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‘No.’ He shook his head. ‘It says nothing.’
‘That’s the whole point, Tobias.’
Poor Tobias should be heading home to his pregnant wife, but it was clear he was conflicted and anxious as he re-read it. ‘It needs more work.’
‘Fine.’ She gave him a tight smile as he scurried off.
Beatrice stared at it for another five minutes, added a comma and then deleted it, then got on with other work until Jordan called down.
‘The King has just left so they’re almost ready.’
‘Sure,’ Beatrice said. ‘Julius said to meet him there at three.’
‘Head over now, and call me if anything happens?’
‘Anything?’ Beatrice checked as she reached for her jacket.
‘If they ask for scribes or...’ Jordan sighed. ‘Just keep me up to date.’
It was a good ten-minute walk from her office in Julius’s residence to the palace. Beatrice considered using the catering passage, as she had before on occasion, but Julius had been insistent that she not be early.
So she walked through the glass passageway, but immediately regretted it, for as she came into the main palace there was the King—so like Julius—standing there, looking up at a portrait no doubt of his late son.
Damn.
She knew he would not notice her, so she put her head down as she passed and was duly ignored. She descended the grand staircase and arrived in the Great Hall to find Julius not there and Tobias pacing.
He pulled her into an archway and brought her up to speed. ‘They’ve just called for refreshments,’ Tobias said. ‘We could be here ages. You might get that royal wedding on your résumé sooner than you think.’
‘All because he...danced?’
‘You’ve seen the headlines.’
‘Are you saying the wedding could be announced today?’
‘If he agrees.’ Tobias was seriously rattled. ‘You know why you were hired. They want him married and producing heirs.’
Yes, she knew, and although it all felt very different now from when she’d first been given the brief, Beatrice was a professional, and when she worked she was always calm.
‘Tobias, they can hardly drag him up the aisle kicking and screaming.’
Suddenly Julius was at her elbow. He must have heard her because he said, ‘I don’t kick.’ He pointed a finger. ‘And I’d certainly never scream. Watch your words.’
Watch your finger, she wanted to retort, but then he decided to do that without her instruction.
He was suited and clean-shaven and just too beautiful for a Monday afternoon.
‘Have you got the response?’ he asked.
‘I have.’ She handed him the very brief statement only because she knew the palace had insisted on one. Otherwise they would put out their own. ‘I’ve kept it bland.’
‘I like bland,’ he said, and read it out loud. ‘“Prince Julius enjoyed partaking in the commencement of the Hellenic Festival and celebrating our rich Greek heritage.” Perfect,’ he said. ‘We’ll go with that.’
Tobias, it would seem, wanted a little more of an apology in there. ‘Perhaps wait till the meeting, sir?’ he suggested.
‘Aren’t you supposed to be off now? An ultrasound or something? I think Esther needs her hand holding more than I do,’ Julius said. ‘Go.’
Beatrice could see that Tobias was torn. This really wasn’t about a night of dancing, she was fast realising. It was a push to get the reluctant Prince to instruct the palace to select a bride.
