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“I’m sure it’s more devastating being the one throwing up,” she teased.
“Oh, for sure. She is tougher than I am. We all know that. How are Chad and Hope?”
“You probably see them more than I do.” Chad had married Hope Radisson last spring, and they were busy between his responsibilities with the Augustine military and running the military training center, and Hope owning a chain of fitness centers and athletic clothing stores throughout America. Lady Fit was hugely successful, and Madeline was delighted with her new daughter-in-law and her sister Faith. Faith seemed to cling to Madeline, much in need of a mother since hers had deserted her at only twelve years old.
“I doubt that. They both adore you, and I know they visit every chance they get.” He smiled, crinkling the burn scars on the left side of his face. The scars had healed and faded somewhat, but they were a reminder that the royal family wasn’t safe or immune to pain. Last summer and fall had challenged them to the extreme. The bomb Roger had used Madeline to try to kill them with at Prince Malik’s wedding and then his attack on Hope and Faith the next day had been the last of the Rindlesbachers’ schemes.
Thankfully, William and Treven Rindlesbacher were both dead and Naomi Rindlesbacher hadn’t been seen in over nine months. Unfortunately, two key members of parliament were trying to claim King Nolan was secretly meeting with Naomi, and that the woman on every crime watchlist throughout the world would be the next queen of Augustine.
Madeline, and most of parliament, thought it was ludicrous. But the law stated if two members of parliament brought forth a movement and the prime minister endorsed it, it must be resolved. After the controversy with Prime Minister Shule and the danger to the throne and the kingdom, everyone was on edge. In closed-door sessions, the only consensus that made everyone happy was sending one of their own to personally monitor happenings around the castle. Hence, here she was, volunteering to watch the king and make certain Naomi had no power or sway over him.
She risked a glance at the man himself. His gaze hadn’t left her, and she was grateful she’d worn her best suit. What would it be like working in close quarters with the king? Her cheeks flushed, and she looked away.
“Come. Sit.” King Nolan took her elbow. Even that simple touch of his palm against her bare skin captivated her. He escorted her to a chair across from his desk. She knew Tristan had his own office next door, but it appeared he had set up shop here as well, with a laptop on a table by the window and a comfortable office chair. Another table and chair were empty. The former prime minister had spent most of his days here at the castle working closely with the king and crown prince. The new prime minister preferred staying in Traverse and working more closely with parliament. He spent hours on Zoom calls with the king and crown prince, together and separately, each day.
The king walked around the desk and sank into his chair. Tristan pulled his chair up next to hers and leaned back, crossing his ankle over his knee. He was completely comfortable with her, as he should be after all the time he’d spent with Chad at her house over the years. How would he react to the outlandish accusations and her assignment? She glanced back at the king, regal in his kingly chair. It might as well have been a throne. How would he react? She’d seen him serious, but never upset. She was betting she might witness that today.
“What brings you to see us today?” King Nolan asked.
Madeline loved to tease with him whenever she could. It helped to hide her unprofessional and undeniable attraction to him. The attraction had blindsided her last Christmas at Tristan and Jennifer’s wedding. The king had danced with her. She knew he’d only asked because Chad was Tristan’s best man and they both loved each other’s sons. They’d danced and teased and laughed, but underlying that, his touch had transported her to a different world full of tingles and light, and his blue eyes had captivated her. She thought of that dance far too often. She’d felt like she was floating. Silly, but she couldn’t deny the power of those feelings.
“King Nolan. Prince Tristan.” She cleared her throat and prayed for professionalism. Before they could both insist on her dropping the titles, she rushed on. “I’m here on official business as an emissary from parliament and Prime Minister Carrera.”
“Oh?” King Nolan leaned back, not looking quite as happy at her being here.
She had it on authority from Chad and had seen glimpses herself that the newly appointed prime minister did not have the rapport and comfortable yet effective relationship former Prime Minister Shule had with the royals. Henry Shule had been too comfortable, according to the prevailing sentiment among parliament after all the angst that had occurred. Not any longer.
“What business might that be?” the king asked, his blue eyes piercing now.
Nerves rolled around in her stomach, but Madeline had known as soon as the issues had been brought up by Albert Gustaff, seconded by George Monaco, and approved by Prime Minister Carrera, that she had to be appointed. The other quick to volunteer members had former associations with the infamous Rindlesbachers and were not fans of King Nolan and his family. Thankfully, she had more loyal friends within parliament and had won the vote.
She had vowed to herself and to parliament and the prime minister that she would be thorough in her investigations and observations and fair with the royal family, particularly King Nolan, and the kingdom she’d pledged her allegiance to. It was a very sticky situation, and everyone had agreed the investigation needed to be done quietly. Thankfully, as it was a closed meeting, it had been sealed and the media should never find out.
She personally did not believe the allegations of misuse of funds, some whispering of embezzling, but worst of all, the association, protection, funding by, and a possible scandalous relationship with Naomi Rindlesbacher. Naomi was a beautiful and conniving lady who had convinced, tricked, or paid a lot of men to be her pawns, but there was no world where King Nolan would associate with that vile manipulator.
Ninety percent of parliament was in agreement with Madeline, but there had been too much controversy, danger, and infiltration, reaching even the former prime minister and the deceased Lieutenant General. Parliament was taking no chances. How long would this investigation take? The bonus—many hours spent with the most enticing man she’d ever known.
“Sir, the members of parliament and Prime Minister Carrera have sent me to work personally with you …” Her voice trailed off as his gaze became almost smoky. Her stomach lifted, not from nerves but from anticipation of sticking close to this man’s side for the foreseeable future.
“Personally?” King Nolan repeated. The way he said that word sounded as if she’d asked him to cuddle up, talk for hours, and get to know each other better.
No. She was projecting her hidden desires, which would definitely stay hidden, onto him.
“Yes, sir.” She made her voice stiff and unyielding. “Until the issues and allegations have been resolved to parliament’s satisfaction via my reports.”
“What issues and allegations?” Tristan demanded, obviously confused at her formal tone and bothered by those words directed at his father. As anybody would be.
Madeline prayed they could all make it through this without her offending either of these important men. She pulled a paper out of her large bag and laid it on the desk. The king didn’t look at it, his eyes fastened on hers.
“The misuse of the people of Augustine’s funds by the royal family. King Nolan in particular.” She started there. She didn’t know that she could spit the rest out. No way was King Nolan in cahoots with that evil temptress, Naomi Rindlesbacher.
The office was silent. King Nolan held her gaze. His blue eyes filled with challenge and injury. She could almost see the question in his eyes. Did she believe these allegations?
How to assure him that she believed he was an honest man and a loyal king while maintaining her purpose here? She had to resolve the issue to the members of parliament and Prime Minister Carrera’s satisfaction without making a mistake and revealing she was enthralled with the king. If she didn’t close this issue, they’d send someone else. The slick-tongued George Monaco had made certain she knew that. After he had asked her to dinner for the hundredth time. The man seemed to relish her constant rejections.
If the king thought ‘misuse of funds’ was damaging, how would he feel when he read that paper, or she had to reveal the rest? She could only pray he wouldn’t escort her straight out of his office and the castle. She’d have to convince him she had his best interests in mind and was protecting him from a much harsher and more devious emissary. She’d have to convince herself she had no personal interest or attraction to the king, or she might mess up the entire mission.
Staring into his blue eyes, she feared the last part of her mission would challenge all of her long-standing self-control around handsome and powerful men. Was there a more handsome or powerful man in the world than the king of Augustine? Not that she was aware of.
