Uther's funeral was attended by Royals from other countries, heads of state, and representatives from many countries. Sean handled the details with the assistance of the House Staff while Richard appeared in public constantly.

A black carriage drawn by four black horses pulled Uther's coffin down the main street from the cathedral to the Palace, followed by Richard and Sean and a few other family members. He was buried in the family crypt.

Richard, as expected, left much of the work of government to Sean. "I must travel and meet my people," he told his cousin, and spent the next month shaking hands, visiting cities, schools, hospitals, the military bases, and anyplace where he could be assured of a large reception and an adoring audience.

Sean started work every morning at seven, facing piles of paperwork, reports and visitors. He dealt with Parliament, the Cabinet, and most of the day-to-day drudgery that running a monarchy required. If the day ended at seven at night it was a short day.

Vivian moved into a wing of his town house and was mostly a comfort to him. His phone rang with a call from her every night at six. "Sean, my dear, will you be home for dinner tonight?"

"Not tonight, Mum," he told her most days, and when he arrived home at nine or ten or eleven, made a point of seeing her for a cup of tea before he fell into bed.

Ibby, on the other hand, pouted prettily and wanted him to spend the nights with her, or better, let her move into his house. He refused. He did not want his mother and Ibby in the same house. Ibby's bad reputation, one messy divorce with rumors of her threatening to ruin her first husband's family, and a second marriage that was open to many adventures until her husband's early death.

"Ibby," Sean said for the fortieth or fiftieth time, "We need time to show the people your good side. Mum will help, but she needs to accept you. I'm working on it." Ibby snorted at that. She had Sean eating out of her hand. Her only concern was the threat of his family refusing to accept her, and someone revealing the money she still demanded from her first husband. "Very well, Sean. Time is passing quickly, and we need to make a show of being committed to each other. We are committed, aren't we?"

"Of course, my love," Sean said before hanging up and crawling into bed for five hours of sleep.

Pam decided to leave Forland when her visa expired. The King and the Duke were far too busy to help her extend it. She planned to return to South Carolina in June, and wanted to make the most of her last few weeks.

Sean hired a private secretary, the efficient Bjorn Dag, and after a week Bjorn had begun to reduce his workload. Not by much, but it helped but every quarter of an hour helped. Soon he could regularly get six or seven hours of sleep, and felt somewhat refreshed.

The enthusiasm that welcomed Richard stabilized, and he spent a little more time on his duties. Sean was able to transfer some of the work that needed the King's attention to Richard, with the help of Prime Minister Haraldson. Richard hosted parties, vacationed, and prepared to host his first State Visit from the King of Senland.

King Paul of Senland was Sean's heir, and if he inherited the Duchy would annex it to his Kingdom. Forland would be a tiny Kingdom with the prosperous Westmere gone.

The treaty that made Paul the heir to Westmere would expire in a month, and then Sean could legally acknowledge Richard as his heir. Paul planned to prevent that, and had brought his daughter and niece in an effort to arrange Sean's marriage to one of them.

Paul also knew the truth of Ibby's first marriage, and planned to have the details revealed by Pierre Smit, Forland's premier news anchor, with details from an anonymous source.

Ibby had learned of the arrangement to reveal her past affairs, and her current one with Anthony. She knew of Pierre's pursuit of female colleagues and many other women, despite a wife and children. If he went ahead with the program on her past, she'd ruin him personally and professionally. Pierre stalled at revealing what he knew, but Paul of Penland was pushing for an exposé.

Vivian hosted for Sean, and tried to maneuver him into a relationship with a young relative of hers who would keep Westmere connected to Forland. She and Daphne were evenly matched. Vivian currently had the advantage of being the mother of the heir. When Richard had heirs, she'd lose that advantage.

Sean sighed and picked the phone for a call from the chairman of the separatist party of Westmere. "Hello, Mr. Bard."

