Page 82 of Royally Redeemed
“That may not be what theydid, but Duncan, you hate the stodgy parts.” She thought a moment, eyes drifting to John, then me.
He watched us protectively.
I took a step back to make it look less suspicious. “Sorry. It’s just… overly familiar.”
She nodded. “And there are cameras, even if they aren’t on us. Your Royal Highness, this is your chance to redefine things and build out your post. Who will King Duncan be?”
King Duncan. It seemed a ridiculous notion.
“Stop smirking!” She snickered. “Weren’t you like… born and bred for this? Don’t tell me you haven’t thought about it?”
“I think about many things but mainly that I’d like to wrap this up and eat you out on that couch over there,” I said.
“I should smack you, but you’d like that too much. Focus!” Eloise gestured to keep my eyes on hers.
They’d since dropped to her full breasts.
“I’m with you. Focused, Miss Mills,” I promised.
“Be you. Be the person you want people to see as monarch. Bethatman.”
I smiled. “You’re completely right.”
Break finished, I narrowly resisted the urge to take her perfect round face in my hands and kiss her. The impulse grew worse by the day. Once mic’d, I took my place.
“I think what I enjoy the most is boosting others,” I said. “Let me explain that. The reason I hate to talking about myself is that this isn’t about me at the end of the day. It’s about the country.”
“So, you’re but a vessel?” Cressida asked.
“Yes,” I answered. “In a way. My mother has taken that burden on. It’s… odd, I suppose. But also you must understand that my mother has always been in my memory a queen first and a mum second. It’s not normal.”
“Are you close?”
“Very much,” I answered. “You could not ask for more loving parents. But that dedication goes to country first. Dad’s dedication is support. Mum’s has been life or death for the UK. She quite literally went to battle for us. That’s the only way I know to be. I struggle to be the center of attention in public because that’s not the game.”
“Where are you most comfortable?”
My eyes filtered to Eloise and John.
“Isn’t that the question?” I chuckled.
Eloise rolled her eyes.
“Oh, stop, Miss Mills. I will answer. It’s Eloise who said it best. She said I adore children but have less patience for grown-ups. I would say working with youth is the best. They are filled with drive and hope. It’s not that I don’t love meeting adults—especially older folks who have wisdom to share—but kids are the best.”
“That is very obvious,” Cressida said. “Have you ever met a baby you didn’t want to pick up?”
“Unlikely. I adore babies. Mum says I take after my grandfather. He was always hopeless around babies.”
Cressida laughed. “That is adorable. So, any plans to have children?”
I resisted the urge to glare, meeting Eloise’s gaze. She prepped me for this question.
“Well, obviously, I’d like to build a family with the right person. It took me some time to wind down and being in the military made that difficult,” I said. “But I think I’m wrapping my head around what I need to do to find that person.”
“Have you… found that person?” Cressida asked.
The question took me out momentarily. How did I answer with Eloise right there? If I denied having a special someone, I risked hurting her. If I confirmed it, there was a risk of outing us. I went with my heart, knowing denying her would hurt not only Eloise, but it would wound me.
