Royally Ever After (Royals of Valleria #7)

by Marianne Knightly

“Very true, Rebecca dear. We had something similar at my wedding. Do you all recall?”

  General murmurs of assent and nodding circled the room.

  “Particularly as we’ve cancelled the reception–”

  Helen’s teacup clanged as she forcefully put it down. “Cancelled the reception? Why, it’s just not done.” She shook her head. “I warned you, Genevieve – I warned Alexander, too – that bringing that one,” she pointed to Rebecca, “into the family would be a mistake, and I was right.”

  It wasn’t true. Rebecca knew that in her head, but the barb still stung her heart anyway.

  “Mother!”

  “Helen!”

  “Grandmother!”

  “Mother, are you insane?” Diana asked.

  “Watch your mouth, child,” Helen said. “You know I’m right. She’s a disaster. Cancelling a wedding reception when dignitaries the world over are expecting a lavish feast? My word.”

  Genevieve sighed. “Mother, I think it’s time for you to go to bed.”

  “You have no right–”

  “I have every right.” Genevieve stood. Though her mother towered over her, Genevieve was more imposing. “This is my home, Mother. You’ve caused enough pain for tonight, so it’s best that you to go back to your room. Perhaps after some rest, you’ll be more civil.”

  Helen rose and brushed some non-existent lint from her crisply-pressed suit dress. “Tsk. Tsk. I wonder what your father would say if he were alive today, Genevieve. Come, Henrietta.”

  Henrietta rose and quickly followed after her mother, her husband and child following resignedly behind. Michael, and the few from Gabriel’s family who did not approve of Rebecca, also rose and left.

  After they’d gone, the room let out a collective sigh of relief and everyone relaxed.

  Genevieve’s shoulders seemed to sag. “I do apologize for my mother, everyone. I’m truly sorry.”

  Ferdinand rose and took her hand. “Think nothing of it. We certainly won’t.”

  Genevieve gave him a kiss on each cheek. “Thank you for that. I think I’d better get back to the hospital. Everyone can visit him tomorrow, if they’d like, though just a few at a time.”

  After her farewells, the conversation became more relaxed, and flowed much easier. The girls discussed the wedding, and the boys discussed politics.

  After a while, Marcello’s phone buzzed and he pulled it out of his pocket. “I’ve got to head out, but it was good to see all of you. We’ll catch up after the wedding.” He gave Grace a quick kiss and left the room.

  Lucien locked eyes with Cat. “So, tell us what’s really been going on. We knew Marcello wouldn’t say much, so we’re relying on the rest of you to fill us in.”

  “Fill you in about what?” Cat asked innocently.

  “How Uncle Gabriel and Arianna are really doing. If things were more serious, you wouldn’t mention it, not to us.”

  “That’s not true.” At Lucien’s raised eyebrow, Cat amended. “Well, not entirely true.”

  “If you, or anyone, needs help with anything – whether that’s Alex, Marcello, whoever – you just need to say the word. We’re all happy to help.”

  “There’s a lot to running a country and keeping everyone safe,” Edward said from his perch next to Cat, and all eyes turned to him. “We understand you want to help, but it would be best if you let the family do their jobs. If they need help, they’ll ask for it. Trust me.”

  Everyone looked at each other around the room before Gabriel’s brother, Gaston, spoke. “All right. We’ll follow that advice. It does make sense; none of us are involved in the day-to-day running of the country, and it might take longer for us to get up to speed than it would for one of you to simply handle it.

  “However – and, Mother, I hesitate to bring this up, but I feel I need to – Gabriel was always taught to handle state business on his own. I hope he hasn’t trained Alex in the same way.”

  Victoria nodded. “Let me assure you that Gabriel is different – at least in that respect – from your father. You know most of your cousins are involved in some state business.”

  Lucien nodded. “What happens after the wedding?”

  “What do you mean?” Rebecca asked.

  “Well, I’m assuming Gabriel won’t be able to work right away. Alex will need to continue his role as acting-king.”

  Rebecca nodded. “You’re correct. Gabriel will have some recovery time, so after the wedding, we’ll be staying in Valleria.”

