The Royal Wedding Collection

by Rachel Hauck

  The guests cast off decorum and cheered.

  Stephen walked her the rest of the way down the aisle to the altar, past their smiling and glassy-eyed friends and family, where the Archbishop of Brighton began the traditional ceremony.

  And then the world knew her secret. Corina Del Rey loved the Prince of Brighton.

  EPILOGUE

  Three days later

  Love, I’ve an idea.” Stephen roped Corina into a kiss as she contemplated what to pack for her honeymoon. They were leaving in the morning for an undisclosed place and Stephen’s only hint was, “Pack your bathing suit and knickers. That’s all you’ll need.”

  “An idea?” She stared at the pile of clothes on her bed. One with beach wear. Another with mountain wear. “Stephen, babe, come on, where are we going? What should I pack?” She turned in his arms and shoved him down on the bed, kissing him as they tumbled.

  “I told you, bathing suit and knickers.” He laughed. Which he did every time he said that, so she had no idea how serious to take him.

  “Fine. I’ll pack things that go with bathing suits and clothes that fit over my knickers.” She tried to shove away from him, but he held on, rolling her over and kissing her neck. “Is this your idea from a minute ago?” She laughed softly, unable to resist his wordless overtures.

  “No, ’tis not.” He raised up, hopping to his feet. “Let’s pop round to the Manor, say hello to Adelaide and Brill. We’ve not given them a proper thank-you for their part in our relationship.”

  Over the four months of their engagement, Corina detailed her strange and seemingly holy encounters with the old proprietors. She’d visited them twice when she’d been in the city for wedding planning. But her last visit had been over six weeks ago.

  “Babe, now that’s a great idea. I didn’t get to spend much time with them at the wedding other than to say hi.” Corina took a sweater from the mountain honeymoon pile and slipped on her ankle boots, looking forward to heading out on this crisp, cool Brighton October evening.

  “Same here,” Stephen said, tugging a jumper over his head. “I looked for them at the reception but couldn’t find them.”

  Downstairs, they informed Nicolas, Stephen’s new butler-aide-valet, that they were going out.

  “Very good, Your Highness.”

  Stephen took Corina’s hand as they walked toward the garage. He ventured out more and more on his own, without Thomas, to places he could trust.

  “I’m still sad about Robert,” he said.

  “You did the right thing.”

  “But you should’ve seen his face when he confessed he’d eavesdropped on Nathaniel and me, then informed Gigi Beaumont about us . . . He was in tears. Said he didn’t know what possessed him. Who ever dreamed a palace servant would’ve ever been entangled with the likes of Gigi Beaumont?”

  “But he has a good place now at The Wellington, right? As for Gigi, never underestimate her.”

  “Well Nicolas was thoroughly investigated. Robert was one thing, but I also don’t want another Asif—”

  “Hey,” Corina stopped, turning him to her. “That’s it. No more guilt, regret talk. It’s over, forgiven, and we are moving on. And we are safe, babe.”

  “Right, right.” Stephen kissed her forehead. “See, this is why I need you in my life.” He opened the Audi passenger door for her.

  Before slipping into her seat, she peered into his eyes. “I love you, Your Highness.”

  “Same to you, Your Royal Highness Princess Corina, Princess of Brighton.”

  She sighed. “I’m not sure I’ll ever tire of hearing that.”

  Stephen chuckled and gently pushed her into her seat. “Let’s go. I want to grab a late dinner on the way home.”

  They cruised across town, their hands entwined, resting on the console. At a quarter to six, the sun was already drifting toward the west, tracing golden-orange hues across the last of the fall day.

  For Sunday evening, the city center lacked the noise and chaos of the week, but the streets flowed with theatre and dinner traffic, and the park was alive with families out for the evening.

  Stephen approached the Manor from the south, weaving through back streets, finally pulling along the curb.

  “Here we are . . . looks rather dark.” Stephen leaned past Corina to see out her window as he cut the engine. “Let’s get out and see what’s going on.”

