Crowns & Courtships Compilation Volume 1

by Carol Moncado

  She started for the door when Jade’s voice stopped her. “Your father has asked your family to meet in the Reception Hall in five minutes.”

  “Thank you.” Astrid took a different set of stairs than she’d planned. Her next younger brother arrived as she did.

  “Good morning,” he said with a bow and flourish. “How art thou this morning, dearest sister of mine?”

  It took all of Astrid’s self-control to keep her hand to herself and not smack his shoulder. “I’m fine.”

  “Thou does not have flocks of seagulls in thy stomach at the prospect of meeting the parental units of thy intended?”

  Astrid glared at him. “I’m fine. I handled meeting Andrei’s parents, didn’t I?”

  He sobered. “But you’d been dating Andrei for almost six months, and you were still a long way from getting married when you met his family. You’ve known Jordan less than two months, and the wedding is in four days.”

  “I’m aware of all of that.”

  Kensington put an arm around her shoulders. “And you’re really all right?”

  “I don’t have a choice, do I?” She shrugged his arm off and squared her shoulders. “You know that as well as I do.”

  “As glad as I am not to be taking over the next in line duties, you’re more important than whether I become king or not.”

  “I know.” She took a deep breath. “I will be fine. Jordan is fantastic. I’m sure his family is, too.”

  Wisely, Kensington kept his mouth shut as they walked through the enormous doors into the Reception Room. Her parents were already waiting, along with both of her sisters and her other brother, the youngest of the siblings.

  “They will be here in a few minutes.” Her father buttoned his suit coat and started for a different door.

  Everyone else fell in line behind him. They knew where to be when they arrived at the door to the portico. Astrid and her mother both stood slightly behind the king, Astrid to the left and her mother to the right. Her siblings all stood a bit farther back, Kensington and Jacqueline Grace to Astrid’s left with Harrison and Esther to her mother’s right.

  They stood far enough back from the doors that the cameras wouldn’t be able to see them, though her father would likely walk forward, and they’d get a glimpse of him greeting Jordan and his family.

  Sure enough, the car glided to a stop. One of the footmen opened the door. There would be no formal announcement this time. That was generally reserved for visiting foreign dignitaries on official missions, not family visitors.

  Jordan led the small group up the stairs as Astrid’s father took several steps toward them. Jordan bowed then shook her father’s hand before stepping to the side to introduce the rest of his family.

  He motioned to his parents. “These are my parents LeeAnne and Chris Haines.”

  His father bowed while his mom curtsied then shook hands with her father.

  “And this is my little sister and her husband, who also happens to be my best friend. Betsy and Dare Weaver.”

  His sister performed one of the best curtsies Astrid had seen in quite some time, while Dare bowed. They both then shook hands with her father.

  Her father turned. “My turn. I’m Edward. My wife, Miriam, and my children - Kensington, Jacqueline Grace, Esther, and Harrison.” By leaving off their titles, he was trying to convey to Jordan’s family that they were among friends and could be less formal. Then her father smiled at her. “And, of course, my oldest daughter, Astrid, soon-to-be Jordan’s wife.”

  Astrid gave them the best smile she could muster. “Hello. Welcome to San Majoria.”

  Jordan felt more relaxed than he had since he was dragged out of his beachside cottage. He sat in the corner of a couch, legs stretched out in front of him. Astrid sat to his right, leaning slightly against him with his arm around her shoulders. Dare and Betsy mirrored the position on another couch, though Betsy was far closer to Dare and kept putting her hand much higher on his thigh than Astrid would ever dream of. Not inappropriately high, but they were far more comfortable together than they had been the last time he saw them.

  As it should be. They’d been married for two months.

  All of Astrid’s siblings had drifted off to do other things, but both sets of parents remained. All four of them shared stories about Jordan and Astrid growing up. Dare and Betsy joined in with a Jordan story or two of their own while Jordan just smiled and laughed occasionally. Astrid smiled and laughed, too, but still seemed more reserved than she had been those last few days on the beach. It had taken him weeks to get her to loosen up. She’d withdrawn back into her shell.

