“Welcome back,” the queen said.
“Thank you,” Macee replied.
“How was your honeymoon?”
“It was delightful,” Prince Louis replied.
“Yes, it was,” Macee said. Only the prince noticed the sarcasm in her voice.
“That is good to hear,” the king said. “It is important for the crown prince and princess to get along,” he added. Macee wanted to laugh. They were far from getting along. They were going to need some intense couple’s therapy.
“Can we be expecting a grandson?” the queen asked. Macee's jaw dropped open. The queen laughed at her reaction. “I know, I am too eager,” she said.
“You can be,” the prince replied with a smile. Macee had to force one. There was no point in them all getting their hopes too high.
The four of them sat together and talked as the king updated the prince on what he had missed while he was gone. Macee was bored out of her mind. She wanted to slip out of the room but she had to sit there smiling. She was so glad when it was finally time to leave. As soon as they walked out of the room, Macee was already trying to part ways. The prince wrapped his arm around her waist and pulled her back.
“And where do you think you are going?” he asked her.
“To my chambers, of course.”
“No, ma cherie. How quickly you forget that it is our chambers now.”
Macee let out a cry of complaint and hung her head. She was really looking forward to not doing that any longer. Now, he was telling her that it was still going to happen to keep up appearances. Macee groaned as they walked to their chambers. The worst part of it all was that she knew the prince was enjoying it.
Chapter 14
As soon as she had the chance, Macee called Liane. She dismissed her maids so that they did not listen in on the conversation. “Macee, how are you sweetheart?” Liane said as soon as she answered the phone.
“Annie, it was terrible,” Macee quickly told her everything that happened on the trip including the things he said. Liane chuckled. “This isn’t funny.”
“You might like him if you try.”
“No trying, I really want the annulment.”
“Oh Mace that was a joke. You cannot get one of those, they're close to impossible.”
“What do you mean?” Her sister had just shattered her last bit of hope. Macee was already starting to panic. “There has to be some way.”
“Justification. You need a very good reason and from what you’ve said, I don’t think there’s enough there.”
“Okay, let's change the subject for now. This is making me nauseous.”
“Don't worry sweetheart, something will work out.”
After speaking to Liane, Macee stayed in their quarters. She was sure she had some duties to attend to but she had no idea what they were. Later that week, Katherine spoke to her about hiring an assistant. Macee definitely thought that would be helpful, as she needed someone to remind her of things.
“Your highness, the crown prince has requested your audience,” one of the maids said.
“Can I not go?” Macee asked jokingly. The maid stared at her wide-eyed. She looked terrified. Macee laughed. “That was a joke. Where is he?”
“This way, your highness,” the maid said as she led Macee out to the palace gardens.
Macee walked up to him and stood there with her arms across her chest. He looked down at her. “What do you want?” she asked him. He held his hand out and waited for her to place her hand in his palm. Macee looked at it and then back at him. He still waited for her. Macee reluctantly put her hand in his before he gently pulled her hand to his mouth and pressed a small kiss to the back of her hand. She did not know how to react to him. She smiled awkwardly and tried to snatch her hand back, but he tightened his grip.
“Come for a walk with me,” he said to her and started walking. Macee sighed and followed.
This was her first time in the palace gardens and Macee immediately felt at ease. As she took a deep breath, she picked up on the varying scents of the flowers, as they followed a path around a series of fountains. She couldn’t wait to bring her paints out here.
“It’s beautiful out here,” Macee said.
“You like it?”
“Very much so.” As they walked, Macee was suddenly curious. “What do you actually do for fun?” she asked him.
“Plenty of things, ma cherie.”
“Yes, like what?” Macee frowned when she realised that he called her ma cherie quite a lot. She never understood if he meant it or if it was sarcasm.