"Adam!"
He got up from his desk and moved to sit on the edge of the bed. Leaning over, he kissed George on the lips and touched his daughter's cheek with his finger. "If Princesses have rules, then Princes must also," he said softly. "We can't allow one sex to rule over the other. Not when they've equal attributes and strengths to offer." He smiled down at the baby. "At the moment, Alex is the heir presumptive to the throne because she's a girl. If she's our only child or the eldest of a palace full of girls—which, in our families, is likely to be the case—" He gave a little laugh. "There is no problem. As firstborn or as an only child, she inherits. But according to the Karolyan Charter, if we have a son, he inherits." He paused to catch his breath and swallow the lump in his throat as Princess Alex reached up and grabbed hold of his finger. Adam stared at the woman he loved more than life itself and the daughter they had created. "That doesn't seem fair to Princess Alex or to her father. What about her mother?"
Giana thought for a moment. "I think she should have the right to choose. She did not ask to be born or to have this responsibility thrust upon her—nor will she have any say as to whether she has brothers or sisters, so I think that as firstborn, she has earned the right to choose whether or not she wants the job of running the country. But," Giana cautioned her husband, "we do not have the power to change the order of succession. Only Parliament can do that."
"Right," he agreed. "But as sovereign, you do have the power to rewrite the Female Provision."
Giana laughed. "Actually, you have the power to rewrite it."
"Exactly." He snapped his fingers. "And that's what we want to change. You are the hereditary princess, you should have more rights in your own country than I do, but because you're a woman, you don't. I want that changed, George. And I intend to work to see that it's changed ..."
Giana shook a finger at him. "I warn you," she teased. "You will have only yourself to blame when you limit the powers you have over me."
"I don't intend to limit all the powers I have over you," Adam said, in the deep, husky rumble that sent shivers of anticipation up her spine. "Only the constitutional ones." He traced the top of her breast with the tip of his finger. "And I fully intend to exercise all my other powers as soon as you grant me permission to do so."
Giana giggled as he waggled his eyebrows at her and gave her his cat-that-ate-the-cream look.
"I want to make the changes, George," he continued. "So that Alex will never have to worry about losing her inheritance simply because she chose to marry. I want her to be safe."
"So do I, my love." Giana shifted against the pillows and leaned close enough to touch his lips with hers. Sometimes she couldn't believe her good fortune in finding Adam Mc-Kendrick. And although she hated to think of Victor and the murders he had committed in order to gain control of the crown, she couldn't help but think that if it hadn't been for him and his incredible greed, she would never have met Adam or fallen in love and married him and she would never have given birth to the miracle that was Alex. One day, she hoped to find it within her heart to forgive Victor for the destruction he'd wrought, but until that day arrived, she said a prayer for his soul along with her prayers for the souls of her parents. And she gave thanks for the gift of Adam. And for the love he gave her. Victor had many crimes for which he must answer. But she had much for which to be grateful.
In the end, Giana supposed it all balanced out. Victor had taken the lives of the two people she loved most in the world but his actions had made it possible for her to have two other people to love most in the world.
"George?"
"Hmm?"
"Pay attention. This is important."
She smiled at his serious expression. "I was thinking of something more important," she told him.
"Oh?" He raised his eyebrow in the gesture she loved so much.
"I was thinking of you and Alex and how very much I love you and all the reasons I have to be thankful."
"I know," Adam agreed. "And that's why we've either got to revise the current version of the Karolyan Charter—especially the Female Provision—to make it more equitable or come up with a book of maxims for princes."
"Does it have to be either or?" she asked.
Adam grinned. "You're the hereditary ruler of this country, you tell me."
"Let's do both."
Four days later, in a ceremony to celebrate the coronation of Her Serene Highness Princess Georgiana Victoria Elizabeth May of Saxe-Wallerstein-Karolya and the birth of the heir-presumptive Her Highness Princess Caroline Alexandrina Margaret of the House of Karolya-Kennisbrooke-McKendrick, His Highness, Adam, the prince consort, declared before the people of Karolya, and his family and friends, that the Female Provision of the Karolyan Charter would be revised in order to limit the powers of the husband over the hereditary ruler.
The hereditary princess, he declared, should be granted the singular right to reign over her country, her subjects, and her husband, with courage, wisdom, and love. Especially love. For love is the saving grace of all husbands and princes.
Rebecca Hagan Lee, Ever a Princess
(Series: # )
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