  “It’s not right for a couple not to have a honeymoon,” one the female cousins said, shaking her head.

  Rebecca smiled softly. “We will have a honeymoon, just not right away. We’re both fine with that. We won’t have the super-secret location Alex picked for us, but we’ll still have each other. That’s all that matters.”

  “Where are you spending the wedding night?” Victoria asked.

  Rebecca’s cheeks flamed. Everyone probably assumed she and Alex had sex as they lived together, but everyone knew she’d be having sex on her wedding night. How embarrassing. “Er, we’d planned to stay at the palace, since we were to leave the next day for the honeymoon. I don’t see any reason to change those plans.”

  Victoria gave her an appraising look, then nodded while she reached for her tea. “We’ll see.”

  The former Queen Victoria was planning something; that may not bode well for her or Alex.

  Oh boy.

  After several hours of conversation – which was lighter and much smoother without Helen – it was after one in the morning when the family had finally left for their rooms. Alex still had not returned and, anxious as to how everything would work out, Rebecca couldn’t sleep.

  When the phone rang, and her mother’s face flitted across the screen, Rebecca’s heart plummeted into her stomach. “Mama? What’s wrong?”

  “Nothing. I’m sorry, I should have just messaged you. Everything’s fine. Your grandmothers had flight delays, so they’ve only just arrived. You told me to let you know the moment they got in.”

  Rebecca sagged against the wall in relief. “So I did. Thank you, Mama. Are they all settled in? You’re not too cramped, are you? There are still some guest rooms available here.”

  “We’re perfectly fine, don’t worry about us. Were you asleep? Your grandparents would like to see you before they tuck in, but I told them you were probably were.”

  Rebecca checked her watch, then bit her lip. She could duck over there fairly quickly and likely make it back before Alex. “I’ll come over if they’re not too tired. Would you mind making a pot of tea?”

  “Of course not. I’ll let them know you’re coming.”

  Rebecca sent Alex a quick message to let him know where she’d gone. “Thank you, Mama.”

  Barely ten minutes later, Rebecca was nestled in her parents’ cramped kitchen, a steaming cup of Vallerian Grey tea and a warmed, flaky croissant drizzled with honey in front of her. Emma, her paternal grandmother, had just finished the story of her courtship and wedding to her now deceased husband.

  “Oh, it was so grand, my wedding was,” Emma said. “Nothing like what you’ll have, Rebecca dear, but in my day it was grand.”

  “You’re so true,” Rebecca’s maternal grandmother, Hannah, chimed in. “Weddings in those days, even for commoners, could be quite grand. Of course, that was right after the war, wasn’t it, when we got married?”

  Emma nodded. “Once Europe was liberated, everyone went full out for weddings. My own husband wouldn’t marry me before he shipped off, so we had to wait.”

  “My Adam was just the same. Wanted to wait until after the war. Of course, back then, we never thought he’d make it back. A terrible time that was.”

  “So right, Hannah.”

  “I still can’t believe my dress – our family’s dress – will be worn by the next queen!” Hannah put an arthritic hand to her chest. “I never thought I’d see the day. Never imagined it. But our Rebecca will make a fine bride and a fine queen.�
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  Murmurs of agreement coursed through the cramped kitchen. Rebecca blushed. “Why don’t I just focus on being a fine princess first? I’m sure that will be hard enough.”

  “You’ll be brilliant,” Hannah said. “You’ve got the Ermelli blood running through you, you know. We’re a strong breed, hardworking.”

  “As are the Campos,” Emma added, not to be outdone. “Isn’t my Ettore a hearty man? Working in the fields and on the grounds all day? We’re not afraid of hard work, us Campos.”

  Ettore straightened in his chair; he could tell when the two women – who usually got along well – were nearing an argument. “I think it’s safe to say my daughter understands hard work.”

  “I heartily agree,” a voice called from the doorway.

  Rebecca blinked at the sight of Alex there, exhausted but in good spirits. Since that was hard to do after one in the morning, she guessed the prep meetings had gone well.

