Chapter 22
CHAPTER 22
NATE
N ate blew out a shaky breath, his hands fumbling with the cufflinks again before attempting to tie his bowtie again. With a disgusted sigh, he tugged it from around his neck and tossed it onto the bed before he collapsed onto it.
Things had fallen into place for their engagement announcement, yet his stomach still insisted on tying into a tight knot. He only wished the silk fabric was as cooperative.
A quiet knock sounded at his door.
Nate huffed, crossing the plush, thickly carpeted floor to the door. He opened it a crack to find his mother already dressed on the other side.
She grinned at him as he opened the door further.
“You look nice,” he said with a tentative smile.
She slid into the room. “You look unfinished. Need help with the tie?”
“As always,” Nate said with a shake of his head, retrieving the black fabric. “Well, this is one of the last times I’ll be doing this, so at least I can feel useful.”
“Why? Do you think I’ll suddenly be able to tie my own ties after I get married?” Nate lifted his chin as she adjusted the fabric around his neck.”
“No,” she said with a grin. “But I think Ellie will do a fine job of it, and you won’t need your mother anymore.”
“Ellie seems like she does a fine job of everything,” he answered. “I can’t believe she found that evidence.”
Victoria grinned as she finished tying the knot and adjusted it to be straight. “And burst into the courtroom, waving it in the air.”
“I would have paid to see that,” he answered as he glanced in the mirror. “Thanks.”
He tugged on his jacket and buttoned it before he adjusted his cufflinks again.
“She was really something. I think the judge was flabbergasted when she announced who she was.”
Nate twisted to face his mother, an amused expression on his face. “She did?”
“Oh, yes. She dropped that royal title. The prosecutor tried to use that against her, but she just kept plowing ahead. Thank goodness the judge gave her some leeway.”
“Really,” Nate said with a nod. “King Frederick would have probably murdered me if Ellie would have ended up in jail.”
He creased his forehead. “That reminds me…we should find out if they have a dungeon here.”
Victoria crinkled her nose. “A dungeon?”
“Well, you never know. And the way luck runs in our family…”
“Nate, you’re about to become a prince. I hope they won’t imprison one of their own family. ”
He shifted his weight from foot to foot. “Yeah, I’m just waiting for the other shoe to drop on that.”
“Honey, we’re less than an hour away from the official announcement of your engagement. I think you’ll make it.”
“But will we make the wedding?” Nate shook his head. “Prince Julian is still fuming over what happened. I just don’t trust him not to interrupt the wedding with some new nonsense that throws everything into chaos. Or even the engagement party.”
“Maybe he’ll end up in the dungeon,” Victoria said with a chuckle.
“He’s not going to take kindly to being knocked down in the royal pecking order.”
“He’s really not yet. Not until you have children.” Victoria raised a finger in the air. “Which I have already spoken with Ellie about.”
“Mom,” Nate protested. “Give us a chance to get married after everything that’s happened.”
“Heirs are important to royals. I’m just chiming in with my support.”
He squeezed her hand as he smiled at her. “You will be the first to know when you’re going to be a grandma.”
“Actually, I would expect to be the second. I’m assuming Queen Sophia will take precedence.”
“Maybe we’ll tell you both together.”
Victoria kissed his cheek. “I don’t care which order you tell me in, I’ll be thrilled either way. Now, shall we head downstairs?”
“Sure,” he said, sucking in a deep breath. “I hope I don’t mess anything up. I’m still not used to all these royal protocols.”
“You’ll learn them. It sounds like you’re already doing quite well. You still haven’t told me the story of your impassioned speech that won the legislature,” she said as she looped her arm through his and led him to the door.
“It wasn’t that impassioned. I thought for sure I had sunk any chance of that vote going our way.”
“Oh,” Victoria said with a shake of her head, “you were always good in the boardroom. Your father said you were quite persuasive. I assume that helped.”
They stepped into the empty hall and ambled toward his parents’ room. “I was a mess. They called me up to testify about finding the sealed decree. The next thing I knew, I was spilling my guts about how I loved Ellie.”
“I think that’s charming.”
Nate rolled his eyes at himself. “It wasn’t charming, it was embarrassing. I’m surprised the king didn’t put me in the dungeon after that. I just…didn’t know what to say, but I felt honesty was the best policy.”
“It usually is,” Victoria said as they reached her door, and she pushed inside. “Ready?”
Charles adjusted his lapel and buttoned his jacket. “I’m ready. Did you get his tie tied?”
“I did,” Victoria said, showcasing her handiwork. “Sadly, it’ll be one of the last times I do it.”
Her voice cracked as a tear rolled down her cheek.
Nate slid an arm around her. “Oh, Mom. First of all, I’m not dying, I’m just getting married. Actually, it’s only the engagement party. And second, you still have Stephen around.”
She waved a hand at her face as she sniffled. “Stephen can tie his own ties. He’s always been better at that than you. You never did get the hang of it. But my little boy is all grown up.”
She fled across the room to tug a tissue from the holder on the nightstand. Nate shifted uncomfortably as he shot a glance at his father.
Charles gave him a tight-lipped grin as he shoved his hands into his pockets. “You’ll see when Ellie does this over your kids.”
“Uhh, I mean…Dad, that’s…
“Pretty far away? Just yesterday, I drove your mom home from the hospital with you in her arms. Today, she’s weeping over your engagement. It comes sooner than you think, son.”
Nate crinkled his nose as he offered his father an awkward smile. “Gee, can’t wait.”
