A Royally Beautiful Mess

by Carol Moncado

26

  Praying out loud didn’t seem to be Benjamin’s thing, but he did it anyway. Darius was impressed he didn’t stumble over the words.

  Kings were supposed to be comfortable giving speeches. Benjamin was not. Darius didn’t know why.

  He sat back down a moment later, and the staff came in to serve the meal. “Thank you” could be heard from many of the people around the room as the plates were set in front of them. It didn’t escape Darius’s notice that the head table was served last. Was Edward trying to teach Benjamin a lesson of some kind?

  Next to him, Benjamin seemed tense. The head table was served from the middle out, with Queen Grace being served first.

  The two kings were last to get their meals.

  Someone was up to something. If not Edward, someone. Louis perhaps?

  To his right, Esther talked with her grandmother, laughing occasionally as she ate. Around the room, people now connected through him and Esther, and their coming children, talked and shared stories.

  Benjamin didn’t say a word.

  Even as a child, his brother had never been prone to idle chit chat, but the more he thought about it, the more Darius couldn’t remember the last time he’d had a real conversation with his brother. They spoke from time to time, like when Darius needed his accounts unfrozen, or about his wedding to Esther. But just two brothers shooting the breeze?

  Darius wasn’t sure that had ever happened.

  Maybe it was time to change that.

  “How are you?”

  Benjamin’s fork stopped halfway to his mouth. “Pardon?”

  Darius shook his head sadly. “I just asked how you are.”

  His brother shrugged. “Fine. This weekend as a big happy family may have caused an international incident though.”

  Caused one? Not been caused by one in the form of another king threatening Benjamin’s throne?

  “What are you talking about?” Darius asked him.

  “Prince William of Mevendia eloped in Eyjania a number of years ago. I wasn’t given all the details, but the formal wedding is this Saturday.”

  “On Christmas Eve?” Darius hadn’t heard about it, but he’d been busy with finals then trying to figure out the details for this gathering.

  “Apparently. I was one of few leaders outside of the Commonwealth of Belles Montagnes who was invited. I had to decline so I could be here.”

  So much for that civil conversation with his brother. “If you need to leave early so you can attend, it’s fine with us.”

  Benjamin shook his head, but didn’t say anything else before he pushed his plate away, the signal that he was finished.

  Normally, that ended the meal for everyone else, too, but no one was paying any attention or even cared at this meal.

  Darius glanced down the table to see that Edward was likely done as well, but he was laughing with his wife and Darius’s mother. He didn’t seem to notice that no one cared.

  Benjamin did, though.

  Darius nearly jumped when Esther squeezed his knee. She gave him a pointed look. A quick check of the room showed that everyone was nearly finished. He nodded. She’d already taken off her sweater as everyone sat down. No one would have noticed her bump in the commotion.

  When she nodded in return, he stood, using the side of his fork to tap his glass. The room quieted quickly.

  “Thank you all again for coming.”

  “Like we had a choice,” one of his youngest sisters called. He wasn’t sure which one, but everyone laughed.

  “Last night, we told you that Esther and I were married in March.” He held his hand out for Esther to take and urged her to stand. “What we didn’t mention last night is that Esther will be giving birth in late May.” The announcement of twins would wait for the gender reveal party the next day.

  Gasps came from all over the room. Then squeals and chairs were pushed back into each other. Again, it seemed to be mostly the women rushing to congratulate Esther. Edward, Jordan, and Kensington, the three men who were already fathers, had a different sort of smile on their faces than Darius’s brothers and Harrison did.

  Darius whistled to get everyone’s attention before the group started to disperse. “Just so everyone knows, there’s a game room downstairs with pool, foosball, and some of the arcade console games and pinball. There are a bunch of game consoles hooked up to a TV with a ton of games as well. All of the ones available are appropriate for all age levels.” He’d double checked. “There’s also a movie room with access to almost every movie ever I’m told.”

  He pointed to his right. “On the first floor of that wing is a library and ballroom for anyone who wants to do sock races.” They’d often done that with their father the day after a ball. “We’re not planning any excursions to town at this point, but there’s plenty to do here. I don’t know if anyone brought their swim suits, but there is a lap pool in the basement as well as a gym for anyone interested. I’m also told there will be cookie making after nap time for the younger children later this afternoon, but anyone can join in.”

  Most of the family congratulated him and Esther then left, talking about what they were going to do. Esther, her mother, and her sisters walked out together. A few minutes later, it was Darius with his brother, mother, and Edward.

  “Would someone care to tell me what all this was about?” Benjamin asked. “The seating and serving...” He stopped before going any further.

  Edward laughed. “You do know not everything is about you, don’t you, Ben? This weekend certainly isn’t. It’s not about me either. If it’s about anyone, it’s Darius and Esther bringing their families together to celebrate their good news. Both pieces of good news.”

  Their mother didn’t say anything, but the sad look on her face tore at Darius. What was that about?

  “I know it’s not about me,” Benjamin started.

  “Do you?” Edward challenged. “Have you congratulated your brother? Even talked to your sister-in-law? This is their weekend and a family Christmas.”

