Page 50 of Complete Me

"It's custom, and who am I to break with tradition?"

"Yes," Edward agreed, "that's my job."

"There's more," Alexander warned him. He didn't want to deliver troubling news to Edward on the cusp of his wedding, but he deserved to know. For the first time in a very long time, Alexander believed he could keep the information brief.

Edward listened quietly as Alexander filled him in on the details of the last few weeks.

"I know you have questions," Alexander said when he finished, "and I'll be happy to answer all of them. You deserve to know and so does he." He nodded to David.

"I haven't really kept him in the loop," Edward admitted.

That was Alexander's fault. He had been the one to dictate what could and could not be shared in his brother's relationship. That was a mistake. "I should never have asked you to keep anything from David."

Alexander had been learning this lesson recently himself, and he wouldn't stand by and force his brother to make the same mistake.

"I'm not sure how he will take it," Edward said. It was clear he was still digesting the news of Jacobson's capture and the existence of Anderson.

"Tell him anyway," Alexander advised. "It's for the best."

He clamped a hand on Edward's shoulder and then left him to consider this.

David found his fiancé still thinking in the corner a few minutes later. "Are you hiding or is something on your mind?"

"Lots of things," Edward said in a measured tone.

"I don't like how that sounds," David admitted.

"It won't change anything between the two of us," Edward prefaced. He needed David to know that. He had put the man he loved through hell, asked him to be patient with little guarantee of a happy ending, and broken his heart far too many times. "I just found out that my family is a little more fucked up than I thought."

David took his hands and squeezed them tightly. "I know the Royals are fucked up. If it bothered me, I would have been long gone a while ago." He tipped his head back toward the rest of the group, "Let's enjoy Christmas. Nothing you can tell me is going to change anything between the two of us, but I'm glad you want to share it with me."

Edward smiled, feeling a weight lift from his chest, "I want to share everything with you."

24

New Year’s Eve arrived with a blanket of snow that covered the grounds of the castle. Thankfully, all the guests were in attendance for tonight’s festivities, and Edward wouldn’t have it any other way. While the extended family had returned to their homes in the city, those closest to him were scattered about Balmoral trying to keep warm. He’d already been down to the kitchen, only to be sent away by Mrs. Watson for attempting to snag a finger full of frosting. Apparently, even the groom-to-be wasn’t allowed a taste test.

Much of the holiday decor transitioned nicely to a wedding. Although he’d added a few extra sprigs of holly in places. There wasn’t much more he could do but count the hours.

Clara found him staring at a newspaper in the study a few hours later. She took a seat across from him, already dressed in a champagne-colored lace dress that accented the rich chestnut hues of her hair. Although her hair was done, her face was free of make-up. Despite that her pale skin glowed with unmistakable beauty.

“Afternoon shag?” he guessed, tossing aside the paper. He’d been rereading the same article without processing since he sat down. He had higher prospects of being entertained by his best friend.

“A nap,” she said with a yawn, “and a shag.” She stretched her slender arms over her head as though she was still waking up.

“I won’t tell Alexander what order of preference you have for your daily activities,” he said dryly. Not that it would matter in the least to his brother.

“What are you doing?” She eyed the abandoned newspaper as if he’d been up to no good.

“David has decided to be a traditionalist, and he refuses to see me before the wedding.” Edward thought now was a peculiar time to adopt an ancient custom. They were blowing them all to hell just by getting married. If his entire married life was dependent on an archaic ritual, they were doomed.

Clara glanced around the room. “Where’s Belle?”

“I loaned her to David,” he explained. “I felt he needed a friend with him. It might be his idea not to see one another, but he’s the possessive one in the relationship.”

“Oh, really?” Clara couldn’t hide her surprise, and Edward felt a slight surge of annoyance.

“In case it hasn’t escaped your attention, I am not my brother.”