The Marcelli Princess

by Susan Mallery

“That’s as good a word as any,” Mia admitted. “I felt desperate and unable to cope. I know none of you like him, but Rafael was really there for me today.”

  To her surprise, her sisters didn’t say anything. Instead they exchanged odd glances.

  “What?” she demanded.

  Brenna shrugged. “We don’t hate Rafael so much. You’re right. He was great today. He even called the kid Danny. Who knew a royal could unbend that much?”

  Mia had noticed that as well, but in the trauma of the moment, she hadn’t thought to mention it.

  “I appreciate what he did with Kelly,” Francesca admitted. “He saw what none of us could. What if he hadn’t been here? How long would Kelly have gone on hating her life because she was too embarrassed to tell us the truth?”

  “Good question.” Brenna cleared her throat. “You know, he’s, ah, well, come to see me a couple of times.”

  This did cause Mia to gulp her wine. “Why?”

  “To talk about you and how to make things right. The first time I told him exactly what I thought of him.”

  “Wish I’d been there,” Katie said with a grin.

  “Me too,” Mia said. Brenna being totally honest was always entertaining.

  “Yeah, it was fun,” Brenna told them. “But the second time he was…I don’t know. More sincere, I guess. I’m kinda willing to give him the benefit of the doubt. Not totally. Just a little.”

  Who would have guessed, Mia thought. She looked at Katie. “What’s your excuse? He hasn’t saved your world.”

  Her oldest sister smiled. “How can I hate the guy my baby sister is in love with?”

  Ouch. “You noticed that, huh?” Mia had been hoping she’d kept her feelings to herself.

  “You can’t turn off love,” Katie reminded her. “You’ve loved him for over five years and you two have been apart. Being together would either destroy your feelings or make them stronger. It didn’t seem to me you were any less interested.”

  “Great. So he’s not horrible all the time and I’m still in love with him. Now what?”

  She thought of mentioning his “marriage of convenience” proposal, but decided it would only make things more complicated.

  “You have to decide if you trust him,” Francesca said. “He should have to earn it, of course, but are you willing to let him try?”

  “I don’t know,” Mia admitted. “How can I make myself that vulnerable again? Okay, he’s getting the law changed in Calandria, which means he won’t be able to keep me from Danny, but still. What’s real and what’s lies? How do I know he’s not playing me for a fool again? He was a total sleaze.”

  “Total,” Brenna said.

  “But he’s Danny’s father.”

  “And he’s not going away,” Katie said. “You’re stuck with him. So how stuck do you want to be?”

  Mia leaned back against the window. “I don’t know,” she admitted. “My head tells me one thing and my heart says the opposite. Which should I listen to? How do I figure it all out?”

  “You need a sign,” Francesca said.

  Brenna rolled her eyes. “Gee, Dr. Marcelli, is that your professional, psychologist opinion?”

  “Sure.” Francesca smiled. “It’s as good a way to pick as any.”

  “I had a lot more respect for our higher education system before she said that,” Brenna muttered.

  Mia laughed. “Okay, fine. What kind of sign?”

  “A really big one?” Katie offered.

  They were all laughing when the loud noise cut through the quiet of the night. Darkness faded into an ever-growing bright white light.

  “Oh, my God,” Brenna said as she scrambled to her feet. “It really is a sign.”

  The four of them put down their glasses and ran downstairs. The Grands were already there, as was Rafael, who was spending the evening with Danny.

  They stepped outside and saw a large helicopter setting down on the driveway.

  “That can’t be good,” Mia muttered, wondering if something had happened to Darcy’s father. She couldn’t imagine anything but presidential disaster bringing a helicopter.

  She heard another engine and turned to see Joe driving toward the house.

  “Do you know about this?” she asked over the rising noise of the helicopter.

  “No, but I’ll guess he does.”

  He pointed at Rafael. Mia felt herself go numb.

  “No,” she screamed as she ran back to the small crowd. She shook Rafael by the arm. “You can’t. You can’t. I won’t let you.”

