Chapter 2 : Do I Get A Choice?

Lena’s POV

My phone lit up in the holster on the treadmill. It was a message from Charles. I quickly pressed stop on the machine and hopped off, eager to get an update from him.

Charles: I just got a notification. The package should be on your doorstep.

No sooner had I read his message, was I running to beat Frederick to the front door. Frederick was our butler. While he was the best butler my family had ever hired, he came with one fatal flaw—he was nosy as all get out.

Charles begged me to keep his secret until he was ready. I was sworn to secrecy, and I wasn’t about to let Frederick get the best of me. I reached the front door just in the nick of time. I swung open the door to find a small brown box sitting on the brick walkup. I swiped it, relieved that I had gotten to it in time.

“Someone at the door, Lady Eleanor?” I heard Frederick ask, walking up behind me.

“I’m afraid not,” I replied, covering the shipping label with my hand. “Just a package.”

“Is that for Master Harris?” Frederick asked, reaching for the box. “Hand it to me, I’ll take it to him.”

“A-actually, it’s for me,” I replied nervously. “Just something I ordered.”

“I see,” Frederick noted, suspiciously. “Would you like me to remove the packaging? I can have the contents sent to your room later.”

“That won’t be necessary,” I said, slowly inching my way back down the long hallway. “I can open it myself.”

Frederick eyed me for a second before giving up and walking away. I let out a deep sigh of relief before quickly heading to my room. I passed by the gym where I had been working out before, and turned down a few more hallways before eventually reaching my room.

I locked the door behind me in case nosy Frederick came snooping around. Once I was sure I was completely alone, I sat at my desk and tore into the box. Some of the tape was thicker than I expected, so I had to use scissors for the seams.

Once all the cardboard was stripped away, there was nothing left but a tiny royal blue velvet box, and a business card from the shipping company - Douglas Jewelers.

I laid the card down on the desk and picked up the tiny blue box. My fingertips acclimated to the fuzzy feeling of the velvet. I drug my thumb against the seam of the small box and cracked it open. Inside was the most beautiful diamond ring I’d ever seen. I quickly pulled out my phone to text Charles back.

Lena: It’s perfect! When do you want to pick it up?

I put my phone back down to study the ring further. It was gorgeous. It was lacking in only two things, blemish and color. It was, however, the most impeccable stone I’d ever laid eyes on. My phone lit up on the desk.

Charles: Tonight. Can you swing by the pub?

I replied with a quick ‘yes’ to Charles before pulling out the ring to try it on. I knew it wasn’t for me, but I couldn’t help but to wonder what it’d be like. The ring was for my younger sister, Emily. Emily and Charles had been together for as long as I could remember.

For the most part, the couple had managed to keep their relationship hidden from the public. They didn’t want to be bothered by the media. I couldn’t say I blamed them. Being the child of the Prime Minister came with many disadvantages. We were spectacles; mere vessels to shoulder the burden of blame for all that was wrong with the world.

I admired the diamond from my left hand. I held it up toward the ceiling so it could catch the light. It sparkled, like glitter, and I was suddenly wishing I had a reason to wear one.

I had never really found the right fit in a man. If I’m honest, it was a little discouraging. I’d dated a few guys at university, but they were all pretentious and snobby. I didn’t want any part of it. Whoever I ended up with needed to be level headed, smart, and passionate about the less fortunate. Those were my non-negotiables.

A knock at my door startled me into a frenzy. I tried to remove the ring from my finger but it was stuck. Damn Emily and her dainty fingers.

“Lena?” I heard my father’s voice call out from beyond the door. “Are you alright in there?”

“Just a minute!” I shrieked, trying to pull the ring off with no luck.

“Open the door, I’d like to have a word with you,” my father replied with concern.

“Be right there!” I called out, looking around my room for something to get the ring off.

I spotted my riding gloves sitting neatly on a chair in the corner of the room. I jumped at them, slipping on the left one with desperate rigor. As soon as the glove was mostly on, I sprinted over to my door and unlocked it to let my father in.

“Hello, father,” I panted, trying my best not to let on.

“Lena, your face is completely flushed!” my father gasped, studying me. “What’s the matter?”

“N-nothing,” I lied. “I was just getting a workout in before my dress fitting for the banquet this evening.”

My father was hosting a banquet at our chateau to celebrate raising ten million pounds for orphaned children in Africa. He was very passionate about the growing number of children without homes. It was one of his main campaigns and it was likely why he was elected nine years ago.

“Do you have a minute?” my father asked, a look of dread settling on his face.

“Sure,” I answered, trying not to draw attention to my gloved hand. “Should I meet you in the study?”

“Perfect.” My father smiled. “I’ll meet you there in five.”

He pecked my cheek and escorted himself out of my room. I sighed in relief, closing the door behind him. I ran to my ensuite and shuffled through drawers, desperate to find something that could get the ring off. I found a face serum hiding in the back of a drawer, and knew it was my best shot at removing the dainty ring from my stalky fingers.

I ripped off the glove and dripped the oil all around my finger. I worked in the mixture, careful to get it underneath the band, and slowly, but surely, the ring slipped off. Disaster avoided.

I went back to my room and carefully wiped the excess oil from the ring before replacing it in its box. I stuffed the velvety box between my mattress and the box spring, hoping that Frederick wouldn’t be able to find it there. I gathered all the remaining trash from the shipment and tossed it in the kitchen bin on my way to my father’s study.

He was already perched behind his large mahogany desk by the time I walked in. He looked nervous when he spotted me, and something told me that whatever he wanted to tell me was not good.

“Close the door behind you, please,” he said, waving for me to come in.

I did as he said. Now I was confident that something was wrong. My father was not the secretive type. He never closed his door, and seeing it shut behind me made the hair on my neck stand at attention.

