Some Like it Secret (Going Royal Book 4) (19 page)

“Excellent decision, sir.” To his credit, Vidal didn’t smile.

At the door to the private bedroom and shower, Sebastian glanced back. “Thank you for your help the last few days. I couldn’t have done it without you.”

“Yes, sir. I am aware, but you are more than welcome.”

Sebastian deserved the rap on his knuckles, but… “Vidal?”

“Sir?”

“Talk to me in that manner again, and I’ll loan you to George.”

A quick grin creased the man’s face. “Twenty-two minutes, sir.”

Sebastian didn’t even make it to the meal. After showering and changing, he’d buckled into a seat in the private room. As soon as they were airborne, he’d crawled into the bed and collapsed. Six hours into the flight, Vidal woke him with coffee, food and a report.

“What’s this?” His eyes ached, and the words seemed to blur on the page.

“It’s a detailed analysis of Dr. Blake’s current security measures and recommendations for the future. Since her appearance at the conference, we’ve doubled the number of men assigned to her detail. She’s agreed to leave the brownstone in favor of the Ryan Hotel, so we’ve secured one whole floor. Should she choose to stay on past this semester, we will make other arrangements. We’ve selected four properties which will meet the security needs of Dr. Blake living individually, but only two will suffice if you elect to stay with her.” Vidal took a sip from his coffee. “Further, we’ve vetted three undercover operatives to rotate through her classes and give us eyes on the campus. It isn’t sufficient for long term surveillance.”

“What do you mean
if
?” The file went beyond security measures, since it also included a background check. “And when did you run a background check on her?”

“Five years ago, during the conference. Initially, it was rather superficial, but you were only having an affair at that juncture. After you hired Mr. O’Connor, I updated it. I’ve maintained regular checks since then.” Vidal sat his mug down.

“I didn’t authorize a background check.” A fresh wave of anger flooded him. “If Armand…”

“His Highness did not receive a copy of this report until a few days ago.”

Sebastian’s blood iced and his temper spiked. “Then why did you do it?”

“Your safety is my job. Your interest in her presented a vulnerability which could have been exploited.” It was a reasonable answer.

“Five years ago, maybe. But this—?” Sebastian tapped the report. “This is up to date as of a week ago. You know what? Fine. It’s done. Don’t do it again.” Blowing out a breath, Sebastian glanced around for his phone. “You didn’t answer the
if
question.”

“Because it is not for me to speculate the outcome.” Evasion was not Vidal’s usual style.

“I’m too tired to play games. If you have some objection or piece of information you think I need to know, simply tell me. I’m going to have a difficult enough time with Meredith cutting short every phone call.” Weary to his bones, he just wanted to go to her, wrap her in his arms and stay there for the rest of his life. Of course, it might take some convincing to let him back in, even on a part time basis. Hope existed, though. Her appearance in Belaria gave him hope.

Touching a button on the side panel, Vidal invoked the privacy light. It would alert the staff to not step into the main cabin. Clasping his hands together, the man leaned forward. “For the next five minutes, I will speak to you as myself and not your bodyguard, agreed?”

“All right.” Sebastian shifted. Vidal only stepped over the line once before —when he’d bodily carried Sebastian from the scene of his assault and told him, in no uncertain terms, he was not allowed to die.

“Very good. You, sir, are an idiot.”

“What?”

“I’m not finished.” Vidal pinned him with a look. “I’ve had a front row view to your relationship with Dr. Blake. She’s enormously good for you, but you treat her rather shabbily. You appear to be under some delusion that she shouldn’t have to choose between you and her career. Perhaps it’s too much time in the Americas or a distinct lack of time in France, but ignoring a woman’s say so in a relationship is not romantic. It is the act of a madman.”

Jaw clenched, Sebastian stared at the other man. “Are you quite finished then?”

“No. The initial decision to maintain secrecy was applaudable. She proved time and again capable of withstanding the desire to shout her relationship with you. Quite commendable on her part. Letting five years lapse in uncertain limbo? I’m rather surprised she didn’t drop you on your ass sooner.”

Sebastian’s temper ignited. “It’s my job to protect her.”

Vidal snorted. “No, sir. It’s
my
job to protect her and you. It’s your honor to love her. You mistake your devotion for duty and honor for love.”

