Crowns & Courtships Compilation Volume 1

by Carol Moncado

  The duke? Right. Jordan. “Do you know where?”

  “I believe they’re in the ballroom.”

  That puzzled her. As ballrooms went, the room wasn’t that impressive, but she supposed her daughter might like it.

  The door stood ajar so she slipped through it.

  What she saw surprised her.

  Jordan was on his knees next to Sofia. She held a meter stick with a small box taped to the end. And were those balled up socks?

  He wrapped his arms around Sofia. “Okay, kiddo, let’s hit the puck.” With his help, the makeshift hockey stick swung back then forward until it came in contact with the socks. They spun across the floor. “Great job! We’ll make a hockey player out of you yet!”

  “Isn’t she a little young?” Astrid asked, taking a sip of her coffee.

  Jordan turned and gave her a dazzling smile. “If anything, she’s getting a bit of a late start. I had my first mini-stick when I was ten-months-old, or so my mother tells me. There are pictures.”

  “And that’s why you were on a team that took Bantam’s the year you were grounded?” She hoped she got that right.

  His slightly widened eyes and the increased size of his grin told her she had. “You remembered!” He sat on the floor and pulled Sofia into his lap. She snuggled down next to him. “Not to be too braggy, but I was one of the best forwards in my level. When I was twelve, we won Regionals. My Spring team took provincials then went to Regionals and won there. We didn’t have a national championship, but several regionals. We were the best team in four provinces. We went back the next three years, but got silver or bronze. When I was in grade 12, our high school team won provincials.”

  Astrid was impressed. “And college?”

  “I hurt my knee in the last seconds of provincials my 12th year. I can still do most anything I want, but sometimes I need to wrap it up. It was just bad enough that I didn’t want to push it. I had no chance or dream of going Major Junior or getting drafted, so it wasn’t worth the risk that I’d hurt it worse and not be able to do anything I love, like skiing or pick-up games or surf. I hadn’t heard, officially, if I’d win a scholarship or not, but I probably would have.” He shrugged. “I had a university savings account and wasn’t too worried about it. I had a couple other bursaries that covered a lot of the expenses, but since I wasn’t playing hockey, I went to school near home and lived with my folks.”

  “Bursary?” She wasn’t familiar with the term.

  “Money from different organizations to pay university expenses.”

  “Like scholarships?”

  “Yeah.”

  And in a couple of minutes, she knew far more about her husband than she had when she married him. “What’s your degree in?”

  “Business. My dad wanted me to take over for him when he retires, but that was never in the cards. Dare probably will. Even before he was officially family, he was a better choice, and I’d hinted to Dad more than once that he should consider Dare instead. I think he would have, even if he’d married someone else. What about you?”

  Astrid moved to one of the tables to the side of the ballroom floor and sat down. “You didn’t look it up?”

  Jordan shook his head. “I haven’t looked anything up or asked my sister. I want to get to know you, not what some media type thinks about you.”

  He would be the first. Even Andrei had used the Internet and media stories to impress her with his knowledge of her interests, at least when they first started dating.

  “I have a degree in government and international relations. It seemed like the best option, given my future job title.”

  “If you could do anything else, what would it be?”

  Astrid stared into the coffee swirls. “I don’t know. I never really thought about it.” That wasn’t entirely accurate. Would he know?

  “Right now. Deep inside, if you could be anything you wanted, what would it be?”

  She looked at the two of them sitting on the ballroom floor. “A mum. If I could be anything in the world, I’d want to be Sofia’s mother full-time.” With a half-shrug, she went back to staring into her coffee. “I’m sure that’s not very enlightened or noble of me, or whatever, but there you go.”

  “I don’t think there’s anything wrong with that, at all. My mom stayed home with us, and I promise, she worked hard. Being a good stay-at-home wife and mother isn’t for slackers.”

  She hadn’t said anything about wife or more kids. Had he noticed?

  Her phone buzzed. “Apparently, I have an appointment in fifteen minutes. A massage?” When had that been scheduled?

