A Royal Wedding: The Royals Series Page 25

  “Thanks, Sophie,” I called after her as Aiden’s mom came around the corner.

  “Hello, Finley.” She still sounded annoyed when she said my name, but her eyes had already darted to Ella. “How is she?”

  “Good. She was better before Bea came in shouting.” I laughed, removing myself from the again sleeping child and repositioning my shirt. “But she’s back to sleep now.”

  “May I?” She hurried forward, her hands out.

  “Of course.” I’d never denied her access, though she hadn’t apologized to me. I’d contemplated it for a hot minute, but she would always be Ella’s only grandmother. And Hattie lectured me for days before the birth about the importance of grandparents and that she was getting older and who would Ella have if I cut off the queen mother?

  The pure bliss on her face as she scooped my child delicately from me, losing all the evil and malice, was important to me. We might never be friends. She might never accept me. I might never love her. But we loved Ella, and if the queen mother was half as protective of Ella as she had been with Aiden, that was a savage ally to have on Ella’s team.

  Not to mention, the entire French family we hadn’t met yet. It might be cool for Ella to see those castles and places and people with her grandma. One day.

  But for now I would have to force myself to watch her hold Ella, and let the magic of the baby heal us all. Because honestly, every time she held my child, I hated her less.

  That had to be something.

  The queen mother began to sing. It was a French song I’d heard her sing to Ella a few times. It was magical and creepy all at once. She resembled Snow White as she held her and sang and cooed. It was impossible to not enjoy the hour spent together, even if we didn't speak.

  “Ladies, am I interrupting?” Aiden asked softly as he came in.

  “No. I think our darling girl is nearly ready to eat again. She’ll be plump as a pigeon in no time.” His mother laughed and handed her over to her son.

  He lifted her into his arms, smelling her the way he did me. He exhaled. “She smells like heaven. I’m certain that’s what the smell is.”

  “Reminds me of when you were a baby.” She tilted her head and I understood her completely. Her motivations weren’t foreign to me. Her hatred of me explained. A mother would do anything for her child. Anything.

  I wondered silently, watching the three of them, how my mother would have fit into all this. I wondered if the queen mother would have made it out alive had my mother been here.

  “Have a lovely evening. Let’s plan dinner for this weekend.” She hugged Aiden and offered one more soft kiss on Ella’s tiny blonde head.

  “Yes, I’ll see you out.” Aiden walked to me to hand over Ella, but his mother lifted a hand to his arm.

  “No. I’ll see myself out. You three enjoy some peace. It’s a rare thing for people like us.” She kissed his cheek and offered me something resembling a wave.

  He left for a second, then returned speaking in a low tone, “That’s getting better.”

  “It totally is. It’s weird but I think Ella is making your mom chill. And she’s for sure making me chill out. And getting married chilled you right out. Everyone’s chill now. Even the reporters. Did you see the nice things they’re all saying about me now that I’m a mom? I have better ratings than Linna now!”

  “I suspect it’s more to do with your being queen.” He gave me the “don't be daft” look but held his tongue. He was learning. After struggling with not saying something shitty in retort, he managed to keep the conversation pleasant. “Anyway, I don't think it’s long before my mother admits her behavior was completely out of line, and you could one day see an apology. Perhaps some mended fences might occur.”

  “She’s not that chilled out.” I rolled my eyes at him.

  “You and the chilling out,” he said with a noisy exhale as he walked over and sat on the chair across from me. “How are you feeling? Besides chilled, obviously.”

  “Tired. Hungry. Missing lattes. Missing my nails. Kinda fat still. A little sore in the places I don't want to discuss. Sad that Linna is so far away. Missing my dad and Hattie. Having them here for two straight weeks was nice.” I contemplated that for a second. “Did I ever tell you I’m sorry for making fun of your monstrosity of a castle? Because seriously, it’s been sweet having so much room for everyone. I mean, I barely noticed Jack had moved in.”

  “Jack’s here as well now?” Aiden’s eyes widened as if he had just started to listen to me.

