Charlotte & Nate (Royals of Valleria #4) (24 page)

“Charlotte,” she said softly. “I know what it is.”

“Then I suggest you use it.”

“Oh, don’t be mad at me.”

Nate quirked an eyebrow. “Shouldn’t I?”

“Your father gave me quite a scolding for what I said. It was a rightly deserved scolding, too.”

“I know it was.”

“I apologized to Charlotte.”

“I know. I was there.”

Genevieve shook her head. “I mean after that. Late this afternoon, before the dinner.”

That was news to him. “Were you trying to throw her off her game? Make her ruin the dessert you ordered at the last minute?”

“I suppose I shouldn’t be surprised you know about that.”

“No, you shouldn’t.”

“I wanted to put her at ease. She doesn’t trust easily, does she?”

“No, she doesn’t,” Nate muttered. “Intuitive of you to pick up on it.”

“I see myself in her, you know. I see myself in Rebecca and Grace, too.”

“What do you mean?”

“Well, I wasn’t royalty when I met your father. Despite what everyone says now, we didn’t have an easy time of it. The things people said, well, I still don’t think I’m over it, not even forty years later.”

“I knew you weren’t royalty, but you were still upper class.”

“It’s true that’s how most people will remember it, but it’s not entirely the truth. Would it surprise you to know that I’ve been in Charlotte’s shoes before, to a certain extent? That I’ve struggled and fought and clawed my way up from the ground?”

Nate blinked, almost stopped dancing. “Yes, that would surprise me. What happened to you, Mama?”

She shook her head. “It doesn’t matter, not anymore. I just didn’t want Charlotte to go through some of the things I’ve been through. I suppose seeing the two of you together just brought back too many bad memories and I lashed out.”

“Is that why you ordered a new dessert hours before dinner?”

She nodded. “I know it was a terrible thing to do, but Charlotte’s tough. If she’s going to take over for Coco, she needs to handle things like this. Coco actually suggested it, as a sort of test, but I went along with it.”

“Coco suggested it?”

“I can’t tell you how many times we’ve had to change menus at the last minute. It happens, and Charlie would be the one dealing with it. The timing of the request was just awful, though.”

“I don’t think she knew it was a test.”

“I told her when I saw her earlier today, and she understood. She is a professional, after all.”

“The consummate professional.”

“Anyway, I hope you’ll forgive me. I hope she will, too.”

“Mama.”

“Charlotte said she would need to think about it. I don’t blame her.”

“Of course I forgive you. I’ll talk to her.”

“Just give her time. It’s not easy to adjust to dating a prince.”

“So, it wouldn’t bother you if we ended up together?”

“No, it wouldn’t.” She tapped her cheek with a gloved hand and Nate bent down and kissed her cheek.

“Just be happy, Nathaniel. If she makes you happy, then be with her.”

As the song ended and a round of light clapping rang out, Nate escorted his mother off the dance floor. “Do you need anything, Mama?”

“Just your father. Would you mind getting him for me? I’m going to take a seat for the next dance.”

Nate made his way through the throng, people bowing and curtsying as he passed; it made for very tedious and slow progress. When he finally reached his father, he was in discussion with Marcello.

“Nothing yet, then?” Gabriel asked in a low voice.

Marcello shook his head. “I’ve been watching all the Council members, though. Byron and Tim have been whispering all night.”

“Conspiring?” Nate asked.

“It looks like it. They must think we know. If that’s the case, and I were them, I’d plan something for tomorrow’s budget presentation. I’m going to have of my team sweep the Council chambers tonight, while everyone’s here.”

Gabriel’s eyes sharpened. “You think they’ll try to disrupt the proceedings? Perhaps hurt someone, or even all of us?”

“I think they might try.”

“That doesn’t make sense,” Nate said. “It would benefit them if we announce the debt and austerity budget. Our approval ratings will plummet and they’ll look all the better for it.”

“Unless they think we’re getting too close to the truth,” Marcello countered. “Then all bets are off. Self-preservation would force them to take drastic measures.”

From the corner of his eye, Nate saw Charlie slip onto the terrace. “Let’s talk tonight after dinner. Papa, Mama wanted me to tell you she’s sitting out the next dance.”

Gabriel nodded. “I’d better head over there. If she’s sitting out, the Prime Minister and his wife will be, too, per protocol. Keep me updated, Marcello.”

As his father left, so did Nate. This time, when he made the journey across the room, he resented every bow and curtsy as they prevented him from seeing her. He resented being a prince as it made things more difficult and made her defensive.

But, as he stepped out into the crisp, night air, memories of the picnic he’d shared with her invaded his mind. And then she was there, her body a shadow in the dim moonlight, calling to him.

Chapter 15

Charlie was exhausted. Hours of running around had made the day go by too quickly. The food was all set, and now it was just up to the waiters to serve it. Despite the exhaustion, she felt exhilarated, and was far too keyed up to go to sleep just yet. She wasn’t on clean-up duty tonight, so she couldn’t use up her energy scrubbing down the kitchens.

She’d walked onto the terrace, wondering if Nate would be there waiting for her; he wasn’t. She hadn’t messaged him, instead letting fate decide if they’d meet. She’d wanted to tell him about seeing his mother earlier that day, but only the cold, dark night was there to keep her company, as it had been for so many years before.

When she thought she heard someone walking nearby she tensed. A few moments passed before she heard a creaking sound, followed by the click of a door closing and a voice speaking.

“I’ll say it again: you look beautiful in the moonlight.”

Her body shivered at the low cadence of his voice, and she turned to face him. So, he had been the one lurking. “I wasn’t sure if you’d be here.”

“I could have said the same about you.” Nate walked up and put his arms around her, and she didn’t mind one bit. “I saw you walk out and decided to join you.”

