Chương 10

Dinner had already begun when Louis came downstairs. Judith sat at the head of the table. Serana sat beside her, eating with one hand and scrolling on her phone with the other. Victoria, Louis's youngest sister, sat in a high chair, pushing carrot pieces across the tray. Samyra, her nanny, stood behind the chair with a folded napkin. Staff moved around the table without speaking. Louis slid into the seat to his mother's left.

"Sorry," Louis said.

"I lost track of time."

"Don't let it cool," Judith said, nodding to his plate. He took a bite of lamb. It was perfectly done.

"Is Dad still in Sacramento?" Louis asked after another bite. Judith sipped her water.

"He's speaking at a security forum tomorrow. Then he'll be here by the weekend." He nodded. Constantine moved between the capital and Los Angeles the way other people moved between rooms.

"And Philip?"

"Still with him. The Foreign Ministry is already working overtime." Her mouth curved slightly.

"Though I suspect Philip is enjoying it."

"He's good at it."

"Yes." She looked at him.

"And your father made a good choice. Not that he ever makes bad ones." Louis ate another bite. Victoria looked up from her tray and held out a piece of carrot. He took it, smiled, and ate it. She giggled and pointed at him.

"You danced!" He turned to her, surprised.

"You saw that?" She nodded hard.

"With the princess." He laughed softly.

"Yes. With the princess." Louis glanced back at his mother.

"How much of this does she understand?" Judith smiled.

"More than we think." She reached over to smooth Victoria's hair.

"She's very clever." She turned to Louis, "And she enjoys watching you on the news." He made a face.

"Great. I have a toddler for a publicist." Victoria pointed at him again.

"News!"

"Yes, Vicky." He tapped her nose lightly.

"News." Louis was still smiling when Judith's phone lit up on the table. She glanced at the screen. When she spoke again, it was about the state visit. He finished his lamb while Judith and Serana went over the itinerary. Austin, Houston, New Orleans, Orlando, Miami. Five cities, too many speeches, too many cameras. His mind went back to the message thread on his phone. The fact that he wanted to check it annoyed him. He pushed the thought aside and refilled his water.

"Louis." He looked up. Judith was watching him.

"Mm?"

"I'm going to the Onsen later. Why don't you and Serana join me?" She looked him over, wry and affectionate.

"You look like you need it."

"I'll pass," Serana said from the end of the table.

"I've got a paper to finish."

"And you?" Louis hesitated. The thought of sitting naked with his mother while his mind circled Angelique held little appeal. But refusing felt more complicated than it was worth.

"Sure," he said.

"Why not." Judith smiled, satisfied, and returned to her plate. Serana was already standing with her phone in hand. Victoria reached for Samyra, who took her upstairs. Louis picked up his phone. No new messages. He typed quickly: Just finished dinner. I'm going to soak for a while. Let me know when you're free. The reply came after a minute. I'll be free in an hour. Enjoy the soak. He set the phone down. Judith had already left the room. He stood, stretched, and headed toward the east wing.

The Onsen was the one part of the house where the air changed before the room did. Warm dampness met him at the door, carrying cedar and mineral water.

"There you are." Judith slipped the dress from her shoulders and hung it in the wardrobe. Louis stepped beside her and nodded. She glanced at him.

"I was starting to think I'd have to send someone to drag you in. Though I suppose I should be grateful you came at all." She reached back to unhook her bra.

"You're getting harder to predict these days." Stolen novel; please report.

"Am I?" Louis pulled his shirt over his head, trying to sound as casual as she did, though his body had already noticed her.

"I thought I was exactly predictable." He tossed the shirt aside and unbuttoned his pants.

"Don't I always do what's expected of me?" Judith laughed and stepped out of her panties. She turned toward him, her gaze drifting appreciatively down his body.

"Oh, don't pout. I meant it as a compliment. It suits you—doing something that isn't just standing in your father's shadow." Her eyes moved back up to meet his.

"I like seeing you take what you want, Louis. You wear it well." He smirked.

"I'll keep that in mind." He finished undressing and followed her into the pool. The heat bit at his skin at first. He lowered himself onto the stone bench near the wall, then leaned back against the warm stone and stretched his legs beneath the surface. Judith moved to the other side and settled into the water with a quiet breath. Then she let out a soft sigh of pleasure.

"Mm. That's better." She leaned back against the edge, spreading her arms. The water rose and fell against her breasts.

"Tell me more about the state visit," Louis said, trying to sound uninterested.

"Who is going with us except the Bourbons?" Judith closed her eyes for a moment before answering.

"The usual," she said.

"Ministers. Security. A few aides." She tilted her head toward him, eyes half-open.

"But you know the real reason this trip matters, don't you?" Louis shifted his leg.

"To maintain our friendship with Austin?"

"Among other things." She smiled lightly.

"And to remind the Free State Collective that we're not just their economic partner. We're also their biggest political counterweight." She stretched lazily.

"They need us. And we enjoy being needed."

"I'm sure Dad loves that part," he murmured.

"Your father loves being indispensable," Judith said.

