“Yes, sir.”
“Please, come in and have a seat. We have much to discuss.”
“Nonsense.” Grandmother Grace raised a brow at her son. “This young woman, as well as your son, could likely do with a meal and a shower. I happen to know I surprised them this morning and doubt either of them had taken one before I arrived.”
“I hadn’t,” Harrison told them.
“Very well.” He turned slightly. “First, allow me to introduce my wife. Her Majesty Queen Miriam of San Majoria, this is Lani. Our daughter-in-law.”
There was no amusement in his voice, though he didn’t seem overly upset.
“Oh, hush, Edward. You’re scaring the poor girl.” Harrison’s mother wrapped an arm around Lani’s shoulders. “I’ll show you to your room.” She glanced at Harrison, with a hint of a twinkle in her eye. “Unless you and Harrison will be sharing a room, of course.”
Harrison’s jaw dropped, and he couldn’t think of a thing to say.
Lani’s wide eyes met his as his mother ushered her away.
This could be a long night.
8
Lani let herself be guided up one of the ornate staircases she’d tried not to gawk at on the way in.
She’d failed.
“I have no real expectation that you’re sharing quarters with my son, Lani,” the queen told her.
The actual queen.
Not the monarch.
But the actual, current queen.
Married to a king.
And apparently Lani’s mother-in-law for the moment anyway.
“That’s good. Because we haven’t yet. Not at all. Except the one night when suite meant a love seat to go with the two beds. They didn’t have any other rooms. He hasn’t even kissed me, much less...” Lani clamped her lips together as she realized what she was about to say.
“Of course. I do understand that, you know. I can appreciate the situation you’ve found yourself in. I met Edward while attending university in Auverignon. I had no idea he was a future king until after I’d fallen head over heels for him. I thought long and hard before finally accepting that this was a life I was willing to live to be with the man I loved. We even broke up for a time before I realized that, while I could live without him, I had no desire to.”
What exactly was Lani supposed to do with that piece of information. “I don’t know Harrison well enough to know if I’d want this life.”
The queen laughed. “Oh, you will have much more autonomy than Edward and I have. Harrison has precious little chance of ever being king. If he were to ascend the throne, he would need a strong woman by his side, because everyone and everything he ever held dear would be gone.”
“No pressure.” The words came out before Lani could stop them.
The queen let go of Lani’s shoulders as they came to a door. There was an opening to the first floor, but four doors off the landing around it.
“Queen Grace is in a room off the living area,” Queen Miriam told Lani. “Harrison is in the room next to you. My husband and I are across the way. The room is labeled. If you need anything, please let us know.”
Lani wouldn’t.
“There’s a robe and toiletries in the bathroom. If your bags aren’t already in the suite, they will be by the time you get out of the shower. No one will bother you in the bathroom.”
“Thank you.” She’d lock the door anyway.
A minute later, she was alone, staring at a sign on the door.
Her Royal Highness, Vilano Beach Cordova, Princess of San Majoria
They knew her full name.
No one knew her full name, not outside of her family.
The rest of it she just ignored, because Lani didn’t even know how to begin to deal with the titles.
Instead, she went through the door, closing it behind her then straight into the bathroom. The queen hadn’t given her any indication of when she was expected back downstairs, but Lani guessed she didn’t have all the time in the world. A house like this likely had an unlimited supply of hot water. She’d love to take advantage of that, but couldn’t right now. Maybe later.
After double-checking that there was a blow dryer, complete with diffuser, Lani hopped in the shower, taking the time to wash her hair thoroughly.
Once wrapped in the luxurious robe, Lani worked product through her wet hair before wrapping it in the t-shirt she’d been wearing. It wasn’t as harsh as a towel.
With her hair securely on her head and the robe tightened around her waist, Lani checked the bedroom. Her bag waited for her on the dresser, but she found other clothes waiting for her as well.
Folded on the bed was a pair of skinny jeans and a fitted blouse, exactly her style, but not something she’d ever be able to afford herself. How had they known?
She wasn’t sure she wanted to find out.
Rather than dressing immediately, she decided to do her make-up, then dry her hair into waves and curls. If she was going to face an inquisition, at least she could feel good about how she looked at the same time.
It took the better part of an hour by the time she was completely ready to walk out of the room. She’d found new knee boots on the side of the dresser. Before leaving, she stared at herself in the mirror, fluffing her carefully tousled hair.
As good as it was going to get.
“You can’t just dictate my life!”
The first thing she heard was Harrison speaking harshly to someone, likely his father.
“And you certainly can’t dictate Lani’s,” he went on. “She’s not bound by San Majorian law. Maybe you can make the argument that I’m legally married, but you can’t say Lani is. She’s never even been to San Majoria. How can she be held legally responsible for a law in a country she’s barely heard of?”
Lani couldn’t hear the king’s response. It was much softer. She made her way slowly down the stairs and into the living area. Someone was working in the kitchen, though the smells and sounds barely penetrated her consciousness.
“There you are.” The king stood, with Harrison across from him, as she walked into the room. The queens both remained seated. “We’re very glad you could join us.” The king motioned to the sofa next to Harrison. “Won’t you take a seat? Dinner will be ready shortly.”
