She smiled, but then her stomach lurched as she remembered his uncle’s cruel threats. “His uncle Derek warned me Simon could lose his estate and his charity if he doesn’t follow the party line.”
Ted laughed. “I wouldn’t worry about that old coot. He has bigger problems to worry about than an American in the family. The CIA chief just informed me that he was involved in brokering an arms deal with a South American dictatorship.”
“What?”
“Yup. I don’t think he’ll be hassling you too much after that scandal explodes in the press.”
Ariella stared, speechless.
“Greed. That’s what made him do it. Apparently he doesn’t have the income of the rest of the bunch but he’s trying to live like an emperor. The insecure ones are usually the meanest. That’s what I’ve noticed.”
“You’ve made me feel a lot better.” She did feel like a weight had lifted. The queen had been stern, but not actually hostile. Derek was the only one who’d told her to get lost in no uncertain terms. And now he was going to be public enemy number one himself. She couldn’t help smiling. “I think I can handle Uncle Derek.”
“I suspect you can handle a lot more than one narrow-minded Limey, though I suppose I should stop calling them that if there’s going to be one in the family. Shall we invite him back in for dessert?”
“Yes.” She grinned. “Let’s do that.”
Ted opened the door to the balcony and called Simon back. He arrived with another woman on his arm—her mother.
Ariella gasped. “What kind of conspiracy is this?”
Ted Morrow kissed Ellie on both cheeks. “I asked Ellie to join us for coffee because I can’t stand to be away from her for more than a few minutes.”
Her mother was transformed from the pale and harried woman she’d first met in London. A soft jade-green dress hugged her girlish figure, and the light of passion shone in her green eyes. “And I feel the same way. It’s embarrassing for someone my age.” She blushed sweetly. Ted Morrow took her hand and led her to a chair right next to his. He seemed besotted with her. Ariella watched in astonishment.
“Did your father tell you how annoyed he was with me seeking his opinion before I asked for yours?” Simon slid his arm around her waist.
“Not really.” Heat rose through her as she felt his body through their clothing. “He told me not to blow what might be the love of a lifetime.”
“Excellent advice,” Simon murmured. His breath stirred the tiny hairs on her neck and sent shivers of desire running through her. “I hope you listened.”
“I did. Did someone mention dessert?” She pulled away from him and reached for the hand-written dessert menu. It felt embarrassing to be romantic in front of her parents.
Though come to think of it, they were getting rather romantic themselves. Ted held Ellie’s hands in his and they gazed into each other’s eyes as if the rest of the world didn’t exist.
“No, I don’t believe anyone did mention dessert, but we don’t want you starving, so let’s get the trolley brought in.” He smiled and looked at her belly.
Ariella’s eyes widened. Then she realized that everyone in the room knew her secret, so it wasn’t really a secret. “I am rather starving right now. Maybe there is something to the old wives’ tales.”
“Did you tell your dad whether you intend to marry me?”
“I did not.” Ariella scanned the menu. Then she looked up, trying to keep her expression neutral while her heart swelled with emotion. “Though I’m pretty close to making up my mind.”
“Torture is banned by the United Nations.” Simon’s imploring gaze made her want to laugh and touched her deeply at the same time.
She glanced at her parents, then tugged her eyes away quickly as they kissed each other softly on the lips, eyes closed in a rapture of togetherness. They’d lost twenty-eight years of happiness together, because they weren’t ready to commit all those years ago. Because the timing wasn’t right, they almost lost everything.
She drew in a long, slow breath, as conviction filled her heart, mind and lungs. “Yes, Simon Worth, I will marry you.”
Epilogue
Three months later
Ariella woke up to the familiar sight of Simon’s handsome face next to hers on the pillow in their shared bedroom in Whist Castle. He had scoffed at the notion that they should pretend to live apart until the wedding, and somehow the British public thought his honesty and disdain for tired etiquette was part of his charm. She’d been sharing his bed for a solid month now, since she’d finally packed up her D.C. apartment and her life in the States.