"Sir," said Bard, "Hello. I have sent you the reports of the advantages of separating Westmere from the oppression of Forland. I would like your comments as soon as possible. Before the next election.

"It will be at least a week, Mr. Bard, said Sean, signaling Bjorn to pick up the phone. "My secretary will take details. I'll be in touch." He hung up as Bjorn talked with Bard.

Sean signed the last paper Bjorn handed him and placed it in the outbox. He stood up, shook his head to clear it, and stepped away from his desk.

"Bjorn, I'm leaving for half an hour. I want to walk in the garden and clear my head." He grinned at Bjorn. "You're almost as busy as I am. Thank you. I couldn't handle all this without you."

"Thank you, sir," said Bjorn, looking up at the taller man. "I'll have the reports from the Secretary of Housing ready when you return.

Sean nodded and left through the door into the private hall. He walked down the corridor to the elevator that would take him to the ground floor and the gardens.

Pam Evers walked slowly ahead of him, carrying envelopes. She handed one to a secretary and turned to the elevator. She arrived just as Sean pushed the call button.

"Hello, sir," she said.

"Hello, Pam, isn't it?" Sean smiled. He'd seen her a few times around Lindberg. She was always quiet, answering hello, and going about her work. She wore the light rose perfume. She nodded. "How are things going for you?"

"Well," she said.

"Next month is the staff reception. King Richard and I will be there.

Pam smiled, and her face lit up. Sean returned the smile.

"Yes, last year's reception was so much fun. The garden was lit up and the roses and flowers were blooming." She sighed. "I'll miss it this year."

"Really? Sean asked. "Why can't you come?"

"Oh, my visa will expire in a month so I'll go home."

"Burkehill?"

"Yes, you remembered."

"I've got a good memory," Sean said. "You said you wanted to stay longer. Why didn't you come to the King or me?"

Pam was silent. "I would have, perhaps, but the King and you have been so busy since Richard became King. I though it over, and decided not to add another problem to your list." She hefted the pile of envelopes in her arms. I see a lot of the mail that gets sorted to you." She ran her hand through her brown hair, pushing the stray lock behind her ear. "And, well, then, the press, the people coming and going. Everyone wants something from you. And maybe it was time for me to go."

"Problems?" Sean asked.

"Mmmm. Not so much." She looked at the floor. "Me ex-fiancé contacted me a few times. He wanted to get back together, but I refused."

"Didn't you want to be with him?"

She shook her head and the stray hair fell in her face. "We settled our finances, splitting the money we'd saved. He got engaged to his old girlfriend, but they've broken up, and well, he thinks I got too big a share of our savings. He wants some back, but he's not getting any."

Sean examined her. She was quiet but firm.

"If you'd like to stay, you can continue working here, and get a visa extension.

The elevator doors whished open and two men from the maintenance office exited.

"Good afternoon, sir," one of them said. The other nodded and they continued down the hall.

Sean realized they'd ignored Pam. He held the door for her to enter and followed her in. "Ground?" He asked. She nodded.

"Would you like my office to check into the matter for you?"

She shook her head, and he felt a mild disappointment. "It's a bit more complicated than that, sir. I've given up my room, and can't afford another place around her. Oh, well, thank you, but that means I'll go home."

Sean thought. "Would you like a live in position? There are a few, but one may be at my town home. Mother needs a casual assistant. She wants to bring her six dogs with her. Would you be interested?"

Pam twitched. "I'd like to check it out. Your mother, I mean the Duchess, might not like me."

Sean shrugged. "There are a few places here. Come to my office tomorrow afternoon, about two. Ask for my secretary, Mr. Dag. He'll have news for you."

The elevator stopped on the ground floor. The doors slid open and Sean held the open as Pam walked out.

"Thank you, sir," she said. "I'll check with Mr. Dag tomorrow."

"Good day, Pam," Sean said. He walked the opposite way and Pam watched him till he opened a door into the gardens and disappeared.