  Corina squinted at the darkness between Gliden and Martings, where the warm, holy glow of the Manor used to be and stepped out. Stephen came around to join her, muttering to himself. “What’s going on?”

  Where the Manor once stood was a narrow, shadowed alley.

  “It’s gone.” Corina ran down the cobblestones, turning back to Stephen. “Do you see what I don’t see?”

  “I see an alley and no Manor.” He stood back, staring between the two giant department stores.

  “Did someone tear it down?” Corina battled a sense of sadness and loss. “Who would do this to sweet Adelaide and Brill?” She cupped her hand around her mouth and called. “Adelaide! Brill!” Across the street, the rising lights of the park sparked an idea. “The park. Maybe they’re in the park.” She started to dash around the car, but Stephen caught her arm.

  “Love, I doubt they’d have moved the Manor to the park.”

  “Then where? Where are they?” She ran back to the alley. “This is unbelievable.” She swerved toward Stephen. “Clive Boston gave me a ride home from the interview and he said he saw nothing but an alley. I thought he was mocking me.”

  “Now that you mention it, Thomas admitted he never saw the Manor either. He found it rather scary that we did, but all he ever saw was an alley.”

  Corina pressed her hand to her middle, her skin hot with the sense of descending revelation. “Then what did we see? I lived here for a week, Stephen. Slept in a bed, talked to Adelaide and Brill. Showered, used the Internet, ate food.”

  Across the road, in the shifting light of sunset, Corina caught a glimpse of a woman. The woman in white. She ran to the curb. “Stephen, there’s the lady . . . the one who sent me to the Manor. Hey! Hello? Where are Adelaide and Brill?”

  The woman looked up but kept walking between two park lamps and disappeared in their light.

  “What lady?”

  “In the white coat.” Corina pointed. “She was right there, on the edge of the park. You didn’t see her? She’s gone.”

  “Gone?”

  “I’m starting to feel like a Doctor Who episode.” Corina slumped with disappointment and walked with Stephen back to the dark alley.

  Then, from behind them, a beam of light layered past, spotlighting the side of Martings and a plain polished box at the opening of the alley.

  “Adelaide’s box.” Corina dropped to one knee and gently opened the lid. “The tiara.”

  “From the premier,” Stephen said.

  “Yes. Adelaide said it belonged to the Manor. She watched over it.”

  The light shifted, dropping lower, sparking off delicate blue china cups. Corina laughed, reaching for the nearest one. “Adelaide served me tea in these cups. She said King Stephen I had them made for him and Queen Magdalena.”

  “I never heard of these cups.” Stephen picked up the second cup. “Things like this are kept in the royal archives.” Turning his cup over, he whistled low. “Corina, the crown and the sword . . . the House of Stratton cipher.”

  “She said King Stephen I and Queen Magdalena served the people with a set of these.”

  He made a face as he studied the blue-and-white cup. “Funny thing . . . it feels perfect in my hand. As if I’ve held it a hundred times.”

  “There are so many ‘funny things’ about this, Stephen.” Corina looked toward where the Manor had once been. She missed the warm golden light of the front window. The sense of beckoning, “Come to me.”

  “The Manor is gone, but the tiara, the cups remained,” Stephen said. “I feel as if I’ve stepped into some divine wrinkle in time.”
r />   Corina laughed softly. “Our own fairy tale.”

  “What do you think it all means. A tiara and teacups?”

  Suddenly all of Adelaide’s diatribes about true love converged into a single truth. “That if we want to be royals and have all the benefits and authority, to be respected, then we must be willing to drink of these cups, to serve the common man. Be like Jesus. Lead through serving.”

  A sober-faced Stephen rose up, holding his cup. “I feel as if we should pray or something, you know? Thank the Lord. Seek his guidance.” He held out his hand to Corina. “If we’ve been given a gift. To know what he’s asking of us. Honor the One who honors us.”

  Corina slipped her hand into his, tears sweeping across her eyes. “I feel rather undone.”

