“How does he feel about you being with a man he’s constantly criticizing?”
“I am not my father’s keeper.” I kept the smile on my face. “You’d have to ask him that question.”
Another reporter started to direct a question toward me, and Pierre interrupted him.
“Please direct your questions to the king,” Pierre said. “Adeline declined questions and she has answered plenty for you. You’ll have to wait until she’s ready to sit down with you formally.”
After that, they left me alone and continued firing questions at Elias. Aramis started talking to me about his apartment, which was apparently in the same building. I wasn’t sure if he was trying to distract me from my nerves or if he genuinely wanted to talk, but I appreciated it nonetheless. When the reporters left the room, Pierre informed me that a stylist would be bringing me dresses and casual wear for the events we had lined up the rest of the week.
Chapter 35
“What’s wrong with my own clothes?” I asked Pierre.
The stylist brought beautiful evening dresses, and those I would definitely use if necessary, but I didn’t want to wear fancy clothes to visit families that could barely afford food.
“Queens wear pencil skirts and conservative dresses,” he said. “Not ripped jeans.”
“I’m not a queen.” I grinned.
“Yet.” He raised an eyebrow.
My grin was wiped off and dominated by the uneasy feeling in the pit of my stomach. Yet? I wasn’t sure how I felt about that. I loved Elias. Loved. But to give up my life for this life? What would I do? Sit around here like I’d been doing the last two days while he went off to meet with the cabinet and work? I’d done enough sitting around in the beach house and I’d been so bad at it that I’d remodeled my uncle’s bookstore. I walked out of the room and headed to the kitchen, where the cook, Sheriff, was serving lunch.
“I don’t think you understand that every pair of eyes will be on you. There will be reporters there,” Pierre said. “You can’t wear cheap jeans and a T-shirt.”
“First of all.” I stopped walking and faced him. “My jeans are designer. They just happen to have holes in them.”
“You paid money for those holes?” He frowned. “Why?”
“You’re an idiot.” I laughed. “Seriously, let me do this my way. I’ll change into jeans with no holes in them if you want.”
“I don’t know.” He raised the clipboard in his hand. “I have a checklist and it specifies pencil skirts and dresses below the knee.”
“Are you . . . let me see that checklist.” I took the clipboard from his hands and looked at the list. “I have to put my hair in a bun? Why?”
“How the hell should I know? I’ve never helped a woman dress before.”
“Are you hitting on my girlfriend again, Pierre?”
I smiled wide at the sound of Elias’s voice and walked quickly to the hallway, watching as he folded the sleeves of his button-down up his forearms. He smiled when he saw me and kissed me as I walked up to him.
“Missed you.”
“Missed you too.” I kissed him again and again and again. When I pulled away, I pointed at Pierre. “This isn’t going to work. You need to take him with you next time.”
“I thought you’d like having a friend here.” Elias chuckled. “What’d you do, Pierre?”
“You left me in charge of an impossible woman. I did nothing.”
“Impossible?” I gasped. “He wants me to wear a dress or a pencil skirt to those people’s houses today.”
“She wants to wear what she’s wearing now.” Pierre shot a pointed look at Elias.
Elias gave me a once-over. “What’s wrong with what she’s wearing? She looks sexy as fuck.”
“Of course you’d say that.” Pierre shook his head. “And I’m not saying she doesn’t.” He raised a hand and laughed. “And I’m not saying she does. Fucking hell, I can’t say anything anymore.”
“I said I’d change into jeans with no holes in them if that makes him more comfortable, but I don’t think wearing a Saint Laurent dress is going to be welcome. I would hate me if I walked into their houses like that.”
“She has a point.” Elias kissed the top of my head. “Maybe we should both wear jeans.”
“The checklist—” Pierre took the clipboard back from me and held it up.
“Oh my gosh, fuck the checklist,” I said. “We’ll wear jeans. Eli can wear the button-down he’s wearing so it’ll look semi-formal.”
“That is not semi-formal,” Pierre said. “The minute you put jeans on it becomes informal.”
“Listen, Soldier,” I said. “I promise you jeans are fine.”
“Let’s just do whatever Addie wants to do,” Elias said.
“You better never say that in public.” Pierre shook his head. “I swear love equates castration.”
“Fuck you.” Elias laughed loudly.
“At least you’re in a good mood all the time these days,” Pierre said as he walked away with his stupid clipboard.
“It’s because I’m truly happy.” Elias hugged me and turned to me. I smiled up at him, hugging his hips. “Are you sure you’re ready for today?”
“I’m totally ready. Are you?”
“If you’re with me I am. To tell you the truth, I’m nervous they’ll hate me. They all had horrible signs about me the day of my coronation.”
“Nobody who knows you can ever hate you.” I kissed his chest and pulled away. “Let’s go get ready.”
Chapter 36
Elias
Adeline was right about the jeans. The moment our car reached the first house we had scheduled to visit, I knew it had been the right call. It was a normal neighborhood. The roofs weren’t falling apart and as far as I knew, they had running water, but it was definitely not the kind of place I’d ever visited. Addie had been right to judge me on my fancy apartment.
