Page 109 of Heavy Crown

“No need to apologize.” Brice, on the other hand, is getting an earful. I stuff my folder between my knees, and I offer to take it. “Let me.”

She shakes her head, and the cups rattle again. “I can’t let you take it. It’s a violation of protocol. I have to deliver it to the vehicle. I didn’t realize Brice would be late.”

I want to shout, “I’m going to be the fucking king, let me take the tray!” Fuck protocol. Fuck the whole thing. I press my lips together to prevent the words from bursting out.

There’s suddenly so much anger in me, I’m not sure what to do with it. She didn’t say yes, and now it’s too late, but she’s miserable. There is an air of despair coating her that breaks my heart all over again.

Kane drives the car up to the entrance, and a second security vehicle appears behind him. He opens the driver’s door and hustles to the rear passenger door to arrange the middle console for Brice’s cream tea for two.

My brother is so bloody infuriating. His cream tea is here. Rory is here. I am here. He’s nowhere to be found. Even later than he usually is. It screams setup, but to what end? So I can see how miserable Rory is? So I can drown in my own sorrow over what we might have had?

Kane takes the tray from her, and once she’s empty-handed, our gazes connect. I want to ask if she’s all right, but it’s clear she’s not.

“Thank you,” I say. It’s all I’ve got. An inadequate response. What do I say when everything I want to say can no longer be said?

“Alex, I—”

“Wahey!” Brice crows from the doorway. “My cream tea for the road.” He throws an arm around Rory’s shoulders and kisses her temple. “You’re a gem.”

I clench my hand around my folder at the casual contact, at her surprised expression. Never again will I touch her like that. It would kill me to be that close and not have her be mine.

“Ready to go, brother?” He slaps me on the shoulder before rounding the trunk to climb into the car.

Rory and I stare at each other, and the sharp, stabbing pain is a constant reminder of what I no longer have.

“Were you about to say something?” I ask.

“No, I—” She runs her hands down her cheeks and takes a deep breath. “Good luck with the referendum. I hope you get the result you want.”

“Your Highness,” Kane says from beside the driver’s door. “If we don’t leave now, we’ll be late.”

“Right. Yes.” I search Rory’s face for one more beat. It’s been a week since I’ve seen her, but it feels like years.

“This is delicious, Rory!” Brice calls from the car. “Thank you.”

Right now, I hate him. Fratricide might happen before we reach Rockdown. He is not this clueless.

With that, I tear myself away from her at the front entrance and duck into the back seat with Brice. He’s slathered clotted cream and jam on a scone. I tug the door closed behind me, but I can’t help glancing at Rory as we pull away from the curb. My chest is a wildfire of pain. I would have done anything—everything—and it wasn’t enough.

“What the fuck was that?” I turn on Brice as soon as we’re out of the gates.

“I felt like a cream tea.” He picks up another scone. “Rory makes the best ones.”

“You knew I’d be there early.”

“Of course. You always are. I gave her the right time.” He eyes me as he takes a bite. “I was a wee bit late.”

“You cannot be this clueless.”

“That you’re in love with her and you’re pretending you’re not? Nope. Not that clueless.”

“The time for matchmaking, as terrible as you were at it in the first place, is over. I’m engaged to Princess Simone of Denmark.”

“I can’t believe you’re going through with it.” Brice shakes his head. “I really thought you had the balls to go after what you want.”

A surge of fury rises in me so fierce, I crumple the folder still in my hand. “I did go after what I wanted. I gave her a plan. Three exit plans to leave it all behind. She told me none of it was enough.” Not exactly true, but the result is the same. Her silence spoke volumes. Me and my plans weren’t enough for her.

Brice frowns. “Doesn’t seem right.”