A Royal Christmas Quandary

by Samantha Hastings

  “Drina, I cry forfeit,” Edward said.

  “What is the forfeit, oh great king?” Emily asked.

  “To say yes or no to three questions by the company,” he said. “Drina, you will have to leave the room while we decide which questions to be asked.”

  Drina stood up and gave Edward a ballerina-like curtsy, which made everyone laugh. She walked out into the corridor and waited to be called back into the room. She didn’t have to wait long before George opened the door and said, “Time to come back in.”

  “All right,” she said, and followed him into the room. She stood on the edge of the circle with every eye upon her.

  “Have you ever been kissed?” Lady Clara asked with an annoying giggle.

  “Yes,” Drina said, willing herself not to blush.

  George grimaced again and Lady Clara giggled even louder.

  “Do you like England better than Hoburg?” Friedrich asked.

  Her eyes darted back and forth from her cousin to George and then back to her cousin. She shrugged her shoulders as she said apologetically, “Yes.”

  “And now for the final question,” Edward said. “Do you fancy my little brother, George?”

  Her face felt as hot as the Christmas pudding. She blinked and looked back at George, whose usually open face was unreadable.

  “What?!” she exclaimed. Her heart constricted inside her chest as if it were being pricked by thousands of sharp holly leaves.

  George walked until he stood directly in front of her, shaking his head. “No, no. That’s not the right question,” he said, red-faced and looking almost as embarrassed as Drina felt. “Do you like playing cards for money?”

  “Yes.”

  “Yes to cards or to George?” Edward asked, grinning wickedly.

  Nearly everyone in the room laughed.

  Drina glared at Edward. Wasn’t it bad enough that his little brother had made her a laughingstock in London? Every one of their friends already knew that she fancied George. Now Edward was making her look like a fool in front of them. She was so angry she could have screamed.

  For the first time in her life, she hated all the Worthingtons. Hated that Edward was mocking her. Hated that Emily was giggling at her behind her gloved hand. Hated that George didn’t love her back. Hated that he didn’t realize how much his touch affected her. Hated that he was smiling at her now in the way that made her knees weak.

  “George,” she choked out. She shoved George in the chest with all her strength before turning and running out of the room as fast as her dancing slippers could carry her.

  If only she could run away from her feelings as easily.

  Chapter 27

  George stood stock still, unsure of what to do. Was he supposed to follow her? Did she need space? Did she not love him after all and had only said yes to spare his ego?

  “Go after her, you idiot!” Edward yelled.

  “Kiss her if you find mistletoe,” Prince Friedrich said, and added with a rakish grin, “and kiss her if you don’t.”

  That was all the encouragement he needed. George ran out of the room and saw Drina at the end of the China Corridor. He ran toward her, darting in between members of the royal family. Why did there have to be so many of them?! He very nearly ran into Queen Victoria. He stopped short and bowed low to the Queen. Leopold and Arthur took the opportunity to grab each of George’s arms.

  “Give us a ride on your back, Lord Worthington,” they begged in unison.

  “Later,” George said. “My word of honor.”

  He pulled away from the boys to find himself blocked by Prince Louis and Princess Alice. Her arms were folded across her chest. “What have you done now?”

  “Nothing,” he said in exasperation. “It was Edward.”

  “What did Edward do?”

  George huffed impatiently. He didn’t have time for this. “He asked her if she fancied me in front of all our friends.”

  “And what did she say?” Princess Alice asked, examining his face.

  “Yes. She said yes,” George said, raking his fingers through his hair. “Then she shoved me and ran.”

  “And do you fancy Drina, George?”

  More than anything.

  “He does,” Prince Louis said from her side.

  “Of course I do!” he practically yelled in frustration.

  Princess Alice stepped aside to let him pass. “You’d best catch her, then.”

  George sprinted down the China Corridor, but Drina was already gone. He opened the door to the Octagon Dining Room, where his father was sitting at the table drinking port with several gentlemen from the Foreign Office.

  “What are you doing now, George?” his father rasped from the head of the table.

