The Billionaire’s Royal Challenge (Devotion and Dynasty Trilogy #2)

Chapter 19

CHAPTER 19

ELENA

E lena’s stomach turned jittery as Nate bumped into her, his speech slurred.

She twisted to face him, drawing her chin back as he stumbled to the side, attempting to say her name again.

Next to her, Eric screwed up his face, asking if he was all right before he fell backward into a table.

Elena’s eyes went wide as she sucked in a breath, pressing a hand to her abdomen. “Nathan!”

Her mother hurried over to ask if he was ill.

Eric pulled him to standing, wrinkling his nose. He leaned closer, sniffing. “Ill? This man is drunk!”

Elena’s eyebrows pinched as she shot him a questioning gaze. Had he been drinking because of the pressure?

She didn’t want to believe it, but his behavior fit that of a drunken man.

“N-no,” he slurred out .

“Oh, come on,” Eric said. “You smell like a tavern, and you can barely stand let alone speak.”

“Nate, honey?” Are you okay?” Victoria asked as she hurried to him with Charles in tow.

“I–I–I’m…just…”

“It appears your son has had too much to drink,” King Frederick said in a low voice to the Kingsleys. “Perhaps you should take him to his room to recover.”

“No,” Nate said as he struggled to stay upright.

Eric snorted in disgust. “Really, Kingsley, you are an embarrassment to both yourself and Elena. Get out of here before you cause even more of a scene.”

Elena chewed the inside of her cheek, her stomach churning with upset. How could this happen? Why would he do this?

Something seemed off.

She’d hoped after the ball her father would accept Nate as her fiancé, but this was a setback that could cost them everything.

“Oh, honey,” Victoria said with a click of her tongue, “I think we should go.”

“No!” he shouted angrily, tugging his arm away from her as he stumbled to the side again. “I’m not drunk.”

King Frederick’s nostrils flared as his jaw clenched. He clasped his hands behind his back and stepped closer to him. “Go to your room, Mr. Kingsley.”

“I’m not–”

“I said go to your room,” King Frederick interrupted. “You are not welcome at this ball in your condition.”

“But I?—”

“I said go, Mr. Kingsley.” King Frederick firmed his jaw again as Victoria and Charles flanked him.

“Come on, Nate,” Victoria said, “let’s get you back to your room.”

“No,” Nate said, his voice desperate.

“I’ll go with you,” Elena answered.

“Elena, no. You are needed here,” King Frederick said.

Elena twisted her hands into fists. “Father, I am going with him.”

Queen Sophia laid a hand on her husband’s arm. “Let her go, Frederick, but do not dally, Elena, there are several people who would like to speak with you.’

King Frederick nodded. “Fine. Be quick about it.”

Alexander approached them as they started for the doors. “What happened? Is everything all right?”

“No, it isn’t,” Elena said, her voice quivering with upset.

She glanced behind her as Victoria and Charles shuffled along with an unsteady Nate. “Nathan appears to be drunk.”

“Drunk?” Alexander cast a glance over his shoulder before he took a step backward. “Here, let me help.”

He replaced Victoria, slinging Nate’s arm over his shoulder as he helped steady him.

“We can use the private sitting room if he cannot make it up the stairs,” Elena said.

Caroline rushed toward her. “Your Highness, is there anything I can do?”

“Perhaps coffee?” Elena shrugged.

“I’ll fetch it, though…I don’t recall seeing him have anything other than punch to drink. I’ve monitored him quite closely in case he needed help navigating anything.”

Elena’s brows pulled together before she nodded. “Please fetch the coffee, fetch a doctor, and meet us in the sitting room.”

They left the din of the ball behind and snaked through the halls to the sitting room. Elena pushed the double doors open and ushered them inside.

Alexander and Charles plopped Nate on the couch.

Elena perched on the sofa next to him, rubbing his back as he struggled to keep his eyes focused and open. “Darling? What happened?”

“I’m not…I didn’t drink.”