She muttered her thanks, taking a seat on the couch, but not directly next to Harrison.
“I’m sure you understand that we must discuss this situation. My son has brought up a very good point. How can you be held responsible for a law in a country you’ve never been to? The short answer is, you can’t. Harrison can. He is considered legally married to the woman he shared a hotel room with. As that woman, in our country, you are considered his wife. Should the two of you decide not to be married, it would require a divorce. All you would need is to sign the papers we would have couriered to you.”
Lani nodded cautiously. There had to be more.
“However, Harrison must live with the fallout from his actions. He may not have been aware of the law specifically, but he knew better than to share a hotel with a woman he wasn’t married to.”
“Is that right?” Lani asked him.
Harrison stared at his hands, clasped in front of him as his forearms rested on his thighs. He nodded. “We’ve all been told that, but I just thought it was an appearances thing or a safety issue. We were never told about the Treaty of 1703 or the corresponding law.”
“Then what’s the bottom line?” Lani looked back over at the king.
The stern look on his face was somehow kind as well. “I’m afraid there are only two options for my son: marriage or exile.”
As Lani’s car pulled away from the house, Harrison watched from the window of the suite he’d been given. He’d never stayed in this part of the house before. As the youngest, and unmarried, in his family, he’d been relegated to one of the apartments where he’d shared with one of his brother-in-law’s brothers. These suites had been reserved for monarchs and hosts.
And Jacqueline Gra
ce, because there wasn’t a female from the Quatremaine family to match up with her.
His stomach growled.
Dinner likely went on without him or Lani.
After his father’s pronouncement, they’d all stared at each other uncomfortably until staring into space was preferable. Then she’d looked at her watch, the one connected to her phone and said she had to go, asking if someone could give her a ride home.
His father told her that her car had already been brought to the house for her, so she could leave whenever she wanted.
Harrison wasn’t convinced there was an actual text that called her home. Or perhaps she’d told her sister or a friend to give her an out if she needed it.
He’d walked her out to her car, more as an excuse to get away from his parents for a few minutes. She’d barely said good-bye before hopping in her coupe and driving off.
Somehow, he’d have to get a hold of her and figure out a plan. Maybe he could be her assistant for the next couple of weeks. Spend some time with her and convince her to give this a shot.
Not necessarily a real wedding in the future, but at least start dating and see what happened.
Sighing, he pulled out his phone and sent her a text asking her to meet him for lunch the next day.
She replied with a time and place.
He would have preferred somewhere they couldn’t be overheard, but it was better than nothing.
A text came in from his father telling him to come down to eat dinner. Stifling a sigh, he did as he was told.
The next day, he waited for Lani outside the Serenity Landing Diner. Rather than go to church with his royal parents and grandmother in tow, he’d chosen to do a Bible study at home. He’d kept tabs on the service at Lani’s church, though. When it seemed to be wrapping up, he left the house where he’d spent the night and headed for the diner.
Her car wasn’t in the lot, though he hadn’t checked inside to see if she was in there just yet. Maybe someone had given her a ride. He’d check in a few minutes. Three minutes before the time she’d said to meet her, he saw her pull in.
After she parked, he held her door open for her.
“Good afternoon.” Barely.
“Thank you.”
They didn’t say anything else to each other until they were seated in a back-corner booth and had placed their orders.
“So, what did your parents say after I left?” Lani fiddled with the napkin.
Harrison shrugged. “Just reiterated what had already been said then moved on to other subjects.” Like how he would be able to serve the crown if he were exiled.
“What solution have you come up with?”
“Not much of one, I’m afraid, but I do have something of a proposition for you.” He looked directly into her eyes.
“What’s that?”
“Go out with me. A few real dates. Get to know each other better. See what happens. If, in a few weeks, you want to break up, we will. But until then, we give this couple thing a real chance.”
She stared at the table. “Fine. This can be our first date, then. But I’m crazy busy the next few weeks. I’m sure we can get you a pass to be on set or whatever, but if you want to spend time with me, it’s going to have to be while I work. I won’t have much time off at all. In fact, it’s why I moved to my sister’s apartment over the bookstore after she moved out.”
That and the fact she didn’t have to pay any rent. She’d told him that much on the trip.
“Thank you.” They paused their conversation as their food arrived. “My parents asked me to invite you to dinner tonight.”
She bowed her head and closed her eyes, presumably saying a brief prayer. Harrison should probably do the same, but his thoughts hadn’t stopped winging their way upward since his grandmother dropped her bombshell.
Before she took a bite, Lani finally looked up at him. “Is this a ‘we want the clothes back and technically you’re a member of the family, and we’re monarchs so you have to come’ kind of thing or a genuine invitation that I’m free to decline?”
“The clothes are yours to keep.” At least that’s what he assumed. If not, he’d pay someone for them. “You are free to accept or decline as you wish.”
“You’re sure?”
