A Royal Holiday (Royals of Valleria #5) (7 page)

“That’s right. I forgot about that.”

“I didn’t. And, I’m sorry to say, you won’t forget about her, either. But you have to remember that he’s with you now. I still don’t get why Nate loves me sometimes, but I have stopped questioning it so much. He loves me. I love him. Someone from his past can’t change that, and I know the same is true for you and Alex. You’re way too sappy together to let something like this break you.”

Rebecca let out a long breath. “You’re right, Charlie. Absolutely right. I knew that in my head, but now I think my heart knows it, too.”

“Good.” Charlie smiled conspiratorially. “Now, do you want to give the press something else to think about?”

“What did you have in mind?”

“Oh, how about a bunch of royal women buying baby clothes?”

“People will assume it’s for Arianna.”

“Not if you pick up a few items in Vallerian purple and make a show of how much you love them.”

“Oh, you are terrible. And I love it. Come on, let’s tell the others.”

***

Grace usually felt a tinge of sadness and loss whenever she came across baby clothes. Miscarrying a child – even the child of her dead, abusive husband’s – wasn’t something she thought she would ever get over, but she had come to accept it, and had grown to live with the permanent ache in her heart.

Days like today made it all the more bearable. Surrounded by women who loved and supported her, all of whom knew of her past by now, she could easily wander the aisles and dote on the impossibly small, soft clothes.

“What do you think about this?” Rebecca asked as she held up a purple onesie. It wasn’t as dark as Vallerian purple, but it would do.

“I like it,” Grace said in her refined English accent. “I think you should make a bigger show of how much you adore it, however.”

Rebecca winked and started waxing poetic about its cuteness, its softness, and everything in-between.

A small crowd had formed in the local shop. Women pointed and snapped photos while the royal women gushed, all of them in on Charlie’s plan.

As Grace fingered the soft fabric of another outfit, she wondered again if she would ever have children. The doctors weren’t sure, and Marcello had said he didn’t mind either way, that they could adopt if a natural birth was out of the question. She certainly wouldn’t mind adopting. However, she couldn’t stop the yearning to nestle their child within her, to watch her belly swell and to know that she was nourishing it.

She sighed and put the thoughts away for now. Perhaps she was feeling this way due to the holiday season, which usually held terrible memories for her. Or, perhaps, it was because this would be the first Christmas in a long time where she was loved, cherished, and cared for.

Perhaps it was knowing that she could love again, and that she loved Marcello. She saw a bright future with him, all while her dismal past faded more and more into the background. She’d already decided on the perfect Christmas gift for Marcello, but she wanted to give him more. She seemed to have an unending well of love these days, and wanted to pass it on to a child.

Their child.

“I don’t know about this one,” Cat said as she held up another outfit. “Grace, what do you think?”

Grace smiled back at her long-time friend. “I say we take the lot of them.”

“A wonderful idea,” Genevieve said. “We do still have quite a bit more shopping to do. Let’s get these wrapped up and move on to the next store.”

As the girls chattered on their way to the checkout, Grace gave the racks of miniature clothes one last wistful glance before following.

“I like Finn’s plan,” Alex said as he sat in Gabriel’s office. “Do you really think we can pull it off?”

“Finn seemed to think so. I’m having our legal department review it, in any case.”

A knock came at the open door and Corrado, Gabriel’s chief of staff, walked in and bowed. “Your Majesty. Your Highness.”

“Yes?” Gabriel asked.

“Sirs, there is yet another story circling social media about the royal family.”

Alex’s eyes darkened. “You mean more rumours.”

Corrado smiled. “Sir, if it is a rumour, at least it’s a happy one. Though if it’s not true, the public will be sorely disappointed.”

Gabriel gave the man a bland look. “Stop talking in riddles and come out with it.”

Corrado smiled even broader. “Yes, Your Majesty. I’ve just sent you the media alerts. Apparently, people are saying Miss Campo is pregnant.”

Irritation crossed Alex’s face. “That’s nothing new. They’ve been speculating about that since we moved in together.”

“That’s true, Sir, but this morning Miss Campo was spotted shopping for baby clothes. Purple baby clothes, Your Highness.”

