Royally Ever After (Royals of Valleria #7)

by Marianne Knightly

  “And, before you go all ‘Alexander’ on me, you should know that security – our Royal Protection agents – will be all over the hotel.”

  Alex quirked a brow. “Go ‘Alexander’ on you?”

  “You know. When you get all broody and serious and impossible to deal with.”

  Holy hell. “And you’ve named this behavior after me? My name is now a verb?”

  Lorenzo grinned. “Sorry to tell you, big brother, but we’ve been using that for a while.”

  “What?”

  “Yup,” Nate added, leaning back in his chair. “Don’t remember who said it first, but now we’ve got Rebecca saying it, too.”

  Alex crossed his arms over his chest. “I don’t like this. Not one bit.”

  Marcello gestured to Alex with his thumb. “There it is. He’s going ‘Alexander’ on us again.”

  As laughter broke out across the table, Rebecca joined in. Alex was used to his brothers busting his balls, but now he was king. Shouldn’t he be treated with more respect?

  “Just go with it,” Rebecca whispered.

  “Why?” he whispered back.

  “Because they love you. Not because you’re king, but because you’re you. Let them remember you’re their brother first, and their king second.”

  Alex sighed. His fiancée had a point. “All right, darling.”

  “Pardon me, Your Majesty, Your Highnesses, Ladies and Sirs,” a butler announced. “Some of the family guests have begun arriving. They’ll be in the Royal Wing in the next few minutes.”

  “On that note,” Alex said, rising from his chair, “it’s time for me to go prep for tomorrow’s meeting. If I can manage it, I’ll stop by and see the family later.”

  “I’ll meet you down there,” Nate said. “I want to greet the family with Charlie first.”

  “I’m doing the same with Grace,” Marcello said.

  Rebecca stood up and wrapped her arms around Alex for a moment. While conversation rose around them, and chairs scraped back, they seemed in their own little world. “You’re not really upset at me about the hotel, are you?”

  “No, darling. I understand why you have to spend the night away from me. It doesn’t mean I have to like it.”

  “If it makes you feel better, I won’t like it much, either. I miss you when you’re gone, you know.”

  He missed her already, and he hadn’t even left yet. “Will you be all right to deal with the family on your own? I can stay if you need me to.”

  “I feel like I need to do this myself. I’ll let you know if that changes.”

  “All right, darling. Kiss me so I can go.”

  “Your wish is my command.”

  “Say that again on our wedding night,” he murmured, then met her lips halfway. The kiss was chaste, but he felt better. He hoped she did, too.

  “Alex, can we talk before you go?” Ethan asked.

  Alex gave Rebecca a squeeze. “Give me a minute, darling.” She nodded and stepped away.

  Ethan looked abashed. “I’m sorry about my behavior earlier, Alex. You know I’ll do what you tell me to do. I’m not going to argue with you, not now, not later.” He shook his head. “God damn it, I know how Arianna feels. How do you think I felt for twelve fucking hours stuck on a ship at sea with a patient I couldn’t leave, while both my father and sister lay in hospital beds?”

  Any anger Alex still felt at Ethan ebbed away. “Ethan–”

  “No, it’s my turn to talk. What good is it being a doctor if you can’t help your family during a time like this?” Ethan ran a furious hand through his hair. “We’ve all got our duties, Alex. It’s not just you. You’ve got the most, but you’re not the only one in this family with responsibilities pulling him away from family.”

  Alex jerked Ethan to him, and locked him in a hug. “I’m sorry, Ethan.”

  Ethan wrapped tight around Alex. “Christ. I’m sorry, too.”

  Alex still had a hard time believing his youngest brother was now a grown man, and a doctor. They pulled back. “So, Papa was looking good when you saw him?”

  “As well as can be expected. You know, I’m used to seeing patients hooked up to all sorts of things, but I’m not used to seeing my father that way.” He paused, then added softly, “He looked frail, but he’s in good spirits.”

  “Hopefully, Arianna will be the same.”

  “Speaking of, we’re off as well,” Ethan said, pointing to himself and Carolina. “I’ll let everyone know once I’ve touched base with Arianna’s doctors.”

