“I guess I can live with that.” She kissed him. “I understand why you didn’t want to tell me. I wish you had, but we’ll find a way to make it work.”
A weight lifted off Kensington’s shoulders until his phone buzzed quickly three times. His father’s text tone. When he read the short note, he groaned.
“What is it?”
“My father is on his way, and he’s not happy.”
Anabelle smoothed her hand over her abdomen and down the sides of her hips. She’d met one king already this week and was about to meet another. Her father-in-law would be arriving any minute. Rob told Kensington the plane had landed half an hour earlier.
Kensington slid his arm around her waist and pulled her to his side before turning her to face him. “It’s going to be okay. You know that, right? My father is annoyed at the circumstances with the Eyjanians, not with you or even us getting married per se.”
“I know, but I’ve never had a conversation with an actual king before. Meeting King Benjamin earlier this week doesn’t count.”
“My family is going to love you.” He winked at her. “Honestly, I think you should be more nervous about meeting your father-in-law than meeting the King of San Majoria, but I don’t think you should be nervous about that either. Jordan gave him a black eye one time, and he still loves Jordan, so don’t worry about it.”
Before she could respond, Kensington kissed her. It didn’t get out of hand, but Anabelle still felt her face color when a throat cleared behind them.
Kensington let her go. “Father!” The two men exchanged a hug.
The king almost pushed Kensington away. “Forget you. I’ve known you your whole life. I want to meet my new daughter-in-law.”
From the grin on Kensington’s face, Anabelle knew he knew his father didn’t mean anything by the comment.
She dropped into a small curtsy and bowed her head.
“You must be Anabelle.” He held his arms open. “My dear, it is a pleasure to meet you.”
Anabelle straightened and found herself wrapped in a big hug. When he released her, she bowed her head again. “King Edward. It’s a pleasure to meet you, too, Your Majesty.”
“Please, call me Edward, unless we’re in public.” He kissed her cheek. “Now, where is Miss Gracie? I’m told I have a new granddaughter, more or less.”
“She’s already in bed, I’m afraid.” Anabelle stepped back toward the stairs. “I can get her.”
“Nonsense. Never wake a sleeping child unless you absolutely have to.” He turned back to Kensington. “You and I need to have a word, son. Then the three of us will discuss the near future as a family.”
Kensington and his father walked toward a section of the house she’d not explored yet. She followed a bit behind, hoping she’d find a chair in a room near wherever they stopped. They went through an outer office to an inner one and closed the door behind them. Anabelle took a seat on a chair against the wood paneled wall. Were all royal offices about the same? Rich woods, expensive paintings, plush furnishings? Prince Isaiah’s had looked much the same, though the decorating style of his office made it seem less welcoming.
She sat there for at least fifteen minutes while the two of them talked. Every possible scenario from being exiled together to being imprisoned for marrying without permission from the monarch went through her mind. None of them were likely, but it didn’t stop her fear.
Anabelle jumped when the door opened.
The king smiled at her. “Come in, my dear.”
With a deep breath, she stood and brushed past him as he held the door. Kensington was on his feet next to a wingback chair in a sitting area. She went to the seat next to him, though she didn’t sit down until her father-in-law motioned for her to.
“Your mother and I had a long discussion while I was on my way here,” the king started. “We think it would be best to see how my meeting with Benjamin goes before making an official decision on an announcement or where you’ll live after the Games, and so on.”
“You think Benjamin will actually meet with you?” Anabelle asked, surprised by her own boldness. “I don’t think he particularly cares about any of this, except that he needs an heir eventually. As long as the woman didn’t have any glaring faults, I don’t think it matters who Isaiah tells him to marry.”
“I would imagine Isaiah will try to have the meeting on his own, but he wouldn’t dare stand up to me too much. There’s too much at stake for him to make me mad.” He crossed his legs and looked much more at ease than Anabelle could ever imagine being. “Have you talked to your grandfather since all of this happened?”
“Not yet.” She dreaded it. “He’s going to cut off all of our inheritance. I don’t care so much for myself, but it’s the only thing Gracie would have of our parents. In the world of royalty, it’s not much, I’m sure, but it’s all we have.”
“I understand that. From a purely financial standpoint, neither of you will ever want for anything again, but from the emotional side of things, it’s a very different story.”
He understood. “Exactly.”
“While we’re waiting to see how the meeting goes, we do think it’s best if the three of you leave the country. My meeting isn’t until first thing in the morning. Part of me says stay here just to show Isaiah he doesn’t control us. Part of me says for you to go - either to San Majoria or Auverignon tonight. The plane can be back for me by afternoon if you go home, and I can be home before bed tomorrow night. Or you can go to Auverignon, pick me up, and we’ll fly back to San Majoria together.”
Kensington looked at her. “What do you think?”
“I don’t particularly want to wake Gracie up to get her on a plane tonight, but I also don’t really want a confrontation with any of the royal family either. I just want all of it to go away.” She caught the look on Kensington’s face before he masked it. “Except the part where we got married. I really like that part. I detest the rest of it.”
