He would let her show him her appreciation when they returned home. For now he needed to come to grips with the fact that he didn’t want to get too involved in this marriage on a foundation he couldn’t control, but when he’d taken their lovemaking to another level only moments ago, he’d done just that.
And he had no one to blame but himself.
Ten
Victoria’s smile never faltered, and they’d been serving meals to homeless veterans for the past two hours. Her beauty radiated throughout the entire gymnasium of the old school where the Vets chatted and tried to capture a piece of her time.
He didn’t blame them. Victoria was so easy to talk to, so easy to be around—the crowd would’ve never known that minutes before they’d come in she was nervous about fulfilling her first royal duty. He’d told her to be herself because she was a natural.
As she put the group at ease with her thankfulness for their services and the occasional gentle hug, Stefan continued to refill plates and cups. He let her use her charm on the room, and all the while the cameras were eating this up and proving to the world that she was the perfect woman for this position.
“Sir.” Hector came up behind him and whispered, “The cameraman would like you to stay closer to Victoria so he can capture your charity work together. That was the point of the visit.”
Stefan glanced around the room of men and women who had given their all for their country...something Stefan could relate to. Guilt weighed heavily on his shoulders.
“I’m not here for a photo op, Hector.” Stefan turned to face his assistant and lowered his voice. “I’m here to assist these people and show them that my wife and I care about them. I don’t give a damn about the photographer. If he wants a good shot and story, tell him to take pictures of all these people who have been forgotten.”
Hector folded his hands in front of him. “Sir, the whole reason for coming was to showcase your role as your country’s leader and so the world could see you and Victoria as a united front.”
Stefan sighed. “We are a united front, Hector. Tell the photographer he can nab a picture of us when we’re done. We’ll pose for one then. Until that point, we are here to help, not for some show for the world so they just think we are helping.”
Hector nodded with a slight bow and walked off. When Stefan turned back with the pitcher of tea, an elderly man wearing a navy hat with his ship’s name embroidered across the top was looking at him with tears in his eyes.
“Thank you,” the man said.
Stefan looked down at the elderly man, who had scarred hands and a weathered face. “Nothing to thank me for, sir. I’m the one who needs to thank you.”
The man used the edge of the table and the back of his chair to come to his feet. Stefan stepped back to give him room.
“I’ve never met royalty before, sir,” the man said. “It is an honor to have you and your beautiful wife here. And for you two to be so caring...well, it just touches an old guy like me to know there are still people who give a damn.”
Stefan held out his hand, waited for the man to shake it. “What’s your name?”
“Lieutenant Raymond Waits,” he replied, straightening his shoulders.
“I will personally see to it that this shelter is funded for as long as possible.” Stefan would make it happen no matter what. “I will also make sure my wife and I schedule a stop here twice a year when we are in the States.”
The handshake quickly turned to an embrace as Raymond put his free arm around Stefan. He hadn’t meant to get on a soapbox, but dammit, he understood loyalty to a country, and these vets deserved respect and love.
“Now, I better get back to refilling drinks or you’ll be my only friend here,” Stefan said when the vet pulled back, trying to look away as if embarrassed by the tears in his eyes.
Raymond nodded, taking his seat. As Stefan moved on, he glanced up to see Victoria watching him from across the room, and he didn’t miss the moisture that had gathered in her own eyes. Obviously she’d seen the emotional moment.
Stefan smiled and winked at her, trying to lighten the mood because the last thing he wanted was for her to believe he was some sort of hero. He was just doing what was right.
By the time they needed to leave to get across town to the library for a fund-raiser, Stefan had already discussed the funding with Hector, who was putting a plan into motion. Now this is what being powerful was all about. Why have such control if you couldn’t use it for the greater good?