“We can’t hold hands,” Addie whispered when I stopped walking and tried to reach for hers.
“Addie.”
“I’m serious, Eli. I’m not even supposed to be walking beside you. I was getting schooled on all of this when you were gone,” she said. “Walk ahead of me and I’ll follow.”
She wasn’t wrong. It was tradition. If I was being honest with myself, I’d never even paid it much attention until this moment. It was just something that was expected. That didn’t mean I didn’t hate it right now. I turned and faced the door once more, walking behind my security team as Addie trailed behind me and Pierre closely behind her. The door opened shortly after the head of security knocked. He was invited inside to check things out and walked back out and gave a heads-up that everything was clear. We already had two security guards inside, but one could never be too sure. That was something I learned a few years ago when someone tried to kill me, not because they hated me, but because I was the Dauphin and the people were becoming desperate even then. The woman at the door, who was probably in her thirties, curtsied when she saw me.
“Please come in. Thank you for visiting.”
“Thank you for allowing me to visit,” I said.
Her face brightened instantly and it surprised me to know that something that simple could make a difference in my welcome. Her husband I recognized right away. I wouldn’t soon forget the man, face all hollowed, holding up that hateful sign. He’d shaved his beard and was wearing a black T-shirt with a logo on it. I recognized it to be the logo of the Crown’s mining company. So he worked for me. Technically. He bowed deeply and when he straightened, I offered him my hand, which he shook.
“I wasn’t expecting to ever host a king,” he said. He was missing a few teeth when he smiled. I smiled back.
“I wasn’t expecting this either, but I’m glad I’m here.”
“Please, take a seat,” his wife said. She turned to the door and I knew the minute Addie stepped through because the woman’s smile was wide and bright. “You’re the commoner.”
“I’m the commoner,”
Addie said, laughing lightly. “It’s so nice to meet you, Madame Lefebre. You have a lovely home.”
“Oh, please.” Monsieur Lefebre waved away the compliment. “You stay in the palace now. This is no Versailles.”
“It’s not,” Addie said. “This is much cozier. Much homier.” She winked.
The Lefebres laughed. My heart grew. If I ever had any doubt that she was the perfect woman for me, this put me at ease. We all sat down in the living room, drank coffee, and spoke about their concerns. I’d brought them enough money for food that would last them a few months and they gratefully took it, but what they really wanted from me was a promise that I’d make it so that they could afford their own food once that ran out, and I gave it to them. After all, I’d finally come to a deal with the Crowned Prince, and was set to meet with him in London over the weekend to ensure that everything was as solid as he said over the phone. We visited four more houses, all with similar receptions and outcomes as the Lefebres, and I knew without a doubt that none of it would have been possible without Adeline by my side.
Chapter 37
Adeline
“Well, at least the tabloids look better,” Joslyn said.
She’d taken a break from her new role as Princess Pilar’s secretary to come to London and help me pack up the apartment. I’d already secured a smaller place down the street, but I would miss this one terribly. There was no point in keeping such a big place to myself though. Not when I wasn’t even sure where I’d be in the coming months. The doorbell rang once, twice, three times and Joss and I stopped what we were doing and looked at each other. I stood slowly and headed to the door. Elias’s security team was with me while he was in meetings this weekend, so one of them opened the door for me.
“This is my daughter’s flat and I expect to see her,” my mother said from the other side of the door. I exhaled heavily.
“Mother, what are you even doing here?”
“You tell me what you’re doing here,” she said, waving a newspaper. I ducked slightly, afraid she’d hit me with it. She looked like she was capable of it right now. “I had to find out through a tabloid that you were in town.”
“I just got in,” I said. She looked around and shot me an angry glare. I cringed. “I got in last night but I was going to call you as soon as I was done packing. I have to go down to the office and sort things out anyway and I have a meeting with the Wesleys tomorrow.”
“Save it, Adeline.” Mother tossed the newspaper on my counter and stormed in. “Oh, and you’re here too? No phone call, Joslyn?”
“I am so sorry. I was going to the office with Addie tomorrow, though, and hoped I’d see you there!”
“Bullshit. Both of you.” Mother shook her head and paced the room, the way I did when I didn’t know what to do with my emotions. I stayed quiet. Joss bit her lip and watched her. “So now you’re dating the King of France.”
“I told you that.” I held a finger up. “Do not even, Mother. I called you first.”
“You called me two hours before the broadcast aired, Adeline.” She stopped pacing and turned to me. “How serious is it?”
“Serious enough.”
“What do you make of this, Joslyn?” my mother asked. “Now that you’re in with the royal family in a big way. What do you think of my daughter dating the king?” She shook her head. “It’s weird for me to even say that.”
“I was opposed to it in the beginning but I think he really does care for her. And she’s happy.” Joss shrugged. “So I ship it now.”
“Ship what?” My mother frowned. “What are you talking about?”
“I like it,” Joss said. “It’s something . . . forget it. The point is, I like them together.”
“He’s staying here or is this security the new norm for you?”
“Both,” I said. “The tabloids have taken an interest in me so we have to be careful, but he’s staying here. Should be home any minute.”