“What’s this about?” I asked, making my way to a chair.

“I need to discuss something with you. Something of great importance.”

“What is it?” I asked, making myself comfortable in my chair. “Is it mother?”

“No, no,” he answered, shaking his head. “Your mother is just fine. She’ll be home before the banquet tonight.”

“So, then what?”

My father was quiet for a moment. I could tell he was struggling to figure out how to say whatever it was he wanted to tell me.

“Lena,” he began. He sat forward in his chair and looked me right in the eyes. “You know how much I love you, don’t you?”

“Of course, father,” I concurred.

“There’s been a situation,” my father went on, shifting in his seat. “It seems that our ties with the United States are in question.”

“Oh, my….” I gasped. “I-is it serious?”

“Yes,” my father answered plainly.

“What’s happened?”

“Some of the southern American states attempted to branch off and form their own government,” he confided. “Have you heard about it?”

“I have.” I scrunched my nose. “I think I saw something about it in the news.”

My father nodded. “Apparently, there were talks of creating a monarchy.”

“A monarchy?” I asked, confused. “In America?”

“It never took legs,” my father assured me. “American congress quickly passed a law prohibiting the southern states from legally being able to go through with it.”

“So, what’s all that got to do with me?” I asked, still not quite getting the big picture.

My father sat forward, sweat beading on his brow. He was never nervous, especially when he was talking to his family. I couldn’t imagine what had gotten him so worked up.

“Some of the language used in the bill that was passed seems to have ruffled a few feathers here at home. It unintentionally insulted our monarchy—what’s worse, our queen. Long story short, there have been talks of cutting our alliance with the states.”

“What?!” I said, baffled. “That’s utter madness!”

“I know,” my father agreed. “But the damage has already been done.”

“Father, you have to fix this,” I urged. “You should go to the monarchy and tell them how absurd this is. I mean, over a law? I-it’s ridiculous!”

“Settle down, Lena,” my father said, calmly raising a hand. “I’m already working on a solution.”

“Oh,” I replied, willing my heartbeat to slow. “So, why are you telling me all of this?”

“Because,” my father began, his eyes leveling on me. “The solution is you.”

“Me?” I asked, even more confused.

“We need a way to show that we’re united, and we thought that the best way to do that would be with a marriage.”

“Marriage.” I repeated the words. They didn’t feel real on my lips. “A marriage for who?”

“I was hoping you’d be open to it,” my father said slowly, observing my expression. “You’re practically a lady now—nearly twenty-three years of age.”

“Y-you want me to marry someone?” I asked, still in awe of the proposition. “Who?”

“There’s a young American fellow, Caledon Booker. He’s of high society. Son to Edward Booker, the Vice President of the United States. We think he could be a good match for you, as the President himself has no children to offer.”

“I-I don’t understand,” I replied, standing to my feet. “Why me? I’m not a princess or even a duchess, I-I’m not of noble blood at all! Shouldn’t someone else be doing this?”

“The royals are all betrothed,” my father shrugged. “Most of them were assigned spouses at birth. I am the head of government, Lena. There is no one else.”

I was quiet. My life was changing and it didn’t really feel like I was in control of it.

“Do I get a choice?” I finally managed to get out.

My father gave me a disappointed look. “You’re my daughter before anything. Of course, you have a choice.”

“Okay.” I sat back in my chair, considering all the facts. “Then I say no. I don’t want to marry a stranger. I’m sorry, it’s just too big of an ask.”

My father nodded. I could tell he was disappointed, but his love for me was bigger than his need to satisfy the monarchy.

“Very well,” he replied. “I won’t say another word about it.”

I stood to my feet again and nodded respectfully to express my gratitude.

“Thank you, father,” I said, heading for the door.

“Would you do me a favor?” my father asked as I gripped the door knob to his office door.

“Sure.” I answered, turning back around.

“Go and fetch Emily for me.”

“What for?” I asked, turning back to face him.

“I need to find someone to marry Caledon Booker,” my father sighed, rubbing his temples. “Emily is much more agreeable when it comes to things like this. Perhaps I’ll get a yes out of her.”

My heart sank as I heard the words. Emily was about to get engaged to the love of her life, even though she, and no one else, knew about it yet.

“Wait, you can’t ask her,” I spit out. My father raised his brow and I realized what I’d just said. “I-I mean, what about Charles?”

“This is for our country,” my father noted. “Emily knows her place as much as you.”

I thought about Emily being forced into a loveless marriage with this Cal person. She’d be miserable. And what of Charles? I could see it now. The sulking and sadness would be insufferable. I couldn’t let her go through with it. But my father was right, she was much more agreeable than I was. If she believed it was her civil duty, she’d do it.

“I-I’ll do it, then,” I exclaimed, not seeing any other way.

“What?” my father asked, surprised. “You will?”

I bit on my lower lip and nodded slowly. “Yes. If me and Emily are your only choices… I volunteer.” I said, voice low and sure. “It’s only fair, as the eldest, that I take on this role. As you said, it’s for our country.”

My father was quiet. I couldn’t tell if he was happy or disappointed. I wondered if there was a part of him that didn’t want either of us to go through with it. He gave me a sweet look before finally speaking.

“Lena, my sweet girl.” He choked on his words a little as emotion overtook him. “You are so brave, so kind. I’m so proud of you.”

After leaving my father’s study, I walked in silence down the hall to my bedroom. It felt as if I’d entered his study as a little girl and left a woman.

I daydreamed about my betrothed, and I wondered if we’d get along. Would he be gentle or spiteful? I supposed only time would reveal that answer. All I knew was I was about to enter into a loveless marriage with a complete stranger, and the very idea sent a shudder down my spine.