  “She was doing okay last I spoke with her,” Rebecca said as she neared Alex again. “Still no more bleeding, though her pains started up again for a while.”

  “When did you last speak with her?” Grace asked. “I called her about an hour ago.”

  “I spoke to her about forty-five minutes ago,” Rebecca replied.

  “I called Finn about forty minutes ago,” Marcello said, “and spoke to Arianna, too.”

  The rest of the family began listing when they’d last spoken to the couple and it became apparent that Arianna or Finn had been fielding their calls every hour all day long.

  “Jesus,” Alex said. “She probably hasn’t been able to get a wink of sleep because of us.”

  “At least she knows we’re thinking about her,” Nate said. “Though, I think, going forward, we should just have one designated point person for updates. Ethan, I think it should be you.”

  Ethan’s eyes bugged out. “Me? Fielding calls from all of you every other minute? I’ll go insane.”

  “I agree,” Marcello added, and slapped Ethan on the back. “I second the motion for Ethan to be the designated contact.”

  “Let’s vote on it,” Lorenzo said with a mischievous smile. “All in favor of annoying Ethan for news about Arianna?”

  A chorus of ‘Aye’ rang out.

  “All those opposed?”

  “Nay,” Ethan said, the lone voice in the room.

  Lorenzo slapped a hand on the table. “Motion is passed. Everyone will annoy Ethan.”

  While the others filtered out – ignoring Ethan’s protests while they did – Rebecca gave Alex one last kiss, then he walked out.

  Chapter Nine

  Rebecca took a deep breath and prepared herself. She was about to meet several members of the royal family she’d never met before. Though Gabriel and Genevieve – and, well, all of the immediate family – approved of her and Alex, some of the extended family didn’t feel the same way.

  She’d have to prove herself, all over again, and hope they accepted her.

  If not, as Alex put it, they would find themselves tossed out of the palace.

  She guaranteed it.

  Rebecca stood in the foyer, just inside the entrance to the Royal Wing, to the right of Cat and Edward, and to the left of Nate and Charlie. Once she and Alex were officially married, she’d take the first spot from Cat.

  She was happy not to have it now.

  She held her breath as Royal Protection agents opened the door, then slid a practiced smile on her face while the throng entered.

  Victoria entered first, leading the way, followed by Gabriel’s brothers, sister, and their spouses and children, then by Genevieve’s mother, sisters, and respective families.

  Rebecca had known about the size of the extended family, but seeing them all in person was something else entirely.

  It was completely overwhelming.

  Gabriel had three younger brothers and one younger sister, all of whom were married and with multiple children of their own. Gabriel’s brothers were a more outgoing version of him. As king, Gabriel was stoic, as a father and husband, he was loving. His brothers, therefore, were both of those, without the restrictions of formality. The same was true for their wives and children.

  Well, most of them, in any case. A few had made their disapproval of the marriage obvious, but Rebecca would just need to develop a thick skin against them.

  Then there was Genevieve’s family, smaller but no less
imposing. Genevieve’s two younger sisters were a mix. Only one was married with a child close to Ethan in age – she favored her mother – while the other remained unmarried, and full of life.

  Though Genevieve’s father had passed away, Genevieve’s mother, Helen, was still living and, it must be said, was nothing like her daughter. Dour was one word everyone used to describe Helen. Her nose was perpetually scrunched, as if always smelling something foul, her hair, makeup, and dress just so. Rebecca was reminded of an elderly schoolmarm when she saw her: quick to scold and even quicker to scorn. She wielded passive-aggressive insults as though she were competing for a gold medal.

  She didn’t seem to think much of Rebecca, and thought even less of Grace and Charlie.

  Another reason not to like her.

  Rebecca could only say she respected her future grandmother-in-law for her daughter’s sake, and not her own.

  Then there were the cousins. Lots and lots and lots of cousins. Rebecca had worked with Grace and Cat on the arrangements for them in the palace. For sanity’s sake, only a few – as determined by Cat – would stay in the Royal Wing. Everyone else was relegated to guest rooms elsewhere in the palace.

  “Come into the large sitting room,” Cat told them and gestured down the hall. “We’ve got some tea and refreshments waiting for you.”

