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She swept from the room, with Rudolpho right behind her, but she kept the ring. It was right there in her tightly clenched fist.
Casimir ran a hand across the back of his neck, his body thrumming with the aftermath of freefall. He’d planned for this. Maybe not all of it but most of it. Squaring his shoulders, he lifted the phone to his ear.
‘Theo, my old friend. You saw the show?’
‘I did indeed. A six-year-old daughter born out of wedlock and a future Queen Consort no one’s ever met? I can’t top that. It’s going to take years.’
‘Don’t forget the water management plan.’
‘Yes, let’s not forget the only thing I did know about beforehand. Talk about burying the lead. I’ll be on camera within the hour, endorsing the bold new regional plan and congratulating you on your upcoming nuptials. Which… I have no words other than: I hope the hell you know what you’re doing. And how’s Moriana? Is she even speaking to you right now?’
‘About that. I was thinking you could ask her to Liesendaach to—’
‘No.’
‘—value the royal art collection.’
‘I know exactly what my collection is worth. Why do I need the harridan’s opinion?’
‘You don’t. But she needs a face-saver, and you’re—’
‘Egregiously reckless, feckless and immature. Her words, not mine.’
‘I was going to say available,’ muttered Casimir. ‘And kind-hearted.’
‘Debatable,’ his childhood friend said drily.
‘So what if you and Moriana fight a little?’ They never stopped. ‘You like it. It keeps you battle-honed.’
‘And perpetually wounded.’
‘One photo of you looking smitten with her. That’s all she needs.’
‘That is not what I need.’
‘I don’t want to see her take a public press battering over this.’
‘Well, I’m sure that could have been avoided had you not to all intents and purposes been practically engaged to her for the past twenty years. Damn you to hell and back, Casimir, what were you thinking? Do you think it’s been pleasant, her having to wait on your whim? She was relying on you to come through for her.’
Cas looked at the phone. He’d heard similar from Augustus, but Augustus was Moriana’s brother and naturally protective. Theo, on the other hand, was traditionally not in Moriana’s corner. Not ever. ‘Hello? Is this Theodosius, despoiler of women? Because for a moment there I thought I was talking to someone who cared about a woman’s feelings. Someone deeply invested in the fact that their only female friend of over twenty years might be hurting.’
Silence, then, ‘Screw you. You were perfect for her. The golden couple. You never put a foot wrong and now this.’
‘She’s not broken-hearted.’ Casimir tried again. ‘I’ve spoken to her and she’s angry, yes. Resentful, yes. Not shy about voicing her displeasure at being made to feel like a fool. But we’ve never been intimate, not once in all these years.’ And that was more than Theo ever needed to know about Casimir’s relationship with Moriana.
The silence on the other end of the phone was deep enough to drown in.
‘Seriously?’ Theo said finally. ‘What are you, a monk?’
‘Compared to who? You? Yes.’
More silence, and then, ‘I’ll ask her out. She will refuse and then I’ll be done with it.’
‘Thank you.’
‘You’re welcome. Hey, Cas—’ Theo’s voice had softened ‘—we’re finally doing it. All those years. All our plans.’
‘I know.’
‘Asking you to offer the northerners a seat at the negotiating table was a big ask, but you did it. I’ve never been more proud of you. I’ve never been more proud of anyone.’
Casimir rubbed at his chest to ease the sudden tightness there. ‘Thanks.’
Theo cleared his throat. ‘Anyway. I’m hanging up now, you ungrateful cur. Some of us have work to do.’
‘Call Moriana.’
But he was talking to a dialling tone.
* * *
Forty minutes later, Casimir put the phone down and headed for the outer offices where Rudolpho and various other royal aides held court. ‘You all saw Theodosius’s press conference?’
