A Prince For Sophie
Page 6
“I had sex today for the first time in my life.”
Hannah could see by the shocked look on Sophie’s face that she hadn’t planned to say that. Mothering, Hannah mused, could come at the strangest times and in the most unexpected ways.
Leaving her perch at the edge of the pool, she made her way closer to Sophie, then mimicked the young princess, floating on her back.
“Are you all right?”
“I think so. It was—”
Hannah looked over and could see her face had colored. “You don’t have to say anything more if you don’t want to.”
“No, I…I want to.”
“Then go for it. Oh, sorry, guess you already did.”
Sophie laughed and sank. Quickly breaking the surface, she spit water as she continued to chuckle. Hannah had to fight to keep a straight face. Tentatively reaching out to touch the younger woman’s shoulder, she said, “The first time for a woman can be scary—painful, a little messy. Unless the man is a considerate lover, and knows it’s your first time, there may not be much pleasure, either.”
“No. I mean yes, he was considerate. The experience was wonderful. More than I thought it would be. I had always believed that the rapture written about in books did not exist. I don’t know why I always assumed that sex would be a distasteful or unpleasant experience.”
Hannah had her suspicions on that score, but kept them to herself and let Sophie talk.
“I don’t even know why I wanted you to know. But I realize now that when I decided I wanted a swim, it was because I hoped you might be here.”
“I needed to relax before dinner this evening.”
“Not to pry, Hannah, but this afternoon it seemed as if you and papa were…friends again.”
Hannah couldn’t contain her smile. She’d told no one of her news because Alex wanted to announce it at dinner tonight. Under the circumstances, telling Alex’s oldest daughter felt like the right thing to do. Trading such personal confidences was a bridge built.
“You could say that. Your father wants to make the announcement at dinner, so look surprised. We’re going to be married.”
“Oh, Hannah, that’s fabulous! I am so happy—for both of you.”
“And if your interlude with Stephan was a good one, then I’m happy for you, too.”
“Interlude. That is a very good word for what we shared.”
“You never know. It doesn’t have to be just an interlude. It could turn out to be something much more.”
“Oh, it won’t. I won’t let it. No, I decided long ago that I was never going to marry.”
Hannah recalled that Sophie had said that once, when they were getting ready for a formal event. She’d assumed that the princess’ reticence was connected to ordinary virginal apprehension. Some women did suffer from that. Now, she dared to pry, just a little.
“You don’t want children someday? A family?”
“No.” There was a wistful tone to her response. Hannah was on the verge of probing further when Sophie’s look became distant. “I’m too much my mother’s daughter. Women like us just aren’t meant to be wives. Or mothers. I won’t make the same mistake she did.”
* * * *
“My God, Hannah. What did we do to that precious child, Liana and I?”
Alex had wondered, often, why Sophie had never seemed interested in dating. Like many, he’d presumed her formal bearing, her strict observance of protocol were indications that she resembled her mother in temperament, as well as looks. Though he had also always known that, unlike her mother, Sophie was capable of warmth, love, and compassion. She didn’t let those qualities show often. They were most evident when she was with family or the young orphans in her charge.
He felt Hannah’s arms come around him from behind and thanked God for her. Within her embrace, he felt stronger than he ever had. For the first time in more than a decade—no, he amended, for the first time ever he was not alone as a parent facing a crisis with a child.
“Don’t blame yourself, darling.”
“I notice you didn’t admonish me not to blame Liana, too.”
“I’m biting my tongue, here.”
Alex chuckled, then folded his arms over hers. “That was an unfair thing for me to say to you, love. Forgive me.”
“Someday, when you’re holding Sophie’s firstborn in your arms, I’ll tell you what I thought this afternoon as she was telling me her feelings on the subject of marriage.”
“That is a deal. So, how are we going to help our eldest daughter, my love?” He turned then, and caught the look in her eyes. He’d only expressed what was in his heart, but her expression said he’d given her a precious gift.
The flavor of her, when she stretched up and laid her mouth on his, went straight to his head and other places. He smiled because that had been such a silly and happy thought.
“Well, Your Majesty, if this were a couple hundred years ago, you could put out a call throughout your kingdom for brave knights in shining armor on dashing steeds to come and save the day.”
“And announce a tournament, the winner of which would be given my daughter’s hand in marriage?” How much easier this was with Hannah there to share the burden! He knew he could laugh at her suggestion, and the laughter made everything lighter.
“You know, that’s not a bad idea.”
“Hannah. As my youngest is fond of saying, it is no longer the dark ages. I cannot simply command my daughter to wed.”
“No, no, of course not. But what if…”
When she was silent for a few moments, he tilted her chin up with a finger and as her eyes met his asked, “My darling, are you planning to play matchmaker?”
“Well, someone has to. Where’s a Fairy Godmother when you need one?”
“Perhaps,” he whispered as he bent forward to kiss her lips lightly, “you and I wore the poor dear out.”
Her amusement, so easy and relaxed, soothed his soul and eased his aches.
“Maybe we did. I have a bit of an idea. How about if I share it with you at the same time we share a shower?”
