The threat

She was freaking in love with Jules, Janice thought as she paced around the room.

She took in a staggering breath and thought of when she began loving him. However, she couldn't come up with a reasonable answer.

Moreover, she was appalled by the revelation because she didn't know she would fall so fast for him because of how men had treated her in the past.

Though she was aware Jules wasn't like them because he had always been gentle with her. Aside from him whipping her which she knew she deserved, he hadn't done anything the other men had done.

Janice understood Jules didn't feel the same way about her like she did. He hadn't even mentioned the word likeness to her.

He had treated her only like his wife. Nonetheless, Janice knew he wedded her because of the child on the way, she couldn't help but think he would feel the way she did.

She sighed as she sat on the bed. The baby in her tummy kicked and she winced, rubbing it.

A soft rap sounded on her door, snapping her out of her reverie. Her eyes strayed to the young maid, Judith, who had entered the room.

"Your highness." Judith curtsied, "The queen needs your presence in the drawing-room."

"I'll be with her soon," Janice mumbled.

"Hmm, Judith…" She halted the maid as she was about to leave. "Tell Grace to prepare a bath for me."

"Very well, Your Highness." The maid said then curtsied before stepping out of the room.

Janice plopped herself on the bed and spread her arms apart. She thought back to her feelings for Jules and wondered how he would react if she told him she was in love with him.

Knowing the way Jules was, she knew he wouldn't react. Rather, he would switch the subject just to avoid talking about it.

Janice had once talked about couples living together happily and in love though they weren't from the beginning. Jules had been disgusted by the mention of love and she had always wondered if he had been hurt before.

*********

Janice stepped close to the door of the drawing-room after she had freshened up. She gripped the wine coloured flowy maternity dress she donned before ambling into the spacious room.

"I'm glad you are here." The Queen mumbled. She lifted her head briefly, stared at Janice for a while and nodded her head in approval.

Janice smiled as she saw the queen approved the dress she donned.

Before Margie left for England, she had seen the Queen disapproving of all the clothes she often wore.

The queen had said it was too showy and not befitting for a princess or anyone associated with the royal family to be seen.

Margie, being the headstrong girl she was, hadn't bothered changing into any other dresses. Rather, as soon as the morning came, she had packed up her things and left Cherview, after telling the Queen she was going back to meet her husband, Jeremy.

But, the reverse was the case for Janice. The queen hadn't disapproved of anything she wore before. Maybe because she was pregnant and often donned maternity wear that was long and less revealing.

The queen motioned for her to sit with her head before she handed her an envelope.

"What is in this?" Janice cocked a brow as she assessed the pink sealed envelope the queen stretched towards her.

"Read it." She urged.

Reluctantly, Janice tore it open.

Slowly, she clutched the paper that was in it and her eyes bulged as she glimpsed the headline.

Royal Scandal?

Janice shook her head frantically, and a blush dotted her cheeks as she saw herself wrapped around Jules who looked slightly uninterested.

"Goodness!" She mumbled.

She wondered how she must have reacted that night. These pictures showed she was the one that made the move to Jules rather than him.

There was even a video! Janice rolled her eyes at the threat beneath it before assessing the video.

"I'll leak this or release her to me." Janice read out the threats loud with a frown. "Who sent this?" She mumbled, gazing at the queen.

The queen shrugged, shaking her head. "Not who sent it, what does the person want?"

"I don't know and I promise I'm not withholding anything or trying to put the royal family in the spotlight by making such horrendous headlines." Janice rambled, flushing.

"Jules told me everything that happened that night." The Queen said.

Janice's eyes widened as she wondered how much information Jules usually divulged to his mother.

She gazed away from the queen as she began to scrutinize her.

She must think I was a wanton!

"I don't think low of you. I believe it happened and Jules said you were pure when he met you. Is that right?"

Janice nodded, and another blush dotted her cheeks.

"What I want to know is who sent it?" The Queen asked again.

"I don't know." Janice asserted, shaking her head.

"Do you have anyone who hates you? Maybe an ex?"

Janice's eyes narrowed as she thought about her ex. Had he been following her the night she went to the pub? She doubted that because she had left him due to how angry she was after seeing him in the compromising position.

Also, she had refused a ride from him. Yet, she wonders if he was behind this.

He was the only one she knew who could pull this stunt on her.

Moreover, she wondered why he had waited after she got married to send the photos to them.

"That is because he wants everyone to think you are a golddigger and after my son's wealth." The Queen said.

Janice agreed she had acted like a wanton that night. But, she after Jules because of his money was absurd.

She didn't even know he was a Prince!

After she knew she was pregnant, she had thought her baby sperm donor was a random stranger and had made up her mind to care for it alone since terminating it wasn't an option.

Still, when she had seen Jules and knew who he was, it didn't make her want him.