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The queen’s words to Dani at the tribute ball still stung. And as much as she’d like to tell the older woman, “Yes, Jameson. All up in his family’s house. And I could give two shits about what you will and won’t allow,” she wouldn’t.
Dani was petty but she wasn’t stupid.
She and the queen didn’t need to be biffles, but it would help if they were cordial.
For Jameson’s sake.
And yours.
“I do have experience in rushing off dramatically,” she said, able to semi-joke about it since things had worked out in her favor.
“And I have experience in getting you off dramatically,” he said.
Sir!
Her pulse quickened and moisture pooled at her core. Their eyes met and in his she could see all the things he’d done—and still wanted to do—to her, but she did what was best for both of them and looked away. If she did what shewantedto, they’d scandalize the queen.
Dani cleared her throat. “So I remember some of the protocols from the crash course we were given for the tribute festivities, but this is less formal and not public. Do the same rules apply?”
“In a manner of speaking, yes. You still need to curtsy and let her lead the conversation.”
Dani fought down her contrariness that practically screamed,Curtsy to her? Bitches supposed to bow down to me!“And what do I call her?”
“Your Majesty,” he said, his furrowed brow indicating his confusion that she thought there would be any other option.
“You mean all those times when she called you here and it was just the two of you, you called her Your Majesty?”
“Well, ‘ma’am’ after the initial address.” He shrugged. “I told you we don’t have the closest of relationships.”
“I know, but—”
The woman was his grandmother. Dani had grown up around a lot of relatives she didn’t consider close, but she’d still called themby their designation: Aunt, Uncle, or Cousin. Sure, there were roles to play in public and rules to be followed. But in private, the queen really required her grandson to refer to her the way everyone else did?
Jameson looked at his watch and frowned. “Why am I always the one on time when I have to travel the longest to get here? She lives in the building.”
At his words the door opened, and a footman announced, “Her Majesty the Queen.”
Dani’s belly roiled. In the immortal words of Slick Rick,Here we go.
Jameson shot to his feet and Dani followed suit. The queen strode in, her bearing as regal as ever, even though she was dressed less formally in a startling bright white blouse and lilac skirt that fell to mid-calf.
“Jameson, thank you for coming.”
He bowed. “Of course, Your Majesty.”
Her blue eyes, the same color as Jay’s but devoid of his warmth, swung to Dani. “Duchess.”
One word, and all the feelings this woman invoked in Dani at their last meeting came flying back.
“Not Jameson. Not this family. I won’t allow it.”
Prickles of embarrassment, shame, and anger tingled across her skin and warred inside her, forming a boulder that hardened in her stomach. She fought not to give in to it. Not to blame herself, make herself smaller, or, heaven forbid, run away. Despite everything the queen had threatened, Jameson had chosen Dani.
Choke on it,she wanted to fling at the other woman.
But such impetuousness would also be a mistake. This was more than being face-to-face with the sovereign of a nation who had no power over her. She was meeting the family of the man she loved.And that, plus the image of Nana pinching her arm for showing her ass, made Dani swallow back her words.
Dani curtsied. “Your Majesty.”
