The Princess Affair (32 page)

“O, Romeo, Romeo,” Sasha quipped from below. “Wherefore art thou, Romeo?”

Kerry laughed again. She simply couldn’t believe it. Sasha had come for her—all the way across the Atlantic—and was quoting
Romeo and Juliet
in her backyard. Warmth spread through her chest. “To be honest, I don’t think the situation is quite that dire. Our families aren’t trying to kill each other.”

Sasha appeared to mull this over. “Not yet, anyway.”

“It wouldn’t be much of a contest. Yours has access to much more firepower.”

She huffed a sigh and put her hands on her hips. “Here you’ve gone and taken my words literally, when all I wanted to do was to impress you with my knowledge of Shakespeare.”

“You don’t have to try to impress me,” Kerry said, hoping Sasha could hear the earnestness in her words. “I find you completely irresistible.”

“You have no idea how grateful I am for that. Now will you please come down from there? Carefully? If you break your neck now, you will absolutely spoil my plans.”

Not trusting the steadiness of her own legs, Kerry took extra care in descending the ladder. Once her feet were back on solid ground, she turned to face Sasha and swallowed hard. Only two feet separated them. So close, Kerry ached with the need to touch her. But she was a grimy mess.

“What plans would those be?”

Sasha stepped forward, slipped two fingers through the hammer loop at Kerry’s waist, and gently pulled their bodies together. The fragrance of her scent and the promise in her eyes threatened to completely overwhelm Kerry’s reason.

“But I’m filth—”

Just as she had on the first night they met, Sasha pressed two fingertips to Kerry’s mouth. Sliding her hand around to the back of Kerry’s neck, Sasha pulled her down. Instantly, Kerry was lost in the incomparable softness of lips that moved tenderly against hers in a kiss equal parts worship and reclamation. When it finally ended, Kerry brought her fingertips to Sasha’s face, tracing the arc of her delicate cheekbones with both thumbs.

“I love you.”

Sasha’s smile was as brilliant as the sunlight. “And I love you.” Her eyes dropped, and she began to trace Kerry’s waistband with one finger—back and forth, back and forth. The movement was utterly distracting, but Kerry didn’t think she meant it that way. Just as she was about to ask what was wrong, Sasha met her eyes again.

“Are you absolutely certain you want to join me? The media will have a field day with all this. I have to live in the spotlight, but you actually have a choice.”

“I do.” Kerry leaned down to brush a quick kiss across her lips, feeling the rightness of her decision in every cell of her body. “And I choose this. Us. Wherever you are, however bright or dark, I want to be standing next to you.”

Sasha pillowed her head on Kerry’s shoulder as the Bentley pulled away from the curb. It was just past ten o’clock in the morning, and she had asked the driver to take them directly to Clarence House. When Kerry began to trace gentle patterns just above her knee, Sasha cuddled closer.

“You must be so tired,” Kerry murmured, “after two transatlantic flights in the space of twenty-four hours.”

She had managed to sleep for much of their return trip, but she was still bone weary. Her body’s internal rhythm had been completely derailed—first by her insomnia over the past several days, and then by the quick changes in time zones.

“I’m exhausted,” she admitted. “Once you left England, I barely slept.”

Kerry kissed the top of her head. “May I hold you while you sleep tonight?”

The solicitous question sent a shiver down Sasha’s spine. Such a simple request, and yet so powerful. For as long as she had been aware of her position in the world, Sasha had felt wanted. But Kerry was the first person to make her feel truly cherished.

“Please do.”

Sasha stared out the window as the cityscape flashed by. The contours of London were so familiar, but today she was seeing them through new eyes. She rested her hand on Kerry’s thigh and felt the flicker of powerful muscles beneath her palm. For the first time, she had a future to look forward to that was entirely her choice—entirely of her making. A future in which she would no longer be fighting herself. She had always thought of commitment as a set of chains, but now she knew the truth. By committing herself to Kerry, she would finally be free.

“You know, I told Arthur about you. Before he woke.”

“You did?”