  Genevieve’s mother, Helen, looked aghast. “Refreshments? What about dinner?”

  Cat did a good job feigning disappointment. “Oh, Grandmother, we’ve already had dinner. If you’d prefer dinner, you can have it ordered from your room.”

  Helen harrumphed and glanced between the royal siblings. “Indeed. It must difficult to remember serving dinner to your guests with everything else going on. Truly, if your father were not so weak, well, I’m sure such small, significant duties would not escape your notice.”

  Helen set a raised brow on Rebecca as they continued down the hall. “And such a poor example you’re setting for the person who may become our future queen. Tsk. Tsk.” Helen shook her head. “She does have so very much to learn about etiquette and propriety.”

  Genevieve’s sister, Diana, laughed. “Oh, Mother, calm yourself. Rebecca knows likely more than you about the proper way to do things.”

  “Diana! Really. Must you speak out of turn?”

  “It’s always my turn, Mother, particularly if you’re speaking. I’m all for refreshments. Did you make any of them, Charlotte?”

  Charlie blinked. “Um, yes, some of the pastries.” She shot a quick look to Nate, then back at Diana. “You can all call me Charlie, if you prefer.”

  Helen cleared her throat. “Such a lovely name, Charlotte. It is so very common to turn a female name into such a masculine-sounding one, but I applaud you for keeping true to your roots.”

  Charlie stiffened, and Nate put a reassuring arm around her. “Charlie is one of the most authentic people I know,” Nate said. “It’s a shame not everyone can be as honest and direct as her.”

  Helen pursed her lips, but said no more.

  Once they were all inside a rarely used sitting room, Rebecca gestured for the staff to start serving tea. When she turned back to the room, Helen was peering at her through narrowed eyes.

  Rebecca had learned long ago that she couldn’t make everyone happy; Helen would just be one of those people.

  Pasting a serene smile on her face, Rebecca asked, “And how was everyone’s journey?”

  “Dreadful,” Helen spoke up, then turned to the staffwoman serving her tea. “No, one sugar, not two. Really. Who drinks tea with two sugars?”

  “I do,” Marcello said, sitting on a sofa arm beside Grace. “I do as well,” Grace added, her refined English accent driving the point home even more.

  Helen shifted in her seat and took the cup. “Yes, well. The English always think they invented tea and that they’re the only ones who know how to brew it properly.”

  “Helen,” Marcello warned in a low voice. “Watch yourself.”

  Helen put a dramatic hand to her chest. “Really, Marcello. I’m going to have a word to your mother about you.”

  “No, you won’t,” all of the royal siblings spoke up.

  Cat took her own teacup without complaint. “Mama’s got quite enough to worry about at the moment without having to deal with you.”

  “Need I remind you, Catharine, that I am Genevieve’s mother? I have every right to see her.”

  A sense of unease and tension coiled within Rebecca. Almost immediately, a female servant on the palace staff was beside her, holding a cup of ginger tea; her tendency to hold stress in her stomach was well-known to the staff by now.

  Rebecca smiled a grateful thanks, and the servant nodded back.

  Helen cleared her throat. “Now, about the wedding–”

  “Yes,” Gabriel’s brother, Lucien, interrupted. “I think moving forward with the wedding is exactly the right decision.”

  Helen gaped while Gabriel’s family agreed. “I know Gabriel’s upset not to attend,” Agnes, Gabriel’s sister said. “But it really is for the best. We – all of us,” she said with a pointed look to Helen, “need to show a united front to the public.”

  “Well, the wedding may not move forward at all, from what I hear,” Genevieve’s sister, Henrietta, said.

  “If you’re talking about that nonsense with the Royal Council, I wouldn’t worry,” Nate said easily from his perch near the unlit fireplace.

  Henrietta scoffed. “You say that now, but when does the Royal Council ever agree on anything?”

  “They’ll agree,” Nate said firmly.

  “Why aren’t you with Alexander, Nathaniel?” Helen asked. “Shouldn’t both of you be preparing for the meeting tomorrow?”

  “I couldn’t resist staying behind to meet you, Grandmother,” Nate said with a convincing smile. “I’ll leave in a just a few minutes.”

