Page 24 (2/2)

The Queen looks taken aback

"Stop what?"

"You knohat We’re not chess pieces; stop trying to control the board"

Queen Lenora folds her hands "Is this about Olivia?"

Nicholas raises his ar her eyes out right now"

The Queen huffs "Well, that’s ridiculous She’s being entirely too sensitive"

Nicholas throws up his hands "Of course she’s sensitive--she’s seven and a half nant with twins! She’s uncomfortable all the time She can’t sleep--she can barely breathe! The paparazzi are cli her to pieces and there’s not a da sadistic notes addressed to her on our doorstep And now you--"

The Queen’s words crack the air like a whip "Watch Your Tone"

My brother-in-law stops and takes a deep breath He rubs his hand down his face and looks off toward the horizon When his gaze turns back toward his grandht her here so she could rest in safety So she could relax If you make that impossible, I will take her someplace else And if you wish to have a relationship with your great-grandchildren, then I’ you now, Grandmother--stop it" He pauses to let the words sink in, then adds, "We won’t be having this conversation again I hope that’s clear to you"

The Queen doesn’t respond ords, she just sort of breathes--like a dragon ants to smoke a prince’s ass Nicholas waits for her to nod, and when she does, he bows to her and walks away

"Never have children, Eleanor," she tells rateful to the core, the whole lot of them Write that down"

Dutifully, I tap on e, Queen Lenora and I sit silently And it’s so aard

I try to fix it "I think Ernstwhile’s kind of cute Maybe we can call herErnie"

Her Majesty doesn’t crack a se makes a sound "Ballsack"

My face scrunches and I turn to hi to the Queen "I was just agreeing with you, Your Majesty, names should be carefully considered I have family on my father’s side--the Ballsacks--who made the unfortunate decision to nah at’all" He shakes his head "Or say it out aloud"

I hear the name in my head and snort

Then I add irl na squad Strange but true"

George chuckles and while the Queen doesn’t join our discussion, I see her lips twitch

"The first girl my brother loved was nae says "Turned out to be a fitting acronyh, "Oh ularly scheduled "non-cheeky" conversation

"The National Museue Will you be attending while you’re in the city?"

George grins "I had planned on it, Your Majesty, yes"

"You should bring Eleanor with you" She looks at me "You haven’t been to the museum, have you?"

"No, not yet"

Queen Lenora nods "Then it’s settled You’ll go together and have a wonderful evening"

George meets my eyes over his teacup and his cheeks turn pink

Because he senses the sa I do--we’ve just been royally set up

Not cool, Lenoranot cool at all

A little while later, I’ down the hall to Nicholas and Olivia’s rooan at the opposite end of the hall I didn’t think he orking; I hadn’t seen him yet today--and my body reacts the way it always does when he’s close My pulse picks up, my breath quickens, hope and attraction swirl in htly nauseous, but not in a bad way

His strides seem purposeful, and they’re aimed directly at me We meet up outside Olivia’s bedroom door His eyes are dark, al to say