Chapter 12

After Declan left, Grayson texted his brother. So, are you going to the castle tonight for dinner?

I hadn’t planned on it, Xavier answered. Why? Should I?

Grayson laughed. You know me well.

There was a pause, and then Xavier texted back, I take that as a yes.

Thanks, man. See you there. Then Grayson clicked off. Now was as good a time as any to get this over with, and he wanted his brother there when he dropped the bomb on their father.

Grayson hurried to pack his briefcase and then rushed out the door. He went home and showered, shaved, and dressed in proper dinner attire, and then headed to the castle. Both Grayson and Xavier had moved out of the castle officially a few years back, although their father still maintained rooms in the castle for them. Grayson thought that their father was secretly hoping that they’d both move back permanently one day. But that wasn’t going to happen. Both he and his brother liked having their own lives away from the castle.

Before long, he turned down the long, wooded road leading to the castle, the ground now covered in snow. Estrea had all four seasons, and each was just as beautiful as the last.

As soon as Grayson pulled up to the castle, Reuben, one of the castle valets, rushed out to take care of his car.

“Good evening, Your Highness,” Reuben said as he rushed past him.

“Thank you, Reuben,” Grayson replied, heading into the castle, shaking the snow off his coat in the foyer.

“Well, it’s about time you got here,” Xavier teased, walking around the corner.

Grayson shrugged out of his wet coat, ready to hang it up.

“I’ll take that, Your Highness.” Nate, a butler, reached for the coat.

“Thanks, Nate.”

“Shall we?” Xavier replied, already headed toward the formal dining room.

“So, how is he?” Grayson asked, following his brother.

Xavier shrugged. “Same as always.” Then he looked into his eyes as he continued walking. “So, are you going to drop the bomb tonight? By the way, when am I going to meet her?”

Grayson leaned in and whispered. “As soon as I do.”

Xavier narrowed his eyes and then laughed. “Only you would get engaged to someone they haven’t met.” He thought for a moment and then asked. “You do know who she is, right? And you’ve seen her? She’s real?”

Grayson chuckled. “Yes, of course. I Skyped with her earlier tonight. She is a very interesting, beautiful young woman.”

Xavier nodded. “Well, I’m happy for you.”

“Thank you.” Grayson thought for a moment and then asked, “So, are you seeing anyone?”

Xavier smirked. “No, not at the moment. But when I do, you’ll be the first to know.”

When they walked into the formal dining room their father stood, and Gerard, the butler standing along the wall, refilled his wine glass.

“Well, it’s about time you got here, Grayson,” his father greeted him. “Xavier and I have been waiting.”

“We haven’t been waiting long,” Xavier added.

Their father narrowed his eyes at him.

Grayson sighed as he took his seat. “Sorry father.” He shook out his napkin and laid it across his lap. “But I had to go home to shower and change first. I don’t think you’d appreciate it if I came to dinner straight from work.”

The King scoffed. “You do realize that you have a room and clothes here at the castle.”

“Yes, of course.”

“Well, I don’t see the need for you boys to have your own homes.” The King took a sip of his wine. “It’s a waste of money, if you ask me.”

“Well, I’m not asking you,” Grayson calmly replied.

Xavier shook his head slightly as a crease formed between his eyes, glancing over at him. Then he donned a smile and held up his glass. “Well, let’s enjoy the evening, shall we?”

“Yes, let’s.” Grayson smiled and clinked his glass against his brother’s. Grayson really didn’t know what he would have done had he been an only child. Xavier had served as a buffer between Grayson and his father their whole life.

“Well, I’m glad you came tonight.” He motioned toward Gerard, who held out a silver platter with a tabloid folded in half.

Grayson sighed. “Father, you couldn’t have wait until after dinner, at least?”

“This is serious, Grayson!” He threw the tabloid onto his plate. On the front page was a picture of him holding a poker with some nonsense questioning his sanity.

Grayson folded it back up and laid it back onto the silver platter that Gerald was still holding.

“Son, you have a responsibility to the crown!” He looked between him and Xavier. “You both do!”

Grayson threw his napkin down onto his plate as he stood. “As a matter of fact, I’m engaged to be married.”

The King’s eyes opened wide, a stunned look prominent in his eyes. “Since when?”

“Since today.” Grayson downed his glass of wine and set it back down onto the table.

“Is she a good Estrean girl?” the King asked. It had always been more important to him than his sons’ happiness.

Grayson couldn’t wait to tell him that she was an American. But now wasn’t the time.

Declan walked in and nodded, and then said in a low voice, “Everything has been arranged.”

“Thank you.” Grayson started toward the door.

“Son, wait!” The King stood. “We have to plan!”

“Later, father,” Xavier threw over his shoulder behind him, obviously following him. Outside in the falling snow, Xavier called after him, “Grayson, wait!”

Grayson wheeled on him. “I am so done with him! I came for a nice dinner with my family and I get a tabloid on my plate with me on the front page. I tell him that I’m marrying, and he asks if she’s Estrean.” Grayson threw his hands up into the air. “There’s no winning with him!”

“Just take it easy.” Xavier led him toward his car again. “I’m driving you home.”

Grayson shook his head. “I’m fine.” Then he pulled him in for a hug. “I’m glad I have you. I don’t know what I’d do without you.”

Xavier released him. “I’m glad I have you, too.” He headed toward his car, taking out his keys. “Like it or not, we’re in this together.”

“For better or for worse.”

Xavier laughed. “But there’s no way in hell I’m marrying you, man.”

Grayson laughed, needing the reprieve from the doom and gloom. “Well, then, it’s a good thing we’re brothers,” he teased.

Xavier nodded. “Yes, it is.” He opened his car door. “I want to meet her first, before you bring her here to meet father.”

Grayson laughed. “Why?”

“I want to warn her about what she’s getting in to.”

Grayson opened his own car door. “I think she already knows.”