  “Looking for mistletoe,” George said as he ran back out of the room.

  He turned down the short hall that led to the State Dining Room. Several servants were still clearing away all the dishes from dinner, but there was no sign of Drina. He sighed and kicked over the closest chair and cursed. His big toe throbbed in pain. A male servant picked the chair up and set it right on all fours.

  “Have you seen a lady wearing a blue dress?” he asked the servant.

  “Yes, my lord,” he said slowly as he bowed to George.

  “Where did she go, man?” he demanded.

  The servant pointed to the Crimson Drawing Room. George limped-ran into the Crimson Drawing Room. There wasn’t even one person in the entire room. He wanted to yell and kick another chair despite the bruise already blooming on his right foot.

  He limped through the seemingly endless red room until he reached the Green Drawing Room—which was also empty. The only sign of life was the light flickering from the gas lamps. The Green Drawing Room was as green as its name suggested—the walls were green and the furniture was green. The room was also decorated with large green boughs and green mistletoe. And even the curtains were green.

  Except … one.

  George saw a bit of blue material on the side of one of the emerald green curtains. He exhaled in triumph. He walked quietly until he reached the curtain and pulled it back. Drina jumped in surprise.

  Acting on Prince Friedrich’s advice, he pulled Drina into his arms and without so much as a word, he closed his eyes and bent down to kiss her. His lips brushed the soft velvet curtain and he stumbled forward, hitting his forehead on the glass window.

  Drina ducked around him. “Haven’t you made a fool of me enough already today?!”

  “I didn’t do anything,” George protested. “It was Edward.”

  She seemed to consider this. “But you didn’t stop him when he asked the second time. All you did was smile at me.”

  He gulped. “I admit … I wanted to know. I needed to know.”

  She threw up her hands. “Everyone already knew.”

  “But I didn’t,” George said, “and I can be a bit of an idiot.”

  “You did just kiss a curtain.”

  “Fair,” George said. He stepped closer to Drina until he could feel her skirt brushing against his pant legs. He gulped again. “I love you, Drina. I think I’ve been in love with you for years, but I was afraid of ruining our friendship … There is no other person in the world that makes me feel the way that you do.”

  “Well, it’s about time,” Drina said, smiling so beautifully that George loved her even a little bit more. And before he knew it, her arms were around his neck and she was pressing kisses all over his face. George finally regained his senses enough to place his hands on her waist and pull her closer to him. She leaned back to look him in the eyes.

  “I never got to give you your Christmas present,” he said.

  “It had better not be any body part of a boar,” she warned.

  George shook his head slightly and reluctantly removed one of his hands from her waist to pull the golden brooch out of his pocket. It was shaped like a rose with a scroll across the top with MIZPAH engraved on it.

  She took the brooch from him. “
Mizpah?”

  “It’s a protective talisman for friends or lovers when they’re apart,” George explained.

  “Are we friends or lovers?”

  “Both … I hope … because you’re my dearest friend and I’m madly in love with you.”

  “I’m in love with you, too, George,” she whispered.

  Drina was so close to him that he could feel her breath on his lips. He placed his right hand on her neck and guided her mouth toward his, careful to keep his eyes open until their lips met. He didn’t want to miss and kiss the curtain again.

  When his lips finally met her soft ones, it felt like Christmas magic—warm, sparkling, and wonderful.

  * * *

  Much too soon for George, they returned to find their family and friends singing Christmas carols. Princess Alice and Prince Louis looked happy as they sat side by side on the piano bench while her fingers danced over the ivory keys to the melody of “Hark, The Herald Angels Sing.”

  George joined in singing loudly. He squeezed Drina’s hand and inclined his head toward the piano. “Why aren’t you singing?”

  Drina smiled at him and his heart jumped again, but she shook her head. Drina never sang in public. He watched her eyes travel around the room to where her parents sat on a sofa. Princess Rothfield and Lord Rothfield were holding hands and singing—George could hear Lord Rothfield’s voice because he was entirely tone deaf.

