A Royal Holiday (Royals of Valleria #5)

by Marianne Knightly

  “There’s nothing wrong with your beautiful brain, Princess.” He rested a palm over her womb. “Our baby’s just distracting you.”

  “Well, he or she isn’t going to distract me from the lunch I’ve arranged in the solarium.”

  “Then let’s go.” Finn took her hand and made his way through the now empty suite of offices; Saskia and the other advisors must have gone to lunch, too.

  “Do you want a girl or a boy?” Finn asked, his thumb gently caressing the back of her hand.

  Her free hand automatically went to rest over their child; she couldn’t even begin to count the number of times she rubbed her belly during the day. “I just want a healthy baby. Does it matter to you?”

  “Well, our succession laws aren’t like Valleria’s, so we’ll need a son to carry on the monarchy. I’m trying to get that changed now, and I’m hopeful we can get it done before the baby comes. The Council of Mayors just needs to approve the resolution and formally pass it.” He lifted their joined hands to his lips for a quick kiss and smiled. “Of course, I’d be just as happy with a little girl that looked just her mama.”

  Arianna smiled as her heart melted even more. “Do you really think the Council will pass the resolution?”

  Finn’s smile faded into a slight frown. “I think most of them are on board. Having ten mayors means that I get to decide the tie-breaking vote, if there is one. Some of the longest-running mayors aren’t sure about the idea.”

  A shiver rippled through her. “You mean the ones that worked with Henry.”

  Finn nodded, then let go of her hand to wrap his arm around her, and tucked her close against him. Between him and the trusted security agents that surrounded them and the palace, she usually felt secure.

  “Do you think it’s safe for us here? Would they try to harm us?”

  Finn kissed her temple. “I don’t know, baby, but I’ll never let anyone hurt you again. A lot of people liked the way Henry did business, and I’m still trying to cull them out. Thank God for your family, though. Your father and brothers have been really helpful.”

  “Have they?” She knew they gave Finn advice when he asked, but didn’t realize it went beyond that.

  Finn nodded. “I had to clear out all of our security first; too many of them were loyal to Henry. Alex and Marcello – with your father’s approval – provided us with agents and are training more. They’re also helping me as I investigate some people I’m still concerned about in Brazenbourg and abroad.”

  Arianna decided not to worry about the investigations until she had to, and focused on the positive. “You sound a little bit in awe of my family.”

  “I am. I never thought I’d have a father or brother again, nor a mother or a room full of sisters. Your family’s been so accepting of me, sometimes I feel that I don’t deserve it.”

  They entered the lush solarium, its tropical heat a stark contrast to the stone-cold chill outside, and she turned him to face her. “Why do you think that, Finn?”

  Finn held her fiercely close, his green eyes bold and intense. “I almost got you killed. If only I’d managed to stop Henry sooner, well, then maybe you wouldn’t have been hurt by the bombs he set in the palace.” Finn brushed his knuckles against her cheek. “I still can’t believe the man who almost killed us was my brother.”

  “Stop, Finn,” Arianna spoke softly. “There’s room for a lot of ‘maybes’, but we can’t dwell on them. If I’d been less of an idiot, then maybe I would have recognized my feelings for you before I agreed to a marriage of convenience with Henry, or maybe I would have seen who Henry really was sooner.”

  “It’s not your fault.”

  “And it’s not yours, either.” She pressed a soft kiss to his lips. “Let’s not focus on the past anymore.” She took his hand and placed it over hers on her stomach. “Let’s just focus on the future as much as we can.”

  “I like the sound of that.”

  “So do I.” She kissed him again. “Now let’s eat before the baby decides it’s a bad idea.”

  Finn held her chair out for her while she sat, then took the seat across from her. “I’m worried you’re not eating enough. What did the doctor say?”

  Arianna pulled away the silver domes that covered their simple soup and sandwich lunch and set it aside. “She said I didn’t need to worry just yet. I might need to get another IV drip if the morning sickness gets worse, but she said I’m fine for now.”

  “When’s your next appointment?” Finn asked before he sipped a spoonful of soup.

  “In a few days. I wanted to fit one in before the holiday festivities start.” Arianna, suddenly famished, began sipping the soup quickly.

  “Let me know when. I’m going with you.”

  “I will.”

  “Are you sure you feel up to celebrating, Princess? I can go to the festivities on my own.”

  Finished with the soup, Arianna picked up her sandwich. “I’m sure. I can’t wait to see the capital and countryside all decked out in holiday cheer.”

  “Well, you’ve done a great job with the palace. I’ve never seen so many decorations since my mother was alive.” Finn took a big bite of his sandwich.

  Arianna furrowed her eyebrows. “Is it too much? Do people think we should have mourned longer for Henry? Should I have some removed?”

