AllFreeNovel
Share Us
At the very least, it’ll be nice to have a break from the constant memories of Creed Lawson surrounding me everywhere in this city. That alone will make the trip well worthwhile.
“Okay.” I give my father a small smile. “I’ll do it.”
ChapterSeventeen
Esme
“Can you spare a minute?”I ask Dad once he dismisses the meeting.
“For you, of course. Come on.” He leads me into his office and closes the door behind us.
My gaze scans the room, everything almost exactly as it was the last time I was here. Same built-in bookshelves, rows of books carefully arranged by size. Same elaborate mahogany desk that’s centuries old. Same intricate detail carved into the ceiling.
Despite it all, this placefeelsdifferent.
My father’s different.
I like this version of him much better.
I may evenlovethis version, something I didn’t think possible in our family. Not when I was raised to think there’s no place for love in a monarchy.
Maybe there is.
And maybe it’s not too late for my father to have love, too.
“Drink?” he asks as he heads toward the wet bar in the far corner, taking the top off a crystal bottle containing a dark liquid.
I can’t recall if I’ve ever had a drink with my father.
I’ve sipped on champagne at a gala or state dinner when he was in the same room, sometimes at the same table. But I don’t think we’ve ever had a drink together.
“Sure.”
“Scotch okay? I can call down and have some wine or champagne brought up, if you’d prefer.”
“Scotch is more than acceptable.”
He nods, pouring a couple fingers into two glasses. “Any water or ice?”
I shake my head. “Neat.”
He blows out a low whistle as he adds a few cubes of ice to one of the glasses. “You’re made of tougher stuff than I am.” He approaches, handing me the glass. “Your mother was, too. Took her scotch the same way.” He brings his drink to his lips and I do the same, savoring in the woodsy flavor and fiery warmth that spreads through my chest.
A brief silence passes over us before he gestures to the couch. I walk toward it, lowering myself onto it.
“I just wanted to thank you,” I tell him as he sits beside me.
“Thank me?” He sets his drink on a coaster. “I’m the one who should be thanking you for agreeing to all of this. Not just the goodwill trip, but undertaking your duties again.”
“Truthfully, it’s been good to be back. Yes, there are some things I still hate, but I don’t feel…trapped like I once did.”
He nods. “I can see that. Paris has been good for you.”
“I’ve enjoyed my time there. But that’s beside the point.” I take another sip of my drink before setting it on the table. “What you did in there, how you stood up for Anders, I actually saw my dad again. The dad you were before everything changed.”
His eyes shine with affection. “I’m just trying to live up to my end of the bargain.”
“What do you mean?”
