Royal Secret #3: Royal Secret, #3

By Renna Peak and Ember Casey

The gripping conclusion to the Royal Secret series!

 

Lord Xavier and Lauren are about to face its toughest test yet… When all of the secrets are brought to light, can their love survive?

• Language: English
• Publisher: Casey Peak Publishing, LLC
• Release date: Sep 7, 2020
• ISBN: 9781393043386

Book preview

Chapter 1

Xavier

---

Ican’t remember the last time I saw my father this furious.

He’s glaring at Lauren like she’s worse than dirt beneath his boot, like she’s viler than the scum that coats the bottom of the Wintervale lake. This can’t simply be because she’s a maid.

You heard me, my father growls at her again. You’re not welcome in Wintervale or Montovia any longer. I’ve already requested a contingent of the Royal Guard to escort you across the border.

This is ridiculous, I say, stepping in front of Lauren as if that might protect her from my father’s disgust. Lauren isn’t going anywhere. Why would you remove her name from her own son’s birth certificate?

My father’s furious gaze shifts to me, his eyes stabbing me like daggers. I suppose she conveniently forgot to tell you about her father and what he did.

Lauren never met her father.

A convenient excuse. His glare returns to her. Her father was Lord Augustus.

That name sounds vaguely familiar, but it takes me a moment to place it in my memory.

You mean that nobleman who—

Not just any nobleman, my father snaps. The queen’s own third cousin, who acted as financial advisor to the throne. And then embezzled millions from the crown.

Ah, yes. I remember that now. I was only a child at the time, but the scandal rocked the entire country. Lord Augustus and his entire family fell into disgrace, and several of his associates were jailed over the crime. If I recall correctly, Lord Augustus himself was never officially convicted, but he might as well have been. I believe I heard he died several years ago.

It's a lot to take in. But the stupidity of my father’s anger is undeniable.

As I’ve already told you, Lauren never met her father, I tell him again. And we can’t prove she’s Lord Augustus’s daughter. But even if—

I’ve received this news straight from the royal family, my father snaps. You think they wouldn’t keep tabs on Augustus’s bastard offspring?

"Even if it’s true, it doesn’t matter. Lauren isn’t her father."

Even now you’re defending her? After I’ve proved that she’s trying to take advantage this family? She comes from a line of thieves!

My temper is rising, building inside me like a thundercloud, but I cling desperately to my control, as it’s the only advantage I have. All you’ve proved is that her father made some poor choices.

"Poor choices? My father is so mad he’s practically spitting. You call stealing from the royal family of this country nothing more than a poor choice?!"

He’s a criminal, yes, I admit. But Lauren shouldn’t be judged for the sins of her father.

So it’s simply a coincidence that she showed up here and managed to ensnare a member of the family? That she manipulated you with this child and got herself moved into our estate?

My control is slipping. My hands have curled into fists at my side. "Lauren hasn’t ensnared anyone. She—"

My decision is final. He glares through me, as if he can pierce Lauren through my chest with his glare. That woman is barred from Wintervale, now and forever. And from Montovia as well.

If she goes, then I go, too, I tell him. I said as much when we arrived here a few days ago—god, it feels like ages longer than that—and everything that’s happened in the time since has only solidified my resolve.

This time, though, my father doesn’t even flinch at the threat. My mother, though, finally gets another word in.

Perhaps we can come to an arrangement, she says, setting a calming hand on my father’s arm. For the sake of the baby. But I can see the worry in her eyes—she already knows what his answer will be.

My mind is decided, my father declares. That woman goes. And if Xavier would rather ally himself with the whore who’s trying to take advantage of him than his own family, then he’s welcome to leave. He’s no longer my son.

He’s no longer my son. The words are a kick to my gut, but I harden immediately, still struggling to contain the turmoil raging inside me.

Fine, I say coldly. Clearly, you’ve made your decision, Father. I will be leaving with Lauren. My eyes shift to my mother. And Noah is coming with us, too. He belongs with his parents.

Turning, I take Lauren by the arm and guide her from the room. She still looks stunned by everything that’s just happened. It all makes sense now, I think. I always knew she was hiding something from me, but this wasn’t what I expected. It doesn’t change my opinion of her at all—if she was really trying to ensnare me, as my father believes, she wouldn’t have spent so long spurning my advances—but I wish she’d told me everything before. Then at least I would have been prepared for this conversation.