“Understandable. Would you prefer to go to Auverignon in the morning then return with the plane to pick me up in the afternoon?”
The weight of it all settled over Anabelle like a winter coat. “No. I think, given the options, it would probably be best to just go to San Majoria tonight, if that’s all right with you. It does seem sort of silly to waste the fuel when the plane will be leaving here tomorrow. Could the three of us go somewhere else for the night? Somewhere Prince Isaiah and King Benjamin wouldn’t know where we were, then leave with you tomorrow?”
King Edward thought that over. “There’s a cottage on the property. Why don’t you go there until it’s time to leave? If anyone asks, we can honestly say you’re not at the house, but it’s still secure.”
Anabelle looked at Kensington who nodded.
“That sounds like a good compromise. Thank you.”
The king smiled, a smile Prince Isaiah and King Benjamin were unlikely to ever master. “It is my pleasure.”
9
Less than twenty-four hours after his father’s arrival in Eyjania, the four of them were on a plane back to San Majoria. Esther hadn’t left with them. Kensington hadn’t seen her since she interrupted his proposal to Anabelle three days earlier.
His father refused to talk about his meeting with Benjamin and Isaiah, saying only that everything was taken care of and there would be no long term repercussions for San Majoria or the Games. He then went to the other portion of the plane, shut the door, and didn’t reappear until after the pilot told them they would be landing in about twenty minutes.
He sat in a chair across from the couch where Kensington sat with Anabelle and a sleeping Gracie.
“I spoke with your mother again. We had discussed a possible plan last night and think it’s for the best. For now, we think you should lay low. No announcement. Explain to the people later why there wasn’t one and ask their forgiveness. We think you should go to the Lowery House on the coast of San Mediano. Go about your day-to-day life, but don’t draw attention to yourselves
. How does that sound?”
Kensington knew the question was just to be polite. The plan had already been set in motion. Anabelle had told him she trusted his judgment about whatever his parents came up with as far as this decision went. He nodded. “That will work, but we’re allowed to be married, right? This isn’t some courtship thing where we’re pretending the wedding didn’t happen until we’re ready to tell everyone, is it?”
His father shook his head. “No. Nothing like that.”
Kensington had been afraid they would say something along those lines so it was a relief they didn’t.
Ten minutes later, the plane landed. Twenty minutes after that, they had disembarked in a closed hanger, departed in a darkened vehicle, and arrived in the palace garrison rather than the portico. Anyone watching might think something unusual was happening, but would have no idea what it could be.
They went straight to his parents’ apartment on the top floor of the residential wing. He hoped the rest of his family wouldn’t be there, but no such luck. Everyone but Esther and Sofia were waiting for them.
Amid the mayhem, hugs, and congratulations, Kensington found himself separated from Anabelle, his face framed by his mother’s hands.
“Congratulations,” she said, tears in her eyes. “I am so happy you’ve found her.”
“Me, too, Mama.” He kissed her cheek. “Thank you for understanding.”
“Of course. Your father told me everything.” A wave of sadness crossed over her face before it disappeared. “I can’t wait to get to know your wife and her sister.”
Kensington looked around. “Where is Grandmother?”
“She’s not here. She had a very early morning today and has another one tomorrow on San Minoria, so she’s already there. She’ll be back tomorrow for lunch.”
“I’ve missed her.”
“And I know she’s missed her lunches with you.” Kensington and his grandmother usually ate lunch together at least once a week when they didn’t have other engagements. “I think she’d like it to be just the four of you tomorrow afternoon so we will have to spend the morning getting to know your wife and Gracie. I would imagine your father will give her a title when he officially confers yours on your wife.”
Kensington put his arm around his mother’s shoulders as they watched the rest of his family surround and accept Anabelle and Gracie as two of their own.
“Will she have the title of princess? Since I’m not the heir apparent and all. I know that varies depending on the country, but Father and Grandfather both had sisters.”
“I think so, but we’ll have to double check. I would assume so, but now that I think about it, you’re right. It’s not always the case. Regardless, she’s your princess, isn’t she? The one you’ve prayed you’d find.”
“Yes, she is. I don’t think either of us would have chosen to marry so quickly, but I’m falling hard for her. I have been since the first moment I saw her. That reminds me. I was buying you a souvenir when I first met them.”
“You will need to visit the Jewel Vault soon. There’s a ring there waiting for you.”
“We will.” Kensington wondered about the wisdom of Anabelle wearing an engagement ring in public before the official announcement was made. If they were ever together, there was always the chance pictures would be taken, even if there was no official announcement about his location. If the pictures showed her wearing a family heirloom...
Well, that was part of what got Astrid and Jordan in trouble. She’d been wearing a family ring simply because she missed her first husband. The tabloids ran with it. He’d talk to Anabelle about it. Maybe she could wear it at home.
Finally, his family moved away from his wife, allowing his mother to move toward Annabelle. Harrison and Jacqueline Grace came to stand by him. Jacqueline Grace gave him a big hug.
“I’m happy for you, big brother.”
“Thanks.”
“They seem great,” Harrison added. “And you’ve managed to find a parentally approved way to get out of most public functions for a while.”
