“Why didn’t he tell me though? I mean, why didn’t he let us know he was making a will?” I shook my head. “It’s so backward.”

“I don’t know.” He pulled me against his chest. “My family has always lived by two mottos: Family first, and nothing is ever as good or as bad as you expect. So try not to stress yourself out before we even know what’s going to happen.”

I looked up in his eyes and was surprised by the honesty. He really felt that we were in this together.

“Okay. Then let’s get going.” I stepped out of his hands and grabbed my purse from the dresser near the door.

He motioned for me to walk in front of him and I took a deep breath. Alex was waiting outside by the car when we got there. He was wearing a suit and had his hands tucked into his pockets.

“Good morning.” He smiled at me. I could see why Sam was so head over heels in love with the man. He was gorgeous and sweet. Not a normal combination.

“Good morning.” I nodded my head at him.

“I thought I’d see if you two would like some company today. I’d be happy to lend my support.”

“We’ve got it covered.” Max smacked his brother’s back. “Why don’t you try taking a day off?”

“You’re sure?” Alex frowned. “I know how much you hate the royal duties. I could play the bad cop. I don’t get to do it that often. Sam is usually the bad cop.”

“I’ve got this.” Max looked at his brother, and something passed between them. Alex just nodded his head as if he understood something I hadn’t heard.

“Okay then. I’ll be here relaxing, if you need anything.” Alex opened the car door for us.

Max held my hand to help me slide into the seat. It was one of those gentlemanly gestures that wasn’t really necessary, but made a girl feel special. He didn’t get in right away; instead Alex leaned forward and whispered to him quietly before slapping his back. Max nodded his head and then climbed into the car.

“Brotherly advice?” I raised an eyebrow.

“Just reminding me of something.” He looked over at me with a small smile, but I could see the stress etched in the corners of his eyes.

“Hm.” If he wasn’t going to elaborate, I wasn’t going to ask. After all, it really wasn’t any of my business what passed between the brothers. Instead I straightened my pants and opened my purse to dig out my phone.

There were messages from my director at school, but I couldn’t really answer them yet. I had no idea what was going to happen, not until this afternoon. Rachel had texted me to let me know that she and the lawyer were on the way to the estate. I did reply to her to let her know that we were on our way as well.

Talking was kept to a minimum, which I appreciated. It wasn’t that I didn’t enjoy small talk or a good conversation; I just didn’t have the energy to focus on anything other than the reading of the will. It was like all of the worry and anxiety I’d been keeping bottled up had drained me dry.

Max reached out at one point and wrapped his fingers around mine, but didn’t try to talk to me. Instead he played on his phone and let me stare out the window.

I tried to work out the appropriate response for how my father would react to different outcomes of the will. Would he lose his shit? Would he surprise me and stay calm? Would he gloat and kick me out of the house? Was I going to lose my cool?

Sighing, I leaned my head against the glass and closed my eyes. Max had been right. There was no point in worrying. What happened, happened, and it was out of my hands. The only person I could be responsible for today was myself.

I was sweating by the time we’d gotten through the gates and I was glad I’d decided to wear dark colors. We pulled up to the house, my heart beating as if I’d run a marathon. I felt like I was about to walk into a house of doom.

Max was out of his seat and opening my door before I realized the car had come to a complete stop. His cool fingers laced with mine as we walked up the steps, and I was grateful that he didn’t say anything about my sweaty palms. The butler, Gerard, opened the doors for us as we reached the top, and motioned for us to come inside.

“Good morning, Lady Meredith, Prince Maxwell.” He bowed his head.

“How is he?” I lowered my voice and took a step closer to Gerard.

“He is . . . better than usual, but not his best.” Gerard frowned.

“Well, can’t ask for much more than that. Where are they?” I straightened my shirt.

“The front parlor, ma’am.”

“Thank you, Gerard.” I looked back at Max. “Let’s do this.”

Stepping forward, I took a deep breath, straightened my shoulders, and lifted my chin. If I was going into this blind, I was going to do it with confidence. Or at least a reasonable facsimile of confidence. I was an actress after all.

My father was sitting in a large wingback chair near the fireplace. The glass tumbler held loosely in his fingers was half empty. Rachel and an elderly man in an expensive suit stood up from their seat on the couch and bobbed a bow and curtsy.

“Your Highness, my lady, I am Daniel LeFave. I handle most of the legal matters for Her Majesty.” The man held his hand out to shake. “I’m sorry for your loss. I know this has been a difficult time.”

“Thank you.” I shook his hand before taking one of the open seats across from the lawyer.

“Okay then. Since we’re all here, let’s get started.” The old man clapped his hands together and smiled. “Prince Maxwell, I assume that you are here in an official position as your mother’s witness?”