  His own mother and father sat nearby. George was surprised to see his father rasp out the words “Glory to the newborn king!”

  George’s mother actually smiled at him, giving him a rare nod of approval. Like Edward, she must have guessed his feelings for Drina.

  Prince Friedrich was the only one besides Drina that wasn’t singing—he probably didn’t know the words to the English carol. He was standing awfully close to Lady Clara. For a moment, George contemplating warning him about Lady Clara’s propensities near mistletoe, but then he thought better of it. He watched Prince Friedrich put his hand on the small of Lady Clara’s back and he looked like he wouldn’t mind being caught by her underneath mistletoe.

  Bertie and Lady Hyacinth were singing and standing so cozily together that it looked like they didn’t even need mistletoe as an excuse.

  “Joyful all ye nations rise;

  Join the triumph of the skies.”

  Princess Alice played the last note and smiled at Prince Louis.

  Princess Rothfield stood up. “Drina, where have you been?”

  Drina turned bright red and shrugged. She seemed unwilling or unable to speak.

  So George began to sing loudly, “We wish you a Merry Christmas …”

  Drina, who never sang, joined in off-key for the second: “We wish you a Merry Christmas.”

  By the third repeat, Princess Alice started to play the music to the song. George had never liked the princess more than in this moment. Lord Rothfield stood up by his wife and started singing. Princess Rothfield shook her head and tsked before joining in, too. Then one by one the other people in the group began to sing with George and Drina. And finally, the whole room sang together:

  “Good tidings we bring

  To you and your kin;

  Good tidings for Christmas

  And a happy New Year!”

  George put his arm around Drina’s shoulders and she leaned her head against his—it was definitely going to be a very happy New Year.

  Acknowledgments

  I’m so grateful to Jean Feiwel and the Swoon Reads imprint for giving my story the royal treatment. I was lucky enough to work with two amazing editors, Emily Settle and Rachel Diebel. You both brought so much sparkle and joy to my story. I would knight you both if I could! I’m so thankful for the beautiful cover designed by Kathleen Breitenfeld. Cheers to my copy editor, Nancee Adams, for helping me catch all the naughty little errors. I’m grateful to my production editor, Dawn Ryan, for all her hard work. Thank you to Madison Furr, for being an incredible publicist and for spreading publishing cheer. And the deepest of curtsies to the rest of the Swoon Reads team: Lauren Scobell, Holly West, and Kat Brzozowski.

  To my agents, Jen Nadol and Jennifer Unter, finding you has been a gift. I’m so lucky to work with such talented people.

  All of my love to Violet, Alivia, Isaac, and Andrew. Every day with you is magical. To my husband, Jon, you are my best friend and my dearest love. Captain Wentworth’s got nothing on you. Mom and Dad, thank you for being my biggest fans. Michelle and Stacy, thank you for being the best sisters ever and for reading my stories first.

  I’m surrounded by many friends who have been incredibly supportive: Erin, Debbie, Irene, Susannah, Nicole, Ruthanne, Katie E., Marin, Amanda, Elisa, Katie F., and Dannielle. You guys are the best!

  The Young Adult book community in Utah is warm and welcoming. I’m so grateful for the friendships I’ve found here. Hugs to Krysti, Sarah, Allisa, Bambie, Tricia, Kaylynn, RuthAnne, Dan, Kathryn, Caitlin, Sofiya, Emily, Erin, Crystal, Alex, Rosalyn, Sara, and Charlie.

  The Swoon Squad has been a wonderful support system and I’m lucky to call these talented authors friends. I’m especially fortunate to live near my fellow Swoon author, Tiana Smith, who is just as witty in person as she is on paper.

  Addie Thorley and Jennieke Cohen, you two are the best! I was so blessed to find writers who like corsets and smart heroines as much as I do.

  Book bloggers, YouTubers, Instagrammers, reviewers, teachers, and librarians around the world, you are all on Father Christmas’s nice list. Thank you so much for all you do to support me and the bookish community.

  Dear Reader, I can’t thank you enough for joining me on another adventure. I hope that your dreams are too large to fit into any stocking and that you never stop believing in magic, friendship, and fudge—uh, … I meant love.

