“True.”
“Ohmigod,” I mutter.
“It’ll be fine,” Cara says.
Famous last words…
• • •
After the ladies calm me down, we all do our makeup. They help touch up my hair, and Kayla passes me a tin of sour candies to help with what could possibly be morning sickness—something they happily share is really a misnomer. Apparently, it can happen any time something disagrees with your senses. I walk back down the hall to my suite and find Rhys looking as handsome as ever in his tux.
He helps me pin my tiara in my hair and loop my earrings through my lobes before arranging my family and royal orders over my dress.
“I think I rather like playing your lady’s maid, hen,” he says with a softness in his eyes as he takes me in. Panic bubbles up at the thought that maybe he knows what the ladies talked to me about earlier. I don’t want him to know yet. It’s not like I’ve taken a test or anything. I’d rather be sure when I tell him. There’s no sense sending up false alarms.
Just as we’re ready to go, there’s a knock on the main door. Rhys pulls it open so that Leo, the rest of our team, Rick, and Ryan of the White House security come in wearing serious looks on their faces. Whatever news they’re about to deliver, it’s not good.
“Let’s get it over with,” Rhys says. “What’s happened?”
“We have intel that there’s going to be an attempt on the President,” Rick says.
“Well, that’s unexpected,” Rhys says. “I’m assuming it’s who we thought it was going to be?”
“Aye, Your Majesty,” Leo answers. “They aim to set you up for it.”
“No,” I gasp, and all the men in the room freeze. “We can’t let that happen. The President can’t die because of us.”
“We’re not going to let that happen,” Ryan says.
“But you can’t be sure of that,” I snap. “We can’t risk it.”
“Ma’am,” he says. “No offense, but no one is getting to Jake. My wife would kill me, and I like my wife as least murderous as possible.”
“What an odd thing to say,” I reply.
“You hung out with her earlier,” he shrugs. “You tell me.”
“She was lovely.”
“Yeah.” He smiles, clearly in love with his wife. “She really is.”
“So, what’s the plan?” Rhys asks.
“You are going to head to the state banquet as if nothing is wrong,” Rick says. “The less you know the better, but your team knows everything they can.”
“And you trust this plan?” Rhys asks, looking at Leo.
“Aye, Your Majesty. I would no’ risk it,” he answers.
“Then we’ll proceed as you’ve planned,” Rhys replies while my mind still reels and my heart hammers in my chest.
We all file out of the suite and are escorted down to the South Lawn where massive white tents have been erected to hold the number of people who were invited. I feel like I’m about to jump out of my skin as I try to discreetly look around for my uncle or the earl.
Like at the other state dinners, we’re paired up with people who may be a connection to make or an honor to escort us in. The room stands and claps as we are led in with the rest of the procession. Cara discreetly waves at me, and I shoot her a grateful smile.
We’re all escorted to our seats and again, Rhys is nowhere near me. I make casual small talk with my tablemates. That kind of thing is not easy for me to begin with, and that’s on a normal day when I’m not expecting someone to try and kill my new friend’s husband. And not when I think I might be pregnant. Tonight feels like too much and I know I’m doing a poor job of being a visiting dignitary.
Jules walks by and whispers, “Fix your face,” as she goes and I paste on a public smile.