The words bored through to his soul. “What kind of a man would I be if I demanded she give up her life for mine?”

“Don’t compound one mistake with another. I know you understand the value of word selection. I never said you should demand, but you could invite. You’ve made a great many decisions about your relationship without consulting her. Apparently, she’s realized this all on her own.” Vidal smiled. “Hence, she’s begun to make decisions without you.”

All the oxygen backed up into Sebastian’s lungs and the tension vanished from his jaw. “Meredith ordered the background check.”

“No, sir. She requested it.”

“Why the hell would she do such a thing?” What had they been up to while he’d negotiated his family’s safety? Why would Meredith want a background check done? Admittedly, they were standard practice in the family, particularly for new hires or… His gut clenched. “She met with my mother.”

“As well as your cousins, actually. I understand she also has a dinner scheduled with Grand Duchess Alyxandretta and her husband in a week. If you don’t introduce His Highness before then, I have it on good authority he’s likely to make an appearance at the same dinner.” Vidal’s tense expression eased with a small smile.

A grin curved the corner of Sebastian’s mouth and then his good mood faded nearly as soon as it dawned. “But she’s avoiding my phone calls…”

“Her plans do not excuse you from groveling.” Vidal rose and checked his watch. “We will be landing within the hour, Your Highness. I took the liberty of ordering a car. What is your destination?”

“Time’s up, hmm?” But he couldn’t be angry with Vidal, not when he’d given him something to think about. “What time is it in Boston?”

“Late. After nine local time.”

Sebastian wanted to rush to her, but then again... “The hotel, but don’t tell Dr. Blake I’ve arrived. Does she have classes tomorrow?”

Vidal didn’t blink. “She does.”

He had time to do it right. “You’re going to hate this idea…”

He didn’t call. The trip he’d taken was over. Along with the hateful looking colonel, he’d done a press conference. Watching the replay of it on her laptop, all she’d seen was the exhaustion in his eyes. The normal deep tan of his skin held a grayish cast. Maybe no one else saw it, but she noticed.

So, he’s probably sleeping, which is good. He’ll call later.
It wasn’t as though he hadn’t called her at all over the intervening three days. She’d merely not let him have any real say. Dominating those conversations and cutting them short proved to be one of the most difficult tasks she’d ever undertaken. She
wanted
to hear about him and his day, but Kate made a valid point.

His mother made a similar one over the tea they’d shared. All of her children, she’d stated, were raised to lead, making it as natural as breathing for them to make decisions for those around them. The key, according to his mother, was to allow the appearance of control while not ceding actual control.

Frankly, the complexity created quite a bit of a headache.

Royal games were not her forte. Her phone buzzed as Gencome opened the door to the Mackenzie building. Escaping the frosty temperature and stepping inside, she paused to pull off her gloves and dig her phone out. Kate’s name flashed at the top of the screen and the message made Meredith smile.
Stay strong. His security checked in. He’s fine.

Having contact with Sebastian’s family and friends definitely changed the interminability of the waiting. Today’s lecture was her last for the semester. End of semester finals were scheduled for the rest of the week, then she would head to Los Angeles. Her security already cleared the trip—her
security
. The thought was extremely odd.

Her boots clicked lightly against the tiled floors. In addition to Gencome, her security detail included the driver who’d brought them over from the hotel and two other men who would be present during her lecture. She’d argued against the number initially, but Vidal explained in crisp terms how every man in his place provided support for other members of her detail. Gencome’s sole purpose was her protection. The additional detail would help protect her students.

Stripping off her coat, she tried to organize her thoughts. Overwhelming worry drowned out rational thinking and she really didn’t need students already aching to be away for the holidays to scent blood in the water. She set her bag on the desk and headed for the white board.

A handful of students had already trickled in, but her lecture didn’t begin for another ten minutes so the majority wouldn’t arrive for at least another twelve. Marker in hand, she considered what problem to write. Hell, she couldn’t quite recall whether this was the advanced or the basic class—it was an eight in the morning lecture. It must be the freshman and sophomore mathematical theory course.

