You're So Vain: A Royal Haters to Lovers Romance (Seven Brides for Seven Mothers Book 4)

by Whitney Dineen

  “Lu is especially taken with a little girl at the orphanage. I think she might want to adopt her,” Sheila tells Queen Charlotte while strolling through the rose garden.

  “Oh dear. We’re such a small country, we don’t allow outside adoption.”

  “Poor, Lu.”

  Charlotte stops walking. “There might be a way though.”

  “What’s that?”

  “Being that Claire will soon become a Malquarian citizen when she marries Geoffrey, the same courtesy will be extended to members of her family. If they agree to spend at least six months of their year here, that is.”

  “You know I wouldn’t mind Lu living here. I expect that’s what will happen if she and Alistair wind up together. I’m just not sure she’ll agree to that if things don’t work out with your son.”

  “There’s only one option then.” Charlotte nods her head firmly. “We have to make sure things work out. That way, Lu can adopt her little girl, and you and I will have our first shared grandchild to dote on.”

  “I like the way you think, Charlotte.”

  “I expect you do, as it’s exactly the way you think.”

  Lutéce

  I fell asleep last night thinking about Alistair. I woke up thinking about him, too. If I were being truthful, my dreams were of him as well. That feeling of initial infatuation you have when you first meet someone of interest never gets old. Sadly, it’s been a long time since I’ve felt that way about anyone.

  There’s something about Alistair that makes me feel hopeful. It’s like I’m in my twenties all over again, back when I still believed in happy endings and fairy tales—at least as they pertain to me.

  I roll out of bed at seven and take extra pains to look nice. After curling my hair and putting on my makeup, I get dressed. In a dress. By seven forty-five I’m strolling through Bree’s yard trying not to look like I’m stalking Alistair. Which, of course, I am.

  My plan is to wait for five minutes after he first walks out onto his terrace before joining him. But at eight a.m. when he still hasn’t come out, I walk over and boldly look through his french doors. There are no lights on, which leads me to believe he’s either sleeping in or he isn’t home.

  Disappointment flows through me as I walk back to Bree’s. I make myself some toast and coffee, but I have no real interest in either. Bree walks into the kitchen and asks, “What are you up to today?”

  “I was going to walk into town and spend some time at the orphanage. How about you?”

  “Shopping with a friend. We’d be delighted to have you join us.” Sitting down at the table, she pours herself a cup of coffee from the carafe.

  “I wouldn’t mind meeting you for lunch if you’ll be anywhere near the abbey,” I tell her.

  “I’m not sure where we’ll be. Keep your phone on you, and I’ll give you a call.” Then Bree says, “You look very nice today. Quite dressed up for a visit with the children though, don’t you think?”

  If she only knew it wasn’t the children I was dressing up for. “You’re right. I’ll probably change before I go.”

  After Bree leaves for her shopping trip, I stare out the window hoping that by my will alone, Alistair will show up. Where is he? At ten, I finally give up and change clothes. Then I walk out the front door.

  Alistair’s sports car is pulling into his driveway as I pass. I can’t help but wonder where he went so early this morning. Excited to see him, I stroll up his driveway to say good morning. But then he gets out of his car and he’s still wearing his tuxedo from last night. At least I assume it’s from last night and that he didn’t put it on this morning.

  His shirt is unbuttoned a couple of notches and his bowtie is hanging loose. I suddenly feel extremely uncomfortable. He steps out of the car and says, “Lu, good morning. I hope I didn’t leave you high and dry without breakfast.”

  I don’t want him to know that I practically broke into his house to find him, so I say, “Not at all. I made some toast.” After an uneasy moment, I add, “It looks like you had a good time last night.”

  “I did, thank you. I caught up with some old friends, which is always nice.”

  I just bet he did. “Okay, then, I just wanted to say good morning. I’m off to spend time with the kids.”

  I turn to walk away, but he stops me. “Would you like a ride?”