Victoria closed the doors behind them before she crossed over to him, her hands on her hips. “Nate, you can’t lie about this. You’re drunk.”

“No,” he murmured again, his features pinching.

She perched on the edge of the coffee table, taking his head in hers. “Honey…I’m your mother, and I love you, but I’m not going to let you destroy yourself again. It’s obvious you’ve been drinking. I know things have been stressful. You’re dealing with a lot. And we’re here to help you.”

“I wasn’t drinking.”

Charles hovered over his wife’s shoulder. “Nate, you can’t form a sentence, and you can’t stand up straight. What do you want us to think?”

“Was it the thing with Chloe?” Victoria asked.

Nate collapsed forward with a sigh, sinking his face into his hands.

The door popped open, and Caroline hurried in with a cup of coffee.

“Nathan, here is some coffee. Try drinking a little,” Elena said as she accepted the cup from her ladies’ maid.

His features crinkled as he glanced at her. “I’m not drunk. I’m not. Please, Ellie, you have to believe me.”

She pressed her lips together as she studied his features. She hadn’t been around when he’d been drinking, so she didn’t know if he’d lie while drunk. But she knew when he said he’d cleaned up his act, he’d been proud of it.

Had the pressures of living up to royal expectations driven him back to the bottle?

She squeezed his hand, her gaze attempting to offer unwavering support. “All right, darling, I believe you. Try this coffee.”

“No, you don’t,” Nate said as he tossed himself back against the couch. “You’re just saying that because you pity me.”

“That’s not true.” Elena reached to stroke his hair. “It’s not. But let’s take care of you first before we discuss it further. It’s obvious you aren’t feeling yourself.”

He took the coffee, the cup rattling against the saucer in his shaky hands, and sipped it.

“Good,” she answered as she shot a glance at Victoria. “Mr. Kingsley, can you sit with Nathan? I need to speak with Caroline and Mrs. Kingsley.”

Charles eased into a nearby chair with a nod. “Of course.”

Elena nodded a thanks to him as she rose, drawing Victoria and Caroline across the room. Alexander joined them.

“Mrs. Kingsley, is Nathan in the habit of lying when he’s been drinking?”

Victoria sucked in a breath. “I’ve never seen him act like this, but when he was drinking, he was secretive, and he did deny that he had a problem. But he never said he wasn’t drunk when he was, no.”

Elena clenched her teeth as she flicked her gaze over to Nate nursing his coffee on the couch.

“What is it, Elena?” Alexander asked.

“Caroline said she never saw him take a drink,” Elena answered.

Caroline nodded. “That’s right. I saw him have punch. That’s all.”

Alexander narrowed his eyes at the woman. “Were you with him the entire time?”

“Mostly. I stayed close in case he needed assistance.”

Elena leaned closer, her voice low. “Caroline, can you say for certain that he did not have alcohol?”

With wide eyes, she let her gaze slide among them. “Well, no. I mean…he could put something into his punch, perhaps. I never saw him with anything alcoholic, but I suppose he could have used a flask…I…”

“We can check for that,” Alexander said as he glanced over his shoulder at Nate. “We can search his pockets.”

“I didn’t see him with a flask, though,” Caroline said, her forehead wrinkling. “He was with you, then His Majesty, then he went for the drink. He had no flask then. Prince Eric spoke with him, gave him a glass, and left. He could have?—”

“Wait, wait, wait,” Elena said with a shake of her head. “Eric?”

Caroline bobbed her head. “Yes, he spoke with Prince Eric at the refreshment table.”

Alexander shifted his weight, his eyebrows crinkle. “Wait, spoke with Eric or received a drink from Eric?”

“Uhh,” Caroline said as she rubbed her forehead, “both. He spoke with Prince Eric, and then His Highness offered him a glass of punch before he left.”

Elena heaved a sigh, her gaze shooting to her cousin. “Do you think we can find the glass?”