  Alex greeted her family then came to her, giving her a kiss on the cheek as he sat down beside her. “What are you doing here?” she asked.

  “Rebecca,” Hannah admonished. “Don’t talk to the prince that way.”

  Rebecca winced. “I didn’t mean anything inconsiderate. I just–”

  “–thought I was at the palace,” Alex finished for her. “I finished my meetings and saw your message, and thought to swing by and pick you up on my way back.”

  “May I get you anything?” Francine asked as she stood. “Coffee or tea? A snack?”

  “No, thank you, Francine. I’ve had more than my fill of caffeine today.” He glanced at Rebecca’s now empty cup. “Did you have any?”

  “Just a little tea. You know it doesn’t bother me any.”

  “You’ve been drinking too much of it, that’s why,” Emma warned. “You’ll have trouble having babies if you keep drinking tea like you do.”

  Rebecca blanched while Francine and Ettore tried to scold Emma. Alex wrapped an arm around Rebecca’s shoulder. She hadn’t told her parents, not even her mother, about the fertility tests she’d had done recently.

  “Well, she’s got to give birth to an heir,” Emma defended. “She needs to start thinking of these things. She’s not getting any younger.”

  Before her parents could scold Emma again, Alex cut in, speaking softly and evenly, with no sarcasm or reproach. “Whether or not Rebecca gives birth to the next heir to the throne is irrelevant. We’ll still be parents, one way or another, and I do have eight siblings who can also give birth to an heir. I’ll still be king when the time comes, so it doesn’t matter how much tea Rebecca drinks. I do, however, very much thank you for your concern over her health.”

  Emma seemed taken aback, so simply nodded.

  Ettore rose and slapped Alex on the back. “Well said, Alex. Maybe I’ll keep my peace at the wedding after all, and not object.”

  Alex narrowed his eyes. “Was there any doubt that you wouldn’t keep the peace?”

  Ettore smiled broadly. “Well, we do have a backup plan in place.”

  Rebecca glared at her father. “Papa.”

  “Backup plan?” Alex asked, then shot a questioning look to Rebecca. “For what?”

  “In case she changes her mind and decides to make a run for it at the church.”

  “Papa!” Rebecca smoothed away her glare and shifted focus to Alex. “He’s joking. Don’t pay him any attention.”

  “Half-joking,” Ettore muttered. “We can still do it, if you need to.”

  “Ettore,” Francine warned. “Leave Alex alone.”

  Ettore shook his head. “Don’t think so. He’s taking away my baby girl.”

  “Papa,” Rebecca said softly. “I’m only ten minutes away.”

  “Little girl, you’ll be a world away.”

  Rebecca went to her father, and gave him a hug. “I’d never go to a world that didn’t have you in it, Papa. Never forget that.” She gave her father a kiss on each cheek and saw his eyes well up.

  Ettore gruffly cleared his throat. “You two should get back, get some sleep. You haven’t been getting much lately, I’m sure.”

  She gave her father another hug, then said her farewells to the rest, as did Alex.

  She and Alex were in the car on their way back a few minutes later. “Are you upset about what my father said, Alex? He didn’t really mean it.”

  He brought her body against his and kissed her temple. “There’s nothing to apologize for. If I had a daughter like you, I’d probably make contingency plans, too.”

  Rebecca smiled. “He likes you and respects you, you know that. Otherwise, he never would have approved when you asked for my hand in marriage.”

  “I know. It must be hard for him, and for you. I’m so used to there being nine of us siblings. Nine children my parents raised; it’s hard for me to imagine an only child.”

  Rebecca straightened in her seat, away from Alex. “I’m not delusional. I know that things between my parents and myself will change when we officially get married. But, like you said, I’m really all they have, besides each other. I don’t want to lose them.”

  “You won’t. I won’t let you.” He pulled her back into the warmth of his arms and sighed. “Look, we’re both exhausted. Why don’t we get some sleep? You can tell me I was being an idiot in the morning.”

  “You weren’t being an idiot. I appreciated what you said about babies. I know it’s difficult–”

  “Nothing’s difficult as long as you’re with me.” He cupped her face in his hands. “Not one damned thing.” He gave her a swift yet brutal kiss that had her heart pumping.