“Home.” Mother laughed. “That’s another thing, where will home be for you now? Will you be traveling back and forth, because look at how well that worked out for your father and I.” She raised an eyebrow. “Or will you give up your company? What will happen with Pirouette Events now that you’re to become queen?” She gasped, bringing a hand to her mouth. “Will you become queen?”
The security began speaking by the door and soon it opened and Elias walked through it and into the living room. He froze as he assessed the situation—Joss on the floor surrounded by boxes, my mother and I having a standoff.
“Hey,” I said, smiling softly.
“Hey,” he returned, still undoing his tie. He gave a nod to my mother. “Madame Bouchard.”
“King Elias.” She instantly curtsied to him.
It was something that traditionally I was supposed to do as well, but knew Elias hated when we did it behind closed doors, so I was constantly reminding myself not to do it unless we were in public and he walked into a room, which hadn’t happened yet. He walked over to me, the discarded tie in one hand, and put his other around my shoulder as he kissed my lips softly.
“Missed you,” he whispered.
I smiled up at him. “My mother was just trying to figure out our dynamic.”
“No. Her mother was trying to figure out whether or not this was real and how bad her heart will be broken when it’s all over.”
“Well, I hope it’ll never come to that,” he said, his hand squeezing my shoulder. “I don’t foresee this ever ending.”
“So she will be queen?” My mother’s eyes widened.
“I think it’s a little soon to discuss that.” I shot her a look that would hopefully shut her up.
I didn’t want to talk about an engagement I hadn’t even discussed with Elias. Did I want one? Yes. Spending the rest of my life with him would be a dream come true. Having a fairy-tale ending with him, even if he wasn’t a royal would be incredible, but I didn’t want to rush into it.
“That’s something your daughter and I need to discuss,” he said. I could hear the smile in his voice without even looking up at his face. I kept my attention on my mother.
“And what do you think about her leaving Pirouette Events behind?” she asked. “She would have to give that up, wouldn’t she?”
“Unfortunately, yes,” he said. “She could still help you whenever she wants and has time, but because of what I’m envisioning for France, she’d have her hands pretty full.” He smiled over at me. “She won’t be bored like she is now.”
“I’m not bored.” I pursed my lips.
“You re-arranged my closet, Adeline. I pay people to do that for me.” He shot me a look.
“Okay, I’m a little bored.”
He chuckled and looked at my mother. “So, any more questions?”
“Will I have a room for when I visit?”
“Mother!” I gasped.
“You will have plenty of rooms to choose from.” Elias grinned.
“Fine. I’m going to try to accept this,” she said. “But next time I hear you’re in town via the media, we will have problems.”
“It won’t happen again.”
She picked up her purse. “I have to go to the office for a meeting. Do you want me to handle tomorrow’s so you don’t have to go in?”
“I have to go anyway. I need to pack up a few things,” I said, unable to hide the sadness in my voice, or blink back tears at the thought. Elias pulled me into his side and kissed my head, as if to remind me why I’m doing this. I was grateful for it.
“See you then.” My mother walked over and kissed my cheek and stood in front of Elias, unsure of what to do. He let go of me and kissed her cheek. Mother blushed before going up to Joss and saying goodbye to her and walking out.
“I don’t think I’ve ever seen her blush,” I said.
“That was great,” Joss said with a laugh before she quieted. “Was I supposed to bow to you when you walked in? If so, my leg was asleep and I couldn’t get up, so you’ll have to forgive
my informality. Also, it’s weird.”
Elias laughed. “Just do it when others are in the room so they don’t think I’ve gone soft.”
“Have you gone soft?” I smiled, looking up at him.
“Around you? Never.” He winked.
And then I was the one blushing.
Chapter 38
Elias
“Where are we going?” Adeline looked out the window the way a child would on a long road trip. I’d never tire of looking at her, but it made me yearn for miniature Addies running around with that same expression on their faces.
“I want you to meet someone very important to me.”
“Who?” She turned in her seat. “I’m not even dressed to meet someone important.”
“Trust me, she won’t mind.”
“Are you sure? Because if we showed up at your mother’s house like this she’d judge.”
“She won’t judge.” I smiled, reaching for her hand as the car slowed down in front of the small cottage in the countryside. “We’re here.”
“Oh.” Adeline frowned. “I was not expecting this.”
We got out of the car, security escorting us to the front door. This time, I didn’t let Addie stay behind me. I held her hand and had her walk beside me the entire way up the walkway. When the door opened and Nana appeared on the threshold, she smiled wide at us, and I knew bringing Addie was the right move, despite it being unannounced.
“Well, well,” Nana said, holding the door open for us.
“Adeline, this is my Nana. Nana, this is my girlfriend, Adeline,” I said, letting go of Adeline’s hand so that I could hug Nana.
“A girlfriend,” Nana said, throwing her arms around me. “I knew this day would come.” She turned to Addie next and looked at her closely before hugging her. “I like you already.”
We went inside and Nana made us tea and asked Addie a million questions.
The Sinful King: By New York Times Bestselling Author Page 19