  “Mommy, see the helopter? It’s so big.”

  She reached down and picked up her son. “You can’t,” she repeated.

  Rafael grabbed her. “I’m not. I swear. I have nothing to do with this. Mia, look at me. I’m not taking Danny away.”

  She tried to think, tried to breathe. Where could she go? How fast could she run?

  The helicopter touched down. As the wind kicked up, she pressed Danny’s face into her shoulder and wondered if it was possible to get to her car in time. Only her keys were inside the house and if she stopped to get them, it would be too late.

  “Mommy, don’t be scared,” Danny said as he peered over her shoulder. “I won’t let the helopter hurt you. Oh, look. There’s people.”

  She turned to watch two soldiers step off the helicopter. Next a set of steps appeared. Overhead, the blades slowed to a stop.

  Mia stood there clutching her son as an older man walked off the helicopter and onto her front lawn. She’d never seen him in person before, but she recognized him from the pictures.

  King Xavier of Calandria.

  “Rafael, there you are,” the king said. “You are well?”

  “Yes, Father.”

  The king glanced at all of them, then settled his gaze on Danny. Mia took a step back.

  The king nodded at Danny. “Is that him?”

  Rafael took a step forward. “Yes, he is my son.”

  “Good. Take him and we will leave.”

  19

  “Liar!” Mia screamed as she thrust Danny at Brenna, who stood closest, then charged Rafael. “Liar. You sonofabitch.”

  She clawed at his face, and when he easily avoided her assault, she pounded on his chest.

  “You lied.”

  She couldn’t believe it. Again. She’d been a fool again and this time the price would be her son.

  “I trusted you,” she sobbed. “It was all lies.”

  He grabbed her wrists. “I did not lie. I have no part in this. Mia, listen to me.”

  Mia tried to twist free. She looked at Joe. “Don’t let him take Danny.”

  Umberto and Oliver hovered in the background, but Rafael didn’t call them closer. However, that didn’t stop the king’s guards from looking menacing.

  “Enough of this,” Rafael said. He released Mia and pushed her toward Joe. Her brother caught her easily. Brenna carried over Danny. Joe took the boy.

  “No one is taking Danny,” Rafael told his father. “We are not taking him away. Not without the consent of his mother, and she will never give it.”

  The king glared at him. “I have been patient long enough. The boy belongs in Calandria, as do you. Come with me now.”

  “No,” Rafael said calmly. “Not without Mia, and until the law is changed, she will not set foot on Calandrian soil. I will not allow it.”

  “You will not allow it,” the king repeated, obviously furious. “Until I die, I am ruler of Calandria.”

  “That doesn’t mean you’re right about this, Father.”

  Mia didn’t know what to think. Was it possible that Rafael was really taking her side? That he was standing up to the king for her? Protecting her and Danny?

  “The child belongs with his people,” the king said coldly. “He needs to be trained.”

  “He needs his mother,” Rafael said flatly. “He needs to grow up knowing he is loved. It is easy to learn a history of a people, but much harder to replace family. He’s only a boy. I
will not allow his life to be destroyed because you want to turn your grandson into a miniature version of yourself.”

  The king stiffened. “You forget yourself.”

  “I remember everything,” Rafael said. “I remember more than you realize. I was wrong to come here and attempt to deceive these people. I was wrong not to speak to Mia in good faith. The law will be changed, and when it is, she and I will come to terms.”

  “You allow yourself to be dictated to by a mere woman?” the king bellowed.

  “Hey,” Katie snapped. “Watch it. Not just any woman. Not a mere woman. A Marcelli.”

  Rafael glanced at Mia and smiled. “She is right. A Marcelli. Smart, funny, irreverent, beautiful, and capable of so much love.” He returned his attention to his father. “She is far too verbal, but it is a flaw I can live with.”

  Mia hated that her brain, which so far had been the rational one in all this, instantly focused on the “beautiful” part of his sentence.

  “Rafael, everything about this situation is unacceptable,” the king announced

  “Then you will need to learn to compromise. Danny stays with his mother and I stay with them both.”