  “No, thank you. It’s such a beautiful day, I’d like to walk.” Then I do. I walk quickly and angrily, taking determined steps to get as far away from Alistair as I can.

  Did he spend the night with a woman? How dare he? But after a few more steps I realize that if he did, how is it any of my business? It’s not like he and I have started anything, which is all my fault. Had I shown interest in him instead of rebuffing him, maybe I would have been the woman he spent the night with.

  Thoughts fly around my brain like a blender set on puree. Just because Alistair invited me on a picnic doesn’t mean he’s interested in me. In fact, he made it clear that he would no longer pursue anything other than friendship. Oh. My. God. I’m my own worst enemy!

  Sister Hennepin greets me when I get to the abbey. “Good morning, Lutéce. The children are already at their studies, but they can come visit with you in the parlor when they have a break.”

  “I was hoping you might let me teach some of them to play the piano,” I say.

  Her eyes widen with interest. “That would be very nice. We have a piano and music books. Sister Margaret used to instruct them, but then she retired, and we don’t have any other musicians among us.”

  “I could come whenever you want. Hopefully I can teach several lessons a day.” Just because it doesn’t seem that anything interesting is going to occur between me and Alistair doesn’t mean that I’m going to give up on the kids, especially Beatrice.

  As the nun walks out of the room, I remind myself that I didn’t come to Malquar looking for love. I came looking for a break. I may also have stumbled upon a way to make my dreams of motherhood come true sooner rather than later. So what if Alistair isn’t interested in me anymore? I’m used to not being the object of a man’s desire. Yet even as I try to convince myself that I’m fine with that, the truth is, I’m not. I’m totally crushed.

  Beatrice comes running into the room which brightens my mood considerably. “Good morning.” She offers me a quick curtsy. “Would you like to go for a walk? Sister Hennepin says I can go if you’ll accompany me.”

  “I would love to go for a walk with you, Beatrice. Should we see if any of the other children want to come?”

  Her little face crumples in on itself. “Do we have to?” Ah, so Beatrice is looking for some one-on-one time.

  “We don’t. How about you and I take a stroll alone and then we can invite some of the other children for another walk later on?”

  “Okay.” She nods her head. “I want to go to the fountain and toss in a coin.” She holds up a small copper penny.

  “Ah, you have a wish, do you?” I used to love making wishes as a little girl. Wishing wells, fountains, dandelions, rainbows, lady bugs, you name it, I would wish on all of it.

  “I might just make a wish myself,” I tell her. Then I take her hand and we find Sister Hennepin to let her know we’re leaving.

  Crossing the square, we pass the same old woman who yelled at Alistair the last time I was at the fountain. She’s busy feeding the birds with great concentration. As we walk by, I overhear her singing to them.

  As we approach the water, I ask Beatrice, “What are you going to wish for?”

  “I can’t tell you that,” she says very seriously. “Wishes have to be secret or else they won’t come true.”

  “I think I remember hearing that,” I tell her. I pull the wallet out of my purse and say, “I don’t know about you, but I have more than one wish.”

  “Oh, me too. But I only have one penny. I don’t think you can make more than one wish on it.”

  I hand her a quarter. “In America, this coin is worth twenty-five pennies.
That means it’s good for twenty-five wishes.”

  “Is it for me?” Her eyes shine with excitement.

  “It sure is,” I tell her as she gently takes it out of my hand.

  With her eyes closed, Beatrice turns so her back is to the fountain. I watch as her lips start to move silently while she formulates her desires. Several moments later, her lashes flutter open and she tosses the coin over her shoulder into the water.

  “Did you make your wish yet?” she asks me.

  I shake my head. I was so intent on watching her that I didn’t even think about my own wishes. Unzipping my coin purse, I take out a handful of coins. After taking a deep breath, I throw the whole bunch right into the water.

  “Wow!” Beatrice says. “All of your wishes have to come true now.” Ah, to be so young and open to the power of magic. I mostly threw the money into the fountain because I know the nuns will put it to good use.

