“Father, you should have stopped mother from calling Macee,” Francesca admonished. “She always makes her feel bad. No more! Leave her be if you are not going to be fighting for her,” Francesca shouted before she left the room. Mrs LeBlanc dramatically held her forehead as if she was going to faint.
“Wife, Francesca has a point. We need to be there for Macee. She is the victim in all of this and it is time that you stopped treating our youngest as if she were an unruly child. She’s a young woman AND the crown princess. It’s time for you to act appropriately,” he said. He turned on his heel to leave the room, “I am going to see her,” he added as he walked off.
* * *
A few days later, Princess Katherine went to speak to Macee. She wanted to find out what was going on. She was the only one who had yet to speak to her. When the stories about her came out, the princess had been out of town. Her mother filled her in on her displeasure with Macee when she returned to the palace.
Macee and the princess sat on the balcony drinking tea. Squeezing Macee’s arm, “Tell me what’s going on.” Macee sighed before she replied.
“Yes, I did go to a few parties when I first started out at university, but that was where it ended. I was too busy with my studies. I never smoked, drank or took drugs. And I was certainly NOT promiscuous,” Macee said.
“You must know that there is no smoke without a fire,” Princess Katherine said softly echoing her aunt’s previous comment.
“In this case, there is no fire. Someone is deliberately trying to tar my image for some sick reason.”
“That may be the reason but my parents are not taking it well. My mother has had annulment papers drawn up.”
Macee's jaw dropped open. The thing she had wanted so badly. Now she was seeing a way out but not like this. The royal family would think poorly of her and her family. They already did. The fact that they had already drawn up the papers meant they were ready cut all ties with the LeBlancs, which meant the end of her father’s career.
“Really?” Macee asked flatly.
“Yes, your parents have been summoned to the palace.” Macee hung her head. “Brother,” Princess Katherine said getting to her feet. Macee looked up. The prince kissed his sister on both cheeks.
“I need to speak with Macee,” he said. The princess nodded and left. Prince Louis sat down in front of her.
“Hello,” she said to him.
“How are you feeling?”
“Oh, you know, like I’ve been raked over the coals.”
He nodded. “I understand,” he said. He called for his maid to come out to the balcony. She was holding a brown envelope in her hands, which she placed on the table and left. Macee looked at it and asked what it was.
“The annulment papers,” he said. He stared at Macee waiting to see her reaction. She had wanted them and now she was getting them.
“Oh.”
“I thought you would be overjoyed.”
“Why?”
“Because that is what you wanted.” His tone changed.
“Then why are you snapping at me?” Macee asked. Surely, he would want the same thing, right? Prince Louis reached into his pocket and pulled out a pen. He placed it on the table. He stood up and walked back into the living room. Macee stood up and followed him. What was his deal?
“Louis!” she shouted. He stopped and faced her.
“It is, your highness, to you,” he said.
“Leave us,” Macee said to the maids. They all scrambled out of the room. “What has gotten into you?” she asked the prince.
“Just sign the papers and be done with it.”
“I know I wanted the annulment but not like this. I did not ask for any of this.”
“Yes, so you keep expressing.”
Macee walked over to the prince and stood right in front of him. He looked down at her. “Why does this make you so mad? Did you not say choosing between my sister and I was a case of bad or worse?” she asked him. If that was how he felt, then annulling the marriage should not bother him. It should be just another business transaction.
The prince touched the back of Macee's head and pulled her hair, forcing her face to tilt upwards. He planted a passionate kiss on her lips. This time it wasn’t slow or gentle. Macee kissed him back. She grabbed his shirt and stood on her toes as the prince squeezed her bottom and kissed her harder.
“Why don't you want me, ma cherie?” he whispered against her mouth.
“I do,” Macee whispered back and squeezed his biceps. He groaned and pulled her closer to him. He picked her up and carried her to her bed. He quickly removed her top as he kissed her breasts. He caressed her stomach and her arms. He couldn’t believe he was hearing her right and he had to be sure.