They hadn’t told anyone about the baby yet. Somehow it made sense to keep the secret until after the ceremony, so the wedding preparations had to be rushed. She still wasn’t showing, at least not in a way she couldn’t pass off as the aftereffects of a large meal.
Their bodies were pressed together almost from chin to ankle. Somehow she always wound up on his side of the bed in the morning. It would be embarrassing if he didn’t clearly enjoy it so much.
“Morning, gorgeous.” Simon’s husky voice sent a shiver of awareness through her.
“Same to you.” Helicopters buzzed outside the windows, sending adrenaline streaking through her veins. “Is it really our wedding day or is this just a long, fantastical dream?”
“I’m not sure.” He smiled, still resting on the pillow. “What do you think?”
She pretended to pinch herself. “I’m lying in a luxurious bed in a castle and getting ready to marry a prince. Sounds like a dream to me.”
Simon leaned forward and planted a soft kiss on her lips. “How does that feel?” he murmured.
“Mmm. That feels real.” Passion and warmth swelled in her chest and she slid her arms around him under the covers. “Breathtakingly real. But wait. You’re not supposed to see me on my wedding day!” She pulled back, suddenly panicked. What else would she do wrong today?
Simon pulled her closer again. “There are some traditions best left by the wayside.” He nuzzled her neck, which made her smile. “I’m probably not supposed to make love to you on the morning of your wedding, but luckily I have a rebellious streak.”
“We can’t. Can we?” Arousal trickled through her like music. “We have to get ready.” She said it more as a question than a statement.
“We’ll be ready when we need to. You’re not planning this one, thank goodness.”
She’d turned the reins of the wedding over to Scarlet and her new partner, and they’d done a spectacular job pulling together what promised to be the wedding of the century in less than three months. “It’s hard for me not to worry about the details, though. What if the caterer can’t get through the crowds to deliver the food?”
“Someone else’s problem.” He kissed her lips again.
Relaxation soaked through her veins. “You’re very good at distracting me.” She kissed him back, letting herself sink into his arms. Nothing ruffled Simon’s feathers, at least not for long. He was so confident and capable that it was hard to be anxious around him.
His hands roamed over her chest, sparking trails of excitement, and she could feel his arousal thickening against her. “Uh-oh, are we really going to do this?”
“It’s starting to look inevitable,” he rasped.
“But we have a thousand guests coming. And our friends staying here at Whist are probably downstairs having breakfast right now.”
“We’ll see them soon enough.”
He squeezed her backside, and she responded by pinching his gently, with a giggle. “You’re a bad influence.”
“I love you.” He said it simply, and the truth of it punched her in the gut.
“I love you, too. I think I knew it from the first night I met you, which doesn’t make any sense at all.”
“Love isn’t supposed to make sense.” He smiled, looking into her eyes. “That’s why it’s so wonderful.”
Her heart filled to overflowing. “If you weren’t the m
ost persistent and persuasive man on earth, I might never have dared to let myself fall in love with you.”
“Tenacity has its virtues.” He nibbled her earlobe, which made her gasp, then laugh. “Thank goodness I had your parents to help convince you to take a chance on me.”
“And now they’re getting married, too.” She grinned, thinking about the rapturous looks Ellie and Ted always had on their faces when they were together. A president had never married while in office before, and the event, planned for a month’s time, was to be the American equivalent of a royal wedding. She couldn’t wait to be there and watch them finally pledge their vows to each other after so many wasted years.
A long steamy kiss sent blood racing through her veins and arousal trickling to her fingers and toes, and other parts.
“Come here, madam.” Simon climbed over her, and slid his fingers over her hot, ready sex.
“Yes, Your Majesty.” Her back was already arching, ready to receive him. Her fingers pushed into his thick hair as he entered her, making her gasp with pleasure. Wedding anxieties shriveled and floated up to the sky like embers as they moved together under the soft covers, reveling in each others’ bodies. The sweet relief of their climax left them relaxed and ready to face anything.