  But even so, maybe, just maybe, one or two of my wishes will come true.

  Chapter Thirty-Two

  Queen Charlotte

  “Sister Hennepin, please. This is Queen Charlotte.”

  Seconds later, the nun picks up the telephone and greets, “Your Majesty, how can I help you?”

  “I was hoping I might visit with you sometime this week regarding the adoption of one of your children.”

  “You want to adopt a child?”

  “Not me, Sister. But I believe my new daughter-in-law’s sister might be interested,” the queen tells her.

  “Ah, yes, Miss Choate. She and young Beatrice are out on a walk now. Are you thinking about bending the rules to allow this?”

  “No,” the queen says. “But circumstances can be manipulated in such a way that we could make it legal. I’d like to chat with you about that.”

  “Certainly,” the nun says. “I’m available at your convenience.”

  “Thank you, Sister. If you should see my son, please don’t mention this to him.”

  “Why would I? This has nothing to do with him.”

  “Exactly,” the queen says before hanging up the phone.

  It’s not that Charlotte thinks Alistair would object; she just wants to make sure that he’s good and smitten with Lu before he finds out she’s going to become a mother. It’s one thing to date a woman without a child, but it’s another entirely to date a mother.

  Picking up her morning paper from her breakfast tray, Charlotte once again reaches for the telephone. When her call is answered, she asks, “Is there something you want to tell me about you and Ellery?”

  Alistair

  After showering and shaving, I make a full pot of coffee, collect the three newspapers that are left on my sideboard by my housekeeper, and sit down to read the headlines.

  Surprise, surprise, a good number of them are about me. There are no fewer than eight photos of me and Ellery. They range in setting from her kissing me in the entry hall of the museum to us hurrying through the corridor toward the outdoors. Finally, we’re photographed in the Statue Garden where we look ready to embark upon a tryst. If I weren’t there and didn’t know better, I might believe the headlines myself.

  “Prince Alistair and Lady Ellery are Back Together!”

  “Love in the Garden”

  And my least favorite, “Are Those Wedding Bells We Hear?”

  Ellery must be reveling in all of this. It was obviously her intent from the start to link us together again.

  I’m not surprised when my mother calls. “No, Mum, there’s nothing to tell,” I assure her.

  “I didn’t even know she was back in the country until you called to say she was going to the auction. Looks like you got your intel wrong, huh?”

  “Well, it all worked out for the best if you’re back together.”

  “I assure you, Ellery is the last woman on the planet that I’m interested in,” I say heatedly.

  She ignores me, and says, “I was dreadfully upset for both you and Andrew when all that nasty business came out. But being that I’m not one to get involved with your love life, you can do whatever you want with my blessing.”

  “You’re not one to be involved with my love life?” I ask incredulously. “You are always commenting on my love life.” What game is she playing?

  “Darling, all I’m saying is that if you and Ellery get back together, it’s fine by me.”

  “After what she did to Andrew and me?” Something isn’t ringing true here. My mother was furious with Ellery when—as she then claimed—she played her sons like a couple of fools. Now I’m supposed to believe everything is forgiven? I’m not buying it.

  “I just want you and your brother to settle down,” she says, sounding like our social lives have the power to end world hunger.

  “I can’t speak for Andrew, but I have no interest in rekindling a romance with Ellery. Ever. That ship has not only sailed, it has also sunk.”

  “That’s fine, dear. It’s none of my business.”

  “Is there some other reason you called?” I’m not really interested in hearing what else she wants, but I absolutely need her to stop talking about my ex.

  “I wanted to let you know that your presence will be required at a dinner party I’m throwing on Friday. Please bring your sister and Lutéce with you.”

  “Why is this the first that I’m hearing of it? You normally give me at least two weeks’ notice.”

  “I’m sorry, dear, I totally forgot. But please know that it should be quite a nice event.”

  “Who’s coming?” I want to know.

