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Julius hadn’t really noticed then; it had been but an idle observation. It was the next day that he’d looked down and watched her open a container and wave at the gardener, who’d returned her wave.
He’d found himself smiling.
Not just that day but a little more often since then.
He’d noticed that her eyes were more grey than blue, and framed with blonde lashes.
Julius had chosen to ignore the fact that he’d noticed.
But Julius wanted her to stay—after all, he could really use her skill set.
Practically, he knew he wouldn’t be able to tolerate anyone else glimpsing his private life without it feeling invasive, and he knew by objecting he would be denying her the chance of an excellent promotion.
But privately?
There was no room for private.
No room at all.
And, as if to serve as a reminder of exactly what was at stake, when he looked down now it wasn’t Beatrice by the lake. It was his sister Jasmine, feeding the birds with Arabella. He adored his niece, but she was so loud and so spoilt he thought she’d possibly put him off having kids for life!
He loved them, though.
And his father knew it.
It was a Sword of Damocles that his father held over Julius’s head and with which he ruled his family.
Perhaps it was time to stop thinking primitive thoughts and get on with fulfilling the role he’d been born to—well, not born to, but bornjust in caseto...
‘Let me think on it,’ he said now.
He had enough to deal with today, Julius realised.
The King was currently meeting his aides. Then the aides would discuss the situation, and then they would call him in.
‘Sir, I’ve moved things around. The meeting is at three,’ Jordan informed him, and then added, ‘It’s just with the aides.’
Julius nodded. All too soon it would be with the King.
Julius’s dark mood now had nothing to do with his liaison aide.
He called Beatrice and said, ‘I want you to come up with a bland response to these latest photos. I’ll meet you in the Great Hall at three.’ Then he added, ‘Don’t be early.’
He would not be bullied.
CHAPTER FOUR
HE’DDANCED!Yes, on the anniversary of his brother’s death...
It was a minor infringement in the scheme of Julius’s rather more decadent deeds. In driving terms, Beatrice would have likened it to the equivalent of a blown headlight, yet it was as if his staff were preparing for an appearance in court for vehicular manslaughter.
‘Can I read the response?’ Tobias came in half an hour before they were scheduled to meet.
‘Sure,’ Beatrice said, and handed him the paper.
‘This is the press release?’
Beatrice nodded.