“How’s the party going?”

“As well as can be expected so far. Our Australian guests seem pleased with it all, though I have no doubt they’ll prefer the dessert best.”

She smiled. “Thank you. Are you ready for tomorrow? What time is the presentation?”

“First thing, just after nine. I’m required to do some ridiculous pomp and circumstance, and then I present it. Everyone yells at me, I’m accused of ruining the country, they’ll probably ask for my arrest, and by noon it should all be over with, one way or another.”

“Oh, Nate. Is it really that bad?”

He nodded. “We still don’t have enough evidence to arrest anyone. My brother’s working on it.”

“Will I see you tomorrow?”

His face contorted in a rueful smile. “No doubt. My face will be plastered everywhere by half past nine.”

“I don’t mean that.”

“I know.” He leaned down to drop a kiss to her chilled lips. “I’m happy you want to see me, Charlotte-mine.”

Every time he used that nickname, her heart felt full, an alien feeling she just wasn’t used to. She lifted up on her toes and kissed him, pouring into it the words she was beginning to feel but couldn’t quite say.

“Mmmm,” he hummed. “What was that for?”

“Maybe nothing. Maybe everything. It felt right.”

“That it did.” He brushed a hand over her hair, and she felt another alien emotion: love. Feeling too much, she stepped away from him and looked out over the terrace.

“What’s wrong?” No judgment, no pity. Just concern. She’d felt it so little in her life, she wasn’t sure what to do.

“Your mother spoke to me today.”

Nate leaned casually against the railing, his eyes focused on hers and his back to the beautiful garden view below them. “She told me. She said she apologized.”

“She did.”

“You don’t want to forgive her?” No judgment again, just a question.

“I find it hard to forgive people, even if they are a queen. I know I should. I know that if I really want this job, I should’ve forgiven her right then and there.”

“But?”

“But I keep hearing her say those awful things to me, over and over again. The memory just won’t go away.”

“Make a new memory then, and replace it.”

“What kind of memory?”

“A memory where you forgive her and we both live happily ever after.” His knuckles brushed her cheek. “Would that be so terrible?”

“Nate.”

He turned her to face him, his hands firm on her shoulders, his face half bathed in shadow and the other half fierce like an avenging angel. “What are we doing here then? What are we working towards? I’m not saying we’re ready for marriage yet, but I can’t deny how I feel about you.”

She shook her head and tried to leave, but he wouldn’t let her. “Don’t say it. I won’t believe it.”

She could sense him pulling back, holding back that well of emotion brimming and bursting near the surface, ready to explode. A few heavy breaths later, he said, “All right. I won’t say it. But, damn it, you’re going to feel it.”

Their mouths crashed together like two waves at high tide. She tried to fight it but it was no use; she was caught up in the rip current that was Nate, and she couldn’t get loose.

After he pulled away, their heaving breaths leaving puffs of dissipating clouds in the night, he nuzzled her cheek. “Believe in us, Charlotte-mine.”

“I’m trying.”

“Try harder.” He pressed a soft kiss to her temple and rested his forehead against hers. “I know you care for me. You don’t want to hear words you can’t say back. That’s it, isn’t it?”

“Yes.”

“The words aren’t easy for me, either. I haven’t said them to anyone in over ten years, and even then I didn’t mean them as much as I would now.” He wrapped his arms around her. “I have faith in you, Charlotte-mine. We’ll find our way through.”

She wrapped her arms around his neck. “I have faith in you, too. You’ll do great tomorrow, you’ll see.”

When a buzzing sound interrupted them, Charlie realized it was her phone. She grimaced at the message she saw. “I’ve got to go back in. Apparently, there’s some sort of catastrophe in the kitchen.”

He pressed a fleeting kiss to her lips. “I’ll find a way to see you tomorrow. Don’t worry.”

“I’m not.” With a last look, she turned and slipped back inside.

***

Nate was still watching the door through which Charlie had exited when the sound of heels tapped softly behind him. Expecting one of his sisters, he was surprised and dismayed to see Katya. “Katya, how are you this evening? I didn’t realize you’d be here.”

“Your Highness,” she purred and slithered up to him. “How do you do?” She pressed against him, her long, slim frame even taller in the five inch heels she wore. As she curtsied, she managed to slide along his body in the process. When she stood up again, she tossed her bleached blond hair over her shoulder.

Nate stepped back and looked for a way out. “Who are you here with?”

“Jasper, the man who runs the Department of Commerce.”

Nate’s eyes narrowed at the mention of an alleged suspect. “Are you?” he murmured. Coincidence? He wasn’t sure.

“Yes, but he’s not nearly as yummy as you.”

“Back off, Katya. I’m not interested.”

She scoffed. “That’s not what you said the last time we were together.” She leaned into his ear. “You know, when I was under you?”

He stepped back again, fully aware that he was essentially being chased around the terrace. “I’m seeing someone. Jasper’s single and loaded – that’s all you want, right? Someone to cover your shoe habit for the rest of your life?”

She rested a hand on her hip, the bright red polish of her nails clashing with the garish silver of her dress. “You’re not single anymore? I find that hard to believe. Besides, his money is nothing to yours.”

“You forget that a prince doesn’t own his country’s wealth. It’s a job. You get paid for it like any other job. Though I always forget you don’t know what a job is.”

“Stop being so cruel.”

She wasn’t Charlie, and he was sick of the past haunting them, getting in the way of their future. “Stop incessantly messaging me, stop stalking me, and go find someone else. I told you I’m not interested. Shall I make a scene and have security escort you out?”

“You wouldn’t, not with dignitaries visiting.”

Nate crossed his arms over his chest. “Wouldn’t I?”