“Is it only a shower you wish to share?” She smiled when he played his hands across her bottom, when he pulled her into his erection.
“Of course not. But dinner is only an hour from now.”
“One of the good things about being the king is I can put dinner off an hour or so if I choose to.”
* * * *
There was nothing Hannah liked more than to have her entire family gathered around her for a good meal. Craig and Pam had only been in Boisdemer for a week, and the novelty of looking around a table and seeing all her children and grandchildren seated together was still fresh.
Tonight, for once, the dining table in the formal dining room didn’t look too big. Eighteen place settings gleamed white and gold under the crystal chandeliers. The Waterford sparkled and the silverware—pure silver—shone with a deep, rich hue.
She felt her face color when, en masse, the family, including the visiting royals, rose to their feet as Alex escorted her into the room. He shot her a rueful grin that told her he understood her discomfort and she squeezed his hand to let him know it was all right.
“Please, everyone, sit,” he said as they made their way to the other end of the table.
Alex stood with her, beside her chair, and together they faced the others.
“Catharine and Philip, tomorrow you will become husband and wife, and with Jamie begin a new life together. I don’t have words adequate enough, Catharine, to tell you how very proud I am to welcome you and Jamie to our family. In the short time I’ve known you, you’ve already become a daughter to me, and Jamie, I already consider to be my first grandson. I love you both very, very much.”
Hannah saw the tears in Catharine’s eyes, and felt her own mist when she got up from her place, came over to Alex, and hugged him tight. The words Alex had just lavished upon her, though he’d claimed them to be insufficient, were, Hannah knew, more than her own father had ever giv
en her.
When her daughter had taken her seat, Alex resumed his speech.
“Peter and Rachel, I’d about given up hope that you would open your eyes and see how perfect you are for each other. Your wedding, in three months time, will be a joyous occasion. A man can never have too many sons, and though I have considered you to be one since you came to us, Peter, it gives me enormous pride and satisfaction knowing that you will be a son in fact as well as in sentiment.
“It is not that unusual, that a brother and a sister marry a brother and a sister. This is a double bond between the Jones and the de la Croix families. A bond that is about to become even stronger.”
Hannah saw the smiles begin to spread on the faces of their children. Alex must have seen it too, for he returned their smiles and nodded.
“To my great happiness and eternal gratitude, Hannah has finally agreed to become my wife.”
* * * *
Alex’s heart filled with love as his children and Hannah’s cheered and clapped. There was a flurry of activity as they were hugged and congratulated. His guests and good friends, the Benets, were smiling hugely.
“We must have a toast!” Eduard declared.
“Absolutely,” he agreed. Once everyone was seated, he signaled the staff. Champagne corks popped, and sparkling vintage danced into glasses.
Eduard proposed the first toast, to the happiness of the king and the future queen of Boisdemer. Then there came the tributes from their offspring. Alex knew he was grinning like an idiot, but he couldn’t help it. He was the happiest, and luckiest, man in the world.
“I think we need another one!”
Alex turned his attention to his soon-to-be new granddaughter, Michelle. When her parents—not yet totally at ease with royalty, Alex knew—tried to shush her, he spoke up.
“One more what, sweetheart?”
“One more drink name.”
He smiled as everyone chuckled. “All right. What did you have in mind?”
“I think we should thank Grandma’s fairy godmother.”
“You do?”
“Yes, because Grandma told me they were real, and so I asked God to get Grandma’s fairy godmother to find her a handsome prince, and she did!”
For a long moment, no one said anything. It was Craig, Hannah’s oldest son, who got to his feet, raised his glass, and proposed the toast.
When the glasses were set down, Alex went to Michelle. Taking her hand in his, he brought it to his lips and kissed it.
“Thank you, sweetheart. I’m so very glad you did.”
* * * *
“Oh my,” Eugenia was fanning herself as she hovered over the formal dining room. “Why, I feel as if I’ve just enjoyed an entire bottle of that yummy bubbly wine, myself.”
“I know exactly what you mean. Sister, did you ever imagine that so many people at one time would—”
“No, I never did. Though you know, of course, it was that lovely little Michelle’s daddy whose words held the most power.”
“I do indeed. There’s nothing more powerful than a reformed cynic. Why Eugenia, whatever are we going to do with all this magic?”
“Do? Do? Isn’t it obvious? Now I feel I have a chance to make sure our Sophie can find a suitable match.”
“What do you have in mind?”
“I have the perfect plan, thanks to Hannah. Come, we must get busy. There’s no time to lose.”
“Oh, dear. I really do like Stephan, you know,” Gwendolyn sighed.
“You’ll get over it,” Eugenia said.
Chapter 8
Stephan had not had the honor of participating in very many wedding ceremonies. As a Crown Prince, few people felt confident inviting him to fulfill that role. Having grown up with the de la Croix kids, he considered them his closest friends. In the last few years, it had been Michael and Philip visiting him rather than the other way around, which had been the case most often in the years of their youth. But they had maintained their close ties from adolescence through adulthood.
