Read Online Royally Ever After (Royals of Valleria #7) by Marianne Knightly - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Marianne Knightly
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Alex said, standing by his father’s hospital bed. “The Council accepted the required paperwork making me acting-king.”
“That doesn’t matter, Alexander. You know the politics at those meetings.”
“Yes, I do, as I’ve often run them in your stead when you couldn’t be present. It’s a fluff meeting. They’re just trying to show the monarchy is weak.”
“They’d be wrong, but that doesn’t mean they’re not effective.”
Alex was growing increasingly annoyed by his father, which in turn made him feel guilty for being annoyed at his hospital-bound father. Didn’t he have enough pressure on him right now, without his father questioning his tactics and undermining his confidence? “It’ll be fine, Papa. Nate, Marcello, and Lorenzo will be there with me. We’ll make sure the meeting stays on topic.”
Gabriel sighed and nodded just as Genevieve entered the room. “All right, my son.”
Genevieve took her place at Gabriel’s bedside again. “Well, Arianna’s scared, though she didn’t say that. They’ve managed to stop the bleeding, but she’s still having some pains. They’re doing more tests.”
“How’s Finn doing?” Gabriel asked.
“I only spoke with him briefly, but he’s worried. Really worried. Oh, Gabriel, I wish we could be there. They must feel so alone.”
“I know, my dear. As soon as I’m out of the hospital, you’ll go.”
“What about the wedding?” she asked. “If we postpone it, I suppose I could go. We should ask Rebecca.”
“Ask me what?” Rebecca asked as she entered the room dressed in gray pants with an emerald green scarf for the belt, and a sleeveless purple silk shirt. She greeted Gabriel and Genevieve, then turned to Alex.
“Mama wants to go visit Arianna.”
“Of course she does.” Rebecca eyes darted between Alex and his parents. “She could go after the ceremony. You’ll need to be at the wedding for appearances sake, but you could skip most of the wedding breakfast and leave right after. That is, if we continue with the wedding as planned.”
“You’re moving forward with the wedding,” Gabriel said firmly.
Alex blinked. Another decision his father made for him. “Papa, I don’t know if that’s best. Now, with Arianna in the hospital, if we have the wedding, we’ll look like heartless bastards.”
“Trust me, it’s for the best, my son, whether or not I’m still in the hospital or at home on bed rest. You two will be married.”
Rebecca toyed with her scarf. “We couldn’t. It wouldn’t be right.”
“I’ve already told Corrado he’s to issue a statement that the wedding will go on as planned with or without me.”
Irritation burst up in Alex. Not only had his father made the decision for them, but he’d acted on it without discussing it with them first, either. “Papa.”
Gabriel held up his hand. “Alexander, you must marry. If something happens to me or, God forbid, to Arianna, the wedding would only get delayed longer as you bided the period of national mourning. The wedding occurring after that would be bittersweet.”
“Gabriel,” Genevieve warned.
“It’s true, my dear. We must be realistic, my son. Marry the woman you love. The event will bring joy to the nation, and it will make me happy to see it, even if only by television.”
Alex waited a beat, but knew he had to follow his father’s wishes. He nodded.
“Good. Your fiancée deserves her day, and so do you.” Gabriel turned to Rebecca again. “Change what arrangements you need to, but get married. I assure you, I’ll be there in spirit and watching you on screen while you marry. Genevieve will be there in person.”
“If I went to Brazenbourg after the wedding breakfast, there’d be neither Gabriel nor I at the reception. That wouldn’t look right.”
Rebecca took a deep breath and gave Alex a furtive glance. “I think we should cancel the reception. I’d already made plans to do so, regardless of whether the wedding moved
“That doesn’t matter, Alexander. You know the politics at those meetings.”
“Yes, I do, as I’ve often run them in your stead when you couldn’t be present. It’s a fluff meeting. They’re just trying to show the monarchy is weak.”
“They’d be wrong, but that doesn’t mean they’re not effective.”
Alex was growing increasingly annoyed by his father, which in turn made him feel guilty for being annoyed at his hospital-bound father. Didn’t he have enough pressure on him right now, without his father questioning his tactics and undermining his confidence? “It’ll be fine, Papa. Nate, Marcello, and Lorenzo will be there with me. We’ll make sure the meeting stays on topic.”
Gabriel sighed and nodded just as Genevieve entered the room. “All right, my son.”
Genevieve took her place at Gabriel’s bedside again. “Well, Arianna’s scared, though she didn’t say that. They’ve managed to stop the bleeding, but she’s still having some pains. They’re doing more tests.”
“How’s Finn doing?” Gabriel asked.
“I only spoke with him briefly, but he’s worried. Really worried. Oh, Gabriel, I wish we could be there. They must feel so alone.”
“I know, my dear. As soon as I’m out of the hospital, you’ll go.”
“What about the wedding?” she asked. “If we postpone it, I suppose I could go. We should ask Rebecca.”
“Ask me what?” Rebecca asked as she entered the room dressed in gray pants with an emerald green scarf for the belt, and a sleeveless purple silk shirt. She greeted Gabriel and Genevieve, then turned to Alex.
“Mama wants to go visit Arianna.”
“Of course she does.” Rebecca eyes darted between Alex and his parents. “She could go after the ceremony. You’ll need to be at the wedding for appearances sake, but you could skip most of the wedding breakfast and leave right after. That is, if we continue with the wedding as planned.”
“You’re moving forward with the wedding,” Gabriel said firmly.
Alex blinked. Another decision his father made for him. “Papa, I don’t know if that’s best. Now, with Arianna in the hospital, if we have the wedding, we’ll look like heartless bastards.”
“Trust me, it’s for the best, my son, whether or not I’m still in the hospital or at home on bed rest. You two will be married.”
Rebecca toyed with her scarf. “We couldn’t. It wouldn’t be right.”
“I’ve already told Corrado he’s to issue a statement that the wedding will go on as planned with or without me.”
Irritation burst up in Alex. Not only had his father made the decision for them, but he’d acted on it without discussing it with them first, either. “Papa.”
Gabriel held up his hand. “Alexander, you must marry. If something happens to me or, God forbid, to Arianna, the wedding would only get delayed longer as you bided the period of national mourning. The wedding occurring after that would be bittersweet.”
“Gabriel,” Genevieve warned.
“It’s true, my dear. We must be realistic, my son. Marry the woman you love. The event will bring joy to the nation, and it will make me happy to see it, even if only by television.”
Alex waited a beat, but knew he had to follow his father’s wishes. He nodded.
“Good. Your fiancée deserves her day, and so do you.” Gabriel turned to Rebecca again. “Change what arrangements you need to, but get married. I assure you, I’ll be there in spirit and watching you on screen while you marry. Genevieve will be there in person.”
“If I went to Brazenbourg after the wedding breakfast, there’d be neither Gabriel nor I at the reception. That wouldn’t look right.”
Rebecca took a deep breath and gave Alex a furtive glance. “I think we should cancel the reception. I’d already made plans to do so, regardless of whether the wedding moved
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