“Meredith.” He stood up and walked slowly around the table. “This is why I’m here. Why mother sent Rachel. No one should have to deal with all of this on their own.”

“Having all of you here makes it worse.” I was shaking. Our calm, almost peaceful dinner was now a thing of the past. “Don’t you get it?”

“You’re embarrassed.” He said the words quietly. “You don’t need to be.”

I snorted and wrapped my arms around myself. “My father tried to deck me in front of a prince. Of course I’m embarrassed.”

His hands clenched at his sides and I wondered what was going through his mind as he stared at me.

“I need to go give Marty a bath. He’s waiting on me.” I took a deep breath. I couldn’t afford to lose control right now. I couldn’t afford to lose control at all.

“Let the nanny give him a bath.”

“It’s my job.” I lifted my chin and stared at him. “It’s not the nanny’s job to be his mother.”

“It’s the nanny’s job to help you when you need it.” He moved closer to me. “When my mother reinstated your title, she wasn’t just giving you your inheritance. She was bringing you into a world where much would be asked of you. For some, it might seem like winning the lottery, but the truth is that it isn’t always easy to wear a royal title. That’s why you have a cook, a butler, and a nanny. That’s why I’m here to help during a difficult time.”

I just looked up at him. I wasn’t sure I knew how to let other people help me.

“Go take a hot shower.” Gently he placed his hands on my shoulders and steered me toward the door. “Take a long hot shower and let other people help you for once.”

I let him guide me through the hallway and to the stairs. “Are you going home now?”

The light in the foyer was dim and his face was cloaked in shadow as he looked down at me. “No.”

“What will you do?” I shivered. I was more worn out than I had realized.

“Stay.”

With that one word, relief crashed over me. How could this man, whom I barely knew, make me feel safe?

“Thank you.” I stood on my tiptoes and kissed his cheek.

He turned just enough so that I could feel his breath on my own cheek. “Get some rest, Meredith.”

“Yes, Your Highness.” I trudged up the stairs with a backward glance over my shoulder. He was watching me, one hand on the stair rail, but my barb had made him smile just a little.

I stopped by Marty’s room. He was sitting on his bed, playing his video game.

“Did you get your pajamas?”

“Yes, ma’am.” He glanced over at me.

“I think Katie’s going to come give you a bath. Is that okay?” I leaned against the door frame.

“Ah, I can bathe myself.” He scrunched up his nose. “I don’t want her to see my butt.”

I laughed. “Okay. She can stay in the other room and just make sure you don’t drown. How’s that?”

“Works for me!” He turned back to the television.

I crossed the room and kissed the top of his head. “Good night, monster.”

“ ’Night, Mom.”

It only took a moment to swing by Katie’s room and ask her to handle Marty’s bedtime routine. She was reading a book and folded the page to mark her spot. I couldn’t detect any annoyance at being interrupted. Instead she seemed happy to help.

“Do you need help with anything else?”

“No, I’m going to call it a night.” I tugged at my shirt.

“Yes, ma’am. I’ll see to it that Marty gets to bed.” Katie smiled.

“Thank you.” When I got to my room, I closed the door and leaned against it. There was a prince somewhere in my house, doing God knows what. I let someone else handle my son’s bedtime routine. And I was very close to falling apart.

I stripped as I walked to my bathroom and turned the water to scalding. Without thinking, I stepped in and let the water run over my body. It only took a few minutes before the tears started and mixed with the water running over my face.

There was a sense of relief, knowing that no one was waiting on me, there was nothing that I had to do right that moment, and I just let myself cry. I cried until the water turned cold and then cried some more.

By the time I dragged myself out of the bathroom, I could barely hold my eyes open. I wanted nothing more than to fall on my bed, but I wouldn’t be able to sleep unless I checked on Marty one more time.

Grabbing one of the throw blankets from a chair, I wrapped it around my shoulders and tiptoed down the hallway. Holding my breath, I opened the door and hoped that it wouldn’t creak. Sticking my head in, I listened to his steady breathing and sighed.

I could sleep now.

Back in my room, I crawled on top of the blankets and let myself fall into oblivion.

TEN

SOMETHING NUDGED MY foot and I jerked awake.

“Don’t you have a castle of your own somewhere?” Meredith’s father stared down at me.

“Yes, sir, I do.” I sat up and chose to ignore his sarcasm.

“Then why are you sleeping on my sofa?” He sat down in the chair across from me.

“It was rather late last night for me to make the drive home.” The butler had offered me a guest room, but I had declined. I didn’t want Meredith to feel like I was trying to move in and take over. Though I had accepted a room for my bodyguard.