Harrison’s father looked at the sheet of paper. Harrison couldn’t see the number but knew his father had no intention of paying it. The man wouldn’t have caved if the contract was authentic.
A moment later, both the king and the duke had left the room, leaving Harrison alone with the young woman.
She stood and walked around the table, sitting on it right next to Harrison. Her low-cut blouse showed far more than she should be comfortable with and her skirt with a slit cut high enough that crossing her legs was meant to entice Harrison, told him she had nothing good in mind. He kept his gaze firmly on her face and not any lower.
“You know, we could have some fun,” she told him, running a finger down his arm. “I don’t care about marrying you, but that doesn’t mean there couldn’t be... benefits.”
That, or something like it, was exactly what Harrison was hoping to hear.
Now, if he could just get her to confess that the contract was a forgery without crossing a legal or ethical line himself.
22
The king and duke had left the conference room a few minutes after Lani and everyone else did, but Harrison and the other woman stayed behind.
As planned.
In hopes that she would let something slip.
If she knew anything.
“Have a seat, dear,” Grandmother Grace told her. “There’s nothing to be gained by pacing.”
“It gets my nervous energy out.” She sat and folded her hands together, but started wringing them. “I don’t understand all of what’s going on, but the thought of Harrison going to jail because he married me...”
“Will never happen. Do you really think I would have let you get married if this contract was valid? I would have known if my husband signed a contract for my grandson to marry that hussy.”
Lani blinked. “Hussy?”
“You think I don’t know her reputation? Even if there was a contract, I wouldn’t let that sorry excuse for a lady anywhere near my family.”
Gigi looked down at her hands. “Edward was supposed to marry another woman once. Nothing official, but his father and I hoped they would make a good match. It would have been good politically, too. His father and I loved the young woman. She and Edward got on swimmingly, but then he met Miriam.” She shrugged. “That was the end of that. Those two fell in love and any thoughts of marriage for the sake of politics or because they thought it’s what we wanted. The best thing for everyone was for Edward and Miriam to marry.”
“So San Majoria doesn’t have political marriages anymore?”
Gigi sighed. “Astrid’s first marriage was, in part, though it was her choice. She and Jordan are a much better match. Edward would not have asked Harrison to do the same.”
“Astrid was married before?” Hadn’t Harrison told her that? And Jordan said something about Sofia not being his biological daughter, right?
Before Gigi could answer, the door to the room opened. The king’s head of security walked in. He bowed to the former queen. “Your Majesty, Your Royal Highness, if you would please come with me.”
Lani glanced at the queen but couldn’t read her expression. At least the man had used a title for her.
The butterflies that had taken up residence in her stomach grew as she walked a step behind Queen Grace.
They were taken into the room where the whole group had met all afternoon deciding her fate.
Lani took the seat she’d been in before with the councilman seated next to her. Grandmother Grace sat in Harrison’s spot. Lani guessed he’d be moved down one. Seniority and all.
“What’s going on?” Lani whispered to the councilman.
He shook his head slightly but didn’t say anything. Did he know and just wasn’t telling her?
The duke and his granddaughter walked in and took their seats.
The door behind the main table opened and King Edward walked in followed by Harrison and the rest of those involved.
“King Edward and Prince Harrison made Duke Albert and Lady Lana an offer to settle the issue between them. They reached an agreement and presented it to me.”
The duke looked smug.
“While the king and duke finalized the details with me, the prince and lady spoke.”
His smug look slipped slightly as he glanced at his granddaughter.
The chairman nodded to a man off to his right.
A crackling sound started over the speakers.
You know, we could have some fun. I don’t care about marrying you, but that doesn’t mean there couldn’t be... benefits.
The woman’s voice came out over the speakers hidden around the room. Lani glared at her. How dare she proposition another woman’s husband?
But the recording continued.
With each exchange, the duke’s face grew redder as the color fled from his granddaughter’s.
By the time the recording ended, four members of security were standing behind them.
“By order of the king and chairman, you are both under arrest for treason and conspiracy. Another litany of charges will likely be forthcoming as the investigation continues.”
The duke yelled and his granddaughter cried as they were removed with a member of security holding each arm.
King Edward rose. “Ladies and gentlemen, please accept my apologies for the waste of your time due to the alleged crimes committed by the duke and his family. Your dedication to coming to a fair and equitable resolution is to be commended. Thank you for your service.”
He turned to Lani. “Your Royal Highness, Vilano, Princess of San Majoria, you also have the crown’s deepest apologies for the trauma you have been submitted to in the last couple of days.”
Lani just nodded her head in acceptance.
The king picked up the gavel in front of him and banged it once. “This meeting is adjourned.”
By the time the last syllable died out, Harrison was out of his chair and nearly sprinting to Lani’s side. She’d barely managed to stand up when he was there, wrapping her in his arms.
Her arms went around his neck as he buried his face in the top of her shoulder. Hot tears coursed down her cheeks as he lifted her onto her tiptoes.
