Chapter Seventy-Five

Ruth was nervous, and Harry knew it. She had talked about it for days, in fact. This was the last stop on the royal tour and by far the most important. He knew, and had known for many years, how Ruth got when she was nervous before a big event. She was apt to fidget. She had a darting gaze. She got tongue-tied. She went quiet and despite her silence, she had a tension that came off her in waves. Harry was well-versed in her nervous habits. He was similarly experienced in being able to hold her hand and calm her down and reassure her that it would all turn out alright.

Today was different, though. Ruth was not exhibiting any of the habits that Harry had come to expect. He was anticipating having to keep a close watch on her to make sure she was alright. Now he was even more concerned about what might happen with this strange alteration of her usual demeanor.

"Be good for Ben," Ruth said, leaning down to kiss each of their daughters on the forehead before they left. They were getting so tall that she didn't need to get down on her knees to kiss them like she used to.

Harry watched his wife in her favorite role as mother to their girls and felt his heart warm at it. She had always been good with children. Graham had been an enthusiastic boy, and Ruth had taken to him almost instantly, matching that enthusiasm and sharing in his love of school and books. With Catherine, Ruth had immediately understood the reticence of a young girl who was trying to protect her tender heart. Over the years, she had guided and comforted and—most importantly—loved the two Pearce children as her own. Their successes and failures were felt with as much pride and heartache by Ruth as they were by Catherine and Graham. Harry knew without a shadow of a doubt that Jane had been a good mother to his children and would have continued to be once they were divorced and living apart, if she had lived. But Harry also knew how lucky they all were to have Ruth as a part of their lives. Graham and Catherine both were successful in life because of the love and attention that Ruth had provided and the way she had inspired him to become a better father to them.

And now, with their younger two, Ruth had proved herself as wonderful a mother as Harry had always known she would be. For all that Ruth was brilliant and capable of so many things in the world, she was perhaps most gifted with a capacity for love and kindness that Harry had never seen elsewhere in all his life. And she used that love and kindness with their girls. She was a strong parent, not letting their girls get everything they wanted when it wasn't warranted—unlike Harry, who was wrapped around each of their little fingers and they all knew it—but her strength was in her kindness. And just when Harry thought he could not love Ruth any more than he already did, she seemed to do something with Emmy and Charlotte that made him fall in love with her all over again.

Harry took his turn bidding goodbye to the girls. They would be staying at the hotel while Ruth went to make her speech at the Mahraini Parliament. It was the most important speech she had made since the day she had released Mahrain and ten other colonies from her control in order to grant their independence. Mahrain was the place where the revolutions had begun. The queen of the commonwealth country was coming to their newly formed government. Ruth knew it was important. Everyone knew it was important.

And yet Ruth smiled and chattered away as though they were just going to any other sort of event. Even when it wasn't an important speech, she got a little nervous about public speaking. But today was different. Ruth was different.

Harry helped her into the car, as he always did, careful not to catch her elegant navy blue skirt in the door. He made his way to the other side to get in next to her. She shifted in the seat to get comfortable and then looked to him.

"Everything alright?" she asked, obviously noticing his strangely curious demeanor.

"I could ask the same of you," he replied. "I'm not the one giving the big speech."

Ruth just shrugged. "It is important, but I'm not too concerned."

"You're not?"

A serene smile appeared on her bow lips. "I wrote this speech myself. I found all the words I needed."

Harry frowned. "What do you mean you wrote it yourself? What did the advisors say?"

"They gave me a speech and I took note of the points they made and then I rewrote it myself. I've got the pages in my purse. But I don't imagine I'll need them. I know what I'm going to say," she said. Her tone was shockingly casual.

"Ruth, I know you like writing your speeches and having the words be yours, but do you think it wise on this particular occasion?"

She put her hand on his knee. His bad knee. "It'll all be fine," she assured him.

Harry knew better than anyone how much Ruth had gotten used to being queen over the last few years. Queen Louisa was not so separate a person from Ruth as Princess Louisa had been for most of the time Harry knew her. But ignoring a prepared speech and going off on her own like this? There was a recklessness in that—an arrogance, even—that Harry did not quite recognize in her.

But Ruth didn't say another thing on the subject. She just commented on how lovely the weather was and how she hoped that she could do a little shopping with the girls, as Mahrain had a wonderful fashion district and Emilia had been hoping to get a new dress and Charlotte had outgrown some of her shoes.

They arrived at the parliament building to a sea of reporters. Photographers and film cameras alike, all recording and snapping pictures. Harry, as always, had to put on a calm demeanor as he helped his wife out of the car. She walked in front of him, as queen, and he happily followed her. Usually she would duck her head and hurry past the reporters. Today, however, she smiled and waved and held her head high. It was…well, it was all quite regal of her.

