“Even my father,” she said with a smile. “I told them I’m safe now, but they’re worried about me. That’s a change. I’m usually the one mother-henning them.”
“Then we shall marry while they’re here.”
“I have no problem with that, but doesn’t a royal wedding take forever to plan?”
“Something tells me your grandmother and my father could pull one off.”
“I bet they could.”
Magnus tipped Rachelle’s face up toward his. “I am not a man who easily speaks of how he feels.”
“I know.”
“Yesterday when I saw you in the doorway, I knew I would gladly take a thousand bullets for you. My life belongs to my people and Vandorra, but none of that would have mattered if I had lost you.”
Rachelle raised a finger to his lips. “I’ve never been so afraid, but I felt sorry for your cousin. His father was a sick and twisted man. Your cousin never had a chance.”
“He did, though. He would have lived had he fought for you.”
“What happened to the men he sent to ambush you?”
“They chose their fate. The royal guard deals with traitors harshly, especially when they’re some of their own.”
“Why so glum?” a loud male voice boomed from the doorway. Magnus looked up and did a double take. “Eric?”
Fully outfitted in his Water Bear Man spandex superhero suit, Eric was pushing Finn in a wheelchair. “No, it is I, Water Bear Man. Is there a prince in need of cheering up?”
Finn looked Magnus over with eyes wise beyond his years. “I heard you were shot. I bet you were scared. When I’m scared, I find something to laugh about, and it’s not so bad.”
Eric ruffled Finn’s hair. “I could not say no to this kid.”
King Tadeas entered the room. “I went to visit Finn this morning, and he’d already heard about you being hurt. He wanted to come to see you. Since his surgery is not for a week still, his parents thought it might be good for him.”
Eric flexed his arms and said, “So prepare to laugh, Mr. Fancy Pants Prince. I will tell you a joke.”
“You’re going to love it, Prince Magnus,” Finn said. “I helped him write it.”
Eric asked, “Why are princes good at riding horses?”
“I don’t know,” Magnus said, feeling both amused and a little sorry to be putting Eric through this.
“Because they know how to reign,” Eric said heartily, fully in character.
Finn laughed. “Get it? Reign like a king?”
King Tadeas chuckled.
Magnus smiled. “Do you know who I bet would also love that joke? The children downstairs.”
Finn looked up at Eric. “Could we go visit them?”
“I am at your command, Finn of Vandorra,” Eric said.
Magnus walked over and shook Eric’s hand. “Thank you.”
Eric fell out of character briefly. “No, thank you. I heard what you did for Rachelle.”
Rachelle hugged her brother. “Reggie saved me, too.”
Eric hugged her back with warmth. “He told me. Several times. I told him his family is welcome to stay with me as long as they want.”
“He cares about you.”
“I know that now,” Eric said. “And I care about you, Rachelle. Thank you for not giving up on me. I checked myself out today to be here, but I’m going back for a while longer. It’s helping. Thank you.” He nodded to Magnus, then puffed up his chest again. “Take care of my sister or Water Bear Man will return.”
He had turned to wheel Finn out of the room when Rachelle called out, “Eric, have you seen Grandmother—”
“Not yet,” Eric answered. “But I will. When I’m ready.”
“She loves you,” Rachelle said.
“I know,” Eric said, then disappeared out the door.
King Tadeas waited until they were out of earshot, then said, “Delinda wanted to go see Eric, but I convinced her to let him come to her.”
“She listened to you?” Rachelle asked in surprise.
Magnus chuckled. “He is the king.”
Epilogue
Thirty minutes before she was scheduled to walk down the aisle, Rachelle took a moment to stand alone in front of a large mirror in a beautiful suite of rooms in a building next to Vandorra’s largest cathedral. Her long-sleeved lace-over-silk bridal gown might have seemed simple except for its long train. She’d never imagined that her wedding would be televised to millions of people around the world, and it added to the normal wedding-day jitters.
Would the flowers be perfect? Aunt Nissa assured they would be.