  “Dude, how do you not know your own brother is here?”

  “Like you said, monstrosity of a castle. Why isn’t he at home with Mother?” he sounded annoyed.

  I lifted an eyebrow as my response instead of speaking.

  “Ahhh.” He sighed. “I see. Jack’s also annoyed with her over her treatment of you.”

  “She was harsh and she was out of line. I’ve never been right like this before. It’s a weird feeling to have everyone so angry for me.”

  “Indeed she was.” He reached a hand, the one with the ring on it, toward me, taking my hand in his. “I am so sorry for that.”

  “I know. Me too. I wish she could have given me a chance. And your dad. But in all fairness, I’m watching Mary date that Kennington the Turd guy, and I hate him and want to punch him in the face. So I get it.”

  “Yes, I don't understand that either. I’ve threatened her with everything I’m capable of and things I’m not. I’ve tried bribing him. I even threatened him, well Isaac took care of it. Nothing is working. They’re completely smitten and secretly dating. The next step is to follow through with some of the threats. Or marrying her off.”

  “Maybe we have to give him the benefit of the doubt. Mary’s never been anything but a good person. Even her being rebellious is ridiculous. She sneaks off to Scotland to visit her boyfriend and uses her own money to do it. Like that’s the worst she’s got?” I scoffed, earning a scowl.

  “That’s a serious offence.” He was being serious.

  “You did it,” I offered back cheekily.

  “I was in love.”

  “How do you know she isn’t? You have to face the fact we might have to give him a chance.”

  “I refuse.” He was not kidding at all. “And I don't want to speak on it further. I’ve ordered dinner. There’s this recipe I asked Chef to make. It’s a dish I had at this strange little hole-in-the-wall in Hawaii, a Polynesian restaurant that made huli huli chicken tacos with a parsley and lime aioli. Fantastic. And he’s making some malasadas for dessert.”

  “What are you talking about? I told him bone broth for me.” He was going to be the death of my skinniness.

  “Right, I forgot to tell you. We all agreed no one is listening to you anymore about your diet. Kale is off the menu. The doctor told you no dieting until Ella was six months old and you’re not listening so we’re taking charge. Going forward you have two choices: you eat the meal that is served, or I will have you force-fed.”

  “You can’t force-feed me.”

  A grin like the Grinch’s crossed his face. “I have been doing it for two weeks; you just don't know it,” he said smugly.

  “What?” What was he talking about?

  “We’ve been adding extra protein to all your smoothies. Extra fatty yogurt in everything. You’ve been eating two thousand calories a day and you’re still losing weight.” He squeezed my hand. “But I’m done with this. You’ll eat like a normal human being and listen to me when I tell you you’re beautiful. This is the last discussion on it.” He stood and walked to the nursery where Sophie was.

  “Aiden!” I whisper-shouted so as not to wake her up. “You are sabotaging me looking hot in my dress.”

  When I came around the corner he was gone. Sophie gave me a smile and lifted her finger to her lips. I snarled and hurried from the suite after him.

  But by the time I got downstairs, everyone was sitting at the table. The smell of the food called to me. It sang of flavors far super
ior to the ones kale came in. My stomach cramped and Aiden slipped from the shadows next to me, wrapping an arm around my waist and pulling me back into the creepy dark of the hallway. He spun me and kissed, muttering, “You are the most beautiful woman in the world. But I forbid you to put your weird self-esteem and body image issues on our daughter.” He leaned back, holding my face in his hands and smiling softly. “Trust me. You’re stunning and you could show up at our wedding in a kilt and a blouse and everyone would gush over your glow. Relax. Stop stressing about the wedding dress. You already did this once. We’re married. It’s not a big deal.”

  “It was a muumuu of a dress. I got married in an empire waist to hide my belly. It’s not the same. You can’t understand how badly I want to be a beautiful bride.” Boys didn't get it.

