While we may have finally allowed ourselves the wedding night we deserved, it’s over all too soon.

William probably thinks I’m asleep, but I watch him as he slides off the bed and tiptoes back into the sitting room.

I follow him. I’m not certain of what to say or if he’ll even listen, but I’m not ready for him to leave me again.

He’s pulling on his clothes when I enter the room, and he looks up at me. His eyes widen with what almost looks like panic before his expression softens into something else as his eyes roam over my naked body.

I want to say something to him, but I’m not certain what. Begging him to stay is the only thing that comes to mind.

He lets out a low growl before he shakes his head and pulls his pants up. “You should return to bed before I do something we’ll regret.”

“I can’t imagine I would regret anything you might do to me, Your Highness.” I suddenly feel very exposed, and I grab the blouse I was wearing last night from the floor and hold it to my breasts.

He chuckles. “Unfortunately, that doesn’t really do much to change my mind.” He takes a few steps toward me and pecks my cheek. “I’ll see you tonight.”

“Don’t…don’t go.”

He cocks his head, and his grin falls a bit. “If this plan of ours is to work, I can’t stay. The staff will be about in the halls at any moment. If someone were to see me leaving your room—”

“Then don’t leave my room.” I smile. “Stay for the day. If no one sees you, they won’t know you’re here.”

He seems to ponder this for a moment, his smile widening. “I do love the way you think, my Princess.” He lets out a long breath. “Unfortunately, I’ve already accepted an invitation—”

“You can unaccept it.” I frown. My heart is beating a little too quickly—I’m not sure if it’s because of the panic I feel at the thought of him leaving me alone for another day, or if it’s because of the thrill at the thought of him staying. “Please.”

He strides toward me again and reaches out to place a hand on my cheek. “Justine. We agreed—”

“I can’t do it. I don’t… I felt like a prisoner in my room yesterday. I—”

“You were ill. You really did need the rest.” His eyebrows draw together. “And you’re hardly a prisoner here. You may use the palace as you wish.” He pauses for a moment, considering his words before his grin slowly widens. “Unlike certain other palaces I’ve visited.”

“Very funny.” I’m not sure what’s come over me, but there are tears welling in my eyes. “Please don’t make me beg you, William.” I know this plan was at least mostly my idea, but I can’t believe how difficult it is to go through with now.

He frowns, but he holds fast to my cheek, finally bringing his lips to mine for a moment. “If there were another way, I’d be happy to—”

“We could leave. Like you suggested in Berlin—we could go somewhere else. Anywhere else. I…I…” I feel like an idiot, begging him like this. “Please.” Even though I know our staying apart—at least during the day—is the best option if we’re going to convince my father that we’re fighting, I can’t believe how painful the notion of not having William by my side is now.

He kisses me again, but it’s still only little more than a peck on the lips before he pulls himself completely away from me. “We do need to put on this charade for at least a few more days. And if we’re seen together doing anything but arguing, the entire plan falls apart. We agreed, Justine.”

He’s right, of course. I just hadn’t anticipated how difficult it was going to be. “I know… But I just want to be with you. With my husband. You can go to your father with what you know—we both can. I can’t imagine that he’s not already aware that my father is playing some sort of game with him. They’ve been doing this for years—”

“But wouldn’t it be nice to end this game our countries have been playing? Isn’t that the reason our marriage was arranged in the first place?”

I can’t argue with his logic, and I don’t know what it is about the emotional state I seem to find myself in, but I can’t even reason with myself. Everything I come up with is purely selfish. I know we need to do what’s right to save our marriage—to save our countries—I just hadn’t anticipated the longing I’m already feeling in my heart at our being separated.

“I say we stick with what we’ve agreed to. I know it’s difficult. It is for me, too.” His eyes roam over me once more. “Believe me, I’m not certain where my willpower is coming from. Particularly when you beg me.” He grins again. “I’m going to remember that when I return tonight, Princess. I do love it when you beg.”

My shoulders drop, and I let out something of a petulant whimper. It isn’t that I’m so used to getting my way that I’ll throw a fit if I don’t. I’m not sure I can even say what it is that’s come over me.

He grins. “I promise. I’ll be back tonight as soon as I’m able. But Justine…”

“Yes?”

“Don’t come looking for me again. Don’t make it obvious that this is a ruse.” He shakes his head. “I’ll be out with my brother and Victoria today. You’ll have the palace to yourself. If you’ll make it obvious to everyone that I’ve gone out without you…” He lets out a long breath. “Well, I know you’ll know what to do.”

