A couple of days later, Brad and Lucy sat on the balcony of the Master suite at the Chateau, a table laid out with coffee and toast for their breakfast. It was late summer, and the air was still but cool. Lucy gazed out over the steep river banks to the hills, wondering how to bring up the subject that preyed on her mind. Brad broke into her reverie
‘Lucy, I can tell something’s troubling you. I hate to see you unhappy’ he said gently ‘You’re just not yourself’ Lucy put down the piece of toast she was half-heartedly trying to eat, her stomach knotting up in anticipation. It was now or – well, she had to do it now, or leaving it longer could be worse.
‘I’m sorry Brad, there is something, but I’m afraid to tell you. You’re right, I need to clear the air though.’ He reached over and placed his hand on hers
‘Whatever it is, please tell me. I promise to do my very best to make you happy, no matter what. You know that was in our wedding vows, and I meant it, every word’ Lucy smiled weakly, tears stinging her eyes, but she blinked them away and gazed at Brad.
‘Do you remember my bachelorette party in Vegas?’
‘Of course I do Lucy, it was very memorable. Who could forget the tiger…’ he stopped talking, an odd expression crossing his handsome features. ‘Ah’ he said ‘is it to do with you having one last fling? Are you regretting asking for that?’ Lucy bowed her head
‘Yes – and no’ she said quietly ‘I was glad I did it, but it didn’t bring me any closure’ Brad sat back and took a deep breath, looking out over the river.
‘I’ve been wondering about that’ he said ‘But I meant what I said that night – I don’t own you, and personally I think marriage is an odd arrangement. Expecting two people to be exclusive for the rest of their lives is often unrealistic, and many marriages fail under that stress. Of course it gives stability to any children, but discord between parents can also be very destabilising. I’ve often thought about it, though I feel that I’ll always love you, no matter what. Who knows what the future might bring’ He smiled.
‘Brad, I still love you and care for you deeply, and I don’t want to leave you, don’t think that’ said Lucy ‘But I don’t feel complete, and I don’t think having children will change that’
‘You’ll be surprised to hear me say I understand’ he said and got up to pace the length of the balcony. He turned to her with a serious expression. ‘Did you know my father was married to mine and Leo’s mothers at the same time?’ Lucy’s eyes widened in surprise. ‘In Cordonia, it used to be permissible, not just for royalty, but for any citizen to have an extra partner in a marriage arrangement. It’s known as a Cordonian or ‘threeway’ marriage or partnership and it may be two women and one man, or the other way around. My father was so devastated when he lost both his first wives that he forbade anyone to speak of it again’
‘I didn’t realise, Brad - why didn’t you tell me before?’
‘It was so suppressed I only found out myself when my father died. I think it may solve our problem and could work for many others. If I make the practice acceptable again, it will be a good thing for all of Cordonia, not just us’ Lucy sat back in her chair, mind whirling.
‘Do you know who it was I spent the night with that time in Vegas?’ she asked.
‘I don’t know for certain and I said I would never ask you, but I have a strong suspicion, as one of my other friends has been unhappy of late’ He waited for Lucy to speak again
‘Would you be happy to have someone else in our relationship? Wouldn’t it cause problems with the Royal Succession? What would the people think?’
‘Well, there is a precedent, as I said. And I’d far rather share you with someone I respect than have you unhappy just with me’ Lucy put her hand over her eyes and screwed them shut, heart beating fast.
‘Do you want me to tell you who it is?’
‘Of course I do’ he said gently ‘Please don’t be afraid of hurting me. I’ve always thought I was lucky to have you to myself, that it was too good to be true, so I’ve always had that thought in the back of my mind that something like this might happen. You know my Royal duties mean I’m often not here and having someone else around would mean you’d not be lonely. What would be far worse is that you decide to run off with someone else without telling me how you felt.’ Lucy let her hand drop from her eyes and looked at Brad intently.
‘You won’t be angry?’
‘I promise I won’t – please Lucy, tell me and we can sort it all out. It will be like ripping a plaster off – it will sting for a short while, but ultimately the result will be healthy.’
‘Very well – it’s Drake’ she let the name hang in the silence that followed. Brad only briefly looked sad, then let his breath out in a long sigh.
‘I suspected so. How could I be unhappy that you love someone so close to me, who I know so well and owe so much to? It would be ungenerous of me to shut him out if he cares for you too.’ Lucy felt a rush of relief, but was still cautious.
‘How would it work though? Would I spend some time with you and some with him? How long…’ Brad interrupted.
‘We can work all that out later. The first thing we should do is tell Drake and take it from there. There are arrangements that can be made, but as we know and trust him so well, I’m sure we can make a loose agreement. With today’s methods of birth control and DNA tests, I don’t think the Royal succession will be a problem either. I’ll tell you all about my Father, so you know the facts.’
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