Crowns & Courtships Compilation Volume 1

by Carol Moncado

  “That’s how we looked for days. But we knew we had other things that had to be done because people were depending on us. Like get ready for the Games. Did you know that I’m in charge of absolutely everything about the Games?”

  Gracie shook her head.

  “So I had to do work. So did Annie. But you know what? Just like people were depending on us for the Games, we depended on the police and security here to look for you and to let us know the second there was anything we needed to know.” He took the phone from her and pulled up another picture before handing it back. “See this one?”

  “Why they pullin’ you?”

  “That’s when Bertrand found you. My security team grabbed me and pulled me away as fast as they could. It was less than five minutes until I found you waiting with Bertrand in my office, and I was far away.”

  “Oh.”

  He found another picture, this one from their walk into the ball. “Is this a picture he showed you?”

  Gracie nodded.

  “Do you know what happened when we got inside and found a spot away from everyone else?”

  She shook her head.

  “Annie cried. Because she wanted you to be there with us. But we couldn’t skip it because sometimes you have to go places and do things when you really don’t want to.”

  “Like brush your teeth.” Anabelle poked her in the ribs, making Gracie smile, just a bit. “You know how much you hate brushing your teeth sometimes?”

  Gracie wrinkled her nose. “My hate it.”

  “I hated not being with you a million times more than you hate brushing your teeth.” Anabelle hugged her closer.

  “My hate not being here.”

  Kensington stretched out on his stomach so he could prop himself up on his arms and be close to Gracie’s eye level. “We want to adopt you, little love. We want to legally be your mama and daddy. But even if we aren’t, we will always, always do our best to make sure that never happens again. We can’t promise nothing bad will happen, because there are bad guys out there, but we can promise to protect you with everything we have.”

  Gracie let him hold her hand while she snuggled closer to Anabelle. After a few minutes, she nodded.

  “My wan’ you to be my mama and daddy.”

  He watched Anabelle’s shoulders slump and a weight lifted off Kensington’s shoulders. “Then we’ll make it happen.”

  Anabelle folded the last of the box lids into itself and sat back on her heels. “I think that’s it.”

  “I told you we could finish without you,” Holly told her as she picked up the box. “How late were you up with the closing ceremonies last night?”

  Stifling a yawn, Anabelle forced herself to stand. “Late, but that’s not the point. We’re not done until this is done. Reports are turned in?”

  “I sent them to the prince and CC’d you in case you wanted to look them over again.”

  “Thank you.”

  “Now leave before I make you. The truck won’t be here to pick up until tomorrow. Your husband said that was taken care of. Go home and spend some time with Gracie. I’ll lock up.”

  Anabelle hesitated. Wasn’t part of being in charge being the last one to leave? “What do we need to finish?”

  “Just a final walkthrough.”

  “I already did that before packing the last couple of boxes.”

  Holly laughed. “I know, but there’s always the final final walkthrough.”

  “Then let’s go.” Anabelle started for the front of the store.

  “It’s not just this store. It’s all of the stores and stands and kiosks. The stands have all been cleared out and locked up. The kiosks have all been moved to the storage rooms, but we need to do a quick drive around to make sure one wasn’t missed.”

  More than she thought needed to be done, but Holly was right. “The good news is that if I go, we get a driver and security to make sure no one gets in our way.” She winked at her new friend. “Let’s go.”

  It took another two hours, but they were finally finished.

  They stood next to Anabelle’s car. “I’m going to miss working with you, Holly. You were a Godsend the last few weeks. I was a hot mess and didn’t have a clue what I was doing, and you really stepped up when we found Gracie.”

  Holly dropped into a small, and completely unnecessary for many reasons, curtsy. “It was my pleasure, Your Royal Highness. It will also be my privilege to help you with clothes whenever you want. Something exclusive or even maternity, which we normally don’t carry, but I know people.” She raised a brow.

  Anabelle blinked. “What?”

  “I know you’re keeping it quiet, and I understand why, but part of my job is watching people and understanding what they need even if they don’t. I’ve learned to pick up on subtle clues.”

  “I’m not even sure,” Anabelle confessed. “I mean, I’d be shocked if I’m not given the timing of, well, you know, but I haven’t taken a test or gone to a doctor or anything. I haven’t even told Kensington yet. I wanted to wait until the Games were over.”

  She didn’t dare confess one of her deepest fears to Holly, even though she’d proven to be a good friend.

  “I won’t tell anyone,” Holly promised. “Even after it’s public.”

  “Thank you.” She gave Holly a hug. “I’m sure I’ll be asking for clothes advice.”

  “Your sister-in-law always looks fabulous, since she started wearing bright colors again last year, so whatever the stylists are doing, they’re right on point, but I’m happy to help, too.”

  “I appreciate the offer.”

  As the car headed for the palace, Anabelle knew she needed to tell Kensington.

  But how?

  She still didn’t even have an engagement ring or wedding band, not that it really mattered to her, but she’d overheard comments about it, and it was mentioned in every article about her appearance. Except for the fact that she was married to Kensington, she hadn’t actually had any of his titles conferred on her, not legally.