The pair of them took their seats to wait while the Mahraini Prime Minister introduced Queen Louisa. Harry held Ruth's hand, as usual, but he did not feel her fidgeting. She really wasn't worried or nervous at all. He never thought he'd see the day.

When the thunderous applause welcomed her, Queen Louisa stood and strode confidently to the podium. She looked out upon the people watching her, including television news cameras, and began.

"Ladies and gentlemen, citizens of Mahrain. Whether or not you believe my sincerity, I would like to say that I am very proud to be able to say those words. Citizens of Mahrain. For you are your own people.

"I'll not condescend by suggesting that you have been granted your independence by me as queen. I may have signed a treaty, but it was the strength and dedication of you, the Mahraini, people, that brought the need for independence to my attention. To everyone's attention. Every person should be emboldened to choose their own path, to live their lives according to their own best interests. A ruler in a foreign land is not the best judge of what the people of an emerging nation need. You know that for yourselves. You helped me see that. It was a member of my own family who put the issue of independence to me more eloquently than anyone else: it is the right thing to do.

"Being here in Mahrain during this short visit, I have seen firsthand that those words ring true still. It was the right thing to do. It is the right thing to do. This parliament is strong and decisive and nimble in its legislation. Your leaders have been listening to their people, and they are working hard to serve your best interests. The people I have seen and spoken to have proven to me time and again, not only here but on every stop of the royal tour that independence for each and every former colony was and still is the right thing to do.

"I am proud of the fortitude of the Mahraini people. I am proud to witness all you have accomplished and all you shall continue to accomplish on your own terms. I am proud to stand here today in your parliament and serve as a queen to a commonwealth nation. The partnership between us has been beneficial in the past and I endeavor to continue that mutual benefit for many years to come."

Harry watched her speak with complete and utter awe. Her eloquence was unlike anything he had ever seen from her before. Her voice was gentle but it did not shake. She stood tall and did not fidget. She somehow did not trip over a single word. She exuded strength and commanded respect. There was a gravitas in her that he'd not seen in public to this extent before now.

Ruth discussed the points of the pre-prepared speech, discussing the economic and social progress that Mahrain had made since its independence. She commended the people for their effective transition of power since their independence. And then she concluded in a way that only Ruth could. "Everywhere I go, people repeat the refrain that has been used for monarchs for hundreds of years: long live the queen. For my sake, I hope that phrase proves true. But I would like to now turn it to you instead. Long live Mahrain." She then repeated the phrase again in both Mahraini and Jelmanese, all three of which were the commonly spoken languages in Mahrain.

If the applause greeting the queen was welcoming, it was no match for the sheer celebration that erupted at the conclusion of her speech. Harry had never heard anything like it. People clapped and cheered and shouted praise for Queen Louisa. She was practically mobbed by members of the Mahraini parliament who wanted the chance to speak with her. And she allowed each and every one of them to have a moment with her. Harry hung back and watched in utter awe.

Eventually they were able to get back to the car and to their next scheduled event. Ruth smiled and waved to the crowds lined up to catch a glimpse at the queen. Harry was slightly shocked, still, to see her like this.

"You can stop gaping at me now," she said, glaring at him slightly.

He chuckled slightly and shook his head. "I am sorry, darling. It's just that…"

"What?"

Harry took her hand in his and kissed it softly. "I am so unbelievably proud of you, Ruth. You're a wonderful queen, and you have been for quite some time. But today, that speech, all of it was just the most regal I've ever seen you. The transformation in you is astonishing."

"I'm still the same person I've always been, Harry," she chided lightly.

But he shook his head. "No, Ruth, you're not. We met when you bumped into me in the hallway of Army Intelligence and you were brilliant and a bit shy and slightly awkward. As capable as you've always been, there's always been an insecurity that I never quite understood. I accepted it as just how you are, but I did not know why you never seemed to see how phenomenal you are. Now, though, you have grown and changed into a queen able to lead her people. You are who you were always meant to be, I think. And I'm just very lucky to get to stand by your side through it all."

Ruth reached out and placed her free hand on his cheek, caressing him lovingly. "None of this would have been possible without you, Harry. Not a single bit of it. All I am is thanks to you."

"That's not true at all. I like to think I've made you happy—"

"You have," she insisted, interrupting him.

He kissed her hand again. "I'm glad. But you have made this change and met these challenges all on your own. You are my Ruth always, but the world all finally sees Queen Louisa as she was meant to be."

Ruth smiled softly in return. "I suppose you're right."

Harry leaned in to kiss her. And against her lips, he whispered, "Long live the queen."

THE END