  “Why don’t we leave these four to do something without us old folks?” the queen stood, followed by her husband. “Why don’t we show you the Portrait Gallery we were talking about?”

  Jordan and Dare both stood as both sets of parents left the room. Jordan started to sit back down but Astrid popped up.

  “Why don’t we go for a walk through the garden?” Her smile seemed a touch too bright to Jordan, but he didn’t push her on it.

  “That sounds great.” Jordan let his hand rest on the small of her back as Dare held out a hand to Betsy.

  Betsy asked Astrid a question about her engagement ring - the one Jordan had never actually proposed with - as she led the way out of the room. The two of them were talking like old friends by the time they reached the garden.

  Dare stopped Jordan with a hand on his arm, letting the girls walk further away.

  “What?” Jordan asked.

  “Are you sure about this?” Dare let his hand drop. “I mean, really sure? This is forever.”

  Jordan crossed his arms over his chest. “I know. I’m familiar with marriage and what it entails.”

  “You’ve known her two months. Most of that you didn’t know who she really was or that she had a kid. You spent a couple hours a day with her most of those days and some you didn’t see her at all. Yet you’re going to marry her?”

  “Exactly how long did you date my sister before proposing? Two days?”

  Dare glared and started down the steps away from the door and into the garden itself. “I’ve known her most of my life. It’s different, and you know it.”

  Jordan stopped a couple steps from the bottom. “I know it is, but this is still the right thing. I know it seems sudden, but I’ve prayed about a lot of things over the last few months, even before the pictures came out. Before we left for the States, even. Not specifically about whether to marry Astrid or not, but about the next step in my life. I have a very generic business degree, but no business aspirations, really. Nothing I’m just dying to do with my life. I don’t want to start my own business, except maybe as a photographer, or work for my dad.” He sank down onto the stairs. “Face it. You were always more likely to take over for Dad, even before you married my sister.” The transportation logistics company had never been Jordan’s thing.

  Dare sat next to Jordan. “You know I appreciate your dad, both of your parents, and everything they’ve done for me since we were kids. I’d never want to take your spot, though.”

  “And if I wanted the spot, that would be one thing, but I never did.” Jordan leaned back, so his elbows supported his weight and his legs stretched out in front of him. “I’ve been pretty aimless and living on the rest of the college fund that I didn’t use.” Living at home helped, too. As did the free cottage, which meant he could travel to San Majoria in the first place. “You and Dad work well together. I’m not saying I wouldn’t have ever come home and tried to fit in there, but I’ve prayed long and hard about where my life was going. I asked God to make the answer abundantly clear to me, and He did.”

  “And marrying a Crown Princess is the right answer?”

  Jordan looked to where Astrid and Betsy were looking at a tropical plant he couldn’t identify. “If I don’t, or if we ever divorce, she’ll never be queen, and they’ll both be exiled.”

  “There are worse things than that. Like an awful marria
ge.”

  He felt the expression on his face soften. “I know, but I don’t think it will be. We both just need some time to get to know each other so we can make it work. We will make it work.”

  Dare smacked Jordan’s shoulder with the back of his hand. “Then I bet I’m an uncle before you are.”

  Jordan groaned. “I really don’t need to know anything about you and my sister and your reproductive plans. Besides, in just a couple days, I’ll have a daughter which will make you an uncle.”

  “You know what I mean. We saw the pictures of you with Princess Sofia at the turtle farm yesterday. You looked smitten with each other.”

  “I like her a lot. I’m growing to love her.” Jordan pushed up until he was seated and rested his elbows on his knees. “I don’t know much about being a father.”

  “You’ll figure it out. You had a great example, and the king seems like a good guy.”

  “He is.”

  “One thing we noticed, though.”

  “What’s that?”

  “You weren’t wearing a shirt.”

