The door to the suite opened and two young women walked in pushing a rack of clothes. Jordan thought he’d seen at least one of them working with Princess Astrid before, but he wasn’t sure.
“What are all these?”
Adam just gave him a look. For someone who couldn’t be over thirty, he had that look down. Jordan had previously only gotten that look from his mother.
“This is part of your new wardrobe, sir.”
“I haven’t tried any clothes on. How could I have a new wardrobe?” They had taken his measurements though. He thought it was for a tuxedo for the wedding. Apparently, it was for every piece of clothing he’d wear for the next year.
Adam selected a pair of pants and a shirt from the rack. “These will do for today.”
“And for swimming?” Jordan wasn’t going to let him forget about that. “Is this gathering a casual, take the kids to see the turtles thing? Or is it a formal, we can’t get excited over sea turtles because we’re too proper thing?”
Jordan could almost hear the snort of derision. “I believe it’s more the former, sir.”
“And will Princess Sofia be wearing a swimsuit?”
“I believe so.”
“Then I think board shorts are the way to go. I can’t take her in the water in those pants.”
“You can change there.”
“And who will watch Princess Sofia while I change?” He knew moms and dads the world over managed, but he was a first-timer.
“Nanny Gretchen will be there, should you need her.”
“I won’t actually be alone with Princess Sofia?” That was something of a relief, and maybe a little insulting.
“Security will be with you the whole time, as well. Nanny Gretchen will stay in the background unless you need her.”
With a sigh, Jordan took the pants and shirt. “Fine. When do we leave for this thing?”
“The car with Princess Sofia will pick you up in approximately an hour. Nanny Gretchen will arrive in thirty minutes to go over what you need to know about the young princess, then ride in the trailing security vehicle. Princess Sofia will be your responsibility, from getting her out of the car and into her car seat, to anything else she might need.”
Jordan took another sip of his coffee. “I haven’t changed a diaper in my life.”
“That will be taken care of. However, unless you are in dire need, the rest of the time, for all intents and purposes, it is just you and the girl who will grow up with you as her father.”
Way to put pressure on a guy. Jordan had thought about it before, even considered it over the last few weeks, but this would be his first practical experience as a father.
To a princess.
In full view of the public.
This could either go very well or very poorly.
Jordan wasn’t sure which one he thought it would be.
8
“Father, can this wait?” Astrid sank into the chair in his office and wished the day were already over.
“The wedding is in less than a week.”
“I’m aware of that. I’m also aware of the pounding in my head. I gave up a trip to the turtle sanctuary because of it. Jordan is taking Sofia for me.”
“I know, but it still needs addressed.”
“I’m not asking Jordan to sign a prenuptial agreement.” She slumped back in the chair and covered her eyes with her forearm. “I can’t deal with this right now.”
“Why?”
“For one thing, the wedding is less than a week away. Would he feel able to say no if he wanted to? How does one negotiate a prenup on such short notice? San Majorian law dictates what he can’t get should the marriage end. Besides, neither one of us is going into this with anything but ‘till death do us part.’ If either of us went into it thinking divorce was an option, it might be different, but we aren’t.”
“I know you don’t plan on it...”
“No, Papa. I’m not asking him to sign one.” No matter that Andrei had. No matter what she’d suspected later.
“Very well.”
She moved her arm and squinted his direction. “What?”
“I’m not ignoring the validity of your arguments. I’m saying you have assets that could need protecting.”
“Like what? I actually own very little. Most of all this is owned by the family or trusts or someone who is not, and never will be, me.”
“That’s not entirely accurate. You have the trust from your grandmother that you will gain full control of when you turn thirty. It’s not a small amount of money.”
“True, but I’m still not asking him.”
“Very well.”
“I’m glad you’re not arguing with me about this.”
“Why would I? Your mind is clearly made up, and we have far more important things to deal with.”
Astrid heaved a sigh. “Like what? And can’t it wait?”
“No. Benjamin isn’t coming for the wedding.”
“So? Is that bad?” She, literally, could not care less if the king of Eyjania was in attendance.
“Maybe, maybe not. His uncle exerts far more influence on him than I’d like. He’s old enough to stand on his own two feet, but he hasn’t started yet.”
“Isaiah wasn’t his regent was he?”
“No, but I would like you and Jordan to visit Eyjania on your honeymoon.”
Astrid hadn’t even thought that far ahead. “I’d rather stay here. I don’t want to leave Sofia that long.”
“She will go with you.”
“You’re planning our honeymoon for us?”
Her father’s chuckle caused her to open her eyes a bit. “Have either of you planned one?”
He had a point. “No.”
“Then it’s a good thing I’m around. You can stay at Aberswythe Hall. I would like for you to spend some time with Benjamin if possible, just an afternoon or maybe dinner. See if you can get a read on him or what’s going on in the Eyjanian family. If you can’t, I may have to send someone to live there for a while, and I’d rather not.”
“Very well.” As long as the headache had abated. “Meantime, I’m going to take some medicine and lay down.”