“I can’t believe we get to do this whenever we want for the rest of our lives,” breathed Simon heavily, as they lay spent, with their heads on the same pillow again. “I’m the luckiest man on earth.”
“We are lucky, aren’t we? This year started out with all the shocking press revelations that I was the president’s daughter, and spiraled out of control from there. I seem to have landed in a very soft place.”
“Are you trying to say my body is soft?” He poked her gently.
“No one could accuse you of being soft. Well, except your heart.”
“Okay, that I’ll admit to. I’m just glad I found the right woman to give it to.”
A knock on the door made them jump. “Sorry to disturb you,” called a tentative voice. “But the dressmaker requires your presence for an urgent fitting.”
“Oh, dear,” she whispered. “I think we’d better get up.”
“If we must.” He nuzzled her face. “The best part is that tonight we’ll be right back here together.”
* * *
The ceremony took place in the estate’s thirteenth-century chapel. Since the chapel was only large enough to seat immediate family, Simon and Ariella’s vows were simultaneously broadcast to the gathered crowd of guests on the estate lawns and an eager viewing audience on both sides of the Atlantic. When they were declared man and wife, the newest royal couple joined the guests outside on a glorious summer’s day.
Scarlet had planned and executed the wedding with skill and courage worthy of a major battle. Tables and chairs were arrayed across the rolling lawns, each decorated with fresh flowers, and, in a green touch that Ariella especially loved, an assortment of beautiful tableware and linens borrowed and bought from collections, antique stores and markets, for a spontaneous yet luxurious, country garden picnic feel.
Given the estate’s large size and the volume of the crowd, they decided that one band wasn’t enough, so in addition to the traditional orchestra, they had an African ensemble, a bluegrass band and a group of singers from the Westminster Abbey boys’ choir, who wandered the grounds serenading guests as they mingled on the lawns and nibbled delicacies at their tables.
Ariella saw Scarlet rearranging a Meissen jug full of roses, and hurried over to her. “Hey, lady, you’re not supposed to be working today. You’re here as a guest, remember?”
Scarlet spun around, red curls flying. “Old habits die hard, though the team we hired is doing a great job. I’m surprised you’re not rearranging the glasses yourself.”
“It’s taking a lot of discipline.” She grinned. “But I’m working hard to retrain myself.”
“I’m still ticked off that you’re leaving DC Affairs. You could have been our British office.”
“I’ll have my hands full arranging events for the palace.”
“Lucky you.” Scarlet sighed. “The most magnificent venues in England at your fingertips. And the most sought-after guests as your family. How did the queen feel about Simon choosing you as his bride?”
“I was very nervous about it but weirdly enough she was lovely to me from the first moment Simon told her he’d proposed to me. She said she could see how perfect I was for him and she welcomed me into the family. Probably the biggest surprise of my life. And with her on my side everyone else welcomed me, too. Simon’s brothers are so sweet—it’s like having brothers of my own.”
“How did you talk them into letting you plan their parties?”
“I could see they needed someone with an imagination to take over. They were still throwing the same parties that seemed fun during post-war rationing. I told them I can provide ten times the flair for half the money, so they’re letting me go wild. British people really know how to party when they get a chance.”
“So I’ve noticed.” Scarlet glanced around with a grin.
“And some of the Americans are getting crazy, too. I saw you and Daniel dancing like demons to the bluegrass a while ago.”
“Daniel’s definitely mined my fun-loving streak. Before, I always enjoyed watching other people have fun at events. Now I’m realizing how great it is to be one of them.” She glanced up. “Cara’s just as bad as me. She’s only supposed to be managing PR for the event, but look, she’s trying to retie the bow on that table skirt even though she’s so pregnant she can barely bend.” They hurried over to her. “Drop that bow or we’ll send you on enforced maternity leave.”