“It’s over,” he whispered. “Our marriage is legal and binding in both countries.”
“Thank God.” And it was probably time to make it fully a marriage in all aspects, or would be when they got away from the crowd in the room.
Lani sensed there were people waiting to talk to them, but she didn’t want to let him go. Finally, Harrison set her back down. He kept his left hand on her lower back as they turned to greet those coming to congratulate them.
He could shake hands with his right and still keep the physical contact between them. She loved that he figured out how to do that.
One after another, the members of the council and Parliament offered their congratulations and apologies that her introduction to their country was so fraught with drama. They assured her that the people were most excited to get to know their new American princess.
Finally, they were left with just Gigi and the king.
“Go on,” the king said wearily. “It’s been a long few days. Get some rest. Tomorrow morning we’ll discuss the remainder of your tour.”
“Thank you, Papa.” Harrison held out a hand but instead the king enveloped him in a hug.
“I’m just sorry I couldn’t protect you better and that you had to go through all of that at all.”
And then she and Harrison were walking, arm-in-arm, toward the back way to the private living quarters of the palace.
Where they would finally be alone.
A huge weight had lifted off Harrison’s shoulders as soon as he left the room with the Lady Lana, though he doubted she’d retain the title for long. He knew they had what they needed on the recording, and he’d get to stay married to Lani, avoid prison, and still see his family and homeland whenever he chose.
They didn’t talk as they walked toward the family’s private quarters. But t
he way Lani leaned into him, the way she held his hand, gave Harrison hope things were about to change between them.
Together, they walked down the hallway toward his apartment, anticipation growing between them as they neared the door.
“There you are.”
Did Harrison imagine Lani’s groan as they turned around to see Jacqueline Grace walking toward them?
Before he realized what was happening, his sister had launched herself toward him, and he had to let go of Lani to catch her.
“I’m so glad you’re not going to jail,” she squealed.
Harrison laughed. “You’re not the only one.”
“Come on. Mother has dinner ready upstairs. Nothing fancy because we didn’t know how long the stupid meeting was going to last.” She finally let go of him but linked her arm with Harrison’s.
He reached out and took Lani’s hand again as his sister dragged them toward the stairs to their parents’ apartment. Turning to Lani, he mouthed an apology.
She smiled her acceptance.
A minute later, they were in the family dining room. The entire rest of the family were there, except his father, but including children and Madi.
“Harrison!” His mother gave him a big hug. “I’m so glad to see you. I do wish you and your father would have brought the rest of us into it earlier. Especially your grandmother. She knows things.”
“I know, Mother.” He hugged her tightly then let go. “But you know Papa and how he has to keep things close to the vest.”
“He said to start without him. He’s wrapping a few other things up in his office.” His mother motioned toward the buffet set up on the side of the room. “You and Lani are the guests of honor, so you go first.”
“Thank you.” He hadn’t been able to eat much the last couple of days.
The dinner and subsequent conversations lasted over an hour and included Harrison’s favorite cake for dessert.
“Miss Beach,” his father started as he turned to Madi. “Harrison tells us you’re a writer and that you’ve had a book turned into a movie.”
“Please, call me Madi, Your Majesty,” Lani’s sister told him.
He chuckled. “Then call me Edward unless we’re in public.”
Madi grinned. “Yes, sir. And Harrison is correct. I’m pretty sure he even got to be in the background of one scene.”
“I might be. I’m not sure I was where I could be seen.” Harrison and Lani sat on one of the love seats. He had his arm wrapped around her shoulders as his thumb rubbed up and down her arm.
“Fascinating.” Harrison’s father asked a few more questions about the process and how Madi’s book was chosen for the movie.
“Lani has friends who work for HEA TV,” Madi told them. “Or at least an acquaintance who does.”
Harrison felt Lani shrug. “I did a movie with them several years ago and kept in contact with one of the people I became friends with. I didn’t send it to her to get it made into a movie. I genuinely thought she’d enjoy the book. The rest was bonus.”
“Why didn’t you continue acting?” his mother asked.
Lani stared at her hands. “The director propositioned me. When I turned him down, he went to HR before I could and told them I’d come onto him. I chose to go home and become a teacher rather than fight it. He was the director of Madi’s movie and tried to cause problems. That’s where the pictures came from that showed up in the tabloids.”
The group started to disperse, though the children had already been taken down to their rooms by the nannies.
“Madi, would you like to stay up here with us tonight?” his mother asked as they all walked slowly toward the main entrance to their suite. “We have a room with an amazing view, much better than anything Harrison’s apartment has.”
Harrison recognized his mother’s offer for what it was. Not a dig at his quarters, but an attempt to give him and Lani some privacy.
“Oh, it’s fine.” Madi shifted uncomfortably, though Harrison guessed it had more to do with the fact his mother was a queen than Madi actually being uncomfortable with the invitation.
“I insist.” She wrapped an arm around Madi’s shoulders and steered her toward the bedrooms. “Now, I know Lani is short for Vilano, but what is Madi short for?”
