Robert held up his hands in surrender. “Hey! I said we should wait, and none of us could have known how badly it would go.”
From what he’d heard, Malachi knew Robert told the truth, but he also knew Robert hadn’t pushed very hard to wait on Malachi and Lizbeth.
“Sir?” Malachi looked to see one of the doormen waiting expectantly. “Your wife has arrived.”
“Thank you.” He tugged first on one cuff then the other, straightening his shirt sleeves as he walked toward the door. The gathered crowd started yelling at him. Nothing specific, nothing mean, just the general noise there always was when he walked the red carpet, as it were. He waved at them again, reaching the curb just as Jessabelle’s car did. He opened the door and held out a hand. She grasped it, and he helped balance her as she stood.
He breathed an inaudible sigh of relief. She wasn’t wearing one of the outfits that had been chosen, but the one she did wear was completely acceptable. They took about four steps then he stopped her and let go of her hand. With one arm wrapped around her waist, he turned her slightly toward the rope line across the way. “Just take a deep breath and wave for a minute.”
The rise and fall of her chest under his arm told him she was trying her best. He waved while turning to whisper to her. “You can do this.”
Calls for a kiss came from the crowd so he did what he’d done after the wedding and kissed the side of her head. The cries increased, but instead of responding to them, he used his arm to turn Jessabelle back towards the door. They walked through the doors, and he felt her shoulders slump then straighten again when she realized there were already other people waiting inside.
“I’m proud of you,” he said softly. “You’re doing great.”
She didn’t respond, and he knew she’d rather be anywhere else. Malachi stayed close to her side while they walked through the room, talking with the other guests.
Whenever he dropped his arm, he could sense her tense up so as they walked to the next group of guests, he positioned himself on the other side. His left arm now stayed around her back, leaving his right free to shake hands.
Robert walked up with an older couple in tow. “Prince Malachi, have you ever met my parents?”
Malachi smiled. “I don’t believe so.” He shook hands with Robert’s father and leaned in to kiss his mother’s cheek. “It’s a pleasure.”
Mrs. Padovano didn’t completely ignore him, but close enough. She reached for Jessabelle and gave her a big hug. “I am so very glad to see you again, Your Highness. You look beautiful.”
* * *
Beautiful?
Jessabelle could hardly believe her ears, so much that she barely registered the “again” from the other woman.
Or her arms as they wound their way around the other woman and held on tight. Had she’d ever been hugged like this? Since her mother died, only a time or two by Malachi, but that’s it. After what seemed to be an eternity, she felt something flood through her. Her shoulders relaxed, and she released a deep breath.
Mrs. Padovano finally released her but took her hands as she stepped back. “You do look lovely today, Your Highness.”
The incongruity stuck her. After marrying Malachi, she’d quickly learned the royal family was treated with deference. She’d known that all along, but being on the receiving end was a bit odd. And no one ever hugged a royal family member without invitation, much less held both hands all while using a formal address.
“Thank you,” she finally managed to murmur, still not really believing the woman’s words.
Mrs. Padovano smiled and pulled her away from the three men. “How are you, dear?”
Jessabelle knew what she had to say, no matter the truth. “I’m well.”
The older woman chuckled. “Oh, sweetheart, I know how you must hurt.”
“Pardon?”
“I know what it’s like to lose your last parent and right on top of such life turmoil, good or bad, it’s an awful lot to deal with.”
“I miss him,” she admitted, but that was as far as she would go with someone she didn’t know well. She’d barely told Malachi more.
They continued to walk slowly in a lightly populated area of the reception room. “I knew your mother, you know. I even burped you a few times when you were little.”
Jessabelle stopped walking. “Pardon?”