  “Will we be doing more family Christmases?” Benjamin’s tone let them know what he thought about the idea.

  Edward moved closer until he stood in front of Benjamin. He was a little shorter than Darius’s brother, but made up for it in presence. “I don’t know who told you your sweat doesn’t stink, but it’s only the luck of the genetic draw that put you on that throne, and only my good pleasure that kept you there.”

  Darius saw his mother start to say something, but stop as Edward continued.

  “A good king doesn’t look out for himself first. A good king takes care of his people, his family, and seeks first the kingdom of God rather than his own glory. You had an excellent example of a good king in your father, King Alfred the Second, but right now?” He didn’t wait for an answer. “I fear for your people and for your children who won’t have great, or even good, leadership to model after you’re gone. Unless something changes significantly, and fast, you will be the last member of the Quatremaine Dynasty to sit on that throne.”

  His pronouncement finished, Edward turned to leave, but stopped before exiting into the foyer. “One more thing, Ben. Whenever you’re faced with a situation where you have a choice to make, a choice to be a good king or not, ask yourself, ‘What would King Alfred do?’”

  This time Benjamin stopped him. “Which Alfred?”

  Edward shook his head sadly. “First or second. Take your pick. They were both great kings. They were better husbands and fathers. More than that, they were outstanding men.”

  This time when Edward left no one stopped him.

  Esther didn’t know what happened after everyone left breakfast, but Benjamin looked furious. He’d gone to his room and hadn’t left, texting to say he would be working through lunch. She wondered if he’d be at dinner.

  Before lunch even arrived, she was exhausted. She’d had fun playing a dance game with her younger in-laws in the basement. Most of the older females had gone into the movie room and watched a couple o
f Happily Ever After Television movies, including at least one about a prince and one starring the twin brother of Ravenzario’s prince consort.

  Esther wasn’t interested, so she’d spent time with the younger ones and found she quite liked them. She went back to the main floor and found her father and Queen Eliana talking in the great room. The discussion didn’t seem too serious, which was good.

  She collapsed into one of the other chairs.

  “Tired?” her father asked with a laugh.

  “Exhausted. I think I’m ready for a nap.”

  The Queen Mother reached over to pat her hand. “You probably haven’t slept well the last few nights worried about how all of this is going to go.”

  “Not well at all.”

  “Why don’t you go rest? I don’t think anyone would fault you for it.”

  “Ma’am?”

  They all turned at the voice coming from behind Esther.

  She stifled her urge to sigh. “Yes, Louis?”

  “Before you rest, I have one thing I need to discuss with you. It will only take a moment.”

  Esther put both palms flat on the arms of the chair and levered herself up. “Of course. Then I’m napping.”

  “Wait.” That came from Queen Eliana. “Louis, you worked for my husband.”

  Louis bowed. “Yes, ma’am. It was my honor and my privilege to work for your husband and your son for some time.”

  “I never knew the reason why you left.”

  Louis clasped his hands behind his back. Esther knew him well enough now to know he would equivocate. “I was relieved of my duties, ma’am. It was decided that my services were no longer needed.”

  “Who decided that?” She sounded indignant on his behalf.

  “I’m afraid I couldn’t say. I came to work one day, and my access codes didn’t work. I was escorted off the grounds by security. My sister left the next day.”

  “How did you come to be here?”

  “We heard Darius Quatremaine and his wife were looking for a housekeeper that would involve training a student or two how to do basic cooking and cleaning. Prince Darius recognized me immediately and the rest, as they say, is history. It has been our pleasure and our privilege to look after the prince and princess.” He turned to Esther. “I am afraid this is a bit time-sensitive, ma’am, having to do with lunch.” He bowed again to both of the others in the room. “If you’ll excuse us, please.”

  Esther walked with him to the dining room. “I don’t know who came up with this seating design but it’s genius. I couldn’t think of another way except one long table and there’s not enough room for one big enough.”

  “Thank you, ma’am, but that brings me to the question. You said you wanted to mix up the tables, but I do need some parameters. Do you want the head table to remain the same?”

  “Perhaps rotate the seating, but I think keeping the seven of us at the head table would be all right.”

  “For the others, do you want couples to be split? For instance, should Princess Astrid and her husband always be at the same table?”

  The politics of all of it was enough to make Esther tear her hair out. “Leave the tables as-is for today. Tomorrow, trade them around so the Eyjanians sitting with Astrid and Jordan today are with Kensington and Anabelle tomorrow. Maybe even rotate the tables somehow so it’s not just the Eyjanians moving or just the San Majorians, if that’s possible.” Because it wouldn’t do to make the Eyjanians have new seats while the San Majorians stayed put. “We’ll figure out the day after that later, though we’re only having breakfast before everyone leaves.”

  “Princess Jacqueline Grace informed me she wished to be seated with the youngest members of the family for the duration.”

  That made Esther breathe a sigh of relief. She hadn’t been sure how that would work. The girls could each go with their families, but their parents wouldn’t be able to hold much of an adult conversation the whole time. “That’s very kind of her.”