  She gripped the lapels of his jacket. “Alex.”

  “I know, darling. I know. Sadly, I think we’re both too exhausted tonight.”

  She sighed. “I think you might be right.”

  “How was my family?”

  “Oh, you know.”

  He squeezed her shoulder. “What happened?”

  “It’s nothing, Alex.”

  “If it was nothing, you would have already told me instead of avoiding telling me. It was my grandmother, wasn’t it?”

  “No, Victoria was lovely.”

  “I wasn’t talking about her and you know it.” He sighed and brought her tighter against him. “I’m sorry. If Grandmother Helen was treating you poorly, I bet Aunt Henrietta was just as bad.”

  “Complicit may be a better term. She didn’t really say anything, just agreed with what was being said.” She pursed her lips, then decided to just be completely honest. “Some of your cousins agreed with them.”

  “Which ones?”

  Rebecca named the few that had followed Helen and Henrietta out of the room. “It’s not surprising, Alex. We knew that not everyone wanted me to be queen one day.”

  “Well, I want you as my wife, so they’ll have to suck it up or get cut off. Fucking politics, even in my own damn family.”

  Rebecca rubbed a calming hand over his chest. “Don’t get upset. It’s not worth it.”

  “Does Mama know?”

  She nodded. “She stopped by for a few minutes to greet everyone. After Helen said her piece and they left, she went back to the hospital.”

  “Believe me, any anger I feel right now is likely nothing compared to hers. Mama’s under no illusions about her own mother and sister. She’ll land on your side.”

  “Should I try talking to Helen and them again? Maybe one-on-one?”

  “It’s not worth it. Helen will never change her mind. To this day, I don’t understand her. Her daughter became a princess, then a queen, and it still wasn’t good enough for her.”

  “Jealous.”

  “What?”

  “I think she’s jealous.” Rebecca tipped her head up to look at him. “She never became queen, did she? Her daughter did. Now, she comes back to visit her daughter in a palace where she’ll only ever be a visitor. Her grandson is marrying a commoner, and again she’s excluded.”

  “That’s no excuse to treat you like shit.”
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br />   “No, it’s not. I agree with you.”

  “Listen, no matter what her motivation, she can’t do anything to stop the wedding. Maybe she is jealous, but she’s not dumb. She would never risk embarrassing herself at the wedding or in the press by speaking out against you. She has to know how much the public loves you. She’d never risk that turning against her.”

  “You’re probably right.”

  “I am right.”

  She giggled. “Don’t be cute. I’m too tired to do anything about it.”

  His eyes flared. “Oh? If you weren’t too tired, what would you do?”

  “Kiss you silly.”

  “Your kisses are never silly,” he murmured, then lifted her face towards his. “Never.”

  They spent the rest of the car trip with their lips locked, lost in each other.

  Thirty minutes later, both she and Alex were cuddled together in bed. Exhaustion pressed them deep into the mattress, leaving no time to process what had happened that day, or process what tomorrow might bring.

  Her last thought before drifting away was a fleeting realization that this was the last night they’d spend together as an unmarried couple. She thought about saying something, but sleep was more important. Besides, they had the rest of their lives to sleep together.

  As long as everything went according to plan.

  Ethan walked quickly down the hospital halls, with Carolina following easily alongside, and a nurse leading the way. His time in the Navy had made his strides confident and purposeful, not to mention commanding. He was counting on that to get the information he needed.

  He was still decked out in his Vallerian Naval uniform, the more ‘causal’ version he wore while on ship and at work in the Sick Bay. He’d worn it purposefully, hoping the bars on his clothes would help him.

  He needn’t have bothered.

  As soon as they’d arrived, both he and Carolina had been greeted by a nurse, who was currently leading them to their sister. It didn’t matter it was past two in the morning; the entire hospital was awash in a low buzz, ready to help their favored princess and future heir in any way they needed it.

  Even when their plane had arrived at the airport in the dead of night, a large gathering of people had met them, cheering.