“My health?” Marcello asked.
“Was never discussed. Nor was the fact that you were there. We did confirm that you were in charge of the mission, but never confirmed you were in attendance. Our refusal to confirm or disavow the rumour, as you know, has basically confirmed it in the end. You’ll get some questions.”
Marcello nodded and the room fell quiet while everyone focused on their breakfast.
“So,” Genevieve said. “Shall we start planning another wedding?”
“Mama,” Marcello said and his siblings groaned.
“What?” she said innocently. “It was a simple question.”
“It was a loaded question,” Marcello said. He turned to Rebecca and said, “Sorry, Rebecca, but you’re just going to have to put up with our Mama all by yourself. That’s the only family wedding I can confirm.”
Though some chuckled at his comments, others frowned in dismay.
“It’s my fault,” Grace said and every pair of eyes turned to her.
Marcello joined their hands and rested it on the table, in plain view of everyone. “You don’t need to justify anything to them, Grace.”
“I know. I want to. They should know. They should understand.”
“If you’re sure.”
She nodded, then faced the group again. She began to tell them some of what had happened to her. Not all of it - the baby, the details, and more were left out. The abuse, however, was confirmed and everyone reached out to her with compassion and tears in their eyes.
“I’m sorry you went through that,” Arianna said, reaching across Marcello to squeeze their joined hands. “We all understand and respect that you’re not ready to get married again. Please don’t give Mama any heed. She just wants grandchildren.”
Marcello’s gut clenched, but Grace just smiled and nodded, not wanting to elaborate on her reproductive state over breakfast.
“I’m sorry, Grace,” Genevieve said as she walked over to her. “I certainly never meant to cause offense.”
“You didn’t,” Grace assured her. “I just want you to know, all of you, that I really love Marcello. We’re in a committed relationship, even if I’m not ready for that step yet.”
“Of course you are, dear,” Genevieve said, kissing her on the cheek. “Who would think otherwise after seeing the way you two look at each other?”
“Are you at least moving into the castle with him?” Cat asked and everyone groaned again. “What? She’s one of my best friends. It’s relevant.”
“I will be living here, if you both don’t mind,” Grace said to Gabriel and Genevieve.
“Of course not,” Gabriel said. “We are honored and proud to call you family.”
“Thank you,” Grace said and Marcello saw her eyes begin to water. He gave her hand another squeeze.
“We’ll need to travel back and forth to England, particularly in the next several months,” Marcello said with a pointed look to Alex and Gabriel.
“We’ll make it work, don’t worry,” Alex said, understanding that Marcello would need to scale back his position for the near future.
Grace squeezed his hand and Marcello turned to face her. Her eyes were bright with love and the smile she wore was just for him. His heart grew even more, if that was possible.
She was his. He was hers. They were each other’s everything.
***
Arianna watched as the lovers seated next to her gazed lovingly into each other’s eyes. Marcello picked up their joined hands and kissed them. Arianna felt an ache within her own soul for seeing it.
She was surrounded by lovers around the table: Alex and Rebecca, her parents, and even Lorenzo had a steady stream of women in his life. Cat was not seeing anyone at the moment, but that could easily change.
Arianna felt alone. No, she felt lonely.
Arianna had gotten quite used to being alone. One disastrous betrayal when she was younger had forced any notions of love from her mind. It was only too bad her heart still clung to hope of it.
She sat up straighter in her chair and pushed her shoulders back. Properly lifting her coffee cup to her lips, she took a demure sip and put the cup down again deliberately so it didn’t rattle against the saucer. She had worked long and hard to move past those days of deceit, betrayal, and embarrassment.
No, to her, love was a fairy tale. It wasn’t for her. If she married, it would only be to serve some purpose, to help in some way. To prove again that her first duty was to her family and Valleria. As she wasn’t anywhere near the throne - she was the fifth child, just behind Marcello - she didn’t need to marry at all.
No, she thought as she took another proper sip of coffee. Love definitely was not in the cards for her.
THE END
###
Read on for a synopsis of Arianna & Finn (Royals of Valleria #3), available on June 30th!
A Note from the Author
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Marianne
Arianna & Finn (Royals of Valleria #3)
Proper Princess Arianna is the essence of style, grace, and appropriate behavior. After a disastrous love affair years ago that embarrassed both her and the royal family, she had vowed to stay on the straight and narrow, and she has. When a marriage is suggested to form an alliance with another country, she jumps at the chance for redemption. After all, she doesn’t believe in love anymore. But, if that’s true, why does she think of love whenever her fiancé’s brother, Finn, is nearby, bringing up feelings she had long since buried?
Finn de Bara cares little about strategic political alliances and, as second in line to the throne of Brazenbourg, he doesn’t have to. As the bad boy of the aristocracy, he doesn’t need to settle down; he saves that for his arrogant older brother, Henry. However, when Henry becomes engaged to Arianna for convenience and not love, he can’t help but be intrigued by a woman who would give up her future for her country. When the passionate nature she hides breaks through her prim exterior, Finn realizes he wants her, and not just in bed. He knows his brother may make a more proper match, but can he convince her, and himself, to take a chance on each other despite the international fallout?
When Henry’s true motives are revealed and Arianna is placed in danger’s path, can Finn act quickly enough to help her? Or will Arianna need to save herself?
Pre-Order now for Kindle – Release date June 30th!
About the Author
Marianne Knightly is a pen name.
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Other Books By Marianne Knightly
Royals of Valleria Series
Book 1: Alexander & Rebecca
Book 2: Marcello & Grace
Book 3: Arianna & Finn (Pre-Order Now)
Book 4: Coming Fall 2015
Book 5: Coming Winter 2015
The Italian Shipping Millionaires Series
Book 1: Dante
Book 2: Adrian
Book 3: Giovanni
Book 4: Luc
Hike to Forget Series
Book 1: A Smokey Mountain Hike to Forget
Book 2: A Big Bear Hike to Forget
Book 3: A St. Michaels Wedding to Remember
Book 4: A Bahamian Hike to Forget
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Marcello & Grace (Royals of Valleria #2) Page 23