  They stood together in silence, heads bowed, in the middle of the sidewalk under the Cathedral City sky.

  Then, as Stephen began to pray, “Teach us how to be royal and humble, Holy Spirit,” the cathedral bells began their six o’clock cadence, their call to prayer pealing through the delicate, crisp fall night.

  THE LIBERTY PRESS

  1 December

  The King’s Office announced today that a rare diamond tiara, lost from King Stephen I’s era, has been found.

  “We’re delighted to have a return of this treasured family heirloom,” said a spokesman for the palace. “Princess Corina discovered the rare piece while touring an old inn in the city and returned it to the family jewels. The royal family is thrilled to have Queen Magdalena’s crown safe where it belongs.”

  The palace has reserved the tiara for use by the new Princess of Brighton, HRH Princess Corina.

  Well, how do you like that? Corina smiled as she folded the newspaper, dropping it beside the bed, as she reached to turn out the light. She paused with a sigh as thick snowflakes fell past the window through the palace lights.

  Adelaide, Brill, wherever you are, thank you for watching over me. Over us.

  Stephen had called Nathaniel and declared a snow day tomorrow, mentioning something about a snow fort and snowball fight.

  Oh, there was so much to learn and love about him.

  She snapped the lamp switch and burrowed under the covers, curling against the strong body of her warm, gently sleeping husband.

  A NOTE FROM THE AUTHOR

  from Once Upon a Prince

  Finding Lover’s Oak during my research was a bit of serendipity—a piece of the Gospel message hidden amid the story. Jesus is the Tree of Life, the “Lover’s Oak” of our hearts. The Cross is often called “the tree.” It was on a tree that Jesus died for love. For you and me. If we have Jesus, we don’t need a Lover’s Oak in Brunswick, Georgia. We have unending love in our hearts. We have the Tree of Life. Reach out for him.

  DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

  from Once Upon a Prince

  1. In the opening of the story, Susanna had a plan. One she stuck to for far too long. Is it possible to cling to an idea or want too long? Discuss areas of your life where you might need to let go.

  2. Nathaniel’s life is about to change. He doesn’t feel ready to be king. He hopes it’s later rather than sooner. Discuss ways to embrace life’s changes. If change is hard for you, how can you embrace it with a more willing heart?

  3. In the beginning we see Susanna wants what she wants. Adam and living on St. Simons Island. There’s little consideration of God’s plan. Our plans and wants can muddy up our ability to seek God’s desires. How can we clear the waters and tap into his heart for us?

  4. Aurora restructured her life to engage God. Would you be willing to give up something that meant a great deal to you if it meant you had a constant sense of God’s presence?

  5. Susanna says Aurora is the most free of them all. Is she? How can we be “tent dwellers” in our daily lives?

  6. Often there are clues directing us into the Lord’s will but we can’t see them or grasp them. The gold shoes are that for Susanna. She misses the clue but doesn’t give up on seeking understanding. What clues have you received that were indicators of God’s direction for your life?

  7. Nathaniel is locked into duty to his country but he loves Susanna even though he can’t marry her. Have you ever surrendered your will for the sake of a greater cause? If not, how would you respond if faced with such a challenge?

  8. When Prince Stephen and Queen Campbell conspire to bring Susanna to the coronation, did you see it as manipulative or something for the greater good?

  9. Was Susanna right to leave early? Was she being a coward or trying to get out of Nathaniel’s way? Is it sometimes best to get out of the way of another person’s destiny even if it hurts our own wants?

  10. Nathaniel changed a nation because of love. Is it possible to change our families, our relationship, our communities, even our nation with the pure love of Jesus? How can you be both bold and humble in truth and love?

  11. Nathaniel remembered the snow. Was there a time in your life when you remembered something special about someone and filled a need? Did someone do that for you?

  12. An engagement tailgate party! Share a story from your life when you were surprised by friends, family, or your spouse.

  from Princess Ever After

  1. Just when Regina started living her dream, God intercepted her. Do you think it’s possible God often waits for us to “move” before he does?