  “There has been some discussion of an early dinner with cookie making afterward instead of before. Apparently, some of the younger ladies will likely not wake up from their naps until nearly dinner time.” Louis smiled kindly. “We have about an hour before lunch. You should get some rest.”

  She smiled back. “And you should tell Queen Eliana the whole truth.”

  His smile disappeared. “There is no point.”

  “I’m not so sure about that.” She’d let him think about it and bring it up again later. “Thank you for everything, Louis. Darius and I appreciate you.”

  The smile returned. “It is my pleasure, ma’am.”

  She went upstairs and stretched out on the bed she shared with Darius the night before, but she didn’t even kick off her boots, not for a short nap.

  Astrid came to get her an hour later, hugging her and checking out Esther’s baby bump before they went downstairs.

  The afternoon went well, with the two families intermingling. Harrison was in teenage boy heaven with plenty of people to play video games with. She’d even seen him playing foosball, something she knew he had no experience with. Esther decided she needed a proper nap and didn’t awaken until Darius came to get her for dinner. She only hoped her guests understood she wasn’t trying to be rude.

  Dinner went as well as breakfast and lunch had, though Esther noted a lack of conversation between her husband and brother-in-law. Perhaps she should have Louis mix up the seating arrangements at the head table as well.

  “What are you thinking?” Darius leaned close to her, likely so his brother wouldn’t hear.

  “That it’s going better than I hoped, and I wonder what’s going to happen to ruin it before everyone leaves.”

  His hand rubbed her back. “Don’t borrow trouble. Nothing has to happen to ruin it. Just be happy it’s going well and call it good.”

  Esther nodded as she reached for her drink, but she couldn’t shake the feeling that the other shoe was going to drop before they returned to their Serenity Landing home.

  27

  Darius knew Esther would head for the main kitchen after she finished her conversation with her parents as dinner wrapped up. He also knew he didn’t want to help with cookies. His first foray into painted sugar cookies had been an abysmal failure. He didn’t need to try again. He’d mess it up for everyone else. Esther didn’t need him accidentally ruining anything.

  Instead, he went to the basement to see what was going on down there. He heard a shout coming from the media room.

  Opening the door to peek in, he found Jordan, all alone, standing with his hands in the air. “Yes!”

  With a laugh, Darius closed the door behind him, getting a better look at the screen.

  He should have guessed.

  Esther had told him her brother-in-law was both Canadian and a hockey player. Of course he snuck down for a few minutes of “the big game” - whichever game that might be - without kids.

  “My TimBits coach’s son-in-law is keeper for the St. Louis Blues,” Jordan explained. “I met him a few times when they came for a visit.” His grin widened. “Scored on him, too. Of course, I was ten and he was eight at the time, but it still counts.”

  Darius couldn’t help but smile. “I think it does.”

  “I should see if I can get in touch with him through his uncle about doing a clinic in San Majoria. We have our own kids’ hockey league going into its second year. They think I’m the best ever, but most of them have never seen a real hockey game in person.” He grew more thoughtful. “I wonder if I could get Edward to work some international relations magic for a game in San Majoria. High school or college teams even. It’s not the same watching one on television - even a big screen.”

  “I think it sounds like a great idea. I have no idea how to go about making something like that happen, but it seems like a plan.”

  “I don’t either,” Jordan admitted. “I’m still pretty new at this whole ‘member of the royal family’ thing. International relations are still bey
ond my expertise.” He sat back down as the game came back on, but he muted the sound.

  “Mine, too, and I was born into it.” Darius took a seat next to Jordan.

  “I don’t know that I’ve met any of your family before yesterday. The only Eyjanians I’ve ever met, that I know of, are Anabelle and her extended family. You might know one of them. As I understand it, Thor works for your family’s security team.”

  Darius nodded. “I know who he is, but I don’t know him personally. We’ve met in passing a few times, but that’s it.”

  “How are things going with you and Esther?” Jordan shifted in his seat, and his expression changed. The different was subtle, but definitely there. It went from open to more guarded. Almost like a big brother?

  “Better than they were a few months ago,” Darius told him. “We’re probably not where we should be yet, but we’re getting there.”

  “You came with her when the baby was born?”

  No one knew that, did they? Except the king and queen, he didn’t think anyone had been told. “Not exactly. I was there, but we didn’t arrive together, and we were careful not to be seen together. We didn’t want to take away from your good news.”

  “You could have said hello to us, at least.”

  “There was enough going on without us adding to it.”

  “You weren’t doing well then, were you?”

  “Not particularly, but things have improved a lot since then. Esther’s pregnant. Gender reveal party is tomorrow night at dinner. We’re both over the moon.”

  “Then why not go public? Why the secrecy?”

  Darius leaned his head against the seatback behind him. “There are a lot of reasons, mostly having to do with things at home.”

  “I’ve heard some not great things about your uncle, but nothing specific to you two.”

  “Since I moved away, I see things differently than I did a year ago. I already knew my uncle wasn’t a great guy, but distance - both physical and time - has put a lot of things in a different light. To my knowledge, he’s never done anything illegal, but that doesn’t make him a good man.”