  “And I’ll be leaving in a few minutes as well,” Marcello added.

  “Sure it won’t be a problem for us to be there?” Lucien’s son, Bruno, asked as he gestured between himself and his husband, Conrad.

  “Absolutely sure,” Rebecca spoke up and all eyes turned to her. “You are both welcome at the wedding and at the palace at any time.”

  “Well, I’m sorry Uncle Gabriel and Arianna aren’t well, but I am glad the wedding’s happening. I’ve been looking forward to this for ages,” Ferdinand, Gabriel’s brother, said.

  “Well, I think it’s a terrible idea,” Michael, Ferdinand’s son, chimed in. “Alex should have cancelled the wedding.”

  “You mean postponed?” Lucien, one of the cousins, asked.

  Michael gave Rebecca a pointed look. “No, I meant cancelled.”

  Helen pursed her lips and took the minutest sip of tea. “Do you know, Michael, I think you’re the first one of your family who speaks sense. My grandson can certainly do better than her.”

  Cat narrowed her eyes and gripped her teacup tighter. “The ‘her’ you’re referring to is in the room.”

  Helen keenly examined a biscuit, then put it aside, uneaten, and rubbed the crumbs from her fingers. “If she has an issue with what we’re saying, she is more than welcome to leave. And, by that, I mean leave the palace.”

  Gasps echoed around the room from Rebecca’s supporters. However, Genevieve’s sister, Henrietta, and some of Gabriel’s relatives nodded in agreement.

  “Grandmother, how dare you?” Cat snapped.

  “Yes, Mother, how dare you?” Genevieve asked as she entered.

  Though Rebecca wouldn’t usually curtsy when surrounded by family, she went with instinct and did to Genevieve.

  She gave her a small smile and kissed her cheeks when she rose. “Lovely to see you, Rebecca dear.”

  “How’s Papa doing?” Rebecca asked, not thinking of formality where King Gabriel was concerned.

  Helen lifted an eyebrow. “Oh? Is your father in the hospital?”

  “She was referring to my husband, Mother.”

  Helen gasped dra
matically, her teacup shaking and one hand pressed to her chest. “So informal? Why it’s just not done, I tell you. It’s just not done.”

  “It is done, Mother. She’s as good as our daughter. There’s no reason for her not to call Gabriel ‘Papa’, which he quite likes, by the way.”

  “Mama,” Nate began, “may I get you anything? Have you eaten?”

  “No, thank you, Nathaniel. Well, perhaps a cup of coffee.” Nate nodded and went to prepare her cup, waving away the servants as they stepped forward to help.

  Genevieve took a minute to greet Gabriel’s family first, then her own, greeting her mother last. “I just wanted to come and welcome you all to the palace. Rebecca, Catharine, and Grace have worked hard to arrange the rooms, but do let us know if you need anything.”

  “Hmmph,” Helen barked. “No wonder my room is in another wing of the palace. Really, Genevieve, you must move me to the Royal Wing.”

  “The rooms are set, Mother, and all are filled, unless you’d prefer to be further from the Royal Wing.” Genevieve ignored her mother and addressed the room. “Gabriel’s doing well and he should be home in the next day or two. When he arrives, I do ask that you not overwhelm him. He still has a long recovery ahead of him. Rebecca?”

  Rebecca rose. “And I wanted to say a particular thank you to everyone for attending the wedding. Things are interesting at the moment, to say the least, but we hope you enjoy yourselves.”

  Nate handed Genevieve her coffee, and kissed her on each cheek. “I think I’ll head out, and meet up with Alex. Charlie, walk me out.”

  They slipped from the room, and Charlie reentered a few minutes later, taking a seat near Rebecca. Charlie gave Rebecca’s arm a quick squeeze of support, then reached for a profiterole.

  “Well, does everyone like the food?” Rebecca asked, desperate to keep conversation going. “You’ll see some of these desserts at the wedding breakfast, too.”

  “Desserts at a breakfast. Tsk. Tsk. We never had any of that at my wedding breakfast.”

  Rebecca gave a curt smile. “As you can imagine, Helen, a royal wedding has different requirements.”