"And he's not the only one. Power is such a lovely thing, Louis." She opened her eyes and looked at him.

"I hope you learn to enjoy it too." Louis kept his face neutral. An idea came to him, and he liked it.

"Speaking of which," he said, his tone light, "Is Malcolm Lancaster still on the guest list?" She laughed.

"Malcolm? Yes, of course. His father wants to secure the finance portfolio for him. The Collective is a convenient place to remind us how useful he is." Her smile turned sly.

"Why? Do you want him there?" Louis leaned back, letting the heat soak into his shoulders.

"No, I don't want him there. Can you remove him?" Her smile held.

"Why? Because he irritates you?"

"Because he's an unnecessary guest," he replied.

"And I don't want to be forced to make small talk with him for a week." Judith's smile deepened.

"Oh, darling," she said, her voice amused.

"Is he standing between you and Angelique?" Louis said nothing for a moment. Then he shrugged.

"Maybe."

"Well, that's an improvement," Judith said.

"At least you're honest." He looked at her directly.

"Will you do it?" She tilted her head.

"And what exactly do you want me to do? Tell Geoffrey Lancaster his son is inconvenient?"

"Yes." He leaned forward slightly.

"Isn't that what you do? Make things inconvenient for people who don't matter?" Judith laughed again.

"Oh, I knew I liked this new side of you. How ruthless." She let the silence sit for a moment, then waved a hand.

"Very well. If it matters that much to you, I'll make sure Malcolm is kept busy elsewhere." She shifted slightly in the water.

"Though don't expect me to do all your work for you. If you want Angelique, you'll have to take her yourself." Louis let out a short laugh, leaning back again.

"I'm not worried about that." Her smile softened.

"Good. Because she's worth the effort. Philip's raised her well." She stretched again, her arms lifting above her head, the movement making her breasts rise and fall.

"She's clever. A little stubborn. And she has that Bourbon grace—elegant, but not fragile." His phone buzzed against the stone ledge beside him, faceup beside his folded towel.

"You should check that," Judith said, her tone almost lazy.

"It might be important." He leaned over and reached for the phone. A new message from Angelique. You may now begin your education. Below the message was a photo. He opened it and stared. Angelique was sitting in a car, holding up three books with exaggerated seriousness, like she was trying to sell him something illegal. Beneath the photo, she had written: Beginner, intermediate, advanced. Choose wisely. Louis laughed out loud.

"What?" Judith asked, her voice curious. He glanced up at her.

"Nothing. A joke." He quickly typed a reply. I think I'll start with the advanced one. I like a challenge. Of course you would. He smiled as he read it.

"I think I have had enough soak for tonight." He stood, water running off his skin.

"I'll be in my room." He stepped out of the pool and reached for his towel. Judith watched him step onto the tile, her gaze moving from his shoulders to the loose towel at his waist, then back to his face.

"You do look more relaxed," she said, her tone pleased.

"Whatever that was, keep it up." He rubbed the towel through his hair and gave her a thin smile.

"I'll try." His suite was dim when he entered. He dropped his towel, crossed the room, and lay down on the bed. He zoomed in on the photo of Angelique holding the books. He looked at her instead of the books. Then he made himself focus on the titles. Dawn of the Napoleonic Age, The Royal Houses of Modern Europe, and Navarre: The Lost Kingdom. He sighed, then called the house line. The answer came almost immediately.

"Yes, sir?"

"I need a book."

"Of course, sir." He ended the call, took a screenshot of the Navarre title, and forwarded it to the house account. Then he sat on the edge of the bed and waited. Twelve minutes later there was a knock. He opened it. Élise stood outside, holding a tray with the book centered on it. She held the tray level between them.

"Bonsoir, Louis. I found it in the west library," she said.

"Would you like anything else?" He took the book from the tray. It was heavier than he had expected, the jacket smooth under his fingers.

"This is all, thanks." She nodded once and stepped back. The door closed. He looked down at the cover again and laughed under his breath. He carried the book to the desk and opened it. First came a preface, then a map, then a chronology that began with three dynastic wars and two disputed successions. He skipped ahead until he reached a page showing a reception chamber in the old palace at Navarre before the Revolution of 2003. The photograph showed two high-backed chairs on a low platform at the far end.

The other chairs lined the walls below them, smaller and plain. He stared at the two chairs. After a while, the black-and-white room began to change in his head. The ceiling and the walls took color. Angelique appeared before he could stop himself, seated in one of the chairs with her back straight, her dark hair falling over her shoulders, her hands resting on the carved arms. Then he was beside her. He shook his head.

"Ridiculous." He closed the book, yet the picture stayed with him. He put the book on the nightstand and climbed into bed. He lay there for a long time, staring at the ceiling. Then he sat up, put the book on his lap and took a picture of the open page. He sent it to Angelique with a line of text. I think I found our place. She replied almost at once with a laughing emoji. He smiled, then typed: It's late. I hope you sleep well. She sent back another emoji, this one a crescent moon.

He closed his eyes and let the day finally fall away.