Harrison nodded. “My parents will be flying home late this evening. They really couldn’t afford the time off to come here, but since I managed to cause an incident, they didn’t have a choice.” He pushed his rice around with his fork. “I should have known better than to stay at the hotel with you. They’d always warned us not to, but I don’t recall them ever mentioning marriage as a consequence.”
“Then you couldn’t know.” She picked up a French fry and dipped it in her ketchup. “I’ll come this evening, but I need to be home by 8:30. I have to be in bed early.”
“Of course. Would you like me to pick you up? I’d be more than happy to do so.”
Lani shook her head. “I’m probably going to my sister’s house after this. I’ll drive myself over. What time?”
For the rest of the meal, Harrison did his best to keep the conversation moving and light-hearted. He didn’t want to dwell on their situation, and he couldn’t imagine Lani did either.
Instead he asked questions, told embarrassing stories about himself, and generally tried to keep their meal from being too serious.
When he walked her back to her car, he reached down and took her hand. “There is one thing I’m wondering, though.”
She didn’t withdraw. “What’s that?”
He took a deep breath and forged ahead. “When do I get to kiss you?”
9
Lani walked in to her next-older sister’s house, trying to put Harrison’s last comment out of her mind.
Kiss her?
Really?
“I’m here,” she called, though her sister would know that since she’d buzzed Lani through the gate.
“I’m in Celia’s room,” Mia hollered back.
Lani headed that way, dropping her purse on the couch as she did.
“How was your trip?” Mia asked as she tucked one foot back into the sleeper. Lani grabbed the dirty diaper and put it in the pail for her sister. “Kind of weird of you to just take off like that.”
“The guy didn’t even know who Bradley Garza was. How could he find the statue to meet this lady? He’d never been to the stadium before.” As Mia finished snapping the sleeper together, Lani picked the baby up before her sister could.
Snuggling the three-month-old into her shoulder, Lani headed for the living room.
“But you got to go to the game?”
“In a suite.” Lani wanted to flop into the recliner, but settled gently so she wouldn’t jar Celia. “You’ll never guess who with.”
“I have no idea.” Babyless, Mia flopped onto the couch.
“Christopher and his wife.”
“I saw them for a minute the other day at the store. He didn’t mention it, but we only talked for like five seconds before someone recognized him. Who else?”
“Jonathan Langley-Cranston and his wife, Kenzie. I’d never met them before. But then there was another couple.” She took a deep breath. “Actually, it was Harrison’s sister and her husband.”
“That’s kind of cool. Were they nice?”
“Very.” She shifted Celia so she could actually see the baby. “Uh, their names are Princess Esther of San Majoria and Prince Darius of Eyjania.”
Mia sat straight up. “What?” she screeched. “You went to the game with royalty?”
Lani could see the realization set in.
“And that means Harrison is a prince?”
“Prince Harrison of San Majoria. I think he has more names and titles, but I have no idea what they are.”
“Wow.” Her eyes narrowed. “You like him, though, don’t you?”
How could Mia get that from what Lani said? “I do,” Lani confirmed. “He’s a nice guy.”
“Are you going to see him again? Did he ask you out
yet?”
“We had lunch.” Lani popped the footrest out and rested Celia on her legs. “He’s going to help me with Madi’s movie. That’s the only way I’ll get to see him for the next couple of weeks.”
“He’s willing to schlep with you for the next couple of weeks? I think he’s a keeper.”
Before Lani could tell her about the whole marriage thing, Mia’s husband walked in.
“Hey, Lani.” He sounded tired and looked more worn out than Lani had seen him, though she hadn’t known him long.
“What’s going on?” she asked them. “Everything okay?”
Eli motioned to Mia who sat up and propped her feet on the ottoman. “We’re getting ready to go to court at least once, and probably twice. Or however many times it takes. We’re working on permanent legal and physical custody of Celia.”
Because Mia wasn’t the baby’s biological mother. A woman Eli had a fling with a year or so earlier had dropped the baby off and left for a job in Europe, planning to come back and pick her up in a few months like nothing happened. Mia and Eli were fighting her on that.
“Plus, I’m pretty sure Eli’s manager is stealing from him. I’ve been going through his financials. I can’t quite pinpoint it, but we’ve contacted his lawyers, and they’re getting a forensic accountant to go over everything. That wasn’t my area, so I don’t know enough to figure it out, but I do know something’s off.”
Lani grimaced. “I’m sorry, Eli. That stinks.” Maybe she wouldn’t tell Mia the rest of the story just yet. They had too much going on. Madi definitely wasn’t an option, not with the movie starting to film in less than twenty-four hours. Her parents would freak out, but she had no idea what that would look like. Her relationship with her brothers weren’t exactly the deep, relationship-talk kind of relationships.
So who did that leave?
She spent another half hour talking with Mia and Eli before leaving them and going a couple of blocks over. By the time she made it to the front door, Mama Beach had the door open.
As soon as it swung closed behind her, Lani found herself enveloped in one of her aunt’s famous hugs. Tears streaked down her cheeks as the trauma, and exhaustion, of the last day overwhelmed her.
Small Town Girls Don't Marry Secret Princes: A Small Town Contemporary Christian Romance (Beaches of Trumanville Book 2) Page 6