She nodded. “He’s always been my closest confidante, and I finally poured my heart out to him, even though I knew he couldn’t respond. That’s when I realized what I needed to do—that I had to find you and apologize. And then find the strength to show the world who I really am.”

Kerry brought their lips together. “You are beautiful. Inside and out.”

“You make me feel that way. I want everyone to know that I’m not ashamed of any part of me.”

As the car was waved through the front gates of Clarence House, Sasha sat up and examined her reflection in the mirror on the seatback in front of her. After touching up her lipstick and combing her fingers through her hair she squared her shoulders. “I’m ready.”

“You look fantastic.” Kerry paused to squeeze her hand. “You’re sure this is what you want?”

“I am.”

As the car slowed to a stop, she saw Darryl waiting beneath the awning over the side entrance. When she stepped out onto the gravel drive, he approached. “Your Royal Highness, your father the King has requested a word with you before the press conference begins. He’s asked me to take you to him.”

Sasha exchanged a glance with Kerry. She looked concerned. “Shall I wait?”

“No more hiding. I want to introduce you.” Clasping their hands together, she turned back to Darryl. “Lead on.”

But the further they proceeded into the winding corridors of Clarence House, the more anxious Sasha became. What did her father have up his sleeve? Had he found some way to bully her into abandoning her plan? Silently vowing to hold firm, she focused on taking slow, steady breaths. Kerry must have been able to sense her nerves, because she stroked her thumb over Sasha’s knuckles in a soothing rhythm.

Just before they reached the designated press conference chamber, Darryl paused at a small door that opened onto a greenroom of sorts, where final preparations were often made to wardrobe or makeup before the beginning of a media event. “Here you are, ma’am.”

Sasha took a deep breath, squeezed Kerry’s hand, and led her inside. Her father was the sole occupant of the room, and he looked up from his phone when they entered. His expression was inscrutable as he slid it back inside his jacket pocket.

“Hello, Father.” Sasha didn’t wait for him to speak. This was her press conference, and she wanted to take the initiative. In every way. “Please allow me to introduce Rhodes scholar Kerry Donovan. The woman I love.”

To his credit, he didn’t flinch. But neither did he extend his hand. “Hello, Ms. Donovan.”

“Good morning, Your Majesty.” Kerry’s voice was hoarse but didn’t tremble. “I’m honored to meet you.”

“Alexandra, I need to speak with you in private.”

When Kerry began to move away, Sasha held her firmly in place. “Anything you’d like to say to me right now can be said in front of Kerry.”

At first, it seemed he might argue. His eyes narrowed and his mouth tightened and he drew himself up to his full, formidable height. But then, apparently, he thought the better of it. “Very well. Alexandra, I don’t want you to give this press conference.”

“Why not?”

“Because it is unnecessary. You don’t need to remove yourself from the line of succession. Your entire reason for doing so is moot. Arthur is healing well.”

Sasha tried to hold back her irritation. For such an intelligent man, her father could be uncommonly dense. “I don’t know how to convince you that my decision has nothing to do with anyone but myself. I fully intend to live in an open relationship with Kerry for…” She turned to meet Kerry’s eyes and was warmed by the love and affection she could plainly see there. “As long as she’ll have me, quite frankly. And it has been made very clear to me that I will not be free to do so unless I am no longer a princess.”

His jaw clenched, but he refrained from snapping at her as he had always been so wont to do. “Over the past few days, I have had ample time for reflection while sitting at your brother’s bedside. And I do not want to lose another of my children.”

Taken aback, Sasha had no ready response or retort. Never, not once in her entire life, had she heard him speak in such emotional terms. “But you haven’t lost Arthur. And you won’t lose me, either.”

“I will if I continue to push you away.” He pinched the bridge of his nose before refocusing his tired eyes on her. “My advisors have encouraged me not to be myopic. Our country has new laws—laws that allow for you to create a civil union with another woman, should you so choose. In light of this provision, I would be the worst kind of hypocrite if I forced you out of the succession over your choice in…life partner.”

Sasha couldn’t believe what she was hearing. “I can’t tell you how much that means.”

He waved her words aside. “You and I have had an adversarial relationship for so long. I want that to change. I also realize change will not be easy. We are very different people, and each difficult in our own right. Although…” And here he offered a small smile. “I daresay our stubbornness makes us especially formidable.”