“Yes. I suppose I do.” Of course, it doesn’t make me hate this situation any less. “I’ll speak with my father today. I don’t think he’ll tell me anything, but I’ll try. I just… I really want this to be over. I want to live a normal life, William. That’s all I’ve ever wanted.”

He gazes at me for a long moment. I can’t read exactly what it is in his eyes, but it almost seems like pity. “I know.”

I shake my head. “I don’t want you to feel sorry for me. I don’t. But I don’t want to do this anymore. I don’t want to play games with my family. I don’t want to have to try to fool my father into believing something.” I let out a shaky breath. “I think… I think I’m done with this. It’s the only reason I agreed to marry you, William. He promised me what I wanted—that I could have the life I wanted to have. That I could return to America and lead a normal life.”

I know I sound ridiculous—and I know it’s the opposite of what I’ve been telling him. But maybe I’m finally being honest with him—and with myself. I know William is only trying to fight for our marriage—to fight for us. I know we need to stop my father. I know everything that we need to do—in my head, at any rate—but I can’t seem to reconcile any of it with what is going on in my heart. Perhaps if we just leave it all, it would be the best way. We wouldn’t have to fight any longer. We wouldn’t have to struggle and try to convince anyone.

“Our lives aren’t normal, Princess. For either of us. We weren’t born to be normal—”

“But that’s just it. I’ve never identified with my family. I’ve never wanted to, either. I’m willing to give it all up.” I take a step toward him. “And you could, too.”

He shakes his head. “And do what? Say we were to go and live a normal life. What would we do?”

“We could do whatever we wanted. We could live in a house. We could have a car—that we drive ourselves. We could go wherever we pleased, whenever we pleased—”

“And what else? Cook for ourselves? Clean our house?” He looks at me for a long moment. “Work?”

“Yes. All of those things. We could be exactly like everyone else.”

He shakes his head. “I know it’s selfish, Princess, I do. But I don’t want those things.” He shrugs. “What would I do for work? I’m not qualified to do a damned thing.”

“I’m sure that isn’t true. And we wouldn’t have to work. I have a trust—I’m sure you do, too. We could do jobs that we love. You could… You could teach fencing. Or—”

“I…” He frowns, and he stares at me for a long while. “I’ll think about it.”

I nod. “Okay.” I know I’m being ridiculous, but I don’t care. If nothing else, I want William to know that we’re on the same page—I want to fight for our marriage, too. I’m just not sure I want to fight.

“I should go before one of the staff sees me.”

I nod again. “Yes. As you said.”

He stares at me for a long moment, nodding to himself. “Yes.”

“Then I suppose you should go.”

“I suppose I should.”

Perhaps he’s reconsidering everything now. Giving up this life probably isn’t for him. I know that. It probably isn’t for me, either, but at least the option is out there now.

“You know, Justine…” His voice trails off, and he shakes his head. “Never mind.”

“What?” I clutch my blouse more tightly to my chest. “What is it?”

He looks at me again, frowning. “I was going to say…” He sighs. “I was going to tell you that you were born to be queen.”

“William…”

“I know. I know you’ve already made up your mind. But I don’t think you see what I see.” He shakes his head. “Your people love you. And you love them. You want to be one of them—how much more obvious does it get than that?” He lets out a long breath. “You’re the person they need. You’re the monarch they deserve. That’s all.”

My jaw begins to tremble, and before I know what’s happening, tears are spilling down my cheeks.

He strides to me again, brushing his thumb over my skin to swipe away my tears. “It’s true.”

I shake my head, unable to make eye contact with him. Somewhere inside me, I know what he’s saying is true, but it isn’t what I want to hear.

“Justine…” He places a hand on my shoulder and turns me back to face him. “You don’t see it, but you’re beloved. And your people need you.”

“Don’t…don’t say that.”

“I only say it because it’s the truth.”

I finally look up into his eyes. “I can’t lead them.”

“But you can. And I’ll be there by your side. If you’ll allow me.”

“I—”

I’m interrupted by a knock at my door. William’s eyes widen, and he backs toward the bedroom, shaking his head at me as though he’s warning me.

I nod, and walk over to the door, opening it only enough to peek my head around.

A young maid is standing there and gives me a shallow curtsy. “Begging your forgiveness, Your Highness.”

“What is it?” I’m sure she can hear the shakiness that is still in my voice, but I can’t say that I care much at the moment.

“I was sent to let you know that Her Royal Highness, Queen Penelope, requests your presence in her suite for breakfast. And…”

I wait for her to finish, but she seems almost dumbstruck. “And?”

She blushes. “And I’m to tell you to let your husband know that his presence is requested, too.”