  Stay? Mia stared at him. “You’re staying?”

  “No, he is not,” the king said, glaring at her. “He belongs in Calandria.”

  “I belong with my family.” Rafael took her hands in his. “I belong with you, Mia. With you and Danny.” He stared into her eyes. “I have changed. I know you do not trust me, and I accept that I am the reason. I will have to earn my way back into your good graces. I am more than willing to do so. I will wait patiently and then perform whatever tasks you set out for me. I want you to believe that I am the right man for you.”

  She’d spent a lot of the past couple of months in a state of disbelief, but this was certainly going for the record.

  “I don’t understand,” she said.

  “Nor do I,” the king announced. “You are Crown Prince Rafael of Calandria. You do not humble yourself in front of a woman.”

  “You are wrong, Father,” Rafael said, never looking away from Mia. “I humble myself in front of this woman. Have you ever wondered why I refused to marry those others? Did it ever occur to you that the reason was my heart was engaged elsewhere? I didn’t understand until I came here and nearly lost the only thing that has ever mattered.”

  She hung on to his hands because the world had started to spin. There were no words, no way to do anything but stare at him and pray this was all really happening.

  “I will stand against my father for you,” he said sincerely. “For you and for Danny. I will be there for you, and seek your counsel, and love you for always, Mia. I love you.”

  At that exact moment, the helicopter blades shut down and his words echoed in the sudden silence.

  “I will not have this,” King Xavier said. “Rafael, take the boy and get on the helicopter immediately.”

  Rafael ignored him. “I see doubt in your eyes,” he told her. “I know why. I have earned that doubt. There is no reason for you to believe me now. Just accept that I am staying.”

  “You are not staying,” the king said.

  “Can someone shut him up?” Brenna asked.

  “It’s so romantic,” Grammy M breathed. “Oh, Mia, it’s so romantic.”

  “I don’t know,” Mia admitted as she pulled free of his touch and stepped back. “There’s too much happening.”

  “You see,” the king said. “She doesn’t even want you.”

  Rafael ignored him. “Mia, I understand. No one is asking you to say anything. I want you to know I love you and Danny.”

  Mia hated how much she wanted to believe him. He was saying all the right things—especially the part about not going back to Calandria until the law had changed. But what about Danny being the heir? And how was she ever supposed to take that step of faith?

  She looked at Katie. “What do you think?”

  “That your life is never boring.” Katie held up both hands. “I’m not weighing in on this. Are you crazy?”

  “You must have an opinion.”

  “I’m keeping it to myself.”

  Mia looked at Brenna, who had never been one to stay silent. Her sister sighed.

  “He’s not a slug,” Brenna admitted reluctantly. “I thought he was, but he isn’t. He’s standing up to his father and when Daddy’s the king, that can’t be easy. I don’t think he’s lying. Xavier there looks ready to have a heart attack and no one is that good an actor. I say give him a chance.”

  The king glared at Brenna, “I will have you arrested.”

  She smiled. “You’d have to catch me first, your highness.”

  Mia looked at Francesca. “And you?”

  “He was great about Kelly. I think being with Danny has changed him. Is it enough? Only you can answer that, Mia.”

  Grandma Tessa sniffed. “I still don’t know about him. He hurt you, Mia, but when he thought Danny was lost, he was devastated.”

  Mia looked at Joe. He shook his head. “I’m only on your side, kid. Rafael doesn’t matter to me.”

  “You will stop this immediately,” the king demanded. “You will not speak of my son or myself this way. It is unspeakably rude.”

  Grandma Tessa moved toward him. “What would you call swooping down in the night and trying to steal a child? Good manners?”

  The guards took a step forward, then hesitated, as if unwilling to take on a woman pushing eighty.

  “This is not for you to decide,” the king said. “Daniel is heir to the throne. He belongs in Calandria and he is going there now.”

  “No he’s not,” Rafael said. He looked at Mia and smiled. “I know what to say,” he told her. “I know how to make you believe.”

