AllFreeNovel
Share Us
That wasn’t flirting.
Call me curious.
I was simply being conversational.
Dante nodded. “A week is plenty of time to catch up on the wedding preparations, I would imagine.”
“You would imagine correctly,” I said.
“I’d like to go over Miss DuPont’s files for the wedding,” Grace said. “Can you and Princess Veronica meet me after lunch to discuss the next steps in the planning process?”
“Of course,” I said. “We are at your disposal. Dante, please make sure Grace has access to Miss DuPont’s wedding planning files, and that she is aware of our availability for the next week.”
“Will do, Your Highness.” Dante tapped a note into his phone, then leaned forward in the seat as we pulled up to the front of the palace. “The queen appears to be awaiting our arrival.”
“Does this car have an eject button?” Grace asked.
I couldn’t help but laugh. “You’ll be fine. Just remember that most people let her have her way because she’s the queen. If you strongly believe in something, let it be known. She may not show it, but she will respect you for your conviction.”
Grace nodded. “I’m not looking for respect. Right now, the most important thing is for me to stay alive. Can you confirm the guillotine has been outlawed in your country?”
“Yes.” I chuckled. “I can confirm that.”
As we exited the car, Mother stepped closer to Grace, then snapped at her. “Just what did you think you were doing at the hospital? Inviting children to the event was not part of the plan. Some of them are gravely ill. Did you even know that?”
It wasn’t a surprise that mother already knew of Grace’s plans. The royal family had eyes and ears all across Verdana, informing us of anything and everything.
Grace met my mother’s icy glare steadily. “Of course I knew they were ill. That’s precisely why I extended the invitation. Those children deserve joy and laughter as much as any other child. You should have seen them! While I was there, it didn’t even seem as if any of them were sick! With all due respect, Your Majesty, I stand by my decision.”
Mother bristled. “You may stand by it, but that does not make it right. There are reasons we make plans. There are expectations to be met. I will not have you derailing things with your sentimentality.”
“Sentimentality?” Grace repeated incredulously, boldly stepping closer. “Is caring about sick children mere sentiment to you? I cannot believe bringing a small measure of happiness to those kids can be seen as problematic.”
Mother frowned. “Happiness is not the issue. Security and logistics are. Those children require medical care we cannot provide on-site. It is simply not feasible.”
Grace folded her arms across her chest. “The hospital administrator assured me it could be done since the hotel for the gala was located right next-door. I trust his expertise in this area. Are you telling me you don’t?”
Mother narrowed her eyes, unused to being contradicted so openly. “I really do not have time for this right now.” For a moment, it seemed she might continue the argument, but then she spun on her heel and strode toward the palace doors, leaving me speechless.
Mother called out over her shoulder. “Oliver, in my office! Now!”
I sighed, feeling bad for not helping Grace. “I’m sorry about that. She is quite set in her ways.”
“No need to apologize,” she said. “I can handle a stern talking-to. I just hope she doesn’t rescind the invitation from those children. They would be heartbroken.”
“Not to worry,” I said firmly, impressed by Grace’s courage and conviction. “The children will be there. I’ll make sure of it myself.”
Grace smiled. “Thank you, Oliver. I appreciate your support on this.”
I found her boldness captivating.
And though it angered my traditionalist mother, a part of me hoped Grace would continue disrupting the status quo. I only wished she would wait until we got to the wedding planning for her to turn things upside down.
Chapter Seven
GRACE
I sat at the largest solid-wood executive desk I had ever seen in my entire life, carefully going through the royal wedding files left behind by Miss DuPont. Her meticulously printed pages of notes, plans, and charts that seemed to cover every imaginable detail for Oliver and Veronica’s wedding. There was no doubt in my mind that she was a true professional.