  Happy Holidays.

  Author’s Note

  Mizpah jewelry was first created in the 1850s and was considered to be a sentimental token of affection. Victorians also believed that if they wore Mizpah pieces it would help their relationship to grow. Genesis 31:49: And Mizpah; for he said, The Lord watch between me and thee, when we are absent from one another.

  Lady Alexandrina Gailey is a fictional character, and Hoburg is a fictional country. It is inspired by Saxe-Coburg and Gotha, the small German duchy that Prince Albert was from. Like Drina’s mother, Queen Victoria’s mother (also named Victoria or ‘Victoire’) was first married to her dead aunt’s husband, Emich Carl, 2nd Prince of Leiningen and they had two children together: Feodora, who is mentioned in this book, and Carl, 3rd Prince of Leiningen. Princess Victoria of Saxe-Coburg-Saalfeld’s second marriage was to Prince Edward Augustus, the Duke of Kent. They had one daughter together: Alexandrina Victoria.

  Queen Victoria (1819–1901) married her first cousin, Prince Albert of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha. They had nine children together. Their eldest son, known to the family as Bertie, became King Edward VII and was infamous for his many romantic affairs. Most of Queen Victoria’s dialogue in this book are things she either said or wrote. In a letter in 1870, she wrote: “The Queen is most anxious to enlist everyone who can speak or write to join in checking this mad, wicked folly of ‘Women’s Rights,’ with all its attendant horrors, on which her poor feeble sex is bent, forgetting every sense of womanly feeling and propriety.”

  Princess Alice Maud Mary (1843–1878), the third child of Queen Victoria and Prince Albert, met Prince Louis of Hesse during the Ascot Races in June 1860. He was invited to stay at Windsor Castle for the holidays. He proposed to Alice and was accepted on November 30, 1860. They wouldn’t be married for two more years, because first her grandmother, the Duchess of Kent, died and then did her father, Prince Albert. Alice tirelessly nursed both of them until their deaths.

  Princess Alice and Prince Louis were married July 1, 1862. They loved each other, but their marriage wasn’t without difficulties. They were constantly short on cash. It would be several years before he inherited the Duchy of Hesse. They had difficulties w
ithin their families and with their international loyalties, particularly during the Austro-Prussian War in 1866. Her elder sister, Vicky, was married to the heir of the Prussian emperor and was the victorious “enemy.”

  Alice was passionate about nursing and corresponded with Florence Nightingale. She created the Women’s Union in Darmstadt, an organization that trained nursing assistants for wartime. She established the Alice Society for Women’s Training and Industry, which was dedicated to educating women for employment. She also started the Alice Hospital in Darmstadt, which treated sick people without charging.

  Louis and Alice had seven children together. Their son Friedrich Wilhelm, called “Frittie,” was diagnosed with hemophilia. In 1873, he fell from a window and bled to death internally. In 1878, her eldest daughter, Victoria, became infected with diphtheria. The infectious disease spread to four of her other children: Alix, May, Irene, and Ernie. May choked to death as a result of her illness. Alice contracted the disease and died shortly after on December 14, 1878, (the same day that her father died, seventeen years prior).

  Her most beautiful daughter, Alix, would go on to marry Tsar Nicholas II. They were very happy together and had four daughters (including the famous Anastasia) and one son.

  Victorian Parlor Games

  Reverend Crawley’s Game

  A group of at least eight people stand in a circle and hold hands with every other person. As a group, try to untie the knot without releasing hold of each other’s hands. You can step over each other’s arms or crawl underneath them. You win when the knot unties into a single ring (rarely, there are two rings).

  Shadow Buff

  Hang a sheet or tablecloth across an area in the room or hall, put a candle behind it (or flashlight) and turn off the lights. Have one person sit in front of the sheet and guess who is walking behind it. The other players can disguise themselves or simply walk in front of the candle, behind the sheet. If a player is guessed correctly, they must pay a forfeit (see Forfeits).