Winning the Queen's Heart: Contemporary Christian Romance (The Brides of Belles Montagnes Book 2) (6 page)

“It’s in the contract he signed. The engagement isn’t officially over unless Nicklaus still hasn’t shown up a week after the wedding date, even if he hasn’t been heard from in years or is dead and buried.”

“But why? I was maybe six months old when he signed the contract. Why would he do that to me?”

“The contracts aren’t always bad, even if they aren’t what we think we want,” he reminded her gently.

She looked up at him again, but this time he was looking across the room. At his wife. Jessabelle sat with the Montevarians - Queen Adeline along with her younger sister, Anastasia, and her sister-in-law, Ellie. “She looks comfortable.”

“She is.” She could hear the pride in his voice. Jessabelle had been awkward and definitely unsuited for royal life at the wedding and for the first few months afterward. It took some time, and patience, on the part of Malachi, but she came around, slowly. Learning the truth about her parentage had thrown all of them for a loop, but in the six months since, they’d all grown closer. Now, she had just a couple months left before bringing the first Van Rensselaer grandchild into the world.

“How’s she feeling?” Jessabelle had dealt with some morning sickness early in her pregnancy, but not too much. More recently, though, Yvette had noticed she seemed off.

“She’s tired. Much more so than she has been. In fact, Father suggested she back off on some of her engagements. She agreed readily.”

Yvette felt her eyebrows rise. “Father suggested it?”

Malachi chuckled. “Yes. I was more shocked than you.”

“Have you come up with a name for my new niece yet?” No one outside the family knew the gender of the baby.

“Catherine Alicia Yvette. But we haven’t told Mother or Nana yet.”

“So you’re not naming her after me?” She faked the shock in her voice.

“Sorry, but no. Nana Yvette.”

“As well it should be.”

They stood there for a couple more minutes, not saying anything when Yvette decided to go back to the original topic. Not because she wanted to, but because she knew she couldn’t avoid it forever.

“I don’t know anything about planning a wedding, Kai.” Her family had long called him Mal, but when she overheard him tell Jessabelle how much he hated that, she made a concerted effort to change.

“Like I do? My wedding was planned in less than two weeks. Jessabelle didn’t even know what dress she was going to wear until that morning.”

“She told me.” Yvette had asked her for help already.

“Ask Lizbeth. She loves planning stuff.”

Yvette nodded slowly. She didn’t know her brother’s friend well, but it did seem like something she’d enjoy. “Do you think she would?”

“All you can do is ask. She’s been acting odd for the last few months, though. She won’t tell me or Jessabelle what’s going on, though.”

“I’ll call her tomorrow.” Maybe. “My wedding is supposed to be in the chapel. So was Christiana’s. I wonder if I can have a beach party reception here.” The only way she would get through this would be to make light of it.

“I don’t think Father will go for that, even with the lack of groom.”

“Probably not.”

It was worth a shot, though.

And after the wedding didn’t happen, maybe then she could get around to her first date.

* * *

The wedding ball passed as though in a dream. Alexander never strayed far from Queen Christiana’s side. Unless she was dancing with Poppo or one of the other men who claimed her time, he remained close. He danced with her several times, but always formal, as though she knew people were watching and didn’t want to be seen as weak? Emotional? Connected? Dependent?

He didn’t think her people would see it that way, but he did his best to respect her wishes and remained fairly formal, at least until the tapping of silverware against glasses urged him to kiss her. Alexander relished each tender moment.

After dinner, dancing, toasts, and mingling with guests, the time came for them to be whisked away. Alexander, with Queen Christiana’s hand in his, ran through the hail of bubbles back to the waiting carriage. Those gathered cheered as the horse began to trot off. He and his
wife
waved, smiling and laughing as they did.

“Did you have a good time?” he asked her as they settled back, his arm around her shoulders to ward against the evening chill. The ride wouldn’t be long, but he didn’t want an awkward silence to set in.

Queen Christiana relaxed against him. “It was lovely. Thank you for helping with the arrangements.”

“My pleasure.” He kissed the side of her head. The carriage turned to head down the hill as the cabin came into view. Rustic, like something out of the American West, but with all the modern conveniences. Built just a decade earlier, it held the position as the newest building on the property. The photographer hovered off to one side as they drew to a halt. Once the door shut behind them, they’d be alone, but until then, it would be recorded for posterity.

Alexander stepped out of the carriage and turned, taking the queen’s hand in his to help her to the ground. When they reached the porch, Alexander turned. “Are you ready?”

She nodded.

He swept her into his arms and kicked open the door, left slightly ajar by whoever had prepared the cabin. The soft clicking of the camera stopped as his heel tapped the door closed behind them. Lowering her to the floor, Alexander left his hands resting on her hips.

“Alone at last.” He kept his tone light.

The queen gave him a tremulous smile. “I suppose we are.”

This wasn’t Alexander’s first time in the cabin, but he’d never really paid much attention, at least from the stand point of a guest. Stepping back, he led her to the nearby couch, motioning for her to sit down.

Situating himself far enough away from her that they weren’t touching, he leaned forward until he could rest his forearms on his knees. “There is something we need to talk about, ma’am.”

* * *

Christiana stood in front of the mirror in the large bathroom. Not nearly as ornate as the one in the palace, the slate tile flooring and large Jacuzzi tub were very nice. The subtle lighting meant her reflection looked good. She
felt
like she looked good. But her stomach remained unsettled about what was about to happen.

