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After lunch, Nolan walked her back to her suite. “What are you going to do all afternoon?”
Madeline wanted him to beg her to come back to his side, sit through the meetings and give input after. Even more ideal … What if as his fiancée and then his wife, she could participate fully in the meetings, not hide as a spectator and give input after the fact?
She mentally shook her head. The meetings were the least of their concerns at the moment. “I thought I’d take your advice and read a book up in the solarium.”
“I wish I could sit by your side and read with you.”
Madeline smiled. His life was insanely busy, meeting after meeting after meeting. Everyone wanted the king’s attention and his opinion. If they did marry, could she take a bigger role in his meetings, or would she be relegated to some queen-consort role of meeting ladies for lunch and organizing banquets? That wasn’t her at all. If she wasn’t part of the meetings, what would she do with her time? Could she still be in parliament? Probably not. Definitely a conflict of interest.
It was interesting that the accomplished and organized king could so impulsively ask her to marry him last night, and she was the one who had to be logical and think through all the obstacles. Was that part of her appeal for him? That he wasn’t logical about her?
He was passionate, consumed, and made her entire body full of warmth.
Marry me. Soon.
She’d never forget the way he’d uttered those words, the depth and yearning in his blue gaze.
“What would you read?” she asked to get her mind off those feelings lest she act on them. Soon.
“You know …” He paused, as if considering. Since he never had free time, it probably was a stretch to think about sitting in the solarium and reading. “I’m a fan ofThe Lord of the Rings.”
Madeline burst out laughing. “You are not. You’re only saying that because of T’s teasing about baby names.”
“I am too.” He looked to be hiding a grin. “What would you suppose I like to read, if I ever had free time?”
The only free time he did have he spent exercising each morning and having dinner with and interacting with his children each evening. He was one of the best men she knew. Unselfish and full of purpose. Confident yet somehow approachable and unassuming.
“I think our serious and illustrious king only reads nonfiction—King Charles’ AutobiographyorHow to Run a Kingdom for Dummies.”
“You know, I have both on my nightstand.”
They both laughed.
His phone buzzed.
“Pardon me.” He pulled it out and grimaced. “Late for another meeting.”
She met his gaze, wondering if he could see she wanted to be invited back. When he only studied her, but didn’t say anything, she said, “I’ll see you at dinner.”
Nolan nodded, gave her one more searching look, and then strode down the hallway. She watched him go. His confident walk appealed to her on every level. He was strong, yet she’d seen him humble himself for her, his family, and for the kingdom.
Incredible was the only word that could describe that man. Why couldn’t she be like a fanciful girl, swoon in the king’s arms after his enticing kiss, and when he said in that beautiful, lyrical, husky voice, ‘Marry me … Soon,’ she could scream, “Yes!”
Madeline eased into her suite, found a historical suspense novel she probably wouldn’t be able to focus on, and plodded up the many stairs to the solarium. The gorgeous views, delicious scents of roses, alyssum, and gardenia, and the soothing sound of water fountains calmed her. She read for a few minutes but then found she couldn’t sit still, which was odd as she sat through hours of meetings with parliament and recently with Nolan and Tristan.
Madeline set her book on an outdoor couch and wandered over to a balcony, staring out at the picturesque valley below, dotted with lakes, and the towering green mountains beyond. She wanted to get caught up in the mystical and magical feel of the castle, the valley, the royal family, and especially the enticing King Nolan.
Glancing over at the picturesque village of Greenville and the lake beyond, fear rushed through her. She’d been attacked on that lake trail. Queen Anne had drowned in that lake. Apprehension pressed at the back of her mind, and then all the horror of this morning rushed over her. That huge man, restraining her, no escape, the awful things he had said and intoned.
Tears ran down to her chin and then dropped onto the balcony railing. Her shoulders shook with sobs. She rarely cried and here she was crying for the second time in one day. If only Nolan was here to hold and comfort and strengthen her.
Yet she had been attacked because of her relationship with Nolan. Maybe she wasn’t cut out to be queen. She’d have to agree to dump her independence and freedom, have guards trailing her at all times while she literally did nothing, sat sweetly around the castle and quietly supported her kingly husband. That wasn’t her path, her life.
Yet Nolan …
A tremble of sweetness trickled down her spine. To be with Nolan. To love him. Be loved by him. Nurture and love all their children together. The morning hikes, meals together, and time spent with their children might be worth the hours of empty unfulfillment and the constant guards. Especially time spent with Kiera. She adored that impetuous girl trapped in a tween body.
She thought through what days and nights might look like as queen, but more importantly as Nolan’s wife. Could she ask to be a full participant in his and Tristan’s responsibilities? They did so much, so many meetings. She’d love to be by his side or even take over some responsibilities so they all had more time to enjoy together.
