Winning the Queen's Heart: Contemporary Christian Romance (The Brides of Belles Montagnes Book 2) (21 page)

“We will tell the truth. Nothing more. Nothing less. The truth is, I was taken in by a very smooth operator who planned to kill me after our wedding - a wedding that would not have been valid in the first place as he already belonged to another.” That bit of information had been confirmed in the last twenty-four hours. The marriage had taken place in Australia, and the couple never filed any paper work in Ravenzario to indicate what their relationship was. “Even before he was arrested, I had begun having doubts and questioned my feelings both for him and for Alexander. When the arrest took place, Alexander and I discussed our feelings for each other and saw no reason why the wedding needed to be called off.”

Everything she said was true. They had discussed their feelings, or lack there-of, prior to agreeing to go ahead with the wedding. He would talk to her later about whether or not that was the best way to handle it. Or should they be honest with the public? Given the recent past in Ravenzario, they both believed calling off the wedding and the story being publicized would shake the very foundations of their government. In the interests of her people, she decided to marry a man she didn’t love but knew she could trust and respect. If done right, she would earn the sympathy and respect of the people. If handled poorly, things could end up much worse than they already were.

“We will have the press conference tomorrow.” Christiana’s tone brooked no argument. “I am not feeling able today, and we need the time to prepare the official statement. Tomorrow morning, we will meet with the press in the garden. I will make a statement. I may or may not take questions depending on the state of my health at the time. Set up a time and get the announcement out as soon as possible.”

She pushed back from the table. “I am going to rest and do some work from the apartment. If you need anything else, please call.”

Everyone stood, though Alexander was the only one who followed her out. Holding her elbow to keep her close to him, he asked her those questions.

Christiana considered his words. “Have them prepare two statements to send me. One with the official, not lying but not quite the whole truth either, version and one with everything as you said it. I will look them over from the apartment, make notes, and send them back.”

One of the aides he didn’t know appeared with a wheelchair. That made Alexander feel better. She likely had them bring her close enough to the room to walk in on her own and now was being assisted back.

Alexander turned and went back into the meeting room. “Okay. So, what do we say and when?” By the time the meeting adjourned an hour later, two drafts of a speech had been written for the queen. He had given them his tentative approval since much of it revolved around him as well. A press release was sent out calling for reporters to meet for a statement and possibly a few questions at ten the next morning.

When he made it to their room in the apartment, Christiana sat cross-legged on the bed, staring intently at the screen and the documents visible.

“Wow. I never knew Times New Roman 12 point font could be quite so big.”

“It is the size of the screen, not the font.” A number of red notations showed on both versions.

“Working them side by side?” The question was more to make conversation.

“The opening paragraphs are identical so I made identical changes to both.” She scrolled down on one and made a few more notes.

“Have you decided which one you’re leaning toward?”

“No.” Her brow furrowed as she continued to scroll and make tweaks.

Okay. When his wife was “in the zone”, she didn’t like to be bothered. Good to know. He pulled out his tablet and opened one of the books his brother had gifted to him. Not his normal genre, he still found himself enjoying the outer space saga written by an actual physicist named Randy Ingermanson and a biochemist named John Olson. Reclining against the headboard it seemed like a good way to get his mind off of everything for a bit.

Alexander was so engrossed in
Oxygen
that he jumped when she spoke again.

“Here.” She held out the wireless keyboard. “I emailed them to you. Would you go through and make any more notes or changes while I take a shower?”

He watched her walk carefully to the bathroom before picking up the wireless keyboard and reading through both versions. The changes she’d made were good ones, and he only noted a few others. After emailing them back, he pulled his tablet back out and immersed himself in the space adventure once more.

* * *

Christiana smoothed down the front of her black wool coat. Why had she insisted this press conference be held outside again? Right. The sunshine. The temperatures were warmer than they had been but not as warm as summer would be. Her gloves would remain on until just before she walked out to the podium.

And she still had not decided which speech to give.

“How’re you holding up?” Alexander slid his arm around her waist.

“I will be fine.” Another deep breath.

He moved closer and around until they faced each other. Their fingers laced together as he rested his forehead on hers. “Father, we come before You and ask that You give Christiana strength and wisdom. Let her words come from You. Keep her strong. Keep the baby safe. Let Your peace surround us both. Go before us into the garden and behind us as we leave. We thank you for your everlasting goodness and mercy.” His words stopped but the moment continued until Charlyn cleared her throat, and then he stepped away.

One more pass with her hand over the baby bump just beginning to show and Christiana nodded.

Charlyn led the way, with Christiana following. Alexander walked a half step behind with his hand resting on the small of her back, comforting and supporting her. After adjusting the microphone, Charlyn made a short statement.

“Ladies and gentlemen, thank you for attending on short notice. The queen will make a statement. As you are aware, the queen has been placed on restricted activity at this point in her pregnancy. If she feels able, she may take a few questions. However, it is possible she will decide the statement is all she is up to for the day. A copy of her prepared remarks will be available after the press conference ends.” Because Christiana still had not decided which speech to give. Both versions waited for her on the podium.

A hand raised and Charlyn nodded toward Matt Markinson. “Will Prince Alexander answer any questions?”

Charlyn leaned back in toward the microphone. “Perhaps.” She turned and Christiana nodded. “Ladies and gentlemen, Her Majesty, Queen Christiana.”

Christiana took a deep breath. “Thank you for coming today. I am going to address some of the rumors that have been spreading regarding a man from Vashta and my wedding to Alexander, Duke of Testudines.”

