Rebecca Winters - Wedding Vows - Say I Do - Matrimony with His Majesty / Invitation to the Prince's Palace / The Prince's Outback Bride

Her tongue was starting to run away with her, but she couldn’t help it. “The important thing here is that you and Isabella work things out so your wedding goes smoothly. I’ll do whatever I can to help.”

“I’m ready,” Phillip announced, preventing her from hearing Alex’s response.

His gaze seemed reluctant to leave hers before he leveled his attention on his son. “I like that blazer.”

“Thanks. Will you help me with my tie? I hate them.”

“So do I,” Alex muttered.

Normally that job was Darrell’s domain, but he had a father now, one who performed the task with obvious pleasure.

Darrell winked at Phillip. “You’re a sight fit for a king,”

Phillip screwed up his face. “That was corny, Mom.”

“I know, but I couldn’t help it.”

Alex’s broad shoulders shook in silent laughter. Their eyes met in shared amusement before he guided Phillip toward the door.

“I hope everything goes well,” she called to them.

Phillip hung back. “Aren’t you coming?”

“Not this time. I’ve got a phone call to make so I’ll still have a job when I get back to Denver.”

“You’re not going to lose your job, Mom. Jack told me the other day he’s hoping you’ll change your mind and marry him. You’ve got it made.”

“Who’s Jack?” Alex asked. By this time they’d crossed over the threshold.

“Mom’s boss,” came the answer before the door closed.

The click set off a symbolic echo in her heart.

Up to now she’d been focused on Isabella and how hard it was going to be for the princess to have to share Alex with his son.

But watching them walk out of the room just now made Darrell realize she, too, was going to go through a serious adjustment letting Phillip go with his dad.

Darrell had to admit it pained her to be left behind this evening. She was so used to being the center of Phillip’s universe, she was actually jealous of Alex’s power over him.

Her son’s eagerness to go off with his father whether she went with them or not came shouldn’t have come as a shock. It was clear they were both anxious to make up for lost time.

That’s what she wanted for them! But this was only the beginning. Soon Alex was going to be Isabella’s husband…Just imagining it produced excruciating pain of a different kind.

Before Darrell broke down in tears, she showered and changed into a nightgown and robe to have dinner. Once she’d eaten, she realized that too many flying hours had made her desperately tired. Bed called to her.

After brushing her teeth, she doused the lights and turned in, hoping she wouldn’t have more disturbing dreams.

Sometime later she thought she heard a noise.

“Phillip?” she called softly in the darkness, too groggy to turn on a light.

“No,” came that deep, vibrant male voice.

“ALEX—” Suddenly Darrell was wide-awake and sat up. “W-what time is it?”

“Midnight. I’m sorry to have disturbed you. Phillip and I needed to talk. He’s asleep now.”

She smoothed the hair away from her face. He stood a few feet away from the bed. Anyone looking in right now would be scandalized to see the king in her bedroom. But everything about their situation was unique. Her heart was beating far too fast to be good for her.

“Tell me what happened—”

She heard him exhale. “Our son was such a perfect gentleman, I hardly recognized him.”

Since Darrell understood exactly what he meant by that, she didn’t misconstrue his words. “He loves you so much, he obviously didn’t dare do anything you could fault.”

“Isabella wasn’t exactly herself, either, though she tried.”

“So all in all the evening turned into a disaster,” Darrell finished for him.

“That’s one way of putting it.” But he said it with a chuckle, which in turn caused her to do the same.

“I know it isn’t a laughing matter,” she said when she’d sobered. “Do you think they liked each other?”

“I think they will once the shock wears off. It’s one thing to have intellectual knowledge of each other, and quite another to sit across a table from each other face-to-face for the first time. Everything became real tonight.”

Darrell could second that!

She sat up a little straighter. “I’m sure you’re thankful this initial meeting is over. Tomorrow it will be easier.”

“She’s leaving first thing in the morning.”

Uh-oh. “Is Phillip upset you’re going back to San Ravino with her? If he is, I’ll have a talk with him.”

“Thank you, but that won’t be necessary. She wants to speak to her parents alone, and will send for me when the time is right.”

Alarmed, Darrell said, “They don’t know yet?”

“She thought it would be better to meet Phillip first.”

Darrell put her hands to her face. “It’s going to be horrible, isn’t it.”

“That remains to be seen.”

“I feel terrible for her, Alex.”

“So do I. Her parents are very decent people. But even decent people have their limits.”

Tears trickled out of her eyes. “Do you think Phillip has any idea how important tonight was?”

“Yes.” His voice grated. “That’s why we talked so long. I heard all about Steve and his divorced parents. We discussed what it was like for his friend to live in two different households with two moms. Our son is much more prepared to deal with this situation than I’d given him credit for.”

“He’s devoted a lot of thought to it. Too much,” Darrell murmured.

“Our son is terrific, but you already know that.”

“I do.” She wiped the moisture off her cheeks. “We just have to hope Isabella and her parents will be able to work through their pain. Is there any way of putting off the wedding another week or two? Just to give them a little more time to get used to the idea?”

“We talked about that possibility, among others.”

“What others?”

“Her parents will probably be able to deal with it as long as Phillip is never allowed to succeed me as king.”

“King—” she blurted incredulously. “Phillip?”

Until Alex had brought up the subject just now, the thought had never entered her head. “Did you assure her Phillip is the last person in the world who would want that job one day, let alone be qualified?”

The silence lengthened before he said, “Who knows what’s in store for our son.” Alex sounded so serious, she started to get nervous.

“I can tell you right now it won’t be that!” she cried.

He shifted his weight. “Did I mention his asking me if he was a prince now?”

She made a protesting sound in her throat. “He was just kidding around, Alex. You know how he is. Isabella has nothing to fear from him. When you two have children, they’ll be royals from birth. I hope you explained that to him. After I get him alone I’ll explain to him.”

“Let’s not worry about that right now. How would you like to go horseback riding after breakfast in the morning?”

He’d changed the subject too fast.

“I’m sure Phillip will love it.”

“Surely you realize I’m including you in the invitation,” he said in a voice that brooked no argument.

“Isabella wouldn’t approve of it no matter how hard she’s trying to be brave about this, so—”

“Be ready at nine,” he cut in on her abruptly. “Sleep well.”

Within seconds he’d disappeared from the suite.

Shivering with apprehension because the situation was growing more complicated by the minute, she burrowed under the covers. Five minutes later she was still wide-awake.

Not only their conversation but his presence had given her a serious case of insomnia. The time for gut-wrenching honesty had come.