Still puzzling through the source of the problem, it took her a moment to recognize a problem was already on the board. Backing up a step, she stared at the series of letters strung across like so much gibberish and, above them, an equation–a cipher. The handwriting wasn’t hers or Dr. Millner’s, who used the lecture hall on the day before she did. A post it was stuck to the side of the board reading
do not erase
.

“Hey, Dr. Blake.” The freshman’s greeting pulled her attention from the problem. He held out a sheet of paper to her. A second followed him, then a third. She hadn’t assigned homework, but every page bore a problem—and a solution.

Torn between the board and the pages, a sudden uptick in the room’s volume had her looking at the seats. Nearly every single one was full. Seventy-five students all suddenly deciding to arrive for lecture early was unusual enough. To have them do it on the last week of classes? Simply unheard of. But still more students were coming in, their boisterousness muting as they crossed into the room. Gencome took a spot right next to her and the other two guards stood between her and the standing room only lecture hall.

“Dr. Blake, is that a cipher problem?” an unfamiliar man with red hair inquired from the front row.

“I think it’s change rhythm,” another voice shouted.

“Maybe it’s game theory.”

Once those hardy souls began the speculation, an avalanche of suggestions echoed through the room. Still more than a bit flummoxed, Meredith’s gaze zeroed onto the equation on the first sheet of paper. Definitely a cipher, a substitution cipher. The equation worked out to be the number thirteen. Walking over to her desk, she eyed the noisy hall and frowned.

Silence fell.

“Thank you,” she told them. “At no point this semester has this type of behavior been acceptable. While I don’t have the roster in front of me, I see far more students than are registered for this class. So
my
class will share last week’s problem with you. Work on it while I decipher your prank.”

Amusement rippled through the hall, and Meredith glanced down at the first sheet of paper. The substitution cipher worked out to—
Once upon a time…?

The second sheet was another substitution cipher, only it used the number seven.
There lived the loneliest prince…

Tears filled her eyes, and she swallowed the lump forming in her throat. Blinking rapidly, she flipped to the third page. The equation worked out to be a five.
…lonely, that is, until he met you…

On the fourth.
…the woman he wanted to make his princess, but pride, and stubborn determination got in the way.

On the fifth.
You see, this prince only ever wanted to give you your dreams, it was his privilege and honor to try and make them all come true.

On the sixth.
He forgot the most important part of making dreams come true…

There was no seventh piece of paper and Meredith pivoted to face the board. It showed a more complicated cipher than all the others—wait, no it wasn’t. A hush filled the room behind her, as if every student held their breath.

It was a Caesar cipher. The solution was three.

The only way to make our dreams come true is if we do it together. Will you marry me, Meredith? Will you make my dream come true?

Digging her nails into her palms, she fought to keep her composure—a battle she lost rapidly. A rustle of movement and the sound of a throat clearing behind her pulled her attention away from the problem. She turned slowly. Sebastian stood in front of her, right in the middle of the lecture hall, then dropped to one knee. In his hand he held a velvet box, opened to reveal the chocolate diamond ring.

The tears she’d held back began to slide down her cheeks. “You wrote a math proposal…?”

He grinned. “All by myself. Well, mostly. I cheated and used your article on substitution theory.”

Titters of laughter escaped beyond him. The college students all leaned forward, more than half had their cell phones out. “We’re going to be online in minutes.”
The whole world would know.

“That is my plan.” Sebastian remained exactly where he was, the ring extended toward her. “I want you, Meredith Amelia Blake, and only you.”

“Awww…” one young freshman called out.

“Say yes!” another shouted. In seconds, the others picked up the chant.

He’d put himself out, right there for everyone to see. He’d made himself vulnerable. For her. Swiping away one of her tears, she gave the rowdy students a stern look and they went silent. Glancing back down at Bastian, she went soft everywhere. She wanted to tease him, to give him a little bit of a difficult time, maybe even make him sweat, yet there was no way she could.

Because, beyond everything else, she wanted to hold onto him and never let him go. “Yes,” she said and it came out a very rough whisper.

Sebastian’s eyes twinkled and his brows climbed. “I’m sorry, I don’t think they heard you in the back row.”

“No, we didn’t!” came the helpful shout.

Meredith started to laugh. “Yes!”

He slid the ring on her finger then scooped her up and turned them sideways. “Everyone have a good angle?” he asked. A dozen camera flashes blinded her, so she closed her eyes. Then Sebastian kissed her, and the whole world slipped away.

