The Princess (40 page)

Twelve Years Later

“It hurts,” seven-year-old Jeremiah said.

Shelby leaned to kiss first him and then the tissue that was wrapped around his finger.

“Come on, Jer,” Nikolai directed, putting a hand to his son’s back. “We’ll see Fran and get you all patched up.”

Mother and father exchanged a glance before Nikolai led the patient away.

“Well, now,” Fran spoke as soon as the prince entered the kitchen. “What’s this?”

“I cut my finger,” Jeremiah admitted. “I touched the sword.”

Fran shook her head in loving exasperation as Murdock left his newspaper and came to inspect the wound.

“It doesn’t look too deep,” he observed, and Nikolai stood back and let the faithful servants fuss over his son. Jeremiah had a flare for the dramatic—he and Shelby had noticed it often—but his heart was big, and all the staff was taken in by his round blue eyes and dark hair, much the way they’d enjoyed another young prince many years ago.

“I think some gauze will do the trick,” Fran said calmly.

She was like a second mother to the children, and Nikolai could see his son was already relaxing.

Nikolai wasn’t quite so at ease. He had barely seen Shelby all day, and the sooner they got this show on the road, the sooner he
would. The candy tin appeared out of nowhere, held by Murdock’s capable hand, and Nikolai allowed Jeremiah one piece. With a prayer for a calm heart, the prince made himself sit down and wait while his son finished.

“Are you all right, Siah?” Shelby asked softly when she entered the large parlor and found her oldest child alone by the window.

Siah turned to look at his mother but didn’t speak. Shelby waited.

“What if I don’t find a wife to marry?” he asked softly, his eyes and hair so like his mother’s, his thoughtful manner also an inheritance from her.

“Well,” Shelby said slowly, trying to find her bearings. “It could be a problem, but I guess I’m not too worried about it.”

“But I only have until I’m 26.”

Shelby had to stop herself from reminding him that his twenty-sixth birthday was many years away. She knew he would not find this helpful. Instead she said, “That very subject is up for review in Council, Siah, but even if it’s not changed, God will provide. You need to remember that it happens at all different times for people. So many kids go off to Bible school and meet someone the first year, but Peter didn’t. He didn’t meet Janie until his last year. There were times when he was uncertain if there would be anyone, but he waited on the Lord.”

The young prince nodded, his face still thoughtful but not worried.

“Tell me something, Siah,” Shelby went on. “What brought this up?”

Siah looked disgusted and said of a second cousin, “Conroy has another girlfriend. She’s all he can talk about, and he’s only a year older than me.”

Shelby well remembered when some of her friends had paired off and she had felt completely left out.

“You’re going to think this is so dumb, Siah, but I wanted a phone in my room. I begged my parents, and they finally said I could have one for my thirteenth birthday. The only problem was that I was just past my twelfth birthday. I wished that whole year away, Siah. It was such a mistake. I don’t want you to do the same thing. Enjoy being 12. And enjoy
not
having a girlfriend. The time will come all too swiftly to talk about finding a mate, but having a new girl every other week is not the way to go about it. No matter what Conroy says.”

Siah smiled at his mother when she smiled and leaned to kiss his brow. These days she didn’t have far to go. Siah looked as if he would catch his father in no time. She stared lovingly at his precious face. She knew they would have to speak of this again, but for now he looked more at peace. He was even eager to join the family as they waited on Nikolai, Jeremiah, and the king and queen. The whole family, including her parents, was going out to dinner. Shelby made her way over to her father and watched his conversation with their youngest daughter, four-year-old Mardelle.

“I had to take a nap,” her small arms signed, her face showing the inconvenience of such a requirement.

Josiah signed right back, and Shelby smiled at his commiseration.

Shelby put her two cents in about longing for a nap these days but received no sympathy from either person.

Mardelle went on to say that she had found her favorite bear and that he’d been under her bed the whole time. This reported, it didn’t take long for her to wander away, and that was when Shelby spotted Mardelle’s older sister.

“Watch this, Fa,” Shelby said to her father. “I’m going to ask Ariane a question. Keep in mind that she hasn’t had to go to the
bathroom in six years.” Shelby called her over and proceeded to ask the personal question of her daughter, who stood with her legs very close together.

“No,” came the standard reply, whereupon her mother sat back and stared at her. Ariane was learning about being honest the first time she was asked a question and not
after
one of her parents gave her a pointed look.

“Yes, I do. I forgot.”

“All right. While you’re using the bathroom, ask the Lord to help you remember next time.”

Ariane nodded swiftly and shot across the room. The adults watched her.

“She runs like a certain tomboy I knew a few years ago,” her father said.

Shelby laughed.

“Someone wants his mother,” Daria interrupted as she approached with five-month-old Alex.

“Oh, my,” Shelby laughed again when her son was close enough to understand the reason. “Thank you, Mother,” she said dryly as she made her way from the room.

“I’m glad you did this now,” she told the baby boy who smiled at her in delight. “It would have been a bit awkward at the restaurant.” Shelby had just put Alex on the changing table when Nikolai came in.

“Hi.” Shelby was glad to see him and put a hand on her son’s stomach as she turned to kiss her husband.

“Hi, yourself.” He kissed her twice. “Well, Alex, what have you been up to?” He leaned over to pay attention to his son, who nearly turned inside out with delight.

“That should be obvious to you,” Shelby said.

Nikolai’s eyes lit mischievously. “I didn’t want to assume and embarrass him.”

“You’re so thoughtful,” Shelby teased right back.

“I am.” Nikolai’s smile was warm. “In fact, I’m so thoughtful that I’ll do this for you.”

Shelby’s eyes rounded with pleasure as she backed away and let Nikolai take over.

“All right, big guy,” he said as he finished the job and laid Alex on the carpet for a moment. “You’re all set.” After washing his hands, Nikolai came back to settle Alex on his arm and turned to Shelby once again. She had taken a seat close to the baby.

“Are we all set for dinner?”

“I think so,” she said softly.

“You don’t sound ready.”

Shelby stood. “I just realized how much I want to be alone with you. I’ve been hugged all day by people shorter than I am, and even though I’m looking forward to going out for my parents’ anniversary, right now I just want you.”

Nikolai wanted the same thing. With an arm around her waist, he bent his head and whispered something soft in her ear.

“Have I told you lately that I love you?” Shelby asked, her eyes smiling into his as her hands came up to Nikolai’s chest.

“Yes, you have, but I’ll hear it again.”

Shelby smiled. He never tired of hearing it, and she never tired of saying it. Shelby said it, just as a smile lit her face, her mind remembering that only recently her mother had admitted that she had speculated about Shelby’s future on the very day she’d come to Christ. She would have to be certain to tell Nikolai.

“What does that smile mean?” Nikolai asked, not able to miss it.

“Only that I like being the princess.”

“I’m glad to hear you still want the job,” Nikolai said as he took her hand and they made their way from the room. “No one else would make it half as fun to be the prince.”