Page 45 of Royal Trouble
Elisabeth smiled wistfully. “I suppose he does get it honestly.”
They chatted for a few minutes about how fast Nelson was growing, and seemingly tired of the grown-up talk, the boy bolted for the lawn games. Elisabeth started to rise, but Xander waved her off. “Sit down and enjoy your lunch. I’ll keep an eye on him for a bit. See if I can’t wear him out for you.”
“Good luck with that,” Elisabeth said doubtfully. “It’s like he’s got a solar-powered battery in there or something. He hasn’t napped in months.”
Everly laughed, because if anyone knew how to wear out an energetic kid, surely it was Xander. You know, since he basically was one.
He shot her a knowing grin and jogged after the boy who was tearing across the lawn as fast as his little legs would carry him.
“Mark my words, it’ll be His Royal Highness who’s worn out by the time Nelson’s through with him.”
“I wouldn’t worry about it,” Everly said, selecting a cucumber sandwich and holding it up for inspection.Mmm. Cucumber and dill. One of her favorites. “From what Xander’s told me, he was an energetic child himself.”
She forced herself to take a dainty bite of the sandwich, though she could have easily fit the whole thing in her mouth. Elisabeth wouldn’t be grading her manners, but it was a royal picnic and she doubted she could get away with shoveling food into her mouth as Nelson had done.
Adulting was so overrated.
“Prince Alexander is one of the kindest men I’ve ever known,” Elisabeth said, watching as Xander scooped up her son and carried him to the area of the lawn where croquet had been set up. He was surprisingly at ease with the boy, his usually guarded eyes clear, arrogant smirk nowhere in sight. “It’s a bloody shame he has such a terrible reputation in the media.”
She turned slowly toward the other woman, at a loss for words. Her surprise must’ve shown on her face, because Elisabeth continued.
“You’d never know it by reading the papers, but he’s got a good heart, that one. Even after all these months, he still checks in on me every few weeks to ensure Nelson and I are doing all right. And he sends Nelson little cards and gifts at the holidays.”
Everly swallowed past the lump in her throat, uncertain how to ask the question that was burning in her mind. “If you don’t mind my asking, how did you come to know His Royal Highness so well?”
“My husband, John, was in Prince Alexander’s military unit.” Elisabeth smiled and took a sip of her lemonade. “John always admired Prince Alexander. Said he was a born leader and one of the bravest, most determined men he’d ever met, which was saying something because John was as stubborn as an ox. I suppose it’s something they had in common.”
She laughed politely, her attention drifting to the lawn where Xander was teaching Nelson how to properly line up his croquet shot. The boy puckered his lips and swung the mallet, sending his ball rolling under the nearest hoop. He gave a boisterouswhoopand pumped his little fist in the air as Xander looked on with pride.
“From what I understand,” Elisabeth continued. “Prince Alexander is in close contact with each of the families that lost someone at New Brighton.”
Everly racked her brain at the mention of New Brighton. She wasn’t exactly up to speed on Valerian current events, but she remembered there had been a catastrophic earthquake in the small city. The Valerian army had been deployed to help with disaster relief and had come under attack by a terrorist group that was reportedly displeased with some of the king’s international policies. There had been a small number of casualties, although she couldn’t recall the details. The story had barely been a blip on the international radar, but she remembered it because it was rare for the Valerian army to experience conflict.
“The Blue and Gold Foundation will be good for His Royal Highness,” Elisabeth said quietly. “I hope it gives him a chance to find his own peace.”
His own peace? Her instincts screamed at her to probe, but she knew this conversation had to be handled delicately. She didn’t want to take advantage of Elisabeth—the woman was grieving, and she genuinely liked her—but she clearly needed to talk, and Everly wasn’t about to turn her away.
“It seems to me he wants to help all of the families find peace,” Everly said, careful to keep her response neutral.
“You’re right, of course,” Elisabeth agreed, dragging a finger through the perspiration on her glass. “It’s just that I don’t think Prince Alexander’s been able to openly grieve like the rest of us. I see it in his eyes every time he pops in for a visit.” She paused. “It’s hard on him, being in the spotlight all the time.”
Everly couldn’t disagree—and she was as much to blame as anyone for Xander’s rough go of it in the press—but she had to say something. “Xander’s working to improve his relationship with the media, but it will take time. And you’re right, it won’t be an easy road given his history, but he’s determined. I think the Blue and Gold Foundation has inspired him.”
The truth of it resonated with her even as she spoke the words.
“I hope you’re right,” Elisabeth said. “The prince still blames himself for the attack, though there’s nothing he could have done to prevent it. And I know in my heart he did everything he could to help John and the others.”
Everly froze. Xander had been with the unit when they came under attack? She was certain that hadn’t been mentioned in the news reports. She definitely would have remembered if a member of the royal family had been involved in a terrorist attack. It was the sort of thing that made international headlines.
“You didn’t know?” Elisabeth’s eyes grew wide, and she clamped a hand over her mouth, panic filling her eyes. “I thought you knew. It’s classified, but…you were here today, and I thought…”
“It’s all right,” she said, forcing her voice to remain level as she reached out and clasped the other woman’s hand. Elisabeth had enough to worry about without Everly adding to her concerns, even if this was the biggest scoop she’d ever stumbled across. She’d had a feeling Xander was going to give her a solid story today, but she hadn’t imagined it would be anything of this caliber. A story like this, breaking ahead of the royal wedding? It was the kind of story that made careers.
…
Xander turned to Everly as the last of the guests pulled down the drive. The day had been a success, and he’d already made appointments to meet with each family individually to discuss their current needs, as well as how the crown might have better supported them in the early days of loss. He had so many ideas, from scholarships to counseling, but it would be best to hear from the families themselves what they needed most. As much as Xander grieved the loss of his friends—his brothers and sisters at arms—these families had lost more, and he wouldn’t presume to know what they needed when he’d barely managed to keep it together himself.
“Walk with me?” he asked, gesturing to the small path of limestone pavers that led around the palace to the sunken garden.