“Our parents named us all after beaches in Florida,” Madi told her as they walked away. “Mia is Miami. Lani is Vilano. Madi...” Her voice disappeared as they went around a corner.
Harrison’s father chuckled. “Your mother is something else.” Harrison’s father started after the other two women. “We’ll see you both in the morning.”
Harrison led the way back to his apartment with Lani’s hand snug in his until they were inside. “I learned something new about you.”
“You did?” A slight tremor filled her voice.
“I did.” He rested his hands on her hips. “Pretty much everyone knows your full name now, and you’re named after a beach in Florida.”
Lani rested her hands on his chest. “I am. My parents honeymooned there and were going to name Sean after their favorite beach, Daytona, but one of her sisters used the name first so they had to pick something else. I don’t know how they chose the rest of our names, just that they’re based on beaches. I’m pretty sure Sean never would have lived it down if his name was actually Daytona Beach.”
Harrison laughed. “That would be pretty bad.”
“We’ve all gone by nicknames our whole lives which helps. Mia was rarely actually called Miami Beach. Mia Beach doesn’t really mean anything in those terms, and she’s Mia Whitaker now anyway.”
He smiled and leaned closer. “You’re not Vilano Beach anymore either.”
Her eyes fluttered closed. “No. I’m not.”
“You’re Her Royal Highness, Vilano Cordova, Princess of San Majoria,” he whispered. “But more importantly, you’re my wife.”
“I am,” she whispered back.
This time, when he kissed her, he didn’t stop.
Epilogue
The trip home was on a private plane.
Not the royal plane, but one chartered just for the occasion. Lani wondered if she’d ever take these sorts of things for granted.
“I could so get used to this.” Madi settled back into her seat as they waited to take off. “Harrison, are you sure you don’t have any brothers?”
Harrison chuckled. “Just one, and he’s happily married.”
“How about any other young, hot unattached royals?”
“A few,” he admitted. “I doubt you’d be interested in the Crown Prince of Auverignon. He’s the one both geographically close and the right age.”
“Why not?”
“Their politics are a hot mess. His father is going to be forced down and possibly imprisoned for treason, but he’s fighting it every step of the way. When the Crown Prince becomes king in the near future, he’s going to have a country to rebuild.”
Madi’s nose wrinkled. “That doesn’t sound like fun.”
“Jacqueline Grace is engaged to one of the princes from New Sargasso. He has four brothers, but they’re quite far away. Down Under even.”
She shook her head. “No. I don’t think I’d like that. For a visit maybe but not forever.” She sighed. “Fine. I’ll just have to find someone with enough money that I never have to worry about sales again.”
“Your sales are fine, Mads.” Lani stifled the desire to roll her eyes at her sister.
“They are now, but that doesn’t mean they always have been or always will be.”
There was a note of something in her voice Lani didn’t like. “How bad was it?” she asked.
Madi closed her eyes and leaned her head back as the plane began to taxi. “Bad enough I almost had to move home.”
Lani winced. “That’s bad. You could have told me. We could have lived together.”
“That didn’t work when we were kids. Why would it work now?”
She had a point. “Because we’re adults and can make it
work for a while. Promise me if it’s ever that bad again, you’ll come to us and not Mom and Dad?”
Lani knew she should have talked to Harrison first, but he squeezed her hand, letting her know he agreed.
The night before had been everything she could have imagined it would be - if she’d ever let herself imagine such things. But prior to Harrison, Lani hadn’t really thought much about marriage or married life, only just a bit when Mia married Eli.
“I promise to come to you, but I am still kind of digging out and trying to build my savings back up. The money for the movie rights was nice as was the increase in sales when it was first announced. I do think I may talk to Mom and Dad about moving into the bookstore once you get all of your stuff out.”
“You can keep the furniture in there,” Lani told her. “It was all Mia’s anyway. She and Eli didn’t want any of it for their house.”
Before Madi could reply, the plane took off, and they all settled in for the flight. When the stewardess gave her permission, Madi pushed the seat back into a reclining position and dozed off.
Lani was grateful for the love seat which allowed her to sit close to her husband without an annoying armrest in between them.
Harrison wrapped his arm around her shoulders as she snuggled close. “Are you okay with moving into my house? I know it’s farther to work for you. If you’d rather we find something else, we can probably come up with something that security will approve. Maybe near Mia and Mama Beach. That’s a gated community.”
Lani shook her head. “You’re sweet to mention it, but your house is fine. It’s a little farther to work, but security is already well-established. I only lived there for a few days, but it’s a nice house.”
He kissed the top of her head. “You do realize you’re moving into the master suite with me, right?”
The husky tone in his voice made her glad Madi was asleep and couldn’t see her blush. “I’m glad you want me to.”
“Honey, I wouldn’t have you anywhere else.”
Small Town Girls Don't Marry Secret Princes: A Small Town Contemporary Christian Romance (Beaches of Trumanville Book 2) Page 16