  Anabelle had learned during the sojourn on San Mediano that, according to San Majorian law, the titles were only honorary as his spouse unless the king specifically conferred them. He hadn’t technically conferred the title of Lady on Gracie yet either. Because she wasn’t legally their daughter yet?

  That had been commented on repeatedly as well. Was it worth bringing up to Kensington? Could she without seeming like a gold digger and title seeker?

  Surely the king’s people were aware of the comments.

  If they had told the San Majorian people about their marriage sometime besides when Gracie went missing, Anabelle suspected the king would have made an official pronouncement, and Kensington would have presented her with some gorgeous ring.

  But Gracie’s disappearance had changed everything. Now that they’d found her, maybe that would go forward as originally planned.

  Gracie was already sound asleep on a smaller bed brought into the room Anabelle shared with Kensington. As much as she wanted Gracie close, the little girl wasn’t a still sleeper. The tossing, turning, and kicking had become too much for both Anabelle and Kensington. It would make moving Gracie back to her own room easier in the long run.

  When she found Kensington in the closet pulling a pair of pajama pants on she leaned against the island of drawers in the center. “I need to talk to you.”

  His head shot up. “Everything all right?”

  Was that fear in his voice?

  “Yes.” That thought caused fear to creep into her own heart. “Isn’t it?”

  He gave her that grin she loved and walked toward her, making her stomach flip like it had the first time she’d seen him - after she got over her relief that Gracie was all right.

  “Of course.” His arms slid around her waist until his fingers linked at the small of her back and anchored her to him. “What’s going on?”

  “I’m glad the Games are over.” Start with something simple.

  “Me, too. I’ll be wra
pping up for a few weeks, but the hard part is behind us and most of it can be done from anywhere.”

  Anabelle rested her hands on the spot where his chest met his abdomen, just at the bottom of his ribs. The warmth of his skin began to relieve some of the fear that came from wondering about his reaction.

  Finally she blurted it out. “Gracie’s going to be a big sister.”

  What? Kensington stared down at Anabelle as she finally looked up at him, the emotion in her hazel eyes warring between expectant and fearful.

  “Gracie’s going to be a big sister?” he confirmed.

  She nodded.

  Did that mean...? “You’re pregnant?”

  Another nod.

  “We’re having a baby?” It was starting to sink in. A little.

  “Yes.”

  But there wasn’t the excitement, the joy, he expected in the word. “What is it, love?”

  She dropped her arms and tried to pull away, but he didn’t let her go so easily.

  “Talk to me.”

  “I don’t want people to think we were trying to replace Gracie,” she whispered.

  His mind scrambled to keep up with her thought processes. “You’re afraid that because you got pregnant while Gracie was missing people will think we were trying to replace her?”

  Anabelle didn’t even nod, but rested her forehead against his chest.

  “Anyone who thinks that wasn’t paying attention the last couple of months.” He wrapped his arms more tightly around her. “If anything, they’ll think we turned to each other in our grief and frustration, and when that happens, sometimes babies happen.”

  “But the naysayers are always louder.”

  “Usually. But for all anyone knows, we were already trying to get pregnant when Gracie was taken. With all the stress, they’ll assume we didn’t even consider taking precautions - which we clearly didn’t - and things happen. Or with all the stress, whatever precautions we were taking were used inconsistently.”

  He rested his chin on the top of her head. “But really, it’s none of anyone’s business with the possible exception of my parents, and technically just my father as the monarch.”

  “Your father needs to know when we’re trying to get pregnant?”

  Kensington chuckled. “Not really, but there used to be laws on the books that children of the monarch basically had to always attempt to conceive heirs and couldn’t legally do anything to prevent conception without his permission. I don’t know if they’re still technically the laws or not, but I do know my father leaves our reproductive decisions up to us, and just wants to be among the first to know when another blessing is on the way. I suspect Astrid will care even less about her children as long as there are heirs eventually.”

  “That’s good.” She looked up at him and leaned up to brush a light kiss against his lips. “The truth is I’m not even really sure. I mean, I am, but I haven’t taken any tests or seen a doctor or anything.”

  “Then we’ll talk to Astrid’s doctor and get an appointment set up. He comes often to see her, so there shouldn’t be any suspicion about him being here. Let him check everything out, and go from there.”

  “I like that idea.”

  “If we talk to Astrid, we could even make it coincide with one of her appointments so no one else needs to know anything just yet.” As it sunk in, Kensington wanted to tell the world. Immediately.

  But he knew that wasn’t the right move.

  Maybe she’d be okay with telling his family, at least the local ones. As far as he knew, no one had heard from Esther in months. He’d make sure she knew before the public did, but not just yet.

  “I’m okay with your family,” she said, as though reading his thoughts. “They should be the first to know. Maybe even before Gracie until we know more.”

  “We have a meeting with my father in the morning. I hadn’t had a chance to tell you about it yet.” He had no clue what it was about. “We can tell him then. It’s possible my mother will be there, as well. I can ask her to be for a few minutes anyway. We can tell my sisters and Harrison later tomorrow.”

  “I like that plan.” She kissed him again, more soundly this time.