The photos? Nicolette had wanted to take them, but since she was in the wedding party, she’d settled for choosing photographers for the event.
The guest list? After Rachelle and Magnus drew up an initial list, Delinda and King Tadeas had handled the rest—which had actually been a relief.
Rachelle didn’t doubt that the wedding itself would run smoothly or that a life with Magnus was what she wanted. Still, she was making a commitment to more than a man that day—she was also vowing her loyalty to his country. It was an honor but also a responsibility she prayed she was the right woman for. When she looked in the mirror, she saw a first-grade teacher, not a queen.
A movement behind her had her spinning around, her hand flying to her throat. “Reggie. What are you doing in here?”
Despite being dressed in an expensive tuxedo, Reggie still looked a little rough around the edges. “Before you do this, there’s someone you need to talk to.”
Rachelle tensed, then told herself to relax. Memories from a few weeks earlier came back with sickening speed. She fought to keep them from bringing fear with them. Strange as Reggie was, he’d always had her best interest in mind. She wouldn’t doubt him now. “Who?”
“King Tadeas brought some of the children from the hospital. Most of them look happy, but there is one little girl who is close to tears. I’m not going to enjoy this wedding if she sits across from me bawling through the whole thing.”
“Who is it?”
“Hey, I’m a knight of Vandorra Land now. I don’t have time to go around memorizing everyone’s names.”
“Bring her to me, please.”
“I’ve got my own kids to worry about. I just thought you should know.” He left, shaking his head.
Rachelle opened a side door where the women in her family were gathered. She took a moment to savor the sight of all of them, from her grandmother to her youngest sister and sisters-in-law, all getting along. “I need someone’s help,” she said.
The room went instantly silent.
“There’s a little girl out there from the hospital. I heard she’s upset. Could one of you see who it is, and if it’s possible, could you bring her to me?”
Delinda and her mother volunteered at the same time. “Why don’t you both bring her?” Rachelle requested.
A few minutes later, the two returned with the little girl Magnus had offered a Disney trip to, being carried by her mother. Her mother was flustered and apologetic. Rachelle rushed to reassure her that they’d summoned her out of concern and not because her child had been an issue.
Rachelle went to the beautifully dressed little girl and said, “Thank you for coming to my wedding, Tinsley. I’m so happy to have you here. Why are you so sad?”
Two big blue eyes filled with tears. “I will never be a princess now. You’re marrying my prince.”
Her mother tried to comfort her daughter while apologizing for her comment.
Rachelle dabbed a tear from her own eye before it had a chance to ruin her makeup. This little girl and her mother were her people now. Her heart ached for them as if they were truly her family. She saw now how they could be just as important. “May I speak to your mother for a moment, honey?”
Rachelle’s mother took the little girl while Delinda spoke to her.
As soon as she was out of earshot, Rachelle said, “Is she well enough to walk by herself? I woul
d love to have her as part of my bridal party. I don’t have a flower girl. Please, don’t feel that you must say yes. Think about it. You may walk with her if you wish. I’d like to give her a princess moment.”
Tinsley’s mother brought a hand to her mouth, and she began to thank Rachelle for her kindness. She said it would be the greatest honor her daughter and her family could ever imagine receiving.
Rachelle motioned for her own mother to bring the little girl back to her. “Tinsley, I have a problem that I’m hoping you can help me with. I don’t have a flower girl. Would you like to be a princess for a day? My little princess flower girl?”
Tinsley looked to her mother for confirmation. Her mother nodded and explained what role she would play. “I don’t want to walk alone,” Tinsely said in a suddenly timid voice.
“Your mother could go with you,” Rachelle suggested. When the little girl still looked uncertain, Rachelle added, “Or you could hold my hand and walk with me.”
“Really?” The little girl’s eyes widened with wonder.
“If it’s okay with your mother.”
Tinsley looked about to faint. Her mother said, “Thank you. Thank you a million times and a million times more. You will never know how much this means to our family.”
