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Surely he could have done that for her? Just that? No dates, or dinners, or peacocks, or trips to Regalsi. Her only stipulation had been discretion.
She shouldn’t have had to specify that she didn’t want to be here when the announcement was made, should she?
‘They’ll be thrashing out dates and things,’ Jordan said. ‘I’d better go.’ She gave Beatrice a little pat. ‘Well done. Looks like he’s changed his spots after all...’
To all intents and purposes...
Except he wasn’t a leopard; he was a lovely panther, and that was that.
It was the most awful wait. She felt as if she was watching the Vatican for smoke as she looked out on the palace, but there was nothing.
Well, Princess Jasmine had left, and the Queen had gone to her private apartments, but still nothing...
For hours.
She went into her office, just to escape it all, and then finally Jordan returned.
Beatrice looked up as she knocked and came in. ‘Some last day!’ Jordan said, and her cheerful greeting sounded a touch forced.
‘Is it done?’ Beatrice asked. ‘Has he signed?’
‘Hmm...’ She gave a little hand gesture. ‘They’re meeting again at seven.’
‘Is that usual?’
‘I remember Prince Claude dragged it out. It’s all politics now.’ Jordan shrugged. ‘I’ve heard there’s to be a formal announcement on Monday, but my guess is we’ll know tonight.’
‘I won’t.’
‘Stay, then.’
‘Ooh, I don’t think I’d make a good wedding planner...’
‘True.’ Jordan smiled, only it didn’t quite meet her eyes.
Be subtle, Beatrice reminded herself. ‘Are you excited?’
‘Very!’ Jordan nodded.
‘So, do the Queen and the Princess return for the signing?’
‘No.’ Jordan shook her head and went to the little window, looked out on Beatrice’s dreary semi-basement view.
Beatrice was certain that Julius’s very loyal PA was very, very upset and trying hard not to be.
‘So they just have to be there for the announcement?’ Beatrice asked. ‘Only, Despina said—’
‘What would Despina know?’ Jordan snapped.
‘I think she was worried something dreadful must have happened. Like with—’ She halted, as everyone did rather than say Prince Claude’s name.
‘I guess...’ Jordan had recovered. ‘No, it was just...’ She pulled away from the window. ‘Times are changing, perhaps.’
Or the King was showing Julius his hand.
What had Julius told her about his father’s latest turn of phrase ‘progressing the monarchy’? Was he threatening Julius with the line of succession?
But Julius didn’t object to a woman ruling. He was, Beatrice was completely sure, simply giving his sister the privacy she craved.