  She was torn between wanting his words to be true and knowing it wasn’t possible.

  “Rafael, don’t do something you will regret,” the king said.

  Rafael took her hand and then faced his father. “I have regrets, but none of them have anything to do with this. You only want Danny because he’s your heir. Allow me to solve that problem. I, Rafael, Crown Prince of Calandria, do hereby abdicate as heir to the throne.”

  Mia’s mind went blank. “You can’t,” she and the king said at the same time.

  “I can and I do,” he told his father. “I am tired of living with all the rules and restrictions of office. I am not interested in an arranged marriage. I love this woman and I will spend the rest of my life proving myself worthy of her. I’m hoping that, in time, she’ll be willing to marry me. I told you, Father, I’m staying here.”

  Mia felt her heart stop. As far as gestures went, this one ranked right up there with going through time. “You’d give up the throne for me?” she asked, her voice a squeak.

  “You are more than worth it.”

  She wasn’t sure about that.

  The king’s face turned the color of a tomato. “Rafael, you dishonor me and our country. No woman is worth the throne.”

  “You’re wrong. I’m not the first man to walk away from his duty because of love.”

  The king glared. “Do not compare yourself to an English ruler.” His eyes narrowed. “What is it about American women?”

  “We’re sassy,” Francesca said.

  Rafael turned to Mia. “If I’m not the heir, there’s no danger to Danny. I can stay here permanently.”

  “Oh, you will get a job and live in the suburbs?” the king asked contemptuously.

  “Perhaps.”

  Mia pressed her hand to his chest. “I can’t let you do this. You can’t walk away from your heritage. Being the crown prince is who you are.”

  “Who I am is the man who loves you,” he told her gently.

  “You will be king,” his father insisted. “You must be. There is no one else.”

  “My cousin.”

  “Quentin? A gay clothing designer?”

  Brenna snorted. “There’s a coronation I’d want to see.”

  �
�Mom loves his clothes,” Katie whispered to Mia.

  Mia ignored everyone else and stared at Rafael.

  “You can’t do this. You can’t give up your future.”

  He kissed her. “I give up only my past. You are my future. I think I would like to study medicine and be a doctor.”

  “Never!” his father yelled.

  “Rafael, no,” she told him, sure she would wake up at any second. There was no way this was happening. “Trust me, you’re not going to like living in the ordinary world.”

  “I will enjoy it as long as I have you.”

  She bit her lower lip. “I don’t know what to think, let alone say.”

  “Arrest her!” the king yelled, pointing at Mia. “Arrest this woman. All of this is her fault.”

  The guards didn’t move toward her. If anything, they seemed to be inching toward the helicopter.

  Rafael sighed. “Father, you cannot arrest Mia. You’re on American soil and she has broken no laws. Even if she had, I would not allow it. You have lost. I’m staying here. Quentin will be king next.”

  “Never! You are my son. I command you to return to Calandria with me.”

  Rafael shrugged. “I’m sorry, Father. No. You made me choose and I have made my choice. I want to marry Mia and be Danny’s father.”

  “She hasn’t even said she loves you. She hasn’t accepted. You’ve been the one baring your soul and what has she done?”

  Rafael smiled at Mia. “I owe her.”

  “You are Crown Prince Rafael of Calandria! You owe her nothing.”

  Mia pressed a hand to her stomach. It was all too much. “I think I’m going to be sick.”

  “Then we should get you inside.” Rafael put his arm around her. “Father, we will end this discussion for now. Perhaps we can talk later, when we are more calm.”

  “I am the king. You do not dismiss me. I dismiss you.”

  Katie shook her head. “I’ll bet he was a real tight-ass when you were growing up.”

  “Arrest that woman, too!” Xavier insisted. “Arrest them all.”

  “He was a good king,” Rafael said. “But a distant father.”

  “I’m sure it’s how he was raised,” Francesca said. “People often find it difficult to break with tradition. It’s comfortable and there’s a sense of guilt in forging a different path after so many years. In your case it would be what? A thousand?”