Winning the Queen's Heart: Contemporary Christian Romance (The Brides of Belles Montagnes Book 2) by Carol Moncado Read Free Book Online

engagement isn’t officially over unless Nicklaus still hasn’t shown up a week after the wedding date, even if he hasn’t been heard from in years or is dead and buried.”
    “But why? I was maybe six months old when he signed the contract. Why would he do that to me?”
    “The contracts aren’t always bad, even if they aren’t what we think we want,” he reminded her gently.
    She looked up at him again, but this time he was looking across the room. At his wife. Jessabelle sat with the Montevarians - Queen Adeline along with her younger sister, Anastasia, and her sister-in-law, Ellie. “She looks comfortable.”
    “She is.” She could hear the pride in his voice. Jessabelle had been awkward and definitely unsuited for royal life at the wedding and for the first few months afterward. It took some time, and patience, on the part of Malachi, but she came around, slowly. Learning the truth about her parentage had thrown all of them for a loop, but in the six months since, they’d all grown closer. Now, she had just a couple months left before bringing the first Van Rensselaer grandchild into the world.
    “How’s she feeling?” Jessabelle had dealt with some morning sickness early in her pregnancy, but not too much. More recently, though, Yvette had noticed she seemed off.
    “She’s tired. Much more so than she has been. In fact, Father suggested she back off on some of her engagements. She agreed readily.”
    Yvette felt her eyebrows rise. “Father suggested it?”
    Malachi chuckled. “Yes. I was more shocked than you.”
    “Have you come up with a name for my new niece yet?” No one outside the family knew the gender of the baby.
    “Catherine Alicia Yvette. But we haven’t told Mother or Nana yet.”
    “So you’re not naming her after me?” She faked the shock in her voice.
    “Sorry, but no. Nana Yvette.”
    “As well it should be.”
    They stood there for a couple more minutes, not saying anything when Yvette decided to go back to the original topic. Not because she wanted to, but because she knew she couldn’t avoid it forever.
    “I don’t know anything about planning a wedding, Kai.” Her family had long called him Mal, but when she overheard him tell Jessabelle how much he hated that, she made a concerted effort to change.
    “Like I do? My wedding was planned in less than two weeks. Jessabelle didn’t even know what dress she was going to wear until that morning.”
    “She told me.” Yvette had asked her for help already.
    “Ask Lizbeth. She loves planning stuff.”
    Yvette nodded slowly. She didn’t know her brother’s friend well, but it did seem like something she’d enjoy. “Do you think she would?”
    “All you can do is ask. She’s been acting odd for the last few months, though. She won’t tell me or Jessabelle what’s going on, though.”
    “I’ll call her tomorrow.” Maybe. “My wedding is supposed to be in the chapel. So was Christiana’s. I wonder if I can have a beach party reception here.” The only way she would get through this would be to make light of it.
    “I don’t think Father will go for that, even with the lack of groom.”
    “Probably not.”
    It was worth a shot, though.
    And after the wedding didn’t happen, maybe then she could get around to her first date.
    * * *
    The wedding ball passed as though in a dream. Alexander never strayed far from Queen Christiana’s side. Unless she was dancing with Poppo or one of the other men who claimed her time, he remained close. He danced with her several times, but always formal, as though she knew people were watching and didn’t want to be seen as weak? Emotional? Connected? Dependent?
    He didn’t think her people would see it that way, but he did his best to respect her wishes and remained fairly formal, at least until the tapping of silverware against glasses urged him to kiss her. Alexander relished each tender moment.
    After dinner, dancing, toasts, and mingling with guests, the time came for them