Stephan considered himself a confirmed bachelor, and although he always planned to someday marry and have a family, that plan belonged to the nebulous future. Now, looking on as vows were spoken and rings exchanged, he felt a stirring within him, a feeling that he thought could almost be envy. Normally, he’d have thought he’d be the last person to become emotional at such a time.
His gaze wandered to Sophie. Her attention was on her brother and his bride, her features softened by the love he knew she held in her heart for them. And he felt his world shift, just a little.
It seemed as if she stood in the soft light of a thousand candles, her skin suffused with a glow that shimmered. She was undeniably lovely, almost ethereal.
He’d tasted her once, and it wasn’t nearly enough.
He’d planned to steal off to her suite in the middle of the night, but sleep had claimed him and held him with an unusually firm grasp. He’d awakened just in time to prepare for this morning’s ceremony.
In moments, when the music soared, the wedding party would exit this old church and return to the palace. There’d be a luncheon and small reception. Afterward Stephan planned to find a way to have his own personal version of dessert.
His thoughts tracked back to Alex’s stunning announcement of the night before. He could honestly say that he’d never seen his honorary uncle as happy as he’d been then. Clearly, both families were thrilled with the news. Alex had urged him and his parents to extend their visit. He and Hannah, he’d said, were planning to exchange their vows in a private ceremony within a week.
That suited Stephan perfectly. He was glad for the invitation personally, and because it gave him an excuse to remain in Boisdemer. He wasn’t nearly done with Sophie yet.
* * * *
“I have to stay here while mom and dad get to go to the farm for a whole week!”
Sophie smiled at her new nephew’s disgruntled tone. “It is only for a week, Jamie. And then you can join them there.”
“At least Richard and John are staying for a while. And Michelle. She’s all right, for a girl.”
Sophie chuckled, impulsively hugging him. He didn’t squirm overly much, so she made the gesture a short one.
Lunch had been served and eaten. Guests who had been invited back to the Palace to participate in the celebration were mingling about in the reception hall. The newlyweds had already taken their leave, anxious, Sophie thought, to begin their honeymoon. She squashed immediately the unexpected spurt of envy that tried to take root within her. Envy was a useless emotion and likely, she instantly reasoned, nothing more than a temporary aberration, coming as a result of the beauty of the wedding ceremony just passed.
She might resent that it was considered a ‘typical female reaction’, but she couldn’t deny the reaction was real.
“Friends, if I may have your attention, please.”
At the sound of his voice, Sophie turned to face her father. Jamie took the opportunity to run off and join his male cousins.
“As you all undoubtedly know by now, Hannah and I are to be married next week. As this is a second marriage for us both, and as the spotlight rightfully belongs on the younger generation, we’ve chosen to have a private ceremony here, with the archbishop officiating. We’ve chosen next Thursday evening for this happy event, a twilight ceremony on the beach below the palace.”
How romantic! Sophie applauded with everyone else. She knew it had been on the beach at Marcus’ Villa that their romance had begun.
“To celebrate our marriage, rather than have the traditional ceremony and party, we’ve decided to hold a Grand Tournament next Saturday at the Fortress which is, as you know, the original seat of the throne of Boisdemer, and the current site of the Medieval Fair. There will be a formal ball Friday evening. These events will be open to all who wish to purchase a ticket, and the proceeds will be donated to children’s charities throughout the kingdom. For that reason, we will prevail upon our daughter, Sophie, the Princess Royal, w
ell known for her devotion to the smallest of our subjects, to serve as official hostess for these events. Any knight who wishes to carry the princess’ standard into competition may make application to do so at the ball. The champion of the tournament will win a prize of medieval proportions—and the Princess Royal’s standard, of course, proclaiming him her champion. Because this is rather short notice, a proclamation has been issued and circulated to the major European news media.”
Sophie forced herself to smile graciously, tipping her head in serene acknowledgement as everyone applauded her, even as she wondered what on earth her father was doing. A shiver wracked her spine, and a feeling of foreboding flooded her. She looked around to see if anyone else had reacted strangely to her father’s pronouncement. It had to be her imagination working overtime, swamping her mind with images of medieval princesses being auctioned off to cavalier black knights.
Movement caught the corner of her eye and she turned her head to watch Stephan approach, a little half-smile on his face.
He hadn’t come to her last night. At least, she didn’t think he had. She’d fallen asleep, even though she could have sworn she had been far from tired at the time. Then, this morning, she’d very nearly slept too late. She never slept late!
Now, as he stopped at her side, she caught his eye and felt warmth spread throughout her body in response to his nearness.
“It sounds as if you’re going to be busy in the next little while, fending off knights, officiating at a tournament.”
“This is the first I’m hearing of it. I’m sure father has everything arranged, and I’m just going to be on hand to receive the proceeds on behalf of the children. You didn’t come to my room last night.” She was pretty certain another woman, a more sophisticated woman, would never have said such a thing. His gentle brush of her arm eased her concerns.
“My afternoon exhausted me more than I’d anticipated. I apologize. I’d like, very much, to make up for that lapse now.”
“Now?”