  “I know. I wasn’t in some of the pictures with Astrid either.”

  “But this was in public.” Dare leaned closer. “I’m glad you’re okay with the scar, but you seemed to be hiding it behind Princess Sofia or something else the whole time. What’s going on?”

  Jordan made sure the girls were still off in the distance and glanced around to make sure no one else could hear. “I know you’re married to my sister, and it’s not fair of me to ask you to keep a secret from your wife, but this is something even she can’t know.”

  “I’m not sure I can do that.”

  Jordan shook his head. “Then I can’t tell you.”

  Dare stared at Astrid and Betsy. “Fine, but if I think you’re being ridiculous, I’ll tell you and override the decision.”

  “You won’t. She can’t know this.”

  “What is it?

  Jordan let out a deep sigh. “I have Andrei’s heart, but if Astrid finds out, there’s less than no chance she’ll ever love me for me.”

  10

  Astrid tucked her hand in her father’s elbow. “Let’s get this over with.”

  “Not exactly the most ringing endorsement of a wedding.”

  She didn’t look up but heard the frown in her father’s voice. “I don’t have to look forward to the wedding for the marriage to be a success.” The enormity of all of it overwhelmed her. She needed it over with.

  “Fair enough.”

  “The comparisons started weeks ago. I’m ready to be done with them.” She didn’t like how “Astrid and Andrei” seemed to fair unfavorably in the public eye compared to “Astrid and Jordan.” The only thing the public seemed to like better was the alliteration of the names.

  “It won’t stop. You’ll probably always have to deal with the comparisons.”

  Astrid took a deep breath. “Fine. But I want to get the public part of today over with.”

  “Then let’s go.”

  This time she looked up to see him smiling down.

  “Your groom is waiting.”

  She let him lead her slowly down the aisle until they reached the end. Jordan waited there with a big grin on his face. Soon her hand was tucked in his, then she faced him as they repeated the vows taken by millions before them.

  Vows she’d taken once before.

  No!

  This wasn’t the time or place for thoughts of the past.

  Instead, she focused on the words she spoke and the ones Jordan said. She slid a ring on his finger and let him slip one on hers, next to the same ring that had appeared in the tabloids.

  “Jordan, Duke of Bevingdale, you may kiss your bride.”

  Astrid looked up into Jordan’s eyes. He cupped her cheek with his palm and kissed her gently. She rested her hands on his stomach and kissed him back, but found herself wishing they were supposed to wait until the balcony like some other royal couples, because she’d have a little more time to prepare.

  But the kiss ended before she could think more.

  “Your majesties, ladies and gentlemen, I present to you Their Royal Highnesses, Prince Jordan and Princess Astrid, Duke and Duchess of Bevingdale.”

  Polite applause filled the cathedral as Jordan helped her down the stairs. They stopped in front of her parents. Astrid curtsied while Jordan bowed, then they continued up the aisle.

  Judging by the way Jordan covered her hand inside his elbow with his other hand, his smile wasn’t nearly as pasted on as hers was. Fortunately, she was well-practiced at hiding her emotions or presenting favorable ones to the public.

  Like at Andrei’s fune...

  No!

  Astrid couldn’t let herself go there. Not when she’d just married someone else. A great guy.

  One she probably should have set free rather than trap into marriage when she still loved another man.

  They reached the doors to the outside. Jordan helped her into the carriage waiting for them. As the attendants, Dare and Jacqueline Grace joined them, sitting in backwards facing seat.

  “Congratulations!” Jacqueline Grace managed to squeal quietly. “You two did it!”

  “Yes, we did.” Jordan wrapped an arm around Astrid’s shoulders and kissed her temple. “Can I call you Mrs. Haines sometimes?”

  “Sure.” She’d been Mrs. Barnes on occasion, generally just when the two of them were alone together.

  Stop!

  Astrid had to get a hold of herself. She couldn’t keep comparing Andrei and Jordan. The two men weren’t the same. Her relationship with Jordan wouldn’t be the same as with Andrei. She’d fallen for Andrei fast and furious. Heat had boiled between them from the beginning.

