Reluctantly Royal(83)

No wonder I loved him so much. How could I not? My prince that had charged in to save me and was now protecting my virtue.

“Let him go, Max.” I cleared my throat. Stepping forward, I put a hand on his shoulder.

“He needs to apologize to you.” His body could have been carved from stone.

“I don’t need him to.” I met my father’s eyes. If anyone knew how to fight fire with fire, it was me. “He’d have to mean something to me for it to have hurt.”

Something in my father’s eyes shifted as if my words had hit him harder than I would have thought possible. Even when Max let go of him and he slid to the ground, his blurry eyes stayed focused on mine. If I hadn’t known better I would have thought that I’d wounded him with my words.

Max took a step back and my father got up and adjusted his jacket before walking swiftly out of the room. Silence rang through the room until Max turned around and looked down into my eyes.

“God help me, Meredith. If he hurts you one more time I’m not accountable for my actions.” He cupped my chin and tilted my face up toward his. “I can’t stand seeing the pain in your eyes. It rips me to the bone.”

My breath caught in my throat and I struggled to process what I saw in his eyes. His thumb moved over my cheek and wiped away a tear I hadn’t realized I had shed. Was I crying because of my father? No.

I was crying because I loved this man—this prince who would go to war for me.

“Perhaps we should come back later.” Rachel stood up and clasped her hands in front of her.

“No.” Max kept his eyes trained on mine. “Meredith has been stuck in limbo for long enough. Let her know what has been laid on her shoulders.”

“Very well.” Rachel sat down next to the lawyer and motioned for him to continue.

“For the majority of the remaining things to be sorted out, they go to you. All of the family jewels are to stay with the estate, excepting pieces that may be handed down to family members that marry. Much of this stuff is the normal, mandated conditions of a duchy.” His words began to blend together and I had to focus as he explained the details of the arrangement.

“For now, my lady, you are the acting head of the Thysmer family.” Rachel took her glasses off and looked at me with compassion-filled eyes. “I realize that this is not necessarily the ideal situation, but until your father is sober and able to assist in the duties, it falls on your shoulders.”

I took a deep breath and opened my mouth to speak, but couldn’t find the right words. Max put a hand on my shoulder, offering his support. Rachel didn’t say anything, just waited for me to absorb what had happened.

“I understand.” Taking a deep breath, I closed my eyes and went to that quiet zone I used for performances. It was hard to reach today with so much swirling in my mind.

“She’ll need help.” Max’s voice was quiet.

“I actually have a solution, if she’s open to it.” Rachel looked at me. “I’d like to offer my services as your assistant.”

“My assistant?” My eyebrows furrowed together.

“Your grandfather refused one. As I understand it, they made him uncomfortable, but I could help you shoulder some of the responsibilities you’re facing.” She leaned forward and picked up a teacup. “I’m not sure that I would be able to cover for you being gone for whole semesters in England, but perhaps we can figure something else out.”

“You would do that for me?”

“It would be my pleasure.” Rachel nodded her head. ‘I’ve got a few good years left in me. And I’m quite fond of Thysmer . . . and you.”

“I would be honored.” I offered her a smile. “I think I’m going to need some help.”

There was a sharp knock on the door frame.

“My lady.” Gerard stepped into the room. He must have followed my father, but I hadn’t noticed. Too wrapped up in Max’s eyes. “I thought you should know that your father has left in the sedan.”

“What?” I looked around the room, my eyes falling on the glass tumbler and empty container of scotch. “Where did he go?”

“Toward town, my lady.”

“Oh God.” Fear and panic slammed into my chest and I shot out of my seat. “He didn’t have a driver?”

“No, ma’am. I tried to stop him, but he wasn’t willing to listen to me.”

I looked over at the butler and noticed the growing bruise under his left eye.

“Jesus, Gerard. I’m so sorry.” I reached out and tilted his face. “Go put some ice on that.”

“It can wait, ma’am.” He stood up straight.