“Mom?” Maddie said as she hovered in the doorway. “Why are you crying? Did something happen? Did you get bad news about the case or something?”
Victoria gave her a dismissive wave as she dabbed under her eyes.
“Mom’s upset because I’m all grown up,” Nate told her.
“Huh?” Maddie asked. “He’s been grown up for a while.”
“Yeah, but I’m getting married,” Nate said as he poked her with his elbow, “which is apparently worse than me dying.”
“Don’t be ridiculous,” Victoria said with a sniffle. “But you’ll be here in Eldoria. I won’t see you at breakfast anymore. You won’t come home at night. Someone else will tie your ties.”
The last statement sent her into another crying jag. Charles wrapped an arm around her and patted her shoulder. “Now, Victoria, you’ll ruin your makeup.”
“I know. I can’t help it,” she sobbed.
“What is going on?” Stephen asked as he rushed into the room.
“Mom’s upset because Ellie’s going to tie Nate’s ties.”
“Huh?” Stephen asked with a confused expression.
“Never mind. You’ll all understand one day when your child is ready to leave you.”
“You didn’t cry when I married Chloe,” Stephen said.
Charles flicked his eyebrows up. “Let’s not bring that up again, shall we? When you’re getting married to a real woman, then we’ll talk.”
“What are you going to do when I marry Prince Alexander?” Maddie asked.
“Don’t even speak about that yet, Maddie. I’m still getting used to your senior prom.”
Maddie rolled her eyes as another knock sounded at the door. All eyes turned to Elena, in an elegant emerald silk dress.
The smile on her features faded as she spotted Victoria clutching a tissue. “Is something wrong?”
“Mom’s upset because Nate’s grown up.”
“Oh,” Elena said with a pout, “of course, she is. My father has just had his own moment of sorts.”
Elena crossed to Victoria, pulling her into a tight embrace. “I promise you’ll still see him.”
“I know,” Victoria answered, rubbing Elena’s back. “I just…you know, it’s not going to be the same in the house without him. You’ll see when you have your own.”
“I’m certain I will. And on that note, there is something we must discuss before this engagement can be announced.”
Nate’s heart plummeted as his eyes went wide. What had happened now? “What is it?”
“Well, first, I feel I must let you know that there is a private in-law residence on the premises that will be open to you at any time. I certainly hope you will use it quite frequently to visit with us, particularly when the children come.”
“Ohhh,” Victoria moaned, “that’s so sweet.” She shot Nate a glance. “Someone’s planning ahead, at least.”
He pressed his lips together into a thin line, shooting her a glance filled with mock annoyance.
“I would very much like both sets of grandparents to be involved. ”
“Won’t you have a fleet of nannies?” Maddie asked.
“Of course, there will be nannies. Nannies are lovely, but are no substitute for parents and grandparents,” Elena said. “So, I very much hope we can count on your help.”
“Of course, I will be here…and with my other kids in Sterling City. I’ll tear myself in half. Whatever it takes.”
Elena giggled. “Mrs. Kingsley, we are not chained to Eldoria. We can visit Sterling City, too. And all of the family is welcome to use the in-law residence. So, it needn’t be one or the other.”
“That is a lovely offer, Ellie. I know how busy you’ll be, though.”
“Well, until I am Queen, I will be busy but not so busy that I cannot visit with you in Sterling City. Nathan will, I’m certain, be spending time there with GenoTech. We’ll manage. And I promise to let you tie his ties on occasion.”
Tears shone in Victoria’s eyes as she pulled Elena into another hug.
As Victoria pulled away, Elena rubbed a tear from her future mother-in-law’s cheek. “Now, shall we go downstairs? I’m sure everyone is waiting.”
“I saw a bunch of news vans outside,” Maddie said.
“Yes, it is a major event. It will be reported throughout Europe and beyond. Father said several American news outlets are covering the story, also.”
“You don’t think we have anything to worry about from your cousin, do you?” Nate asked as they shuffled from the room into the hall.
“Father has banned him from participating,” Elena answered. “He is not permitted at the announcement. He will only be allowed to appear for the family photo session afterward.”
“Family photo session? I thought there was just the public one? ”
“No, certainly not,” Elena said with a shake of her head. “This is a major event and will be documented as such with pictures of both families together, the entire set of royals, the entire set of Kingsleys, and so on. Those will then be released officially by the palace. Though, you can be sure there will be dozens of photos taken during the announcement.”
“At least Prince Julian won’t interrupt that,” Nate said as they descended the stairs. “With the way our relationship has gone, I worry he’d make some sort of scene.”
“Father has already ensured he will not. Now,” she said, pausing outside of the palace’s press room, “are you ready, darling?”
He grinned at her. “I can’t wait.”
Caroline nodded at them, a twinkle in her eye before she slipped inside the room to inform them that they were ready to begin.
A moment later, they were ushered into a room filled with press in neat rows and photographers who scrambled around to get the best shots of the display.
After one of the king’s assistants positioned them on the dais, the royal press secretary stepped to the podium. “Ladies and gentlemen, we are here tonight for the momentous occasion of announcing the engagement of Princess Elena Sophia Catherine Montclair to Mr. Nathan Kingsley.”
The man continued to speak, but Nate heard none of it. The first words rattled around in his head as photographs snapped photo after photo of the couple and their families.
His knees wobbled a little as his heart thumped hard against his ribs. They’d finally made it to this point after what seemed like a momentous struggle.
Elena was finally his fiancée and would soon be his wife. And nothing could make him happier.