with his grandparents meant he was subjected to some of his childhood nicknames on a regular basis. He smiledat her. "I don't think so. I have tentative plans, but I wouldn't plan on me being here." Given their conversation a minute ago, it wouldn't surprise him if Catherine canceled at the last minute, or nearly so, just to see his reaction.