“We do have some more things to discuss later, but I hope you’re feeling better soon.” He walked around his desk and folded her into his arms. “I love you, daughter.”
Astrid let herself sink against him, grateful she didn’t have to hold herself up for the moment. “Thank you, Papa. I love you, too.”
When she left his office a minute later, Astrid nearly groaned as Jade jumped out of a chair. “Yes?”
“Your dress fitting has been moved up, ma’am.” Jade shifted her weight from one foot to the other, clearly uncomfortable. “It’s in ten minutes.”
“No. It needs to be moved back.”
“It can’t. The head seamstress has a family funeral to attend this afternoon.”
Astrid left her father’s outer office and started for her quarters. Martina would know to keep the lights dimmed.
“Ma’am?”
She stopped at the sound of Jade’s voice behind her. “Yes?”
“You’re meeting them in the Green Room.”
One of the brightest rooms in the palace. “No. I’m not. I simply cannot handle the Green Room today. The appointment will be moved to the sitting room off the quarters next to mine.” No one had lived there since she moved out not long before Sofia’s birth, and the curtains could be drawn blocking out the sunshine.
“Yes, ma’am.”
Astrid could tell Jade wasn’t happy about her decision, but Astrid didn’t much care.
The walk took far longer than normal with Astrid taking smaller, slower steps to combat the ache in her head. It wasn’t the worst headache she’d ever had, not even close, but bad enough. Jade must have let Martina know the change of plans, because the curtains were tightly drawn and the furniture had already been pushed back.
“There you are.” Martina knew to use her calming voice. �
��What don’t you lie down for a few minutes, ma’am?”
“No. Getting back up will make it worse.” The throbbing would increase, and Astrid didn’t think she could handle that. “How long until this is over?”
“They should be here in about fifteen minutes. It will take an hour.”
Astrid nodded and considered the chair, but decided to lean against a column instead. “I’m going to stand here with my eyes closed. In forty-five minutes, I want to take my medicine. They’ll have another fifteen to twenty minutes before it kicks in. If they’re not done, you have my permission to make sure I’m out of the dress and back in bed by the time it’s fully in my system.”
“I’ll take care of it.” Martina’s sympathetic tone soothed Astrid. Her lady’s maid would take care of her. She had been for years.
Loud noises in the hall caught both of their attention. Martina hurried to the door, muttering under her breath about some people not knowing how to be quiet.
Astrid managed a half smile. Martina’s mothering could be overbearing sometimes, but at other times it was a blessing.
By the time the seamstress and her associates came in, the volume level had decreased. At least she loved the dress. Astrid never thought she’d love a dress more than the one she’d worn for her wedding to Andrei, but she did. It left her conflicted, while at the same time recognizing it was probably a good thing.
Andrei was her past, Jordan her future.
No turning back now.
Someone opened Jordan’s door for him, but he was too busy trying to unbuckle Princess Sofia’s car seat to climb out. Once the little girl stood on the floor, he got out then turned to reach for her. When he held her in his arms and turned back around, he realized he should have opened the stroller first. They’d brought it up to his room so he could practice. Allegedly, it could be opened one-handed...
In the not-far-enough-away distance, he could see cameras recording his every move. With his thumb, he slid the button on the handle of the stroller and twisted to release the catch. Sure enough, it popped open with a click. After testing it a couple of times to make sure it wasn’t going to fold and putting the brake on one of the wheels, he went to the front.
Princess Sofia slid her legs into the openings and Jordan squatted down in front of her. “You and me, okay, baby girl? We got this,” he whispered as he snapped her seat belt in place.
He slid his sunglasses into place as he went to the back of the stroller and flipped the brake up with his foot. The dreaded loafers weren’t as bad as he’d thought they might be. Maybe because they clearly cost more than the rest of his wardrobe combined. The soon-to-be husband of a princess couldn’t walk around in discount store shoes.
A security guard whose name he didn’t remember motioned for Jordan to follow him. He needed to learn the names of people like this who he’d be seeing a lot of in the future. The small crowd of other parents and children streamed toward the entrance.
Princess Sofia’s finger came into view over the canopy. “Tur-too!”
Jordan pulled the canopy back so he could see her face. Sure enough, it sported a huge grin. “You got that right, Miss Sofia. A turtle.” It felt weird in his head not calling her by her title, something his sister had pounded into him was the appropriate address no matter the age, but he wasn’t about to be caught on a microphone calling his almost-step-daughter “Princess Sofia.” He was supposed to be closer to her than that.
An official met him as he walked through the archway into the turtle sanctuary proper. “Good morning, Mr. Haines.”
“Good morning.” Was he supposed to know this guy’s name? “Thank you for having us.”
“Our pleasure, sir. If you and Princess Sofia would come this way...” He gestured then started walking.
Jordan glanced at the security guy again. His face remained impassive but didn’t seem to indicate they shouldn’t follow the guy, so Jordan did.
They went through an office area and emerged back into the sunshine in a roped off area near the rest of the small crowd. After a brief introduction to the park, they were all walked to an enclosure where everyone would have a chance to hold a baby sea turtle. Jordan wasn’t sure which species they were.