That made Kensington laugh. “I doubt I’ll get out of all of them, but it will probably be a while before I have a full plate of appearances again. I’ve got too much going on getting ready for the Games.”
His father called for everyone’s attention, telling Anabelle to stand next to Kensington. His mother’s assistant came in with a tray full of champagne glasses. Two were a bit off to the side. One was given to Astrid, likely non-alcoholic out of deference for her unborn child. The other went to Gracie who’d managed to find a way to his arms.
Once the rest of the family had their glasses, his father raised his own. “To Kensington and his bride, Anabelle. May the years ahead be full of joy, perseverance, love, and peace. To the newlyweds.”
“To the newlyweds,” the rest of the family echoed.
Kensington took a sip of his drink then, at the urging of his brothers and sisters, kissed his wife.
Their first night in San Majoria had been spent in Kensington’s quarters in the main palace. The three-bedroom apartment had plenty of room and everything they needed to live on their own, except a full kitchen. He’d explained there was a shared one as well as a shared living area down the hall.
After all the excitement, they’d all slept in, except Gracie who spent time with Sofia and her nanny. Now they were on a boat headed for San Mediano, the medium-sized island of the main trio in San Majoria.
“Tell me about the Lowery House?” Anabelle asked from her spot in a chair near a window.
“It’s the smallest house we own in San Majoria. Though,” Kensington admitted, “that’s a relative term. It’s not far from the beach and has a private cove. That’s where Astrid and Jordan met. I’m not sure what you want to know, really. We’ll have a suite of rooms that are ours. For the most part, we each have our own rooms that we prefer in each of the houses we own.”
“And we’ll be in yours?”
“Maybe but probably not. My father, as monarch, gets the best suite, then it’s usually chosen by oldest to youngest, but since we’re actually going to be living here, we get to choose out of all of them. The rest of the house is sort of joint, but there won’t be any of the family visiting very often.”
Before he could tell her anything else, or she could ask any more questions, the sounds of the motor changed, and they seemed to slow down. A minute later, they were at the dock.
Gracie had spent the whole trip with her nose pressed against the glass, but when it was time to disembark, she wanted Kensington to carry her. As relieved as Anabelle was not to have to carry the little girl’s weight as often, she hoped she wasn’t being completely replaced.
Once on the dock, Kensington set Gracie down and knelt next to her. “See the bench over there?” he asked, pointing to one about ten feet onto dry land.
Gracie nodded.
“Why don’t you see how fast you can get there?”
Without answering, Gracie took off at a run.
“Why...?” Anabelle started.
“Something I remembered I needed to mention to you. We need to consider a nanny for her. Even though I won’t be doing many appearances for a while because of the Games, and you won’t be doing any, it would be good to have someone she can get to know and is always our go-to when we do need to leave her for an engagement or an overnight trip. That way she can sleep in her own bed and be taken care of by someone she’s comfortable with.”
Anabelle had never seriously considered getting a nanny, though her grandfather had tried to insist she needed one. That was more so he could hire the nanny then control Gracie. He’d tried to play it off as concern for Anabelle and the crimp having a little girl would put in Anabelle’s social life, but she would have none of it.
But what Kensington said made sense. “Then we should find one. I presume there’s some sort of agency or somewhere we can get one who will keep her mouth closed about what’s really going on?”
“My mother
said she already had some ideas. Our nanny growing up is retired near here. She would likely be happy to come work for us at least until we get settled and figure out our long-term plans. Spend some time here every day and then more when we need her.”
That sounded like a good plan. “Can I meet her before deciding?”
“Of course. I’ll have my mother set it up.”
They reached the bench where Gracie waited. She grabbed one of their hands in each of hers and started pulling. “Let’s go!”
Laughing, she and Kensington allowed Gracie to pull them along. A few minutes later, the house came into view.
If this was the smallest house they owned, Anabelle wondered if she’d ever learn her way around the palace which was surely the biggest.
Four stories tall, though Anabelle wondered if they weren’t extra tall stories, it was covered with windows and surrounded by landscaping native to the islands.
Inside, she found her suspicions were correct. The ceiling had to be nearly twenty feet tall on the main floor. In the main room, a small group of men and women waited for them.
A man in a butler’s uniform stepped forward and bowed at the waist. “Your Royal Highnesses, welcome to Lowery House.”
“Thank you, George,” Kensington answered for both of them. “We’re happy to be here. I do believe I see a face or two that’s new to me, and they’re all new to my wife. Would you introduce us?”
The concept of royalty caring about the names of those who worked for them seemed odd to Anabelle, though it didn’t surprise her that Kensington would ask.
George introduced everyone, though one man seemed to hang back a bit further. When she glanced at Kensington, his face was an unreadable mask.
Odd.
She’d have to ask him about it later.
“Thank you all for greeting us today,” Kensington said after the introductions ended. “I know you all know the value of discretion, and have signed agreements to that effect. I would like to thank you in advance for keeping the status of my relationship with the princess and young Lady to yourself.”
Crowns & Courtships Compilation Volume 1 Page 32