  “No, baby,” he said as he put down his mostly-finished sandwich and took hold of her hand across the table. “Most of the citizens didn’t want a long mourning period, which is why we went forward with the festivities in the first place. As for the decorations, I love them. The palace is finally starting to feel like a home again.”

  “Good, I’m glad.” They let go and continued eating. “Do you think the builders will be done with the repairs by the end of the month?”

  Finn wiped his mouth with a cloth napkin and picked up his drink. “Doubtful. The explosions did some real damage, more extensive than I originally thought. I’m glad we’ve moved into this wing of the palace, though. It could be a few months more, at least, before everything’s done. They should be finished before the baby comes, though.”

  Finished with her sandwich, Arianna daintily wiped her mouth and took a drink of her fruit juice. “I do like this side of the palace. I especially like that your office is not too far from our rooms.”

  The corner of Finn’s mouth curved up. “I like that part, too.”

  She extended her hand across the table, and danced her fingers across the back of his hand. “You know, I think I might just be up for some special time with you tonight.”

  Finn gripped her hand. “Special as in you feel up to me making love to your beautiful body all night long? Or a different kind of special?”

  She swallowed. The man could get her going with just a few words, or even a look. “The first kind of special,” she whispered.

  Finn groaned. “How am I supposed to work the rest of the day knowing that?”

  Arianna giggled. “Will you be terribly distracted?”

  Finn’s green eyes smoldered. “You bet your pretty ass I will, but I’m that way every day.” He took her hand and tugged her up from the table, then settled her in his lap.

  “Shall I tell you what I’ll be dreaming of all day, Princess?” he whispered against her ear. “I’ll be imagining your creamy body under mine, your full breasts flushed and your nipples hard and tall after my mouth is done with them. I’ll be thinking of the way your pretty pussy looks when your legs are spread wide and you’re waiting, wet and wanting my cock.”

  “Finn, please,” she whispered, her breath coming in short gasps. “Don’t get me started. We don’t have time for that.”

  “Later then, baby.” He kissed her long and deep. “Later.”

  “If I make it until then. I may just jump you in your office this afternoon.”

  He grinned. “I welcome a visit from you anytime, you know that.”

  She huffed a laugh and wrapped her arms around his neck. It felt so good to be held by him. She pul
led back when her phone buzzed in her pocket with an incoming message.

  “Who is it, baby?” he asked while he rubbed a hand up and down her back.

  “It’s Mama.” Her eyebrows shot up. “Apparently, Alex is involved in a scandal.” Arianna gave Finn an overview of the situation.

  “Jesus,” Finn said. “Poor Alex.”

  “Poor Rebecca. Nobody looks down on the man in this situation, but they will look down on her, and pity her.” She sighed and stared at her phone, wishing she were there to help them. “I’ll give her a call, and see how she’s doing.”

  Finn nuzzled her hair. “They’ll be all right, baby. They all will, especially Alex and Rebecca. They’re both strong people, but they’re stronger together.”

  “That’s true. It’s too bad an ancient law is forcing them to wait a year to get married. I’m sure the press would put a different spin on this if they were husband and wife.”

  “You might be right about that.” Finn stared off, considering something for a moment before he shook his head and turned back to face her. “I’m glad we don’t have any laws like that here. I couldn’t take it if I had to wait a year to call you my wife.”

  Arianna smiled. “Let’s get past the holidays, then we’ll see. I don’t want to overshadow Alex and Rebecca’s wedding, but I don’t want to wait until theirs is over before we get ours.”

  He tucked her tighter against him on his lap. “I bet you already have the whole thing planned out in your head, don’t you?”

  “Maybe,” she said sheepishly.

  He chuckled. “Don’t hold back, baby. Tell me what you want.”

  “You’ve got to get back to work.”

  “We’ve got time. Tell me what you want, Princess. What’s your dream wedding look like?”

  “Well, given Brazenbourg tradition, we’d get married at the White Church by Brazenbourg Lake. It’s small, but I think we could fit my parents and siblings in there, along with whoever you wanted.”

  “That we could definitely do. What else?”

  Arianna closed her eyes and spoke of everything that was in her dreams. “I’d wear a simple, long, white satin dress with a green sash in Brazenbourg colours and maybe a small train. Nothing too fussy. I wouldn’t want to risk tripping and falling with the baby. Maybe a long, plain lace veil. The church would be decorated with some simple flowers, and I’d carry a small bouquet filled with sprigs of green leaves and white roses.”

  “Sounds beautiful.”

  “Oh, it would be. After the ceremony, we’d have the other ceremony here at the palace, per Brazenbourg tradition. We could declare the day a national holiday and give everyone the day off.”

  “I think our citizens would love that.” He brushed a kiss against her cheek. “I would, too.”

  Her eyes blinked open and she turned to look at Finn. “Really? You really like it? We can change it if you’d prefer something else.”