Alex blinked. Surely, this was just a ploy. Wasn’t it? She couldn’t be. Could she? Alex turned to his father’s speculative gaze. “I know nothing about this, Papa, though I can’t imagine the rumours are true.”

“Couldn’t they be?” Gabriel asked with a smirk.

“Well, yes, I suppose they
could
be true. However, Rebecca would never shop for our child’s clothes without telling me that she was pregnant first.”

“Regardless, Sirs, it seems as though this morning’s scandal has been pushed aside, at least for the moment.”

Alex and Gabriel shared a look. “That seems a much more likely scenario, Papa, though I’ll confirm with Rebecca.”

“What about the questions our press office is receiving, Sirs?”

Gabriel and Alex shared an unspoken communication, and Alex nodded. Gabriel smiled and faced Corrado. “Tell them that pregnancy rumours surrounding Miss Campo are nothing new, and that if the royal family had such blessed news to share, they would do so at the appropriate moment in the pregnancy.”

Corrado laughed. “Yes, Sir. Very clever. Thank you, Sirs.”

After Corrado walked out, Alex quirked an eyebrow at his father. “You realize what that statement says, don’t you?”

“It says that we won’t comment on it.”

“You’re also alluding to the fact that we wouldn’t confirm a pregnancy until at least three months in, even though there is no pregnancy to confirm.”

“That you know of, my son.”

“Papa.”

Gabriel held up a hand. “Trust me, Alexander. The statement will at least keep the scandal at bay for now. Rebecca was very clever to think of it, if it’s not the truth.”

“I’m going to call her now. It can’t be true, Papa.”

Gabriel gave his son a curious look. “Are you so unwilling to become a father that you’re hoping it’s a rumour?”

“No, of course not.” Alex ran an impatient hand through his hair. “I can’t wait to have children with Rebecca, but I know she wanted to wait until after the wedding to get pregnant.”

“Well, life has a funny way of deciding your plans are useless, my son.”

“That’s true.” Alex stood and walked towards the secret door that led from his father’s office to his own. “I’ll let you know once I hear back from her.”

As soon as Alex disappeared into one of the many secret passages snaking through the palace, Gabriel leaned back in his chair and smiled, wondering if he would become a grandfather to two children next year instead of one.

***

When Alex got back to his office, it was to find Marcello seated in front of his desk.

“What are you doing here?”

Marcello’s mouth broke out in a wide grin. “Just wanted to congratulate the new father.”

“Oh, shut up. It’s not true.”

“It’s not?”

“Well, it likely isn’t true.”

“So, you don’t know for sure?”

“I was about to call Rebecca and ask.” Alex sat down behind his desk and gave Marcello a pointed look. “Is there a reason you’re here? If not, please leave, so that I can call my fiancée.”

“In a minute. I wanted to update you on the investigation.”

“Why didn’t you just come by Papa’s office? I was in there a few minutes ago.”

“It’s your business before Papa’s.”

Alex nodded; it was times like these that he loved having his brothers nearby for support. “What did you find out?”

Marcello pointed to a file on the desk between them. “Take a look inside. I’ve outlined everything there.”

Alex flipped open the plain folder to find dossier full of information, topped with a photo of a sleek-looking photographer aiming his camera.
Cesaire Sacheverelle
.
Originally from France. Known for taking indiscreet photos of royalty or world leaders and selling them to the highest bidder.
Based on the figures listed, he made quite a living at it, too.

“Sounds like a man with high standards,” Alex said sarcastically as he closed the folder.

Marcello nodded. “My sentiments exactly.”

“He’s the one who took the photo of Rebecca and me?”

“Yes, that much I can confirm. I’m still trying to get a read on his current location; hopefully by tomorrow. Though he’s freelance, he sold those pictures – and apparently others – to the
Vallerian Star
tabloid. The mainstream news picked it up and published it this morning, too, and you saw one of those articles this morning.”

“Did he take other photos of us?”

“From what we’ve gathered, they’re just more of the same of you and Rebecca from that night. In the copies I’ve seen, Rebecca is clearly visible in some of them, so the paper knew you didn’t have a mistress when they published.”

“I was planning to sue them anyway; at least now we’ve got an open-and-shut case.”

“Definitely.”

“What about Portia? Any word on her purported pictures?”