Mrs. Padovano turned and smiled, tears filling her eyes. “Your mother was one of my dear friends. We grew up together in Montevaro and both moved here to attend university. She met your father. I met my husband. They stayed here in Erres, while we moved back to Montevaro to help my ailing father. We lived there until Robert was just a few years old. Your mother died a few weeks after we returned.” She reached out and brushed a strand of hair off Jessabelle’s forehead. “She would be so proud of you, you know. Braving your fears. Being a poised, confident woman on the outside even though you’d rather be anywhere else on the inside. It’ll come. Eventually.”
“Thank you.” Jessabelle didn’t know what else to say. She wanted to sit down with this woman, pick her brain, and hear stories about her mother as a child. But when she glanced to the side all other thoughts fled.
Lizbeth Bence had sidled up to her husband, and he was kissing her cheek.
“That’s how he greets many women, you know.” Mrs. Padovano drew her attention back. “It’s not just her. I don’t know your husband well, but despite his father’s history, I believe Malachi will be faithful to you.”
Jessabelle watched as her husband introduced Lizbeth to Robert Padovano. She found herself longing to pour out her heart to Mrs. Padovano. To tell her about the vows no one else knew about, and her fear that Malachi would conveniently forget about them.
“That said,” Mrs. Padovano went on, oblivious to Jessabelle’s inner turmoil, “Lizbeth Bence is a bit of a gold digger. She won’t settle for second best, but if she though Malachi might set you to the side and marry her instead, she could put her mind to such a thing.”
Could it happen? Would Malachi just set her to the side when she didn’t give him a child? She couldn’t give him a child when he continued to keep his distance. The sweet kisses he’d given her before bed most days on their honeymoon were nothing but a distant memory. He hadn’t kissed her in what seemed like forever. Nothing more than on the side of the head like he had on the walk in or a kiss on the cheek in greeting. Sometimes. Not even all the time.
“You will have tough times ahead, Jessabelle Grace, but I know your mother, and to a lesser extent your father, gave you a grounding in the faith that will see you through. Your father never was a demonstrative man, especially after the death of your mother. It drove her crazy, but he loved you and he loved his Saviour.”
Mrs. Padovano told the truth. “Thank you for your kind words, Mrs. Padovano.” Jessabelle gave her a tremulous smile. “I appreciate them.”
The older woman gave her another long hug then pulled a card out of her purse. “Here’s my contact information. If you ever want to talk or to go shopping or have coffee with someone who’s a bit further removed from everything, just let me know.”
“I will.” Hearing stories about her mother would be like a dream come true. As Mrs. Padovano mentioned, her father wasn’t demonstrative, and he wasn’t prone to reminiscing either. She’d found their wedding album, but not much else.
Malachi motioned to her, and she smiled once more at Robert’s mother before walking to his side.
“Everything okay?” he asked.
She nodded. “Fine.” She would never have told him otherwise.
“Did you have a nice chat with Mrs. Padovano?”
“Yes.” Before either of them could say anything else, their attention was drawn to the lectern at the front of the room.
Malachi took her hand and tucked it in his elbow. They went to stand near the lectern. He would be asked to speak. She prayed there were no surprises, and she wouldn’t have to say a word.
As chairman of the committee, Robe
rt gave an introduction. Malachi let go of her hand as polite applause spattered throughout the room. He walked to the lectern and opened the binder in front of him.
“Ladies and gentlemen, honored guests, and...” He turned to look at her. “Princess Jessabelle, it is an honor to be here today.”
Jessabelle tuned out his words and prayed there wouldn’t be a quiz over them later. He’d promised that once the speech was over, they wouldn’t stay long. Her mind wandered as her gaze skittered across the priceless artifacts behind him. One drawing was a replica, she knew that. The original was on a cave wall in Montevaro. On the top left corner was a man in a knight’s armor and a woman. Legend had it Charlemagne had fallen in love with and impregnated Cynethryth. Charlemagne couldn’t marry her, so gave her father the lands that were now Mevendia and Montevaro. She married one of her father’s most trusted knights immediately. Under their rule, the islands that were now Ravenzario were conquered. The woman died giving birth to her second, stillborn, daughter. The knight sent the first daughter away and split the lands between his three sons. Near the top right of the drawing was a ship sailing away. That had to be the daughter, Marcellina, rumored to be Charlemagne’s child, being married to a king in the Sovereign Commonwealth of Athmetis.