Caspar is waiting in the corridor nearby, and judging by the look on his face, he heard every word that passed between our father and me.

You can’t really mean to go, he says to me.

I can, and I do, I reply.

He’s upset, Caspar says. Give him a little time to calm down and our mother will bring him around.

Our mother is only interested in Noah. I look down at my son, who’s been blessedly quiet through all of this. She supported Father’s decision to exile Lauren, but she planned to keep my son here. She even wanted to take Lauren’s name off the birth certificate.

Caspar has nothing to say to that, and his mouth flattens into a straight line.

We’re going. The three of us, I say, confirming my decision to myself. I don’t know where, but clearly we’re not welcome here any longer. I glance toward Lauren. You should have told me about your father.

I didn’t know. Her voice is soft, and when she looks up at me, I can see the lingering shock in her eyes. She’s just as stunned by my father’s revelation as the rest of us.

But how?

All I knew about my father was that he was Montovian, she explains as if she can read my thoughts. And that my mom met him when she was backpacking here.

Yes, I remember that much from when we spoke of this before—she mentioned her mother had met and befriended my aunt, the queen, during her time here. Which was probably when she’d met Lord Augustus.

But something about all of this just isn’t adding up. I don’t understand, I say. How did you ever get a job at the palace? Obviously, Stephan knew all of this already. Why would he hire you?

I don’t know, Lauren says.

Wait! Caspar exclaims. "That’s how I know her. From the palace! He squints at Lauren as his memories click into place. I knew I’d seen you before. You were one of the maids."

That hardly matters now, I rumble.

Caspar looks at me. No, I suppose not. So what are you going to do?

I’m taking care of my family, I growl back. No matter what.

Chapter 2

Lauren

---

My heart thuds in my chest, and I can’t quite think straight. I don’t think I’ve heard much since Xavier’s father told me I was no longer welcome in Montovia.

None of this is making much sense. If Stephan knew about my father, why didn’t he say something last year when the queen gave me a job?

Noah starts to fuss in my arms, but there’s no time to stop and feed him. I feel like I can’t breathe, and I need to get out of here. Out of Montovia. Part of me thinks I never should have come here in the first place.

I seem to be moving on autopilot. At least all my things are already gathered—I don’t need to worry about packing. Xavier has my hand on one side and is pulling my suitcase on his other.

I didn’t even notice that Caspar is trailing us as we make our way out of the manor.

Where will you go? Caspar’s words somehow cut through the haze fogging my brain.

I blink a few times. Where will we go? It isn’t as though I have a place waiting for us back in North Carolina.

America, Xavier grumbles. We’ll figure something out.

Caspar nods. And how will you get there? He jogs around the other side of his brother, blocking his path.

We finally stop the near-running pace Xavier’s had us on since we left the manor.

Xavier looks at his brother with a scowl. We’ll think of something.

Caspar is silent for a few moments, then fishes in his pocket, finally pulling out his wallet. Here, he says, shoving it toward Xavier. You’ll need this.

I’ll need nothing of the sort, Xavier says, swatting Caspar’s hand away. I can take care of my family on my own.

Caspar lifts a brow. I’m quite sure Father’s had your accounts frozen by now. For all I know, he might have frozen mine, too. He frowns. Take my card, at least. You’ll need it.

We’ll be fine, Xavier grumbles, tugging at my arm as we begin walking again.

Caspar doesn’t follow us this time. Text me when you get to where you’re going, he calls after us. I’ll come and visit.

Noah fusses again, and I bounce him to try and soothe him as we make our way toward the train station in the center of the small town.

Xavier says nothing to me as we make our way there. It’s nearly dark, and I don’t try to make eye contact. I don’t know what I’d say, anyway.

Before long, we’re at the train station, and Xavier pays cash for our train tickets. He guides Noah and me to the nearby waiting train—it has to be the last one of the night—and we find our seats.

Xavier looks out the window as I take the seat across from him and begin feeding Noah. It isn’t until the train is moving that he finally speaks.

If I had known… he finally says.

If I had known, I probably wouldn’t have come here, I say. And then we wouldn’t have met. And we wouldn’t have Noah.

He nods to himself, still looking out the window. It’s another long moment before he finally turns to me. Do you have any ideas of where we might go?

My stomach turns on itself. It’s not exactly like I have a home to go back to.

I shake my head.

He nods again, turning back to the window. My cousin has a ranch in Montana. I suppose we could go there. He might be willing to let us work there.

"You know