The words on the paper were starting to swarm in front of my eyes. I’d been staring at the same legal documents for over three hours. My head was pounding and I wanted a stiff drink.

Fuck it.

I grabbed the scotch from my top drawer and poured two fingers into the crystal glass that always sat next to it. This day was getting worse with each page I read. Each word was like another nail in the coffin. If I couldn’t convince Scarlett to marry me before my uncle died, the entire county was in big trouble. The soft knock on the door pulled me out of my stupor and I tried to make myself look more presentable to whomever was on the other side.

“Come in.”

Scarlett peeked her head in and I studied her as she stood in the doorway. It seemed like every time I looked at her, she was more beautiful than the last. “Hey, I just wanted to let you know that I’m going out with Ava.”

I tried to hold back the smile that was threatening to take over my face. “Thank you for telling me.”

She nodded once. “We’ll be back later. I’m taking a few of your security with us as well.”

I didn’t know what had caused this change in Scarlett, but I was happy—thrilled even. Was it possible that she was trying to make herself comfortable in Warington?

“Enjoy the afternoon with your sister,” I finally answered.

She looked at me for a few more seconds before closing the door behind her. I was a little surprised and a lot intrigued. Scarlett had actually stopped to tell me she was leaving so I didn’t assume she was running away.

Huh.

That might even be considered progress.

Now I just had to wait for the other shoe to drop because with Scarlett, we normally take one step forward and two giant steps back. Ever since I had brought her home from that club, we’d been antagonistic towards one another and, in my case, downright brutish. We would have to figure things out, sooner rather than later. The latest report the doctor had given me on my uncle hadn’t been good. I rubbed my temples. I needed to get out of this stupid office and go visit him, especially since our time left together was so limited.

The man had been like a father to me, raising me after my parents died when I was seven. It hurt like hell to see him suffering, and the least I owed him was a little of my time. I pushed back from my desk. I wouldn’t get any more work done until I checked in on him. Maybe I could grab some of those cookies he loved so much from the kitchen on my way to his room. It would be nice to see Karen for a second too.

My life was changing rapidly and there was nothing I could do to fix it, except hold on tight and pray for the right answers. I wasn’t ready to lead a country, but for better or worse, it was happening.

William held out a glass of scotch as I walked back into my office. He was in one of the large club chairs, legs crossed out in front of him, reading a book I’d seen him with him a hundred times over the years. This man was more than my assistant—hell, he was far from that anyway—he was my best friend. We’d spent more hours together during military training than we thought humanly possible. He’d saw me through losing my cousin and now, he would see me through losing my uncle. I considered him family.

I took the glass from him and settled into the chair across from him—the one that Scarlett and I had fallen into after her punishment. My cock twitched at the memory.

“Quit. I can practically hear the filthy thoughts running through your head from over here.”

I laughed and took a drink. “How do you know what I’m thinking about?”

He glanced up from his book and raised an eyebrow. “You two weren’t exactly quiet. Or discreet. I’m the one that finally closed the door.”

“Thanks for that,” I said, raising my glass to him and grinning. “Always looking out for me.”

“Someone has to,” he replied dryly, before putting his book down on the end table next to him. “So, do you think Scarlett will go through with the wedding?”

I glared at him. He was hitting on where most of my anxiety was coming from. “I paid her dowry, didn’t I?”

William gave me a look. “Just because you paid doesn’t mean anything. Knowing you, you’ve probably already offered her an out if she wants it. Which isn’t good for the future of Warington, but it proves that you’re still infatuated with this girl.”

“I’ve lived in a loveless marriage. I don’t ever want to repeat the experience,” I defended. “Besides, she’s well aware of what would happen if Jade was able to take the throne as queen. None of us want that.”

“Yet you insist on waiting until the last minute to marry her. Don’t you think your uncle would like to see your wedding?” I winced because he was right. Uncle Henry had mentioned it; several times, in fact. But I couldn’t force Scarlett to marry me if she wasn’t ready. Not until I had to, at least. “Maybe you should quit being such a pussy and tell the girl you’re in love with her, and you have been for years.”

“And maybe you should mind your own damn business,” I snapped.

He grinned. “The pressure is getting to you, huh? I knew it would one day.”

“Why do you have to make this harder than it already is?” I groaned. “I should have married her that first night when she was incoherent. Maybe then she wouldn’t be so damn frustrating.”

He shook his head. “No, she’d still be frustrating, but then you would feel guilty for making her marry you when you weren’t sure she even wanted to.”

I flipped him off and took another sip of my scotch. “At least I don’t have to worry about Jade. I’ll snatch Karen up in the middle of the night and marry her if I have to.”

He leaned back in his chair and picked up his book. “We haven’t heard the last of that woman. She’s one of the worst people I’ve ever had the displeasure of meeting in my life. I guarantee you, she’s not going down without a fight.”

“Oh great, one other thing I get to worry about. Thanks,” I said sarcastically, rolling my eyes. “Thanks so much for pointing out the obvious, asshole.”

He saluted me with his tumbler. “That’s what I’m here for, buddy.”

My head slumped back in the chair. I needed to marry Scarlett and get rid of Jade, once and for all. This week wasn’t exactly going like I’d planned, but apparently, demanding the woman you loved marry you because your uncle was dying never did. Or so I’ve heard.