  Jordan would hate being told he was like a slow simmer. Eventually, they would get to the same place she’d been with Andrei. She had to believe that.

  “Are you all right?” Jordan’s voice couldn’t be heard by the others. His warm breath on her ear told her how close he was as the carriage began to move.

  “Fine.” She waved to the crowd gathered along the side of the road, first one side then the other. Jordan, her sister, and Dare all did, too, though Dare commented that he didn’t know why anyone would wave at him.

  “Wave anyway,” Jordan told him. “You’ll be able to hold it over Bets forever.”

  Dare grinned. “That I’m in a royal carriage with two princesses and a prince, even if he’s only been one for like four minutes? Oh, yeah. She’ll never let me live this down.”

  “It’s not always all it’s cracked up to be.” Astrid kept the smile plastered on her face, waving to the crowds on both sides of the street. “It doesn’t stop life from being so painful you can barely breathe.”

  Dare’s smile slipped.

  She raised a brow and nodded at him. “And forced to smile while you’re dying inside.”

  His smile came back, though not nearly as dynamic as it had been a moment earlier. “You were in our prayers, you know. We were all here for Jordan’s surgery.”

  Was it her imagination or did Jordan stiffen next to her?

  “While we waited for Jordan to be well enough to travel home, we prayed for him to recover fully and for your family. Specifically, we prayed for peace as you faced days unexpectedly alone.” Dare’s smile slipped. “We also prayed that you wouldn’t grow old alone.”

  Astrid forced herself to smile up at Jordan. “That prayer has been answered in a most unexpected way, hasn’t it?” She kept waving as the carriage finally neared the palace.

  Jacqueline Grace caught her eye. Astrid had always been closer to Kensington given their proximity to each other in age, but Jacqueline Grace had been there for Astrid as she faced pregnancy and motherhood alone. It bonded them in a way they never had been before.

  And her sister was questioning whether Astrid was really all right.

  Astrid just smiled a little more brightly and waved a little bigger as the carriage drove through the open gates of the palace. It rol
led to a stop under the portico. Dare climbed out first and helped Jacqueline Grace to the ground. Jordan followed, the smile on his face as genuine as any she’d seen from him. He reached for her hand to help her down.

  But even inside, they didn’t have a moment to themselves. Jade and Thomas were waiting for them, along with the palace event planner and photographer.

  Her smile couldn’t slip again, not even for a few seconds, not even with Jordan.

  Not until she was alone.

  The first hour of marriage to Astrid wasn’t quite what Jordan expected.

  He barely saw his wife as she was bustled around by assorted assistants. The photographer had his turn with her. Jordan couldn’t wait to see the pictures, but what he’d really like was a private moment or two. Was it impolite to stare at your own wife? He twisted the new wedding band as he turned that thought over in his head.

  “You look pensive for a man who just got married.”

  Jordan looked up to see his new father-in-law standing there. Did he dare be honest? “I’m a little worried about her. It’s a lot for anyone, and...” He looked around to make sure he wouldn’t be overheard. “...you and I both know she wasn’t ready for this, no matter what the general public wants to believe.”

  “But it’s too late now.”

  “Yes. It is. And I don’t want out. I don’t really think she does either. Just another year to get ready.” Another glance around. “And even though I feel it’s necessary, I feel guilty about that secret. It would be one thing if I discovered it now, but I knew weeks ago.”

  “I happen to be in agreement with you on that, so any guilt belongs to both of us.” The king tilted his head toward his daughter. “What do you see when you look at her right now?”

  Jordan sensed more behind the words. “I see a woman struggling to keep it together, putting a bright smile on so no one would guess she’s probably dying inside at the thought of spending the rest of her life with anyone besides Andrei.”

  “You’re her husband,” the king reminded him, his words gentler than Jordan would have expected. “What are you going to do about it?”