Marcello shook his head. “Still working on it. We have confirmed that she’s in Valleria. She’s actually in Valentia, if you want to know the truth.”

His first thought was Rebecca, and if she might run into her while shopping. “Do we know where?”

“She’s staying at the Gara Hotel, as it’s one of the swankiest in the city.”

“Holy fucking hell.”

“What is it?”

“That’s where everyone – including Rebecca – is stopping for tea today after shopping. I’ve got to get ahold of her and warn her.”

“Wait.”

Alex shot his brother a thunderous look. “If you think I’m going to give that woman a chance to hurt Rebecca even more–.”

“Of course not. That’s not what I meant. Send a message to Mama or Cat instead. They’ll tell Rebecca gently, and adjust their plans without alerting everyone else.”

Alex let out a long sigh. “All right. Yes, that’s a good idea.” Alex began tapping away at his phone, and hoped his mother was keeping hers handy. It was barely a minute later when his mother responded back, and assured him she’d take care of it. Alex tossed his phone on the desk, on top of the dossier, and sat back.

“Rebecca will be all right, Alex. She’s tough. She can handle this.”

“I know. I still want to keep her protected from shit like this.”

“The two of you will deal with a lot more ‘shit’ than this. You’re going to be running the country together in about ten years, when Papa retires. Just think about everything we’ve been through in the last few years, hell, the last few months.”

“I know.”

“This kind of shit, it doesn’t get easier. You just get used to dealing with it, that’s all. Rebecca will, too. She’ll make a great queen.”

Alex smiled. “Damn right she will.”

Marcello stood up. “Give Mama and Cat a few minutes to do their magic, then call her. Confirm if you’re going to be a father, and then let us know if we should celebrate tonight.”

“Shut up.”

Marcello chuckled on his way out the door, shutting it behind him. When Alex couldn’t wait any longer, he picked up his phone once again, this time to call the love of his life.

***

By the time Rebecca returned to the palace, she was exhausted, though no one else seemed to be. Cat and Grace, along with Sarah and Carolina, were bright-eyed as they left to finalize more details for the ball; Charlie had left to check on Nate before heading down to the kitchens to do some more work; and Nonna, Genevieve, and Francine had left to discuss more wedding details.

Rebecca just needed a few quiet minutes alone, just to think. Since she’d avoided Alex’s calls all afternoon, she should have gone straight to his office to explain the scene with the baby clothes, particularly since she’d heard about the press release Gabriel had sent out not long after that. However, all Rebecca wanted was some peace and rest.

She stepped into the bathroom and began to run water for a bath. She added some lavender bubble bath – one of her favorite scents – to perfume the water and help calm her. She stripped efficiently, and uncharacteristically left all of her clothes in a messy pile on the floor.

She winced slightly as she stepped slowly into the hot, soothing water. After haphazardly pinning up her hair, she sat down and leaned back. She took several deep breaths and closed her eyes.

It was how he found her several minutes later.

Alex had been informed the moment the car had returned to the palace. He’d waited to see if Rebecca would come to him; when she hadn’t, he went looking for her.

Her forehead was furrowed and her eyebrows taut with worry. Her skin was flushed and the tops of her breasts were peeking through the soapy, perfumed water. Though she lay still, her breathing was forcibly even, and he knew she was awake.

“Darling?”

Her eyes blinked open and locked on his gaze. They pulled him, those twin pools of dark brown, he thought as he began to strip and walk towards the bath. From anywhere, any time of the day, they tugged him and lured him closer to her.

She didn’t protest when he slid into the water behind her, and tucked her back against his chest. He picked up a cloth nearby, dipped it in the water, and began to slowly run it over her body, massaging her as he went.

“Did you have something to tell me, darling?” he asked as he ran the cloth over her shoulder.

“Like what?” she asked innocently.

“You know what.”

Her back arched into his talented hands and she sighed. “There’s nothing to tell.”

“Nothing?”

“I’m not pregnant, Alex.”

Something cracked inside him; after a moment, he realized it had been hope. Could you feel disappointment for what never was in the first place? “You’re sure?”

“I’m sure. Charlie thought up the ploy to distract the press. There were enough people following us today that we knew word would make it around eventually.”