She slid the green folder into place. Time to tell the truth. “I have known Alexander’s family for a number of years. We met several times, and I would have defined our relationship as ‘acquaintances’ until about two years ago. At that time, he was instrumental in removing my uncle from power. We grew to be friends throughout the process of prosecuting my uncle, though I was being courted by another man. Beginning about eighteen months ago, this other man and I grew serious though he insisted his identity remain a secret for a number of reasons I will not go into today. I agreed, and my public relations office reached an agreement with the press corp. Privacy then in exchange for more access and interviews during our nine week honeymoon.”

“So you weren’t dating Prince Alexander?” someone called.

She ignored the woman. “A few weeks before the wedding, I was already having doubts. I considered calling the whole thing off, but told myself it was just cold feet. As you all know, I led a sheltered life, with no family and very few friends I could turn to. This is not exactly something you discuss with the Prime Minister, after all.” She glanced up to see a few reporters give half smiles. “On October 7, Alexander came to me with some information about this man. Proof had been found that he planned to drug me while on our honeymoon at sea that first week. He would use our marriage as well as his ‘newly discovered’ distant relation to my family as justification to be crowned King of Ravenzario. We believe this was to take place within thirty-six hours of the first scheduled interview with Matt Markinson. This would have allowed him to play the grieving widower while establishing his position as the ‘rightful’ king.”

Her stomach churned, and she gave serious thought to losing what little breakfast she had kept down, but managed to maintain her composure. “The Commonwealth Agreement with Montevaro and Mevendia means it would not have happened as he would have wished. At best, Princess Yvette of Mevendia, as the fiancé of my brother with a marriage contract still in force, would have been crowned queen with her father as regent. At worst, the country would have been divided between Montevaro and Mevendia. Ravenzario, as we know it, would have ceased to exist.”

There were a few murmurs from the reporters. Many likely either didn’t know or had forgotten the codicils of the agreement.

“Alexander and the palace security team arrested him. Though I was not involved in the day to day events, I have seen the reports. He was given a secret trial under the Treason to the Crown Act of 1862 and sentenced to life on Pirate’s Island. The news of his wife, that he was already married, did not come to light until a few days ago. Copies of the declassified sections of the files will be made available, and you can see for yourselves the lengths he went to in order to hide that relationship.

“As I mentioned a moment ago, I was already having second thoughts. Alexander came to me later that day and asked what my plans were. I truly believed it was in Ravenzario’s best interest to go ahead with the wedding, because canceling it and the information about the assassination plot had the potential to rock the government to its very core. Coming so soon on the heels of my uncle’s lifetime of betrayal, I wanted nothing more than to spare the people the additional trauma.”

Here went nothing. “Alexander is a good man who has proven himself time and again in service to the crown, despite his lack of citizenship prior to the wedding. I have long admired and respected both his family and Alexander himself. Even prior to this, Alexander had proven himself a valuable and loyal friend. Given my belief calling off the wedding would harm more than the economy, when Alexander proposed, I accepted. We believed as virtually all of the kings and queens who came before me, that a relationship based on trust, respect, friendship, and admiration would withstand the test of time. We believed that, perhaps, one day we would grow to love each other with that fairy tale love read about in books. Until then, commitment, respect, and following the Biblical commands to honor one another, we could turn our friendship into a marriage based on those same qualities.”

Almost done. One more deep breath. “Many of you have reported on the qualities I find most dear in my husband. He is a good man who takes care of me and now our child with everything in him. Alexander loves this country with a love many natives would be hard pressed to match. He has a passion for people, helping those who cannot help themselves, both here and abroad. If given the ability to create the man best suited for his job, Alexander is better than any man I could have created. I thank God he was brought into my life at just the right time. To stop both my uncle and this other man, to be my Prince Charming, and my knight in shining armor.”

She closed her eyes as everything started to sway. “I thank you for your time and for listening to our side of the story. I am unable to take any questions at the moment, but the public affairs office will do their best to make sure every question is answered in the next few days. If you would submit your questions to Charlyn, I will...” The world spun. Before she could make a conscious decision, Alexander was there. His arm tight around her waist as he walked her back into the palace until she was seated in the wheelchair waiting just out of sight.

He pressed a kiss to her forehead. “You did great. Get some rest, and I will be there soon.” He squeezed her hand, let go, and walked back out to face the reporters.

Chapter 23

Before he even reached the doors, he could hear the shouted questions. “What does Alexander think?”

Charlyn’s calm voice answered. “Despite the recent revelations, he is the prince consort. As such, he is addressed: Prince Alexander; Alexander, Duke of Testudines; Your Royal Highness; or sir. I will thank you to remember this.”

Alexander moved to her side. “Thank you, ladies and gentlemen for staying while I helped my wife inside. Queen Christiana is under doctor’s orders to rest as much as she is able and currently tires easily. Though she is able to keep up with most of her duties, the queen has curtailed her official schedule with regards to personal visits or meeting those who visit the palace. We thank everyone for their patience and understanding when the group before or after you was able to meet with her, but your group was not, or when she attends one event a day, but it’s not the one you’re attending.” He didn’t speak to the reporters but to the people beyond. The ones who were streaming this live and watching in their living rooms or offices, those who would catch it later online.

“Your outpouring of love and support has been beyond anything I could have imagined. Queen Christiana looks forward to taking some time every day to read the cards, letters, and emails, and listen to the voice mails left. I often find her sneaking a few minutes of reading them in between phone calls.