  “And you will be.” He kissed again, delicately. “But stop this bowl diet madness. Just take care of feeding our daughter and healing. Because I miss being inside—”

  “Okay,” I cut him off before he could say anything else, my cheeks flushing with color. “We agreed not to have that conversation. Keep it in your pants.” I pointed at him. “I’ll stop obsessing and get some Spanx. It’ll be fine. But when I undress after the wedding, you don't get to make fun of me for my old-lady underwear.”

  “Fin—”

  I turned and left him in the dark corner, just as the tacos were being brought into the casual dining room with the round table.

  Mary smiled at me, patting the chair next to her, leaving the one next to me open for Aiden.

  I sat as Aiden came in behind me and sat too. He reached a hand over and took mine, kissing it. Johan was mid story about the hike and Jess was rolling her eyes at him. Mary laughed at him, but also at Bea who continued to stare at her ring. She’d fled London to bring it here to show us. Carter winked at me and I grinned, mouthing, “Congrats.”

  “Thanks, chica.” He offered me a weird bow for helping him pick out the ring on FaceTime.

  Aiden turned to Jack. “I see you’re here.”

  “Yeah, everyone else is.” He shrugged, obviously not wanting to discuss it. He lifted a taco to his lips and started to eat, signaling the rest of us it was dinnertime.

  I lifted a taco to my face and moaned as the flavor hit my mouth. It was as outstanding as Aiden had said.

  He didn't eat, he watched us all with a beaming smile.

  The family meals were few and far between.

  The life was busy.

  Being king was tough.

  But he was slowly figuring out how to be like his dad, a man with two faces and two hats and two personalities. The strong king and the loving father. The stern leader and the soft husband. The emotionless ruler and the doting brother.

  And as the days passed, he came closer to mastering it.

  He leaned in, kissing my cheek as I took another huge bite. “You’re everything,” he whispered.

  It was everything, even watching Jack sneak a few bites to Ozzy under the table.

  26

  The worst thing we created in the 2000s is ghosting. Millennials have revitalized the small bookstores and saved us from eating at chain restaurants, but they can’t text someone back to say they’re not interested?

  I do, I totally do

  September 21 - The real wedding

  “How can I be more nervous this time when I’m already married?” I asked softly, gazing out the window at dusk on the horizon.

  “Because you’re a pain in the ass, Your Highness,” Hattie mocked me endearingly as she fastened the clasp on my bracelet. It had been my mother’s and was my something old.

  My new was the dress, like all brides. Unlike all brides, my dress was a custom-made Yumi Katsura strapless gown with a sweetheart-cut bodice that featured hand-embroidered macramé lace. A wide row of silver jewels adorned the waist to resemble a belt. And the bottom was an explosion of tulle, organza, and chiffon with hand-embroidered designs winding their way up the bell of the dress.

  It was white, something I had demanded, and I felt like a princess, despite being a queen. Queen consort. Whatever. When I saw it on, I cried and didn't worry about the extra four pounds I still had from having Ella. Honestly, no one would notice me, just the gown.

  My borrowed was the shoes. Linna had insisted I wear them. She wanted me and her, Jess, Mary, and Bea to all wear them.

  And my blue was a small ribbon made from my mother’s garter, woven through a braid in my hair.

  This wedding was the one we had written our own vows for. It was the one we wanted. Both of us. And though I did still find the older part of the castle creepy, the grounds were magnificent. And the ceremony was outside. Fortunately, the warm weather lingered from summer.

  I knew none of the details. Aiden had planned the entire thing—because being in control was his thing, as was surprising me. He wanted me to love the day and relax.

  “Who is the sweetest baby ever?” Dee cooed at Ella as she sat in her lap, already wearing her adorable tiny white dress.

  “You’re a natural.” I smiled at her, excited for their journey to start.

  “I hope so. Our daughter comes in a week.” Dee’s eyes widened and her face flushed. The adoption of their daughter was complete, and she would be born via C-section in eight days. I hadn’t pried, though I desperately wanted to, but Dee and Mark had made the adoption decision after some news came back from the doctor. It broke my heart for them, but they didn't seem upset. They rallied and paid for an adoption and it was nearly time.

