Page 83 of Trained Royal

“God, Henry. I’m sorry. I didn’t mean it like that.”

“I know. I also know you’re right. There is no telling what she’s capable of, including striking when we least expect it, which could be at our homes or as we’re walking in a garden as much as at an event.” He sighed, then chuckled. “I’ll bring some work with me. It might be enough to stop me bothering you every five minutes.”

“Good idea.” Robert cleared his throat. “So, I’ll see you in a little while?”

“Yes, sweetheart. I’ll be there as soon as I can. I love you.”

“I love you.”

They ended the call, and Henry smiled. As much uncertainty and fear they held, there was also plenty of love and hope to go around. If they kept supporting each other, they could get through this, and Aunt Charlotte would go down.

It was all they could hope for.

****

Chapter 25

Kieren

“Can I make an…out-there suggestion?” Kieren asked.

Brett snorted. “When don’t you?” He waved his hand, encouraging Kieren to speak.

“For the events that are targeted—and possibly others if time allows—can we not replace all the staff apart from those who are necessary to the event?”

“How would that help?” Des, Henry’s bodyguard, asked. Kieren could understand his concern as Henry was the next on the targeted list.

“Well, the way I see it, it would potentially limit the number of suspects. It’s unlikely to be any of the ‘necessary’ people, though not impossible, and by replacing the staff, if their plan goes ahead and something happens, we’ve narrowed the pool of suspects to those who were there from the start. It’s not foolproof, but it might help.”

Brett sighed. “It’s not ideal because there are a damn high number of people involved in events like these, but we can certainly look into it. I’ll speak with the king.”

There were few royals like King Andrew. Most would delegate something like this, but whenever it involved his family directly, he was always at the front of the line to make sure they were safe, and the people around them had what they needed to ensure that safety.

He waited for Brett once the meeting had finished, and they strode through the hallways to the king’s office.

“Hey, Randall,” Brett said. “Is King Andrew in by any chance?”

“He is, but you’ll only have a few minutes because he has a phone call shortly.”

“Understood.”

Randal disappeared into the office after knocking, then reappeared quickly. “Go on in.”

“Nice to see you, Brett.” He shook his hand and turned to Kieren, pulling him in for a hug. “Kieren. To what do I owe the pleasure?”

“You’re undoubtedly soon-to-be nephew has an idea to run past you,” Brett said with a grin.

Kieren wanted to kill him, but he settled for smacking his shoulder. Andrew laughed. Whether it was at the “soon-to-be nephew” or because Kieren hit Brett, he wasn’t sure, but he ignored it.

“I’m all ears.” Andrew wandered over to a table and poured a coffee. “Do you want anything?”

“No, thank you,” they both replied, making the king laugh again.

“You two are so in sync.” He sipped his coffee and sat on the sofa rather than back behind his desk. “Have a seat.”

Kieren and Brett sat, but whereas Brett leaned back, the picture of ease, Kieren couldn’t. He detailed what he’d explained in the security meeting.

“I agree. Would you take point on this, Kieren? I know you’re not yet back to guarding, but if you wanted to, you could do this part instead?”