  He could tell the months of strain were starting to lose their grip on her psyche. Even those couple of times while Gracie had been missing, she hadn’t kissed him quite like this.

  Kensington held her tighter, then loosened his hold letting his hands slip up her arms until he could grasp her fingers. His thumb slid across her finger where a wedding band should be and the still coherent part of his mind remembered he’d never gotten her an engagement ring.

  “As much as I adore kissing you like this, love,” he murmured against her lips. “We have a little girl sleeping in our room right now.”

  Anabelle’s eyes sparkled up at him. “And there’s nowhere else in this apartment we could go?”

  A combo chuckle-groan escaped. “I like the way you think.”

  Later, when she sat against the headboard of their shared bed, with Gracie snoring nearby, Kensington slid further down until he was eye level with her abdomen, resting his hand just under her belly button. “Our baby,” he whispered, awestruck as the realization washed over him again.

  She ran her fingers through his hair, hair he wished was as thick and full as his father’s had remained. “Our baby.”

  “A boy or girl?”

  “I don’t much care.”

  He placed a soft kiss where his hand had been before moving away. “I know, but what’s your gut say?”

  Anabelle wrinkled her nose. “I kind of want another girl. I would like a boy, too, but I think I’d like a girl first.”

  “Me, too.”

  They rearranged themselves until he curled behind her, his hand once again resting protectively against her stomach.

  In the morning, they shared knowing glances as they prepared for the day and left Gracie with Rachel. He wondered if Anabelle’s best friend suspected.

  “Holly guessed,” she told him as they walked toward his father’s office. “I didn’t tell her, until she called me on it yesterday. I’m sorry you weren’t the first one.”

  He squeezed her hand. “It’s okay. I don’t blame you for wanting to wait until the Games were over, and Holly has seen you a lot more than I have the last few weeks.”

  In his father’s office, both of his parents waited, their faces serious.

  Had they also guessed?

  Before he could say anything, his father motioned for them to take a seat. Anabelle glanced up at Kensington, but he knew as little as she did.

  His father sat down and folded his hands together. “You have to go back to Eyjania.”

  30

  “What? Why?”

  Anabelle could tell Kensington was keeping tight control of his emotions.

  His father waved a hand. “Nothing so dramatic as all that. Because you never did any paperwork to legally move Gracie to San Majoria, her legal residence is still Eyjania. Under Eyjanian law, the adoption has to be finalized there. The biggest concern is that it can also be objected to, though I don’t think either your grandfather or Isaiah will do so. That would expose their interest in Gracie, and that wouldn’t be good.”

  He sighed. “I would expect another kidnapping attempt while you’re there. Security around you will be tight.”

  “Good.” Anabelle had an uneasy feeling in the pit of her stomach. “I have no intention of seeing him, but my grandfather will try something. I don’t know what, but something.”

  “That’s our belief as well. You, along with your friends and family, will be leaving on the family plane on Wednesday.” The king turned to Kensington. “You asked that your mother be here as well. Is there something you needed to discuss?”

  Here went nothing.

  Kensington couldn’t hide his smile as he reached for Anabelle’s hand. She found it endearing. “Actually, there is.”

  His mother gasped and clasped her hands together. “Can I guess?”<
br />
  Anabelle laughed. “I think you already have. I’m pregnant. I haven’t done the math or talked to the doctor, or even taken a home pregnancy test, yet, but it’s been long enough that I can’t imagine I’m not.”

  A smile crossed the king’s face. “Marvelous!”

  They all moved away from the table and hugs were given all around. The king left his arm around Anabelle’s shoulder. “I’ve been thinking about a few things. The announcement of your marriage, of course, wasn’t how we’d hoped it would be. We promised the public more details eventually, and I think that time is almost here. We’ll get the doctor over to see you before you leave, just so we know for sure how far along you are.”

  He squeezed her shoulder. “After you return, we’ll announce the adoption, officially confer your titles and Gracie’s, and if you’re far enough along, announce the pregnancy all in one fell swoop.”

  “I like that plan.” Kensington winked. “One big news story instead of a bunch of smaller ones.”

  “I can’t make Gracie a princess, but I can make her an HRH. She’ll be Her Royal Highness Duchess...” He shrugged. “I actually haven’t quite figured out what she’s going to be duchess of just yet. You aren’t likely to get any new titles, Kensington. You’re already a prince, duke, count, and something else, aren’t you?”

  Kensington faked outrage. “You don’t remember all of my titles?”

  “Sorry, son, but no.” The king had a grin on his face. “I do good to remember all of mine.”

  When the meeting ended shortly thereafter, Kensington headed to his office while Anabelle went to find Gracie. She found all of her out-of-town friends and family together. A quick text to Kensington asked him to join them. This group could be trusted, with the possible exception of Gracie.

  In a few minutes, Jacqueline Grace and Harrison had arrived. Gracie and Kiara had run off to play in Gracie’s room, and Kensington walked in with his newly-perpetual grin in place.

  “What?” Jacqueline Grace asked before either of them could say anything.

  Kensington rested his hand on Anabelle’s shoulder. “We just talked to our parents, so we wanted to let all of you know, too.”