Cara had recently left the White House press office after she fell in love with a network news reporter, and now worked with DC Affairs. She had that famous maternal glow already, her eyes shining and her chestnut hair glowing. “I have more than a month left before I’m due. You should indulge me now as I may not be capable of anything once I’m only getting two hours of sleep a night.”
Cara’s husband, Max, appeared, glass of champagne in hand. “Max, darling.” Ariella kissed his cheek. “You need to rein your wife in. She’s trying to do everything again.”
“I’ve talked to her about that and she’s still unstoppable. She should never have agreed to work with DC Affairs. You and Scarlet are a bad influence.”
“It must be killing you that ANS is getting the scoop on the wedding.” Ariella and Simon had decided that ANS should have exclusive coverage of the wedding as a reward for Liam skillfully orchestrating her reunion with her parents. Until recently Max had been the popular anchor of a rival TV network and still worked for them behind the scenes.
“I’m over it. It’s a nice change to be able to enjoy a royal wedding instead of barking about it while standing on a street corner somewhere. I notice Liam’s busy dancing with Francsesca. Isn’t he supposed to be manning the scoop of the century?”
“Nope.” Ariella crossed her arms. “None of my friends is allowed to work today, by royal command. Anyone caught working will be thrown into a dungeon.”
Max glanced up at the ivy-covered walls of Whist Castle. “Hmm, that sounds like an interesting experience. Maybe I could do a live feed—”
“Oh, stop.” Ariella laughed. “Have you seen my husband? We’ve only been married forty minutes and I’ve already lost him.”
Scarlet nodded toward the area near the champagne bar. “He’s locked in conversation with my husband. I think Simon’s trying to convince Daniel to expand his network into Africa.” Daniel owned a social networking site that had helped spread the word about the concert for World Connect. “I still can’t believe you guys managed to get Pitbull, Beyoncé and Jay-Z and Eric Clapton all on the same stage, and only two weeks before your wedding, no less.”
“Uh, hello, don’t forget Mick Jagger and Aretha Franklin.” Ariella still glowed with pleasure at how incredible a success the concert had been.
“Seriously, you gu
ys are a force to be reckoned with.”
“The concert was for an awesome cause so it was easy to get people excited.” She smiled. “I’m going to Africa with Simon next month to raise awareness of his projects there.”
“Look out, Africa.” Max grinned. “There’s no question that you and Simon are the most popular couple in the whole world. I didn’t think his older brother’s romance could be outshone but you’ve proved me wrong.”
“At least they don’t seem to hate me.” Ariella shrugged. “I wasn’t at all sure how the British people would react. I can truly say they’ve welcomed me with open arms. Not that they had much choice with Simon around.” From where they stood she could see the queen in apparently intent conversation with her father.
“How could the British people not love you?” Lucy had strolled up with her husband Hayden and his curious toddler. She was a former reporter for ANS where she and Hayden had discovered that her own stepfather, then head of the network, had approved the illegal phone tapping that had revealed Ariella’s parentage. Lucy became friends with Scarlet and Ariella after hiring DC Affairs to arrange her own wedding. “I know Liam takes full credit for reuniting you with your dad, and for getting Ted and Eleanor back together.”
“All of our ears are burning.” Ted Morrow walked up behind Ariella with Eleanor on his arm. He looked both statesmanlike and warm at the same time, and Ellie looked radiant in a stunning Narciso Rodriguez dress Ariella had helped her choose.
Liam was hot on his heels. “I’m shamelessly trying to negotiate exclusive coverage of your father and mother’s wedding. A president hasn’t married in office since 1915.”
Ted Morrow beamed. “I told this nice young man that I’m far too busy enjoying my daughter’s wedding to think about my own just yet.” He turned and kissed Ellie softly on the cheek. “Though we freely admit that it will happen this year.” A big fat rock sparkled on Ellie’s slim hand. “We have a few other things to do first. After this shindig winds down we’re heading to Ireland to visit the village where my beautiful Ellie was hidden away for so long.”
Affairs of State Page 16