  “Enjoy it,” Jordan told her with a smile. “Miss Sofia and I are gonna hang out for a bit.”

  Astrid stood. “I will. It’s just what I need.” She’d have to thank Jade, or more likely Martina, for making the arrangements.

  And maybe, for a few minutes, she’d be able to relax enough to forget everything else shaking the world around her.

  “Am I supposed to bow when I meet this guy?” Jordan shifted in the back seat of the limo. In a few minutes, he'd meet the second king of his life, though likely not the last.

  “No, not really. A nod and a very slight bow at the waist for you. If you meet any of the other family members, they get just a nod.”

  “I can handle that.”

  “They’re just people, Jordan.” Astrid stared out the window as the car drove through the capital city. “Just like me and my family.”

  “I know. But it’s still intimidating. You grew up knowing your family as your family. They’re Mom and Dad, and your younger siblings, but for the rest of us, it’s different. Like an actor or national politician. The Canadian Prime Minister or President of the United States. People like King Benjamin and his family are your peers. That’s not so for the rest of us.”

  “I suppose.”

  Before the conversation could continue, the car pulled through the gates of the Eyjanian palace. A footman opened the door. Jordan climbed out first then turned to help Astrid exit the vehicle.

  She tucked her hand inside his elbow as they walked up the stairs to the wide doors. Once in the giant foyer - there was probably a fancier name for the room filled with statues and assorted ancient looking knick-knacks, but Jordan had no idea what it was - they were greeted by King Benjamin.

  “Welcome to Eyjania.” His tone was polite, but not welcoming. Neither was his posture.

  Astrid gave him a slight nod of her head. “Hello, Benjamin. I would like to present my husband, Prince Jordan, Duke of Bevingdale.”

  Jordan gave the small bow and nod like she’d told him to. “It’s a pleasure to meet you, Your Majesty.”

  “Likewise.”

  Jordan didn’t buy it for a minute. The king didn’t want them there. He’d stake his provincial championship trophy on it.

  King Benjamin turned and sort of motioned for them to follow. Pressure on his arm from Astrid’s hand confirmed his suspicion.

  They followed him down a wide hallway, then into a dining room. Jordan guessed the ornately carved dark wood table could seat at least forty, maybe more. Only four places were set at one end. A young woman stood near them. More paintings graced the walls here, along with vases and intricately carved designs in the wood paneling.

  King Benjamin turned. “Princess Astrid, Duke Jordan, my sister, Princess Genevieve.”

  Jordan nodded to her.

  A waiter walked into one end of the room. “Dinner is served.”

  King Benjamin held the single chair for his sister, leaving Jordan and Astrid with the seats together. Astrid subtly indicated she was to sit next to Benjamin. He was grateful she didn’t just let him flounder.

  He kept an eye on his wife, following her lead, and that of the king, when it came to which fork to use and which glass to drink from.

  Genevieve gushed about the wedding, which she wished she’d been able to attend. “Your dress was gorgeous, Astrid. Benjamin said you planned the wedding in just a few weeks. How d
id you get such a gorgeous dress on short notice?”

  Astrid glanced at Jordan. “I worked with the same designers from my wedding to Andrei. There were two dresses I loved almost the same back then. I wore the other one, but the designer made several changes that made me love this one even more than I had before. I don’t know why she’d kept it, but she did. It worked in my favor.”

  Jordan didn’t say anything, but took a bite of his salad. He didn’t know how he felt about Astrid wearing a dress she’d first considered for her wedding to Andrei but needed to let it roll off his back. She’d married him. That was the important part. Given their time frame, that was probably the only way she’d have a dress she liked in time.

  “You grew up in our latitude, didn’t you, Jordan?” Genevieve asked him.

  “Not quite this far north, but closer than San Majoria. New Brunswick, Canada.”

  “Did I read that you’re a hockey fan?”

  “And a player.” Astrid commented before he could. “He was quite good while in school before an injury forced him to stop.”

