Read Online Royally Ever After (Royals of Valleria #7) by Marianne Knightly - Free Book Online Page A

same time Cat said, “Yes.”
    “Scared of my mother?” Cat asked and sat down.
    “Damn straight,” Rebecca replied, and Cat chuckled. Rebecca pivoted back to Mara. “Just check with Tavin and Corrado. If they don’t see an issue with it, then we’re all set.”
    Mara nodded. “Why don’t I start fresh pots of coffee and tea, and get some food from the kitchens? Some fluffy pastries sound like just the thing while we finish going through the wedding details.”
    “Thank you, Mara,” Rebecca said. Mara rose and stepped away, leaving Rebecca and Cat alone.
    “What else are you doing, besides making massive decisions about the wedding that will upset my mother?”
    As if Rebecca needed another reminder Genevieve wouldn’t be happy with her. Rebecca would be queen one day; she’d need to make these decisions on a regular basis, yet no one trusted her to make them now.
    She set the thoughts aside, deciding to worry about them later. “You know, I am sorry about the reception, but only because I won’t get to show off the beautiful dress you designed for me to wear for the occasion.”
    “You could still wear the dress to the family dinner. We could all get glammed up. It is a fabulous dress, if I do say so myself.”
    Rebecca bit back a smile. Humble was not typically a word she’d use to describe Cat, particularly when it came to Cat’s fashion skills. “Since you’ve started your own fashion house, everything you’ve designed has been great. Though, with Arianna in the hospital, too, I just don’t think it’s right to wear it. We’ll save the dress for another time.”
    “You’re probably right. Listen, do you need help with all this? I could call the other girls in, too.”
    Rebecca had practically lectured Alex to allow his brothers to help; she should take her own advice and let the girls help her now. However, now she could see why Alex did not want to utilize their help; it could make her look weak, as if she wasn’t up to the task of being queen one day.
    She shrugged away those thoughts, too. She didn’t have time to indulge her own insecurities. “Thanks, Cat. I’d really appreciate it. Are you doing okay with everything?”
    “As well as I can, I suppose. I’ll never forget the way Papa looked in that hospital bed. And now Arianna, too? I can’t imagine what she’s going through.” Cat sighed. “I’m sick of hospitals.”
    Since Rebecca had been to the hospital for a multitude of fertility tests over the last few months, not to mention all the problems that had landed their various family members in the hospital over the last several months, she could relate. “Me, too. I’m glad I’m done with doctor’s visits for a while, at least.”
    “Oh my God. I totally forgot about that. How is all that going? Have you heard back yet?”
    “All of the tests have come back negative so far, which means there shouldn’t be anything to prevent me having a child.”
    “That’s wonderful!”
    “I know, though I can’t shake this feeling that the doctors are missing something.” And she’d tried to shake it, by God, but she’d tried. She’d just have to keep going and hope for the best. “I haven’t had a chance to tell Alex about the latest results yet. I was going to tell him after our rehearsal, but everything changed then.”
    “You shouldn’t wait. He could use a bit of good news. Not that he’d care if you couldn’t have children. You’re stuck with him no matter what.”
    Since Alex had essentially told her the same thing, she just smiled.
    Sarah, Carolina, and Grace came by to help, as did Charlie who brought some freshly baked treats with her. As Charlie had been Head Baker before she took charge of the palace kitchens, her food was always delicious.
    Despite the support she received from the women in her life, Rebecca couldn’t help but worry about the man who was her entire life.

    * * *
    “ P apa , it won’t do any good for you to attend the Council meeting,”