“I’ll try,” he answered. “Wait here.”

“What are you thinking?” Victoria asked.

Elena tapped her toes on the floor as she crossed her arms. “That Nathan is telling the truth. He isn’t drunk. He was drugged to make him appear drunk.”

Victoria’s eyes went wide. “What? By whom?”

“Eric,” Elena answered. “He has made it clear that he hopes Nathan is not approved as a suitable spouse. This is the perfect way to achieve it.”

“But how would he know about Mr. Kingsley’s drinking?” Caroline asked.

Elena pressed her lips together as she searched for a way. Had it been public knowledge? “Were there any…incidents that would have appeared in th e newspaper?”

Victoria shook her head with a sigh. “No, but…I have a feeling I know how he found out.”

“How?” Elena asked.

“You know about Chloe and your cousin?” Victoria asked.

Caroline’s eyes went wide as her jaw open. “What?”

“Yes. Julian admitted it.”

“We informed Stephen this morning. I’d guess he or Chloe spilled the beans, and it got back to Prince Eric.”

“And they used it against him.”

“Ellie,” Victoria said, “I hate to say this, but…as much as I want to believe this was a setup, Eric is right. He smells like a bar.”

“Yes, of course, he does,” Elena answered with a sigh. “Eric spilled a drink all over him earlier. He set him up. We just need the proof.”

The doors burst open as the family’s doctor strode in. “Your Highness, are you ill?”

“No, not me. Nathan. Can you test his blood? He has been accused of being drunk, but I believe he was drugged.”

The man’s thick eyebrows smashed together. “Well, yes, but…”

“Do it,” Elena said.

The man fluttered his eyelashes as he adjusted his grip on his medical bag and nodded before he crossed to Nate and sank onto the couch next to him.

“What are you doing?” Nate demanded.

Elena picked up her skirt and hurried toward him. “Just taking a blood test, darling.”

“I’m not drunk!” he shouted at her.

“I know that, Nathan,” she said, taking his hand in hers. “I believe you. That’s what we’re trying to prove.”

“Or disprove,” he said, his lips tugging into a frown.

“No, darling. I believe you. We all believe you. But we need to prove it. ”

He let his head fall back against the cushion behind him.

“Nathan, it’s true. We believe you. I think Eric did it. That’s what we need to prove.”

“Prince Eric?” Charles asked with his eyebrows furrowed.

Elena nodded. “Yes. He gave Nathan the punch. I believe he put something in it. Alexander is trying to retrieve the drink now, but we can test Nathan’s blood.”

Alexander hurried into the room, puffing for breath. “I have the glass. And the unfortunate news that your father is asking after you.”

Elena rose and smoothed her dress. “I will go to him. Will you stay and oversee this?”

“Absolutely,” he answered. “I’ll let you know the moment we know anything.”

“Try to relax, darling. We’re going to prove that you are right,” she said to Nate before she kissed his cheek. “I’ll check in on you soon.”

Elena hurried across the room to Alexander. “Do not let that blood sample out of your sight. I don’t trust Eric.”

“Of course.” Alexander offered her a nod before she slipped from the room, returning to the ball. She scanned the crowd in search of her father.

She found him talking to Lord and Lady Montgomery across the room. As she stepped toward him, Eric sidelined her, grabbing her arm and leading her to the side. “And how is poor Mr. Kingsley?”

She yanked her arm from his grasp. “Fine, no thanks to you.”

“To me?” He offered her a confused glance. “What are you saying?”

Elena pressed her lips together, stopping herself from accusing him of drugging Nate. She didn’t want to tip her hand. She needed proof before she outed what he’d done. And she didn’t want there to be any tampering with the results.

“You’ve been pushing at him and pushing at him.”

Eric’s features twisted from astounded to consoling. “Elena, darling…I know how you feel about him. This must be so very difficult to realize he doesn’t have what it takes for this lifestyle.”

“He was fine until you confronted him.”