  “Mostly family, but there will be a few eligible men. I wanted to introduce Lu to more of our friends in a smaller gathering.”

  “Bree has taken the role of social director to heart,” I tell her. “I’m pretty sure Lu has been introduced to all of the inner circle at least once.” As to eligible men, is she trying to set up Lu now? My mother needs another hobby.

  “Well then, she’ll enjoy the night even more. Be here at seven and don’t be late,” she says before hanging up on me.

  I would normally not attend my mother’s party on such short notice, but the thought of spending time with Lu is more of a lure than I can resist. Especially if my mother is trying to marry her off to one of our friends. I can’t let that happen.

  Seeing Lu this morning was rather awkward as I was still wearing my clothes from last night. But there wasn’t much I could do about that.

  I had wondered if she’d stopped by for breakfast, but she didn’t come right out and say so, and I didn’t want to draw attention to my bad manners for not being home when I said I would be.

  I do want to see her today though. I hurry to finish up my breakfast and get into the car. I know she went to the orphanage this morning, so maybe if I hurry, I can spend some time with her there.

  When I walk out of my house, I’m surprised to find my sister Sophie standing on my stoop. “Hey, Soph, what’s up?”

  “I want you to tell me to my face that you and Ellery are not back together.” Her hands are on her hips, and she looks mad.

  “I can assure you that we are not. Why do you care?”

  “Because I found out that while she was in France last month, she spent a good deal of time with Charlie.”

  “Charles Harquart, your ex?”

  “Yes. I don’t know what happened between them, but according to Stephanie Franc, they were acting very lovey-dovey.”

  “That girl certainly gets around,” I say before realizing how insensitive that might sound to my sister. “I’m sorry that Charlie is such a turd.”

  “I’m sorry that Ellery is one, as well. We both deserve better.”

  “Yes, we do, sis. Yes, we do.”

  Sophie’s body language relaxes. “Well, then, that’s all I wanted to know. I suppose I’ll see you at Mum’s supper party on Friday.”

  As she walks away, I can’t help but wonder at the truly horrible luck my siblings and I have had in the love department. Geoffrey struck gold with Claire, but I’m willi
ng to bet that can be attributed to his living away from home for so many years.

  Dating as a royal is proving to be quite a treacherous affair. I half wonder if we wouldn’t all be better off going to America for a couple of years. Of course, America seems to have come to me in the form of Lu.

  I hurry down my driveway with thoughts of my new neighbor. Everything about her seems a perfect fit for me. I just need to spend enough time with her to know that it’s not wishful thinking on my part.

  When I pull up in front of the abbey, I see Lu and Beatrice with their heads together across the road at the fountain. I’m about to go over to them and say hello when Sister Hennepin walks out. “We weren’t expecting you today,” she says.

  “I had a free morning and I thought I’d check to see if there was anything you needed this month.” Lies. But I’m not about to tell her that I’m there to see Lu.

  “I have a list in my office,” she says. “Follow me and I’ll show you.” This visit clearly isn’t going as planned.

  Following Sister Hennepin into the abbey feels eerily like that time I was called into the headmaster’s office for gluing Cannon Allard’s shoes to the ground. In my defense, he called my little sister a big dyke. Then, like now, I’m certain I’ve done nothing wrong. Yet, even so, I can’t shake the feeling of trepidation.

  “Close the door,” Sister Hennepin announces as soon as I join her in her inner sanctum. The room is stark but intimidating with its ancient plaster walls that are the backdrop to equally-aged works of religious art.

  Now I’m really nervous. Every time Sister had me close the door during one of our study sessions, it was to tell me things like, “Just because you’re a prince doesn’t mean you’re smart.” And “Don’t think I’m going to put up with your nonsense just because you’re a prince.” The basis of our relationship seems to be her making sure that I know I’m not special.

  “Is everything okay?” I ask as I sit down on the wooden chair across from hers.

  “No, everything is not okay.”

  “Is the plumbing acting up?” Please let it be the plumbing.