  2. Tanner is burdened by his past mistakes and alters his life course. Is there an area of your life you’ve “quit” living because you thought you’d ruined your call?

  3. Through Prince Francis, we see how one man’s failures can destroy the destiny of future generations. Yet through another person’s obedience, Regina’s, we see how that destiny is restored. Is there an inheritance in your family or life you need to ask the Lord to restore?

  4. Regina has a great life in Tallahassee. One she’s designed for herself. But God sends her on a journey for which she feels ill prepared. Yet he’s made all the provision she needs. Is God asking you to step out in an area in which you feel ill prepared? Can you believe he’ll make a way?

  5. So many times in our life, we are comfortable with the familiar—our families, even the dysfunctional ones, our jobs, our churches, and we can resist God’s call to a “higher life.” How does Regina’s journey to follow God inspire you?

  6. Tanner has to find courage to face his twin daughters again. Discuss his dilemma. Do you know someone who walked away from children or family because the pain of the past was too great? Do you see how his willingness to serve Regina ultimately restored his children to him?

  7. Princess Alice never told her granddaughter she was a princess. Why do you think she hid the truth? Was the fairy tale really her way of telling Regina her true identity? Is reading the Bible a way to see God’s “story” for us? His personal letter to our hearts?

  8. What do you make of the glowing light around the stable in the woods? Is there some “glowing stable” in your life where God is directing your attention?

  9. Regina’s ability to restore Hessenberg to its “essence” is demonstrated when she sings the evening song. Discuss times in your life when music or worship has restored your heart to peace or some element of truth.

  10. Because of Tanner’s view of himself through the lens of his past mistakes, he believes God, his father, and others see him as a failure. But when he meets the bishop at St. John’s Chapel, he realizes he’s forgiven. It’s a symbolic scene to show God’s forgiveness toward all of us. Can you “see” how Jesus sees you rather than how you see yourself?

  11. Regina loves to wear jeans and T-shirts, then cowboy boots with her dresses. She’s unique. What is your favorite type of clothes to wear?

  12. Do you think Regina and Tanner will live happily ever after?

  from How to Catch a Prince

  1. Corina has a pretty amazing secret. But it’s overshadowed by a tragedy. We all respond differently to hardship. How would you have responded if you were Corina?

  2. Not only
is Corina’s joy brought down by immense sadness, her family falls apart. Corin felt she needed to be there for them. What about you? Would you put your life on hold for five and a half years to “be there for your family.” Is there a limit to how much we give to others to our own detriment?

  3. Prince Stephen is dealing with the pain of Afghanistan by forgetting who he really is—a prince. He spends his time on the rugby pitch. In dealing with disappointment, it’s easy to run, or get angry. How have you learned to deal with disappointment, or devastation?

  4. A lot of times we don’t like the identity we’ve been born with, or even marry into. Stephen struggles to step into his identity as a prince. Is there some aspect of your life you struggle to identify with? How can you be more accepting to the roles God has given you?

  5. Corina’s family is wealthy but her father made her work for her money. Then when she wants to splurge on the painting for Stephen, she has the cash she needs. How fun is that? Even if we don’t earn a lot of money, we can live in a way that allows us to have extra, to be givers. What about you? Do you live in a way you can “give?”

  6. In the midst of her sorrow, Corina hears a God whispers to love well. Doesn’t it seem to be the opposite of what we want or expect from God when seeking comfort? But it’s exactly what she needed. A mission. A holy command. Talk about a time in your life when God spoke life to you in the midst of sorrow.

  7. Adelaide and Brill are unusual characters, no? To me they symbolize God’s interaction in our lives. Talk about a divine moment in your life—even if it seemed rather ordinary at the time.

  8. This is the third book I’ve talked about the Brighton pastry “puffs.” Don’t they seem delicious? What do you envision them to taste like? What’s your favorite pastry?