With that, the rest of the women in Rachelle’s family swooped in and welcomed the little girl, making both her and her mother feel as if they were a natural part of the group. Delinda said softly, “I came to Vandorra for all the wrong reasons, but you are staying for all the right ones.”
Rachelle took her grandmother’s hand in hers and gave it a squeeze. “I still have a lot to learn about planning social events and formal etiquette. I wonder if you know anyone who could give me some guidance in that department.”
“I’ll help you with whatever you ask, Rachelle, but you are already who Vandorra needs.”
“That sounds like a compliment, Grandmother.”
“I’m learning as well, Rachelle.”
With a mischievous smile, Rachelle added, “Magnus says his father is quite smitten with you.”
It was the first time Rachelle had ever seen her grandmother blush. “I don’t have time for such silliness. I have two more grandchildren to marry off.”
In all of Magnus’s life, he had never seen a more beautiful sight than Rachelle walking slowly down the cathedral aisle holding the hand of a small child, both smiling widely. Rachelle stopped along the way to introduce the little girl as if she were the reason for the event.
Kindness trumped protocol for Rachelle, even during a moment that should have been all about her. She was the perfect woman for him and for Vandorra.
They reached the altar. Magnus bent to thank Tinsley. Her mother came and escorted the little girl to a seat in the front. Breaking tradition, Magnus took Rachelle’s hand and held it straight through their vows. Though the formal affair was steeped in tradition, it held meaning for his father and his people. The kiss he gave her was respectfully appropriate.
When he and Rachelle turned to the crowd and were presented as a married couple for the first time, he whispered, “Aunt Nissa wants to give us something before we go to the reception.”
“I love that she sat beside Zinnia. What do you think she has for us?”
“My father told me Aunt Nissa got my mother and him tipsy before their reception. They did shots of courage together, which he said were potent.”
“I can’t do that,” Rachelle said.
Magnus chuckled. “You need not imbibe as much as last time.”
“I don’t want to imbibe at all until I’ve seen a doctor.”
Magnus froze. “You—you think you might be—”
She searched his face. “Yes. I’m very late.”
He spun her around, winding her long train around them, then kissed her soundly. Alisha, her matron of honor, warned, “Don’t move or you’ll trip.”
“I’ve already fallen,” Magnus said, hugging Rachelle to him. He didn’t care that they should already be walking down the aisle. He was where he wanted to be. Let the world see it.
Rachelle kissed him again briefly and joked, “And you say you’re not romantic.”
“Only for you, little Rachelle. Only for you,” Magnus said. Rachelle had not changed him, but she had brought a balance to him that changed the way he looked at the future. He would always be the warrior his people needed him to be, but with Rachelle at his side, he would also be the loving man his father had hoped he would become.
He looked up and caught Zinnia watching them with a disapproving look. She never did like to be kept waiting. He waved to her. One day, God willing, she would chase his children out of her yard, and they would be better rulers for it.
Acknowledgments
I am so grateful to everyone who was part of the process of creating Royal Heir.
Thank you to:
Montlake Romance for letting me explore my royal side. Special thanks to Lauren Plude for rolling with what can sometimes be a wild ride.
My very patient beta readers. You know who you are. Thank you for kicking my butt when I need it.
My editors: Karen Lawson, Janet Hitchcock, Marion Archer, Krista Stroever, and Marlene Engel.
My Roadies for making me smile each day when I log on to my computer. So many of you have become friends. Was there life before the Roadies? I’m sure there was, but it wasn’t as much fun.
Thank you to my husband, Tony, who is a saint—simple as that.
About the Author
Ruth Cardello is a New York Times bestselling author who loves writing about rich alpha men and the strong women who tame them. She was born the youngest of eleven children in a small city in northern Rhode Island. She lived in Boston, Paris, Orlando, New York, and Rhode Island (again) before moving to Massachusetts, where she now lives with her husband and three children. Before turning her attention to writing, Ruth was an educator for two decades, including eleven years as a kindergarten teacher. Royal Heir is the third book in her Westerly Billionaire series. Learn about Ruth’s new releases by signing up for her newsletter at www.RuthCardello.com.
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