Page 73 of Cross Me

“What’s happened now?” I asked wearily. There was always some new economic crisis or terrorist threat. The sky was always falling, and yet, we were still sitting here breathing.

“Parliament has called a special council to discuss the treatment of Oliver Jacobson,” he informed me.

It was the last thing I expected. “He’s been formally charged.”

“Yes,” Clark hesitated before continuing, “but there are some members of Parliament who feel the crown has overstepped its bounds in this case.”

“I bet I could pick those members out of a line-up,” I said darkly.

Clark winced as though I’d struck a sore point. “In addition, they’re calling for his release.”

My fingers dug into the arms of my chair and I stared at him, waiting for the punchline. “You aren’t serious? We have a signed confession.”

“Some are saying a man will confess to anything after being held—”

“Stop being a politician for one goddamned minute, Clark,” I ordered him, rising from my seat, “and tell me what you think.”

His jaw tensed as he stared up at me, the only proof that he was anything but calm. “I think its bollocks. I’ve seen the evidence. It’s damning.”

“Then what are you going to do about it?” I turned and gazed out the window, wondering how anyone could be so blind.

“I can’t do anything. They’re calling for action and for legislation which will severely limit the powers of the monarchy,” he explained in a low voice.

“They want my crown,” I muttered with a laugh as I stared at the grounds of my palace. It was ridiculous. I never wanted the damn thing in the first place. I’d been forced to take it to protect my wife from a man who wanted to destroy me, no matter the cost. It was a twisted, unending cycle, and I was trapped. I whipped around to face Clark. “Maybe you should be King.”

“That’s not really how it works,” he said slowly, missing the joke.

“I’m not looking for a lesson in government.” My whole life had been one: shaking hands, enduring endless hours of political discussion, parties, paparazzi, lies, secrets, and impotent compromises.

“I wanted to warn you.” He paused as if weighing what he would say next. “I think you might have more enemies in Parliament. I only pray they don’t come after you like Jacobson.”

“Let them.” I leaned down, clutching the edge of my desk. “Let them come for me. They’ve mistaken me for my title, but I’m flesh and blood and I’ll fight like any man for what’s mine. They think I’m some powerless figure that they can control—that they can frighten into bowing to them? I bow before no man.”

Norris appeared as soon as Clark left, white-faced and apologetic. He smiled tightly as he shut the door behind him. “That went well.”

“So I don’t need to catch you up?” The perk of having an advisor trained to eavesdrop constantly was that I didn’t have to rehash the sordid stories. Now that Clark was gone, I collapsed in my seat, feeling the fury that had fueled me moments before leak away.

“I’m having our people look into who is behind this legislative action.”

I rested my head against the back of my chair, closing my eyes. “It will be interesting to see where it leads.”

“I spoke with the nurses and everything is fine,” he reported. It was a needless reminder of my responsibilities.

“I assume you’ll tell me if that changes.”

“I thought you might like to know.”

I filed the information away. There were more important items to consider: Clark’s warning for one, and my wife’s studious avoidance of me for another. I pinched the bridge of my nose and sighed.

“You’ve done all you can,” Norris began, “so I think you should take a day off.”

“I get a break from ruling the country? Brilliant. I thought it was a full-time job.” I rubbed at my jaw and wished I was talking to Clara. Being with her was the only thing that could grant me a moment’s reprieve. But I was being punished; I had to take my medicine and like it.

“Do you even know what day it is?” he asked, finally taking a seat. “Burning the candle at both ends only leaves you in the dark.”

“I’m afraid I’ve been in the dark for a while,” I admitted. “That’s how it always feels when she shuts me out, but this time I can’t pretend I don’t deserve it.”

“Clara doesn’t want to hurt you.”