The next few days whizzed by at a dizzying pace, but Sebastian never left her side—except for during exams when his presence proved far too distracting for her students. By the time they were safely aboard the plane for Los Angeles, she still couldn’t stop touching the ring on her finger.

“You’ll be happy to know O’Connor will be back in Boston before the holidays. He’s been given clearance to fly.” Sebastian told her as she all but fell into the seat next to him.

“I’m glad.” She stroked her thumb over the white gold band. “Do you think your brother will like me?”

“Of course he will.” Sebastian covered her hand with his and interlocked their fingers. “He’s been rather insistent all week that I bring you to see him immediately.”

“Do you really have to ask his permission to marry?” It worried her.
What if, after everything, he said no?

Sebastian didn’t appear to share her concern. “It’s a formality, Meredith, and only a formality. I will present you to Armand, ask him for permission to marry you, then he will say yes…”

“What if he doesn’t?”

“He will. Don’t worry.”

Anxiety tied her stomach in knots, and she gripped him tighter. “But what if he doesn’t? We made such a scene and…”

Sebastian massaged her nape. “He will welcome you to the family. I think there is even a good chance he’ll like you even better than he likes me. It’s only a formality at this stage, since I told him I was marrying you with or without his approval.”

Laughing, she leaned in and pressed a kiss to his cheek. “I don’t want you to ever have to choose between your family and me.”

“I already have. They are all in a better place now, secure. We’ve made it as safe as it will ever be.” He pulled their joined hands up to his lips and kissed her knuckles. “Now I can be truly selfish.” He slid a chocolate diamond bracelet around her wrist.

“Sebastian,” she tried to protest.

“Uh-uh.” He shook his head. “I know you told me you’re not a draped in diamonds kind of woman, but you are mine. It’s my privilege to spoil you with gifts. These belong on your gorgeous skin…”

She sighed, but couldn’t help petting the bracelet. She’d taken to wearing the necklace, though it had nothing to do with the financial value and everything to do with the man who gave it to her. “Let me guess? You ordered a tiara made out of these?”

His playful grin warmed her. “I can. Would you like a matching tiara?”

“Are you imagining me in the tiara and nothing else?”

“I am now.” They both laughed, but Sebastian sobered first. “If you want a tiara, I’ll have one made. If you don’t, then I won’t.”

“So, what’s our plan?” It took her a moment to realize they’d completed the takeoff somewhere in the middle of their conversation. They were airborne and the only flutters she experienced came from the casual caress of his skin on hers.

“Once we land in Los Angeles, we’ll stay in my apartment at Petersburg Tower. Tonight we’re having dinner with Armand and Anna. There’s a good chance Richard and Kate will be there, that is if Richard has forgiven me for letting you and Kate run all over Europe.” The quixotic grin on his face said he didn’t really care one way or the other.

“Afterward?” She knew he always made a plan.

“What do you want to do?” The question teased her senses.

“I assumed you’d have some traveling to do—meetings, appearances?” His public life had dictated their time together for so long.

“Perhaps. What about you? Do you want to keep teaching?” The question surprised her.

“I love teaching, but it’s not very practical if the students only show up on the off chance the hot prince I married might stop by.”

His grin grew smug. “You think I’m hot?”

“Well, isn’t that what the papers call you?” Teasing him was almost effortless and fun.

“I don’t care about the papers. But, seriously, do you want to still teach?”

“I want to be with you.” The answer came so much easier than even she expected. She loved her career, loved the research and working with her students, but, God, she loved Sebastian far more. “If you travel, I want to travel with you. I’m tired of living on separate continents and being in different time zones.”

“Then we’ll talk about it. We’ll make plans that work for us.” It was his turn to trace his thumb over her engagement ring. “I’ve spent the last several years rearranging my life to help achieve what I thought everyone else wanted. The only rearranging I plan to do now is what we decide we want together. You and me. No more assumptions, no more presumptions. We’re going to live happily ever after, no matter what.”

“Because you said so?”

“No, because
we
said so.”

Dammit, she was going to cry again. She blinked rapidly to stem the tears. “I love you, Bastian.”

“I know,” he grinned. “I’m a prince.”