But when she closed her eyes, all she could see was Alexander telling her what the Prime Minister had said…

“Three hundred years ago, the custom of making certain the king and his new queen attempted to produce an heir as quickly as possible was codified into law. It hasn’t been thought of in well over a century as all kings were married long before they took the throne and there was no reason to believe they wouldn’t consummate the marriage on their wedding night.” Alexander had refused to look at her but stared into the distance.

Christiana blinked a few times. “Why would they do such a thing?”

“Apparently, in the 1600s, the king died with no male heirs. He had a daughter who everyone believed should inherit the throne but a law from a hundred years before required any queen to be married before she could take the throne. Her uncle ruled as a conservator until a marriage could be arranged.” She winced as he hurried on. “Unlike your uncle, he only had the best intentions and planned to turn power over to the queen upon her marriage. She and one of the dukes decided to marry but as a political alliance only. When the rest of the aristocracy got word of this, they demanded proof the marriage was consummated. What kind of proof wasn’t mentioned, and the last time the law was invoked a sworn statement was required of the prime minister at the time.”

“And this law is still on the books?”

“Yes, ma’am.”

The title made her uncomfortable. Alexander was her husband, not a subject. Even as a friend she had asked him to drop the formality, but he never had. Just the one time before he proposed.

“How long have you known?” How long had he been keeping it from her?

“Since yesterday morning. I didn’t want to stress you out. You had enough on your plate without worrying about tonight.”

“I already worried about tonight,” she admitted, shocking even herself.

He turned to look at her. “Given our circumstances, my thoughts were that we should wait until we were both comfortable to take that next step. The prime minister said the law allows him to choose the kind of confirmation. He told me he will take our silence on the matter as confirmation that attempts to conceive an heir began as soon as reasonably possible. His words, not mine. The statement is so ambiguous as to mean just about anything.”

Of course. Prime Minister Caruso was one of the few people who knew the sordid details of the last few weeks. He was doing his best to give them a way out while still upholding the letter of the law.

“He’s been researching it. For centuries, the newly married king or Crown Prince and his bride would enter the bridal chamber while the party continued. The king or prince would emerge some time later to great cheering as the royal line had now been guaranteed for another generation. Or so they believed.”

“This is before the law?”

“Yes. And part of the reason why the law was written. When it became known this daughter and her duke would enter the bridal chamber, and the new prince consort would emerge sometime later without consummation taking place, they felt the need to make it official.”

“I see.” The sound of her thudding heart filled Christiana’s ears. “What do you propose we do then, Alexander?”

She watched him take a deep breath in and exhale slowly. “I will leave it up to you. There is no reason for anyone to ask us about it. The prime minister believes he’s the only one even aware of the law. Everyone will assume they know what happens here tonight.”

“It would be dishonest to let Prime Minister Caruso believe something that is not true, correct?”

A quick nod. “It absolutely could be interpreted that way. However, ‘as soon as reasonably possible’ could be anytime between now and the time either one of us dies. I believe he fully expects us to wait until we’re ready.”

“But he did not actually say that?”

“No, ma’am.”

Thoughts and emotions swirled into a vortex inside. “Very well.” She stood, her wedding dress feeling more constricting than before.

Alexander stood with her. “Whatever you choose, Queen Christiana...” His voice trailed off.

“Thank you, Alexander.”

Now she stared in the mirror, still uncertain as to what her decision would be. It felt dishonest to allow the prime minister to believe something that was not true, no matter how he worded it to Alexander.

But to be intimate with him? Was she ready for that? Was he? Would the champagne from the toasts cloud her judgment? It could not be
wrong
in the same sense it would be if they were not married, but would she make the same decision if she were not a bit tipsy?

Christiana looked herself over. Comfortable pajamas. Flannel pants. Long sleeved t-shirt. Not exactly romantic or sexy, but she knew the cabin contained only one bed. She would not ask Alexander to sleep on the couch. Except for their time on the yacht, they would be expected to share a bed until they returned to the palace in nine weeks’ time. She had packed accordingly.

When she decided she had stalled long enough, Christiana emerged from the bathroom to find Alexander sitting on the back deck, overlooking the Mediterranean. Long tan legs emerged from his cargo shorts as he stretched out on one of the Adirondack chairs. If he was disappointed by her attire, it did not show.

Christiana sat in the chair next to him. “It is a lovely evening.”

“It is.”

“Could we just talk for a while and see what happens?”

“Of course.” He turned and gave her what had to be his best smile. “Let’s talk.”

Chapter 7

Alexander leaned his forearms against the railing and stared out at the surf. Sipping from his mug of coffee, the ring on his left hand caught his eye. His first full day as a married man. They would spend another night at the cabin then board the yacht for a week at sea visiting the islands of the country. He did have a meeting finally scheduled with Yvette about the wedding scheduled for June. He hated to do it on their honeymoon, but there was enough of a break the day they returned to Bianisola that he could work it in then.

He hoped Queen Christiana would sleep most of the morning. With her expertly applied make-up removed, he could see the dark circles under her eyes. She desperately needed the rest.

After finishing his coffee, he sat on the porch swing with his Bible and a devotional book for husbands. Of course, none of the devotions said anything about marrying a queen, but surely the concepts would be applicable. Alexander spent over an hour on the porch, pulling out his Kindle once his quiet time was finished.

It was a few minutes after noon, when he heard stirring inside. The shower turned on a moment later, and he went back to his book. Another hour passed, and he started thinking about lunch when Queen Christiana emerged from the cabin. Her slender legs were encased in blue denim tucked into cowgirl boots. A button-down shirt completed the American West look.