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“Don’t I know it,” Dani said, before she could stop herself.
The queen looked at her sharply. “This is all because of you. You brought her here.”
“Don’t put that on Dani,” Jameson said.
Damn straight.
“Samantha Banks is a lot of things, but your son is the one who sought her out, slept with her, and possibly got her pregnant. Noneof that. Had anything to do. With me.” Dani spoke clearly and concisely to make sure she was heard and understood.
The muscle in Marina’s jaw ticked for several seconds before she exhaled. “You’re right. My apologies. This entire ordeal has me stressed.”
In that moment, she looked more like an old woman and less like a monarch and the transformation softened Dani. She knew what it was like to have tons of people depend on her and look up to her. To know that every decision she made would affect the livelihood of so many. It was her responsibility, but it was also a burden. And it was the reason Dani found it difficult to handle things when her life was negatively influenced by the selfish actions of others.
The queen had to feel that tenfold.
“What I’m about to tell you is information that would never be given to anyone outside of this family. But Jameson has made it clear how important you are to him, and I’m sure he’s shared much of this with you already, so he’s left me no other choice.” Her gaze hardened. “I expect it to remain between the three of us. And Catherine.”
Dani nodded, recognizing the seriousness of the queen’s tone and understanding the significance of the disclosure.
“John’s tribute had the desired effect. People remembered the good of the monarchy, remembered we are the visible embodiment of the British nation. All was going according to plan. We thought the announcement of Fiona’s pregnancy would be the start of another round of good press. But Julian ruined it. I guess it was too much to ask for him to be faithful to his wife!”
“When will this family learn that forcing people to marry never ends well?” Jameson asked.
“When willthe menof this family learn that duty supersedes all?” Marina shot back. “If you want the privileges and benefits thatcome with being a royal, you have to accept the responsibilities and disadvantages.”
“Oh, I have,” Jameson murmured.
“Have you? Is Catherine the only one who comprehends how tenuous our current position is? It’s bad enough that here at home we’re faced with a younger generation that questions our very relevance, but abroad, a number of the Commonwealth nations have begun questioning the necessity of my leadership. They want to leave the organization and lead themselves. And this new scandal, featuring the heir to the throne, isn’t helping on either front.
“But my plan was working. The nostalgia of John’s tribute made us beloved again. And the public, especially young people, took a specific liking to your coupling. When Fiona told us she was pregnant”—she closed her eyes, sighed, then continued—“I thought we’d be able to ride that sentimental wave for at least two years, through the pregnancy and up until the baby turned one. Past that point, they’re only charming in pictures. Toddlers refuse to follow protocol and it’s hard to control them in public.”
Wow! Come on through, cynicism.
“Julian’s affair with this American singer and the possibility of her being pregnant has undone everything. People are questioning Julian’s leadership and the very notion of the line of succession. It’s been quite a distraction. That’s why I thought having Jameson take over some of Julian’s duties would help. And it has.” The queen narrowed her eyes in Jameson’s direction. “The press coverage of the both of you is the one thing that’s been consistently positive. Even the incident outside the restaurant was spun as a romantic act of protection.”
So shehadheard about that.
“Despite my earlier misgivings, your relationship is like a breathof fresh air to the public. It gives everyone something more positive to focus on.”
It wasn’t a ringing endorsement, but... “That’s good... I guess.”
“It is. Which is why—”
Next to Dani, Jameson stilled.
“—I hope you would consider doing more.”
Jameson stood. “Absolutely not!”
“Don’t forget yourself, Jameson,” the queen said firmly, but quietly.
There was subtextual shit going on here. Dani swallowed hard. “I don’t understand. What are you asking?”
“Something unprecedented,” Marina conceded, never taking her eyes off Jameson. “But desperate times call for desperate measures.”
Jameson circled the love seat and braced his hands on its frame. “No. Don’t bring her into this.”
Instinctively, Dani bristled at Jameson making a decision for her.