  Finn shook his head. “I love it. I love all of it. There’s just one little detail missing.”

  “Oh? What’s that?”

  “What were you planning on wearing underneath your dress, Princess?”

  Arianna laughed. “Is that the only detail you care about?”

  “Of course not. I care about them all. Since unwrapping you is the present at the end of our wedding day, I’d like to know what I’m in for.”

  “Maybe I won’t tell you.”

  “Maybe I’ll find a way to make you tell me.”

  She slapped him playfully on the shoulder. “Stop.”

  His teasing grin was replaced by an intense desperation. “I’ll never stop, Princess. I’ll never stop wanting you. I’ll never stop loving you. I’ll never stop making your dreams come true.”

  “Finn.”

  “Baby.”

  Their mouths crashed together in a familiar yet intoxicating dance. No matter how many times she kissed Finn, each time filled her heart and left her breathless.

  When Finn’s phone buzzed with a message a few moments later, he groaned and pulled his lips away. While their breath leveled, he pulled out his phone and read the note from Saskia.

  “Reality intrudes. I’m sorry.”

  Arianna shook her head. “It’s fine. Don’t worry. I understand.”

  He pressed a chaste kiss to her swollen lips. “Tonight, baby.”

  “Tonight.”

  He helped her stand and smiled as she walked out. His phone buzzed with another message, but it would have to wait; he had to speak with Gabriel and Alex first.

  He dialed the King’s private phone number and it rang only once before he answered. “Finn? Is everything all right?”

  “Yes, Gabriel, everything’s fine. Do you have a few minutes to talk? Arianna told me what’s happening and I think I know a way to help.”

  Chapter 4

  Rebecca watched Valentia streak by through the tinted windows of their car, taking in little of the conversations around her.

  “You’re worrying again.”

  Rebecca turned to face Catharine, who was sitting next to her. “I’m not worrying, Cat. Didn’t you hear me speaking with Arianna a while ago? I told her I was fine.”

  “I beg to differ.”

  “Cat.”

  “Don’t ‘Cat’ me. You were my chief of staff long before you were Alex’s anything, and we grew up together besides. I know when you’re worrying about something.”

  Rebecca sighed. “Well, maybe a little. I’m not worried about Alex, though.”

  “You’re not? I thought maybe you two got in a fight after breakfast.”

  She shook her head as she remembered their scorching kiss. “No, definitely not fighting. It’s just a tough situation. I don’t blame Alex. I knew he had a past when we got together. I just didn’t think I’d have to face it so soon.”

  Cat took her hand. “I know. He was always careful. He’s really hurting right now, and that’s because you’re hurt by this whole mess. He’s not really upset about the pictures. I mean he is upset about them, but, you know.”

  “I know. Don’t worry about us.” Rebecca bit her lip as she considered, then decided to just ask what she most wanted to know. “Did you know her?”

  “Do you mean the untrustworthy bitch who’s causing all this trouble?”

  Rebecca smiled. “Yes, her.”

  “I never knew her, but I did meet her once. I went to visit Alex in Italy during my school break. He was showing me around, playing tourist a little, when our paths crossed.”

  “I bet she was pretty.”

  Cat shrugged. “She had a look that worked for her, but even then I knew he should move on and I told him so. It’s a good thing he listens to me; otherwise, things could have gotten so much worse.”

  “What do you mean?”

  “I’ve known girls like her my whole life. Their social climbing mothers want their daughters to bag a rich man, and Alex had the added bonus of being handsome and powerful, too. I wouldn’t have put it past her to get pregnant as a bid to trap him, but, thankfully, it never came to that.”

  “I never really had to deal with girls like those growing up; they were in a separate social group than I was at school. Were they really that bad?”

  Cat sighed. “No, not all of them. The thing is, their parents never valued them for their brains or their ability to do something else. For them, a successful marriage was the only way to prove their daughter’s success. I felt sorry for them, mostly.”

  Rebecca turned to look at her mother, Francine, who was chatting easily with the Queen. Her parents were so wonderful and supportive; she couldn’t imagine growing up in that world. “That sounds terrible.”

  Cat nodded. “However, like I said, there were a few nice women. Lorenzo dated one once. I can’t remember her name, but I remember I liked her.”

  “Well, I just hope I never have to meet the woman who’s causing all this trouble.”

  Cat took Rebecca’s hand and gave it a squeeze before letting go. “I think we ca
n find a way around that. There is the possibility that she’ll want to meet with Alex, though.”

  A hot flash of anger burst through. “Over my dead body.”

  Cat quirked an eyebrow. “Even if that’s the only thing she asks for, in order to make this all go away?”

  Rebecca crossed her arms over her chest. “If he has to meet her, then I’ll be going with him. That’s final.”

  Cat chuckled. “You changed your mind awfully quickly. May I be in the room when you tell Alex that? Please?”