Chapter 16 #2
She had already decided that she was not going to allow their argument to spill over to the next day, which was not how she wanted her marriage to be.
But she was also determined not to spend their lives in the public's eye.
She had read of too many celebrity marriages going up in smoke because of the press. She wanted to avoid that very thing.
Now that she was pregnant, she was going to be fierce where that was concerned.
She got her confirmation and instructed the kitchen to prepare something special for supper. That role had also been passed on to her. She now handled most of the household duties, with the queen lending a hand whenever she could.
"Darling, you're officially the woman of the house now," the queen had told her. "You taking over certain duties frees me up for doing more."
Antoinette could not fathom how the woman could take on even more responsibilities.
"You look different." Tomas came up behind her and wrapped his hands around her waist. They had been married for almost two months now and he was still head over heels in love with her.
She fascinated him and he knew without a doubt that with her, he would never be bored.
She did not put up with his "snits" as she termed it and called him out whenever he was wrong.
She was certainly not afraid to speak her mind.
As his princess, she handled her duties with aplomb and grace as if she had been born to it.
"Different, good or bad?" she asked. The argument they had yesterday was behind them.
"It might be the dress perhaps?" His eyes skimmed over the front of her as she stood in front of the full-length mirror. "The color, ripe peaches, is it? It gives your complexion this sheen." He kissed the top of her head and could not resist passing his hand over the shiny mass.
She had left it loose for him and he knew it took a great deal of her time and effort to brush until the strands were shiny and healthy looking.
She had a personal stylist who came by whenever they were attending a function.
He smiled as he recalled how she had balked at him hiring a social secretary.
"Or it might be that I'm over the moon happy." Her eyes met his teasingly in the mirror, but he took it to heart, his own eyes darkening with emotions. Turning her to face him, he searched her face anxiously.
"Are you happy, mi amor?"
Lifting one hand, she cupped his cheek, a smile hovering on her lips. "How can you ask me that?"
"We fight."
"We do. You happen to be Spanish with very volatile emotions and I'm American and black.
We're very loud and very aggressive. It makes for a very combustible situation.
" She went on her toes and brushed her lips on his.
When she stepped back, he wrapped his arms around her and prolonged the kiss, leaving them both shaken.
"We're due for supper in precisely five minutes." His hands roamed up and down her back restlessly, his body already primed and ready for her. "We could call down to say..." His eyes brightened as an idea struck him. "That you're tired and not at all well."
Laughing, she kissed him again and moved away. "We're not doing that. You know if you send a message like that, it will have your mother coming up to see what was wrong. Besides, I'm starving."
Catching her around the waist, he brought her up against him. "Then promise we will make some excuse so that we can come to bed early."
"You're insatiable."
"Are you complaining?"
"Not at all. I happen to like it."
"Then let's hurry up and get the evening over and done with. I want to be alone with my wife."
*****
She waited until the dessert was served before imparting the news.
All throughout dinner and the discussion about the Christmas gala that was going to take place on the eve of the holiday, she managed to make some contribution to the conversation.
It occurred to her that she should have told her husband in the privacy of their suite and gauged his reaction.
They had not really discussed having children even though it had been mentioned a few times. But she could not wait to be a mother.
"Querida?" She jolted slightly, belatedly realizing that the queen had posed a question and was waiting for her response. "Are you unwell?" the queen asked. The gleam in his eyes reminded her of the bargain they had made to escape earlier.
"Not unwell really." Taking a deep breath, she dabbed at her mouth with the snowy white napkin and turned her head to include her mother-in-law. "Just queasy and dizzy a little. I went to the doctor this morning."
Her husband's teasing manner fled instantly to be replaced by a concerned frown.
"You did not say anything to me. You went all on your own? Antoinette, I don't appreciate..."
"Madre de Dios!" The queen shoved back her chair and rushed around to her side of the table.
Definitely alarmed now, Tomas shoved back his own chair and bent down in front of her. "What is it? Mi amor, are you ill?" His eyes darkened. "Please tell me. What is happening?"