“Mr. Haines? Would you and Princess Sofia like to be first?” the guide asked.
Jordan felt like a deer in the headlights, but nodded. He unbuckled Princess Sofia and picked her up. He stood her on the concrete wall, one arm locked securely around her waist. “Would you like to hold a turtle?” he asked her.
“Tur-too!” She pointed to the man standing in the knee-deep water. Everyone within hearing distance laughed.
Jordan kept his arms as tightly around her as he could and still hold the turtle. “Can you help me?”
“He’p!”
More laughter sounded around them.
Princess Sofia clamped one hand around the edge of the turtle’s shell and reached for his head with the other.
“No, sweetheart. You can’t pet the turtle’s head.”
She stopped.
“Turn him around,” the man advised.
Carefully, Jordan did. The flippers went a little frantic, but he kept a tight grip. “Can you pet his shell?”
Sofia ran a hand along the shell from near his head down to his tail. “Tur-too!”
After a few more seconds the man took the turtle back. Jordan set Princess Sofia down and used the offered hand sanitizer on his hands before helping her with it. He continued to hold her as they stood off to the side and let the other families hold the turtles. She pointed at every turtle she saw. What would she think when they got to the huge ones?
Jordan made sure to put Princess Sofia back in her stroller and feed her the snack in her bag while they waited. Before long, everyone was released from the group tour to do as they pleased. He’d been told there was an area for little children, but that as long as he used extreme caution, he could take her in the larger lagoon.
Like he’d do anything to hurt her.
As much as he wanted to go snorkeling in the lagoon where the fish and adolescent turtles lived, that was a bit much. He left Sofia with the nanny and security guard while he went in one of the changing rooms. At least he could wear his usual board shorts. Adam must not have considered a new pair, or Jordan would be wearing the San Majorian colors.
He took Princess Sofia, now without the dress that had been covering her swimsuit, from Gretchen. “We’re going to the lagoon swimming pool thing,” he told her. “I’ll take it slow. Princess Astrid said she’d never really been in the water much.” They’d gone over it repeatedly at the hotel, but he wanted to make sure Gretchen knew.
She nodded and took the stroller while Jordan carried Princess Sofia to the lagoon nearby. The other families were staring while trying not to make it too obvious. Pictures of his chest, complete with scars, would be out there for all to see before long.
Jordan should have thought this through a bit more. If he’d worn one of his wetsuit shirts, his heart scar wouldn’t be visible. He didn’t care as much in general as he had when he first arrived in the country, but if the press realized what it was and Princess Astrid found out when his transplant was, she’d know whose heart he had.
He wasn’t ready for that.
She wasn’t ready for that.
And if she found out before the wedding, all of this was for nothing.
9
“He’s not her father yet, but Jordan Haines, fiancé of Princess Astrid, seems to have the love and trust of Princess Sofia.”
Astrid stared at the screen as the picture changed to Jordan standing behind Sofia as they held a turtle. She missed seeing that look on her daughter’s face in person. At least the pounding in her head had mostly dissipated.
“The pair spent the morning at San Majoria’s Turtle Sanctuary along with several dozen other children, invited because of their parents’ work in conservation.”
Jordan-on-the-screen carried Sofia in front of his chest as he walke
d into the lagoon. Several other pictures followed it on the screen. Astrid frowned as she rewound the scene. Was he hiding his scar? Did he not want everyone to know he was a heart recipient? Or did he not want them to know now, like this?
But the next picture showed Sofia laughing as she splashed in the water. Good. She seemed to love it. Jordan was the perfect person to introduce her to more than just the tub.
A couple more pictures showed them eating lunch with another family with a little boy about Sofia’s age. The woman didn’t appear to have any inappropriate interest in Jordan, so that was good. It wasn’t always that way.
Astrid didn’t actually see Jordan when Sofia returned to the palace. In fact, he might have been dropped off at the hotel first.
She hadn’t seen him in a couple of days. That would change soon enough. In a few days, she would be with him for a week straight. Then every day for the rest of her life.
It had taken her and Andrei time to figure out how to live together. The same thing would happen with Jordan. Eventually, they’d figure it out.
The rest of the day was quiet. Gretchen took care of Sofia, including putting her down for a nap and her dinner. Astrid nibbled on simple food from a tray brought to her by Martina.
The next day, Astrid’s stomach was upset for a whole different reason.
Jordan’s family was due to arrive any minute. Their flight, provided for by her father, had already landed. She wore another light tan suit, with the same beige pumps. “How much longer?” she asked Jade.
Jade looked at her phone. “Mr. Haines met his family half an hour ago. They left the airport approximately ten minutes ago.”
She had another ten minutes until the car pulled through the gates and up to the portico. Maybe she should walk down there so she could greet them when they arrived. Probably just inside the doors where she couldn’t be seen by cameras on rooftops of nearby buildings. She didn’t want to meet her in-laws in full view of the public.
Crowns & Courtships Compilation Volume 1 Page 7