  “Ella is going to be excited to have a new cousin,” Jess spoke in her baby voice, lightly pinching Ella’s cheeks.

  “Yes, the baby-wrestling on blankets in the summer is going to be amazing.” I laughed.

  “You are ready, my dear.” Hattie stood and gave me a once-over.

  “Well, hopefully this is the last time I get married.” I hugged her and everyone in the room.

  “I’m already a bigger fan of this wedding,” Jess said. “Less political and more family and friends.”

  “Agreed.” I nodded. The week of the wedding had been magical. Relaxing and fun instead of stressful. I’d been forbidden to go near the tents in the side yard where it was being set up, but beyond that we’d had a blast being back in St Andrews.

  “Shall we then?” Mary asked.

  “Let’s.” I linked my arm into Hattie’s and helped her from the room. She was getting older and we’d made a decision as a family she would move to Scotland, selling her house and bringing Peaches. She didn't want to, but I told her that coming to see her in Lakeside wouldn’t be as easy now that we had Ella. It took some persuading but eventually Aiden got her to see the light.

  The talk hadn’t been as intense with Dad. I barely said two words about moving closer, and he got a job in London making ungodly amounts of money. Though he denied it, I suspected he was planning on shacking up with Muriel. He would be starting the job in a few weeks. It was awkward for me to be with a member of Alex’s family, but Dad was different with her. He was happy.

  We made a deal: I would see them in the UK, preventing issues with Andorra and Aiden and his mother.

  When we reached the bottom of the stairs, Dad was waiting, but he didn't see me. He had Ella and was giving her kisses like I’d never seen him do with a baby. He was grandpa of the year, there was no denying it. I had no idea how to even comprehend it. I didn't have a single memory of him that had the faces he made with her, or the amount of kisses she received.

  Sometimes I wondered if she was everyone’s second chance.

  “I’ll go find Muriel. I’m sure she’s desperately looking for someone to talk to so she can avoid the queen mother.” Hattie kissed my cheek and walked off as Jess took Ella.

  “Ready?” Dad asked. He too was calmer this time.

  “Ready.” I smiled and slipped my arm into his.

  They led the way, Linna, Mary, and Jess with Ella. This time Bea and Dee were in the wedding as well. They kissed me before following Jess out t
he door.

  A stream of beautiful girls and an adorable baby, all dressed in white.

  They each had unique dresses, suiting their body types.

  It was a train of tulle, chiffon, and lace.

  When we got to the door, Dad kissed my cheek softly and whispered, “I think I feel her here this time.”

  “Feel who?” I asked, panicking.

  “Your mother, silly. I swear I saw her—her ghost—in one of the halls. These old places, they attract the ghosts more. Maybe they make it easier for them to see and be seen.”

  I nodded, not sure if he was aware of my dislike of all things scary. As much as I wanted to keep my eyes forward, they forced my head to turn and glimpse back at the huge castle foyer, but I didn't see her. I didn't see anyone.

  Thank God.

  We walked out and to the right, following the lanterns on the path to take a long stroll to the side yard where the party was set up. Dad gripped my arm tightly, and with a deep breath led me through the doors of the massive white tent. “I hope you’re ready for this.”

  As it came into view, I gasped seeing it, pausing and staring at the beauty surrounding us.

  My jaw hung open as the string quartet accompanied by a guitarist began to play softly.

  A girl with a haunting voice sang lightly in Gaelic, in tune to the music.

  The tents of white draping fabric glowed from what had to be a thousand tiny lights. All the logs and beams holding the tents up were wrapped in lush green garland. Surrounding us were what appeared to be trees, creating a forest scene like something from a movie. The tents were shaped in an octagon with the middle area open, showing off the clear sky. Hanging, as if by magic, in the air above us were thousands of strands of upside down white flowers, dropping their petals into the air and scenting the wind. In the middle of the large octagon was a pond surrounded by lush green shrubs with white flowers floating on the surface. The water reflected the thousands of tiny lights lining the frames of the tents and the tables at the edge.