Series: Fever Falls Series by Riley Hart
Total pages in book: 99
Estimated words: 96260 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 481(@200wpm)___ 385(@250wpm)___ 321(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 96260 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 481(@200wpm)___ 385(@250wpm)___ 321(@300wpm)
“Do I need to leave?” Keegan asked.
“You have every right to be here. We’ll enjoy breakfast and have a good morning, and I’ll introduce you to my brother the way I should have been able to anyway.”
His lip curled into a smile, and I could see that he was on edge, but also, it seemed that he liked the idea. And really, I did want to introduce him.
Of anything I ever had to be ashamed of in my life, Keegan was most certainly not one of those things.
I sighed before taking the seat on the opposite side of the table from Mère.
“Good,” Mère said. “Then let’s eat and have a lovely morning. It’s a beautiful day. We should all enjoy it.”
The servants arrived with covered trays and unveiled our selections.
“Keegan, would you care for some pancakes?” Mère asked.
Keeg’s eyes widened with his smile. “Would I ever!”
I couldn’t help but ease up. As long as Lucas didn’t say anything to annoy or offend Keegan, everything would be just fine.
We all filled our plates. Mère asked Keegan questions about his life and family back in Fever Falls, and Keegan lit up as he told her all about them.
That was how family was supposed to feel about one another.
Proud.
Excited.
Not the way the eldest son of the Hawthornes was acting at all.
A booming voice echoed through the library, and I turned to see Lucas and Cassie escorted by the royal guard, who opened the French doors out onto the courtyard for them.
“Keegan!” Cassie called out, hurrying to us.
Keegan and I stood, and Cassie attacked him with a hug. “I’m so sorry for having you arrested!”
“It’s all good,” he said with a smile before she turned and hugged me. I spun her around until she squealed, which made Mère laugh.
“And now I have to be last,” Mère complained.
“You sat the farthest away!” Cassie said.
“Oh, don’t mind me for being greedy.”
As Cassie went to grant Mère the much-needed affection, Lucas marched toward us, his brow furrowed. When he reached me, he halted.
“Do we need to salute?” I asked.
“What?” He sounded surprised by my words.
“You just look like you’re in a very militant state today.”
“I’m in a serious state. I’m here to see my brother.”
“Yes. I would think that you could be a little relaxed, considering it’s a family get-together. Do you want to sit? Tea? Biscuits, maybe? Eggs? Pancakes?”
He relaxed. “Sorry, I’m a little stressed this morning.”
“Anything I need to be concerned about?”
“Politics as usual. I have a meeting with the prime minister later, and it’s keeping me on edge.”
“It’s not about…”
“Not equal marriage. Some environmental bill.” He took a breath as Mère poured him a cup of tea. “I’m being rude, though. You must be the Mr. Kruse Prince Owen has told me unfortunately very little about.”
Keegan extended his hand, ready to shake, and Lucas just looked at it. “Royalty doesn’t shake,” he said.
“Oh, sorry. I just…” Keegan sealed his lips before offering an overdramatic…and absolutely ridiculous…curtsey. “Kidding. I don’t know what the proper—”
“It’s a pleasure meeting you,” Lucas said in a tone that promised he was less than enthusiastic about their meeting. “Sit down. I would love to get to know you more.”
“Careful, Lucas,” I said.
“I think the one who should be cautious is the one warning the King.”
“You’re it!” Cassie said from behind Keegan, her arm stretched out as she tagged him.
“Oh, am I? Really?” He chased after her as she headed into the hedge maze.
As I looked back to Lucas, it was apparent he had to stifle a smile.
“Yeah, he has that effect on me too,” I said, which seemed to bring back his expected temperament.
“I’ll deal with you momentarily,” he said, heading around me. “Mère,” he said, and she offered him a warm hug. As he pulled away, he kissed her cheek.
“Could Marilyn not make it today?” she asked.
“She was traveling all last week, so she needs the rest. It’s just for the meeting with the prime minister.”
“Funny. And here I believed your visit was more about a certain ambassador from the States.”
“I would be lying if I said I didn’t time it conveniently with his visit.”
“I figured as much.”
“At least I’m honest, dearest brother.”
I knew what he was suggesting about the ruse Keeg and I had put on, but if he understood what was happening between us, genuinely happening beyond the scheme I’d initially concocted, he would have known better than to say anything like that.
“Got you,” Keegan called out as he must’ve tagged Cassie back.
Despite my attempt at remaining serious, I started laughing, and Lucas laughed right on with me, reminding me that, despite our differences, we could still find a sort of childish amusement amid the most serious of situations.
“I almost got away!” Cassie said as she stepped out of the maze.
“Better luck next time,” Keeg said as he walked behind her, pulling his hat off and adjusting it so that it was sideways on his head.