  “Really?” Genevieve looked duly impressed.

  “I could hold my own. Our teams did well, but I think a big part of that was because my best friend and I could read each other’s minds. Most of us had played together for years and could anticipate what the others were going to do. Teamwork like that helps a lot.”

  “I would imagine so.” Genevieve took a sip of her wine. “We never had the opportunity to play organized sports, though we’ve all done some horse riding and swimming. Alfred, our youngest brother, is doing competitive swim for the first time this year. He would love to play hockey.” Her eyes twinkled. “He’s far enough down the line of succession that I think Mother just might let him.”

  “How old is he?” Jordan figured he should probably know this, but he didn’t. He wasn’t even sure how many siblings were in the family.

  “He’s nine.”

  Jordan’s confusion must have shown on his face. Benjamin and Astrid both looked intently at their food.

  Genevieve just sort of shrugged. “Our mother was pregnant when Father died. There is almost fourteen years, and eight other children, between him and Benjamin.”

  “There are ten of you?” Jordan blurted out before he could stop. “I knew you had a large family, but I didn’t realize it was that big.”

  Genevieve laughed. “We’re used to it. I think we’re the largest generation of royals in any country where monogamy is practiced.”

  “I would think so.”

  She grinned. “The public didn’t see it much, but our parents were a total love match. They couldn’t keep their hands off each other.”

  “Genevieve.” King Benjamin’s sharp rebuke made her glare at him.

  “It’s true. That’s what I want when I get married. Not some arranged thing Isaiah forces on me.” She pointed her fork at him. “He’s been trying, and you know it.”

  Jordan had no idea who Isaiah was, but clearly things weren’t as idyllic as they seemed in the Eyjanian royal family.

  13

  Astrid stared at her salad but tried to watch Benjamin and Genevieve out of the corner of her eye. At least she’d never had anyone try to arrange her marriage, not really. Yes, she’d been cornered into marrying Jordan, but at least she already knew she liked him.

  “This isn’t the time, Genevieve.” Benjamin’s low tone held an unmistakable warning.

  “Why not? You won’t talk to me any other time, and Mother just tells me not to worry. It’s not like we have to worry about either one of them running to the press, so it seems like a perfect time to have this conversation.”

  “Uncle Isaiah just wants what’s best for all of us. That’s all.” Benjamin’s voice was more conciliatory this time.

  “Well, what’s best for me is not marrying one of his stuffy old friends.”

  Astrid finally looked up to see a sheen of tears in Genevieve’s eyes. She tried to give her best sympathetic smile.

  “He’s not old.”

  “No. Isaiah’s not old, but the guy he wanted me to marry was older than Father would be!” Genevieve glared at Benjamin. “I refused, but he made it clear it wasn’t the end of it. You’re the king. You can tell him to back off, and he’ll have to.”

  “We’ll discuss it later.”

  “As long as you promise we will discuss it.” The princess appeared to be able to hold her own.

  “We will.”

  Genevieve smiled sweetly at Astrid. “You heard him. If he won’t talk to me this week, I’m calling you to come over and help me make him.”

  “I’m happy to assist in any way possible.” Astrid wouldn’t really get involved, but maybe the thought that she might would convince Benjamin to talk to his sister.

  “How about another topic,” Genevieve went on. “What are you doing while you’re in Eyjania on your honeymoon?”

  Astrid glanced at Jordan who was looking at her. “We don’t have any specific plans. It’s the wrong time of year for the really good skiing, and we have my daughter with us. We’d rather not leave her for an extended period of time, so probably just some sightseeing here in Akushla.”

  “The zoo is fantastic,” Genevieve told them. “I would imagine Sofia would enjoy it. I saw the pictures from the turtle farm a couple weeks ago. She looked ecstatic.”

  “The sanctuary is one of my favorite places,” Astrid gently corrected. “Sofia loves turtles.” She couldn’t help but smile. “They’re her favorites. Mine, too.”