The lineage of the royal families in all three countries could be traced back to those three brothers. The three of them were depicted on the bottom two-thirds of the reproduction. The oldest was above the other two and in the middle. He inherited Mevendia. Further down and to either side, in the corners, were the other two brothers. Between them, and directly below the oldest brother, the symbol of the Royal Commonwealth of Belles Montagnes had been placed. It had changed little in the last thousand years or more. She wondered if the royal family in Athmetis had changed since then or if they were still distant cousins. All descended from the same woman.
What it must have been like for Marcellina, shipped off to another country a thousand miles away? Surely it made Jessabelle’s arranged marriage pale in comparison. Had the girl even met her husband before the wedding? Had he been kind? Or cruel? She would have to research. Jessabelle knew the Commonwealth countries had a friendly, if strained, relationship with Athmetis.
More applause caught Jessabelle’s attention, and she glanced around before deciding not to clap herself. A smile ought to denote her approval of Malachi’s speech, but on the off chance he’d mentioned her, she’d look ridiculous clapping for herself.
Malachi stepped away from the lectern and shook hands with Robert as he took Malachi’s spot. Robert invited everyone to mingle and enjoy the snacks being offered by wait staff in tuxedos and white gloves. Jessabelle took Malachi’s offered arm, and he shook hands with a few other people as they walked toward the door. She did her best to smile and wave as they walked to the car waiting for them.
But Malachi had other ideas.
Chapter 15
Malachi knew Jessabelle hadn’t been listening to his speech, not that he particularly expected her to. It wasn’t anything particularly ground breaking. He stepped to the side to allow Robert to say a few more words. When he reached Jessabelle’s side, he slid an arm around her waist. Robert finished. Malachi and Jessabelle circulated for another minute or two then headed for the door.
A car waited for them, but Malachi stopped and made a snap decision. “Come with me,” he whispered to Jessabelle. “Just be yourself.” With her hand tight in his, he walked toward the rope line where a few people still stood.
“Prince Malachi! Princess Jessabelle!” Everyone along the line called one or both names.
Malachi let go of Jessabelle’s hand and rested his left hand on her lower back so they both had their right hands free. He headed for an elderly woman with a little girl standing near the building. They should be an easy start for his wife.
The little girl curtsied and held out a small bouquet of flowers to Jessabelle. “I’m glad to meet you, Princess.”
Jessabelle squatted more than knelt until she was on the girl’s level. “It is very nice to meet you, sweetheart. Thank you for the flowers. They’re lovely.”
The smile that crossed the girl’s face would make her cheeks hurt. “Welcome.” She glanced up at him but didn’t say anything else.
Jessabelle took the lead. “Have you ever met my husband?”
The girl shook her head.
Jessabelle looked up at him and pointed for the girl’s benefit. “This is Prince Malachi. He’s cute, isn’t he?”
Malachi struggled to hide both his smile and his confusion over whether being “cute” was a good thing or not. Instead, he knelt on one knee next to his wife and held out his hand. “Hello. I’m Prince Malachi.”
The girl shook his hand but before letting hers go, he kissed the back of it. She blushed and giggled. “Hi. I know who you are.”
“Well, then you have me at a disadvantage. What’s your name?”
“Janie.”
“Well, Janie, I am very glad to meet you. Thank you for coming to see us. The flowers are lovely.”
“Thanks.” She looked up at the woman standing next to her. “They were Granny’s idea, but I got to pick them out.”
Malachi stood and held out a hand to the other woman. “Thank you, Granny. They are lovely.”
“You’re welcome, Prince Malachi. They are nearly as lovely as your wife.”
Malachi glanced at Jessabelle. “You are correct.”