For the first time since they had left the car, Sasha let go of Kerry’s hand to embrace her father. He smelled the way he always had—of Trumper cologne and pipe smoke. “Thank you,” she whispered fiercely. “I’ll meet you half way, Father. I promise.”

When she pulled away, he turned to Kerry. “Ms. Donovan, I owe you an apology for prematurely ending your tenure as a Rhodes scholar. I will ask the secretary of the trust to return your scholarship to you promptly.”

“Thank you, Your Majesty.” Kerry’s tone radiated relief.

Sasha nearly embraced him again, but the stiffness of his body language seemed to indicate that another such a display would be unwelcome. He began to move toward the door.

“I will instruct Bloom to cancel the press conference, and—”

“Wait, please.” Sasha hoped this wouldn’t be a major disagreement now that they had finally reached détente. “I still intend to speak today, Father.”

“About what, exactly?” he asked, clearly suspicious.

“The country has seen photographs of me with Kerry. I believe they deserve to know where we stand and that they should respect her rights as a private citizen.”

For a moment, it seemed he might protest. And then, to Sasha’s amazement, he inclined his head. “Very well.”

She turned to Kerry. “Ready?”

“Whenever you are.”

After bidding her father good-bye, Sasha briefly stroked Kerry’s cheek. “Time to disturb the universe.”

Her answering smile was brilliant. “I love you.”

“And I love you. It’s time they all knew it.” She double-checked the alignment of her necklace. “Stay close to me,” she murmured, before preceding her through the side door connected to the press room. It was filled with photographers and reporters who immediately quieted at her entrance. As she approached the mahogany podium set against the backdrop of Commonwealth flags, she felt nervous but not afraid. This was her moment—her chance to say everything in her heart. Everything that none of her father’s speechwriters had ever put down on paper. When she faced the crowd, Sasha held up one hand and the hubbub subsided. A forest of microphones surrounded her, punctuated by telephoto lenses.

“Good morning, everyone. Thank you for being here.” She looked at each camera in turn, imagining her audience. The majority of them thought her a spoiled brat. A few probably felt sorry for her. She didn’t need to change their minds, but she did need them to see her for who she really was.

“Now that my brother is on the road to recovery, I am turning my attention to my own personal affairs, which, for some reason, you all seem to think are your business.” She paused to let the dig sink in. “My primary purpose in speaking today is to introduce someone to you who has become a very important part of my life. Many of you may believe you already know her, but I can assure you that you do not.” Sasha moved closer to Kerry, allowing their shoulders to brush. She felt so good. That incredible chemistry was just as strong as it had been at their first meeting, but now it was undergirded by love and respect and shared purpose.

“Kerry Donovan is not only the most intelligent person I know—she is also one of the most generous and compassionate individuals I’ve ever met. I love her. I am
in
love with her. And since she has forgiven me for abandoning her to your invasive and inappropriate scrutiny last week, I would venture to say that you’ll be seeing much more of her in the future. I am not going to ask you to afford her the same courtesy you do me. I’m going to demand you do much better.”

She paused for a moment to let the words sink in. “In addition to loving and supporting me, over the past several months, Kerry has helped me understand what it means to be honest. I don’t need to tell you all that I have made quite a few mistakes. But the most significant of them all has been dishonesty. I haven’t been forthright with you, and you deserve that from me, especially because of who I am. Honesty isn’t always comfortable, and it isn’t always pleasant. But it always sheds light—often on subjects that have languished too long in the dark.

“The honest truth is that I am a woman who loves another woman. I am also a British princess. Our great nation provides civil unions to citizens like me, for which I am very thankful. But there is still much progress to be made in a world in which hate crimes, school bullying, and discrimination in the workplace persist. These and other related issues must be resolved. And so I pledge to every gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender, and intersex member of this Commonwealth that I shall be your champion in the years to come.”

Camera shutters clicked and microphones rustled, but otherwise, the room was silent. Sasha spared a brief moment for exultation. Even the seasoned reporters were eating out of her hand.