"I'm six weeks pregnant." Her eyes moistened as she took his hands in hers. "I know we never discussed it and I don't know if it's too soon, but..."
He hauled her up carefully, keeping his eyes on her face and ignoring the fact that his mother was there clapping her hands in delight.
"You're with child?"
"Are you happy?" she asked him anxiously.
"You're carrying my baby inside you?" His hand drifted to her flat stomach as emotions raged through his body like a hurricane.
"Yes. Are you happy?"
His eyes flew to hers and for a few seconds words failed him. "I adore you." He murmured something else in Spanish, his accent thickening. "Mi Vida. Mi Cielo."
"Does that mean you're happy?" she prodded. His arms came around her, and he drew her in carefully, his hand drifting down to her flat stomach.
"I don't need to tell you how overwhelmed I am." Tilting her face up, he brushed his lips over hers.
"You've made me the happiest woman in the world."
They turned as if just remembering that the queen was standing there. Her hands were clasped around her throat, eyes moist. Laughing shakily, Antoinette reached out a hand to draw her into the circle.
That night when he made love to her, there was something different about the way he touched her. He spent time worshipping her body, his hands spanning her waist and drawing circles around her navel.
"I spent a long time thinking that my life was empty because it was. You have shown me something so different from what I was accustomed to." He cradled her face gently. "My one and only love. My heart, my being, thank you."
"Muy Bienvenido," she whispered huskily as she wrapped her arms around his neck.
*****
The royal pregnancy…
"As if the fabulous wedding between African-American Antoinette Carter, now Perez, wasn't enough to let us sit up and take notice and cheer for the former employee turned princess, we just received news from a reliable source inside the palace that the couple is pregnant!
Yes, people, she's carrying the royal heir to the throne.
The same source whispered that the queen is over the moon and the nursery has already been decorated.
We were not able to establish the due date because that is being held close to the vest, but we've seen the princess up and about on her daily rounds and traveling with her prince and there's no sign of a "baby bump," which means it is early days yet.
Our efforts to get a comment or two from the prince and his princess proved fruitless.
Others close to them are tight-lipped. Of course, if you've signed an NDA, it's usually advisable to take that stance.
But photos of the lovely princess at the winter social and then again at the premiere for a new movie by a famous actress, from that area, showed her immaculately and fashionably dressed as usual.
We are all waiting with bated breath to see if it's a future prince or princess who will be making his or her appearance in whatever month the baby is due. Please stay tuned for further updates."
*****
Their prince, Thiago Javier Luis Garcia-Perez, was born on a particularly windy day in September. The squalling infant weighed in at six pounds five ounces and was perfect according to his parents and his very proud grandmother.
After twelve hours of labor in the private clinic, Antoinette was ready to go home. Her husband was true to his word and was there for every doctor's visit. When he had to go on official business, he would make certain that he did not stay more than two days if he could help it.
"He's so beautiful." The queen took the baby in her arms, rocking him gently and watching the golden eyes staring at her fixedly.
"This is your grandmama, darling," she murmured.
"Yes, I am." Looking up, she smiled at her son, who was reclining on the bed and cradling his wife on his shoulder.
"He looks so much like you when you were a baby.
" Her throat moved rapidly as she tried to get rid of the lump that had lodged itself inside her throat.
"Sleepy, mi amor?" he asked, turning his head to see his wife's eyes closing.
"A little." She roused herself enough to smile at him. "I guess popping out an almost seven-pound baby has taken its toll."
Bending his head, he kissed her forehead and then the tip of her nose. "Thank you," he whispered.
With a smile on her lips, she closed her eyes and drifted off.
*****
One year later…
Their daughter, Gabriella Sofia Elena, was born three days after her brother's first birthday and looked so much like her brother they could pass as twins.
"Are we officially finished building our family now?" Prince Tomas asked his wife huskily as he stood staring at his daughter. Both mother and baby had arrived home from the hospital just yesterday.