“He will be confronted by many people as your spouse. I’ve done you a favor. Now, you realize before it’s too late.”

Her lips tugged into a pout.

“Let’s go somewhere quiet, darling. Where we can talk.”

She shook her head. I must go to my father.”

“He’ll understand, darling. Come with me.”

“No,” she said as she pushed past him. “I must go.”

She grimaced as she crossed the room, disgusted by the man’s desperate attempt to ruin her relationship with Nate.

“Ah, Elena, there you are,” King Frederick said as she sidled next to him.

She forced a smile onto her lips, making the expected small talk with her guests until the party wound down. As the final guest departed, she twisted to face her father. “I must check on Nathan.”

“Just a moment, Elena, I believe we need to speak about Mr. Kingsley.”

Elena’s stomach twisted into a knot. She squared her shoulders, lifting her chin. “All right.”

Before they could leave the ballroom behind for his private study, Eric stepped in front of them. “Excuse me, Your Majesty, I hoped to ask Elena to take a moonlit walk…with your permission, of course.”

Elena’s lips tugged into a frown. “I am about to have a conversation with my father. Another time perhaps. ”

King Frederick arched an eyebrow as he glanced at his daughter. “Yes, Elena and I have an important discussion.”

Eric forced a smile onto his lips that didn’t reach his eyes. “Of course, Your Majesty. Before you go, please allow me to tell you once again how lovely you looked this evening. I look so forward to that walk at your next convenience. Good night, dear Elena.”

With a bow to the king, he departed.

Elena heaved a sigh as she faced her father. “Thank you. I could not stomach a walk with him tonight.”

He nodded before he led her to his private study. After he shut himself inside, he twisted to face her, disappointment on his features. “Elena…”

“Father, please, I know what you are about to say, but you are wrong.”

He crossed the room to his desk. “Am I? Elena, I know what I saw tonight. Mr. Kingsley drunk at the ball. Unable to handle the pressure.” He shook his head. “I am sorry, darling. But he is hardly suitable for you. I must put my foot down.”

“You are wrong!” she said, heat entering her voice.

“Elena, I am not. He couldn’t handle one party. He resorted to making a spectacle of himself. As such, I have no choice but to put a stop to this relationship.”

“He was not drunk.”

“Elena…” King Frederick said, his voice a warning.

“Father, he was not! This was a setup.”

He scoffed and shook his head. “Setup? Elena, really.”

“It is. Father, Eric did this. Eric drugged him for this very reason. He wants my hand. But I have told him in no uncertain terms that I did not want him. He did this.”

King Frederick raised his eyebrows. “That’s quite an accusation, Elena. Have you any proof?”

“Well…” She began, wringing her hands .

“So, you haven’t.”

“But, Father?—”

“No, Elena. I have given into this whim long enough. He is not suitable. I am putting an end to this now. You will not marry Nathan Kingsley.”

She collapsed into a chair at the words, shaking her head in disbelief.

“Elena, I am sorry. I had high hopes for him, but…he is not the man for you. I am terribly sorry, but you cannot blame this on everyone else. Not me, not Eric, only Mr. Kingsley.”

She chewed her lower lip as she held back her tears. “Father, please…”

“Elena, I have been patient enough. This is over. We will announce your engagement to Prince Eric as planned tomorrow evening.”

Her stomach twisted into a knot as a tear rolled down her cheek. “No. I won’t marry him.”

“I will not have this conversation again. You were given your chance. It did not work out. I am sorry. Good night, Elena.”

She leapt from her seat as he strode past her, her fingers curling into fists. “No, Father! It is I who is sorry. I will not marry him. I will not.”

She rushed past him from the room as tears streamed down her cheeks, running the halls to her bedroom. After pushing inside and bolting the doors, she slid to the floor in a heap, sobs wracking her.

Her heart shattered into a million pieces as her father’s words echoed in her mind. “It’s over,” she cried, her voice a whisper over her own sobs. “I’ve lost him.”