  The small talk turned even more stilted after that, though Astrid had heard enough to give her father a report. Isaiah still had his hands on the reins in Eyjania, though she wasn’t sure how much influence he exerted over the day-to-day running of things. He definitely wanted to interfere in the personal lives of Benjamin and his siblings. With that interference, he could certainly be more influential in other areas - especially if he convinced Benjamin to marry someone of Isaiah’s choosing. Her father probably wanted more, but it’s all Astrid would be able to give him.

  After dinner ended, Astrid and Jordan left in the same car they’d arrived in.

  “Are all dinners with other royal families that personal and awkward?” he asked as he settled into the seat on the other end of the bench from her.

  “No. The Eyjanian family has a reputation for being a bit cold and not very personable. The Eyjanian people tend to be ambivalent about the royal family as a whole. They don’t actively dislike them, but they don’t like them a whole lot either.”

  “So, it’s them not me?”

  “Most likely.” At his puzzled glance, she went on. “I mean, you may have felt uncomfortable because they’re royalty and all that, but most of the weirdness was because they tend to be very reclusive. I’m not sure why that is. Genevieve seems like she would want to be out more and interact with the people more, but she must not be allowed. That’s all I can figure.”

  “Why did we have dinner with them then?”

  “My father wanted to see if I could get any sort of gut feeling about what’s going on here.”

  “Isn’t that espionage or something?”

  “No. Father and King Alfred IV were good friends. Things were different back then, from what I understand anyway. Father’s worried that Isaiah is running things somehow. Isaiah was always power hungry. Alfred and Isaiah have a sister named Louise. Because Louise is older than Isaiah, she was Benjamin’s regent and ran everything on his behalf until he turned eighteen. Isaiah tried to push her out and run things himself, but couldn’t. Father worries that his influence is part of why Benjamin isn’t more well liked.”

  Jordan reached over and took her hand. “Well, I’m glad we met with them, and I survived.” He slid his fingers between hers. “And with that done, we can enjoy the rest of our trip. How long are we here anyway?”

  “Another five days.” She needed to ask Jade to arrange another massage when they returned. The one the day before had been just what she needed.<
br />
  “Any ideas for what we can do with Sofia while we’re here? The zoo sounds great, but that’s only one day, if that, since she’ll need her nap in the afternoon.”

  Astrid slid her hand out of his and pulled out her phone. After a minute of tapping. “There’s also an aquarium, a magic house, and a children’s museum.”

  “What about an ice skating rink?”

  She looked a little further. “Yes. There is.”

  He gave her the grin she’d fallen for that first day on the beach. “Then I definitely need to take you both there. Do you skate?”

  “I’ve been a couple of times, but not well.”

  The grin widened. “Then I’ll get to teach both of you.”

  Astrid felt color climb into her cheeks. She had a feeling it would involve being very close to him, and she wasn’t quite sure how she felt about that.

  She’d managed to fall asleep in the nursery again the night before, because she wasn’t sure she could handle being that close to Jordan as they slept. Or any other time.

  Ice skating could go very, very well.

  Or it could get her heart even more involved before she was ready and then shatter it into a thousand pieces all over again.

  It had cost a little bit of money, but Jordan was able to rent out the Akushla Ice Rink for just the three of them. He’d used the bank account he’d gained access to after the wedding, because he just didn’t have enough in his personal account to justify it. Maybe someday it wouldn’t feel so weird.

  “Isn’t Sofia too little to skate?” Astrid asked him as he put the toddler skates on the little girl.

  Jordan looked up at her with a grin. “Nah. If she can walk, she can skate. Besides, today I won’t let go of her hands. We’ll just take a few laps around.”

  Astrid stood. “I’m going to find her a helmet.”

  Sofia wouldn’t need one. He wouldn’t let her hit her head, but it would make Astrid feel better.

  He finished with the tiny skates. “I’ll help you in a minute, okay?”

  Sofia nodded.

  Jordan put on the borrowed hockey skates, annoyed with himself that he hadn’t thought to bring his own.