Together, he and Jessabelle worked their way down the line. With most of the rest of those still gathered, they simply said hello and shook hands. A few had small gifts or bouquets of flowers for Jessabelle. It didn’t take more than about ten minutes, but Malachi knew it would help her public image - not the only reason for doing it, but definitely one of the big ones. The country wanted to love their new princess, but they needed the chance to do so.
A voice from behind him caused Malachi to turn. “It’s time to go, sir.”
Malachi nodded and reached for Jessabelle’s arm. She turned and walked with him to the car. They both turned and waved again before climbing in. As the car drove off, Malachi turned to his wife. “You did fabulous, Mia Belle.”
She didn’t respond, but stared down at the flowers in her trembling hands. He reached out and took everything from her, setting it on the seat across from them. Covering her hands with his, he tried to still the shaking. He heard her take a deep breath and release it slowly. “Are you sure?”
“Yes. You did a wonderful job with that little girl.”
“I like children.”
“You did well with everyone else, too.”
“I did?”
“Yes. There weren’t very many people left, which is why I thought it would be a good time to do your first rope line. I’m sorry I didn’t think to mention it to you as a possibility earlier.”
“It’s probably better you didn’t.” She leaned her head back against the seat. “I would have spent the intervening time freaking out.”
“I’ll do everything I can to make sure you’re not thrown into a situation where you’re overwhelmed.” He gently pried open her hand and linked his fingers with hers. “Did you have a nice conversation with Mrs. Padovano?”
“She knew my mother.”
“I gathered.”
“I don’t know anyone who knew my mother.” Jessabelle stared at the scenery outside the window.
“Except your father, and he’s gone now, too.” Malachi’s voice was soft, sympathetic.
“He never talked about her, though. I barely remember her.”
“I hope you’ll have a chance to talk with her more, then.”
“I do, too.”
“Are you glad you came?”
Jessabelle hesitated before nodding. “I am. I still have things to do at my father’s house, though. Unless you need something from me, I think I’ll work for a while before dinner this evening.”
“That’s fine with me. I have some work to do for one of the other charities I’m a patron o
f.” One Lizbeth had reminded him had a deadline coming up.
“The adoption one?”
He looked over at her. “Yes. How did you know?”
She gave a slight half-shrug. “I saw you talking with Ms. Bence earlier.”
“Ah. Yeah. I had no idea she would be there. She’s not crazy about things like museums.”
“What exactly does the adoption organization do?”
“Well, it helps facilitate open adoptions. It also maintains a list of both birth parents and adoptees from closed adoptions who are willing to have their contact information shared in cases of medical necessity.”
“Like if someone adopted as a baby needs a bone marrow donor, she might be able to find her birth family to see if there’s a match?”
“Exactly. One of the recent cases was a kidney disorder that ran in the family. The birth father put his information on the list several years ago, just in case. A few months ago, the adopted son needed a transplant. They decided they didn’t want to meet until later, though. I think it’s set for next week, now that both of them are doing well.”
“That’s great. Did the organization contact the adopted child to let him know this was something to be aware of?”
Malachi cocked his head. “You know, I don’t know if they do that or not. I’ll have to look into it.” Now that Jessabelle knew she was adopted, maybe this would be a good organization for her to get involved with. And if his wife was involved, there would be little reason for him to ever be with Lizbeth without his wife present.
Something told him that would be a very good thing.
* * *
Black wide-leg pants, a cobalt blue shell top, and a black suit coat hung in the closet waiting for Jessabelle when she returned to the palace after working in her father’s house for the afternoon. A quick shower later, she was getting dressed. She and Malachi had worked out a system. If the closet door was closed, he didn’t enter. When she was done changing, she’d open the door. And if he was changing, he did the same. The same system worked with the bathroom, too. So far neither of them had walked in on each other in an awkward situation. Jessabelle knew it was only a matter of time before it did happen, but she’d put it off as long as she could. She did her best to keep from thinking about what else would happen eventually. They both wanted children, after all.
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