The Royal Romance - The Valtoria Diaries

A great dictator

Forty minutes after Olivia had reported back, Maxwell had still not returned. Jen had sent him another message, letting him know she would wait for him in their guest room, but there was still radio silence. She toyed with her phone case, and took out the token he had given to her on her birthday, only three days ago. It seemed an eternity ago right now.

You're pretty much my favourite person of all time in the history of ever.

She knew it was true, and she knew she felt the same way about him. But what frightened her was how he was feeling right now. He was vulnerable, he'd been played and victimised by Anton. And hopefully he could see that, and he wouldn't let his insecurities that he always did so well to hide from the world take him over.

Her heart leapt into her mouth when she heard the familiar knock on the door. She leapt to her feet to let him in, as although she had of course left it unlocked for him, she had the feeling he would wait until she answered the door tonight.

She opened the door, and relief swept through her. "Hey," she said to him.

"Hey."

She gulped, trying to think what someone who was faking being in love with someone would do at this point. Because she definitely had to make sure she didn't do that, whatever that was. At a loss, she just grabbed him, throwing her arms around him.

The tears resumed, and she realised that he was tearful too. She placed her forehead against his, and they sobbed together for a moment. This progressed to a brief and welcome kiss, after which she beckoned him in.

"I'm sorry, Jen. I needed to be alone to think."

She nodded. "Olivia said she found you."

"Oh." He looked nervous. "Did she say anything else?"

"No. But I gather you must have been up in the best bedroom in all of Cordonia. I sent her there. I sent Drake to your favourite bathroom, and I sent Hana to the boutique."

"All good calls," he sighed, sitting down on the bed. "Listen, Jen.."

"Shhh. It's okay." She sat next to him, stroking his hair gently. "I get it. It's messing with my head too. I'm now questioning everything I say to you, everything I do. I mean, what would I do if I was faking it? Would I be stroking your hair like this? Would I be saying this to you?"

"Oh, Jen. I never doubted you. I only doubted myself."

"In doubting yourself, you had to doubt me too," she sighed.

He just stared sadly back at her; his expression broken.

She gazed back into his puffy blue eyes. "I'm not going to say I don't know how you could doubt me, after what Anton said today. Because I get it. I know you and I know your insecurities and I know your weaknesses. But I also know your strengths. And I know that by tomorrow we'll be laughing about this. And I know that I love you more than life itself. And I need you to know that too."

"I do know that, Jen. And I'm sorry.. I just.."

"It's okay. You don't need to apologise. There's only one person who should be sorry for what he's done today." She'd never been so angry with anyone in her life. "I can't wait to see him sent down for a very long time. I was so worried when you disappeared like that. As long as you're okay now, though.."

"Yeah, I'm okay. How's Bertrand?"

"Surprisingly okay. Last time I saw him he was cursing and gesticulating wildly at the audacity of that Sons of Earth scum. He's probably in his room right now referring to his compendium of great Duke of Ramsford put-downs as he formulates his response.."

"Ah, you know, he'd make a great dictator. I feel kinda sad for him that it isn't true."

He was laughing now, and she smiled. "And you're back with me."

"Oh man. I would not want to be Evil Justin tomorrow. What he's going to get from Bertrand and Olivia.."

"And me! I've never hated him more for what he's put you through today. It's been such an emotional strain on both of us. You wait until I get on that stand. We're not going to let him go down with any satisfaction. We're gonna refute all the nonsense, all standing together against him. What did you say to me on Thursday night, on the roof? Together, we can do anything." She took both of his hands in hers. "And do you remember what you said to me on our wedding night, when we got back to our hotel?"

He looked confused, and laughed self-consciously. "Um, probably something like how eager I was to get my pants off.."

She giggled. "Well, yes. You did say that. But what I meant was, when we first got back to our room and I got upset. You said to me that Anton would never be able to hurt either of us, ever again. Seems that you weren't quite right. But from here on in, I think you should take your own advice. Don't let him hurt you, Maxwell. You're so much better than him."

He closed his eyes and shuddered out a shaky sigh. "I love you."

"And I love you. And anyone who dares to question it tomorrow is going to regret they were ever born. Don't worry. We got this."

She leant into him and felt a surge of relief flowing through her veins as his protective arms wrapped around her.

"Hold me like this tonight," she begged him. "Don't let me go."

"I could never," he promised her, letting his soft lips rest gently on her neck. She sighed, feeling warm and safe again.