Winning the Queen's Heart: Contemporary Christian Romance (The Brides of Belles Montagnes Book 2) by Carol Moncado Read Free Book Online Page A
Authors: Carol Moncado
to be whisked away. Alexander, with Queen Christiana’s hand in his, ran through the hail of bubbles back to the waiting carriage. Those gathered cheered as the horse began to trot off. He and his wife waved, smiling and laughing as they did.
“Did you have a good time?” he asked her as they settled back, his arm around her shoulders to ward against the evening chill. The ride wouldn’t be long, but he didn’t want an awkward silence to set in.
Queen Christiana relaxed against him. “It was lovely. Thank you for helping with the arrangements.”
“My pleasure.” He kissed the side of her head. The carriage turned to head down the hill as the cabin came into view. Rustic, like something out of the American West, but with all the modern conveniences. Built just a decade earlier, it held the position as the newest building on the property. The photographer hovered off to one side as they drew to a halt. Once the door shut behind them, they’d be alone, but until then, it would be recorded for posterity.
Alexander stepped out of the carriage and turned, taking the queen’s hand in his to help her to the ground. When they reached the porch, Alexander turned. “Are you ready?”
She nodded.
He swept her into his arms and kicked open the door, left slightly ajar by whoever had prepared the cabin. The soft clicking of the camera stopped as his heel tapped the door closed behind them. Lowering her to the floor, Alexander left his hands resting on her hips.
“Alone at last.” He kept his tone light.
The queen gave him a tremulous smile. “I suppose we are.”
This wasn’t Alexander’s first time in the cabin, but he’d never really paid much attention, at least from the stand point of a guest. Stepping back, he led her to the nearby couch, motioning for her to sit down.
Situating himself far enough away from her that they weren’t touching, he leaned forward until he could rest his forearms on his knees. “There is something we need to talk about, ma’am.”
* * *
Christiana stood in front of the mirror in the large bathroom. Not nearly as ornate as the one in the palace, the slate tile flooring and large Jacuzzi tub were very nice. The subtle lighting meant her reflection looked good. She felt like she looked good. But her stomach remained unsettled about what was about to happen.
But when she closed her eyes, all she could see was Alexander telling her what the Prime Minister had said…
“Three hundred years ago, the custom of making certain the king and his new queen attempted to produce an heir as quickly as possible was codified into law. It hasn’t been thought of in well over a century as all kings were married long before they took the throne and there was no reason to believe they wouldn’t consummate the marriage on their wedding night.” Alexander had refused to look at her but stared into the distance.
Christiana blinked a few times. “Why would they do such a thing?”
“Apparently, in the 1600s, the king died with no male heirs. He had a daughter who everyone believed should inherit the throne but a law from a hundred years before required any queen to be married before she could take the throne. Her uncle ruled as a conservator until a marriage could be arranged.” She winced as he hurried on. “Unlike your uncle, he only had the best intentions and planned to turn power over to the queen upon her marriage. She and one of the dukes decided to marry but as a political alliance only. When the rest of the aristocracy got word of this, they demanded proof the marriage was consummated. What kind of proof wasn’t mentioned, and the last time the law was invoked a sworn statement was required of the prime minister at the time.”
“And this law is still on the books?”
“Yes, ma’am.”
The title made her uncomfortable. Alexander was her husband, not a subject. Even as a friend she had asked him to drop the formality, but he never had. Just the one time before he
“Did you have a good time?” he asked her as they settled back, his arm around her shoulders to ward against the evening chill. The ride wouldn’t be long, but he didn’t want an awkward silence to set in.
Queen Christiana relaxed against him. “It was lovely. Thank you for helping with the arrangements.”
“My pleasure.” He kissed the side of her head. The carriage turned to head down the hill as the cabin came into view. Rustic, like something out of the American West, but with all the modern conveniences. Built just a decade earlier, it held the position as the newest building on the property. The photographer hovered off to one side as they drew to a halt. Once the door shut behind them, they’d be alone, but until then, it would be recorded for posterity.
Alexander stepped out of the carriage and turned, taking the queen’s hand in his to help her to the ground. When they reached the porch, Alexander turned. “Are you ready?”
She nodded.
He swept her into his arms and kicked open the door, left slightly ajar by whoever had prepared the cabin. The soft clicking of the camera stopped as his heel tapped the door closed behind them. Lowering her to the floor, Alexander left his hands resting on her hips.
“Alone at last.” He kept his tone light.
The queen gave him a tremulous smile. “I suppose we are.”
This wasn’t Alexander’s first time in the cabin, but he’d never really paid much attention, at least from the stand point of a guest. Stepping back, he led her to the nearby couch, motioning for her to sit down.
Situating himself far enough away from her that they weren’t touching, he leaned forward until he could rest his forearms on his knees. “There is something we need to talk about, ma’am.”
* * *
Christiana stood in front of the mirror in the large bathroom. Not nearly as ornate as the one in the palace, the slate tile flooring and large Jacuzzi tub were very nice. The subtle lighting meant her reflection looked good. She felt like she looked good. But her stomach remained unsettled about what was about to happen.
But when she closed her eyes, all she could see was Alexander telling her what the Prime Minister had said…
“Three hundred years ago, the custom of making certain the king and his new queen attempted to produce an heir as quickly as possible was codified into law. It hasn’t been thought of in well over a century as all kings were married long before they took the throne and there was no reason to believe they wouldn’t consummate the marriage on their wedding night.” Alexander had refused to look at her but stared into the distance.
Christiana blinked a few times. “Why would they do such a thing?”
“Apparently, in the 1600s, the king died with no male heirs. He had a daughter who everyone believed should inherit the throne but a law from a hundred years before required any queen to be married before she could take the throne. Her uncle ruled as a conservator until a marriage could be arranged.” She winced as he hurried on. “Unlike your uncle, he only had the best intentions and planned to turn power over to the queen upon her marriage. She and one of the dukes decided to marry but as a political alliance only. When the rest of the aristocracy got word of this, they demanded proof the marriage was consummated. What kind of proof wasn’t mentioned, and the last time the law was invoked a sworn statement was required of the prime minister at the time.”
“And this law is still on the books?”
“Yes, ma’am.”
The title made her uncomfortable. Alexander was her husband, not a subject. Even as a friend she had asked him to drop the formality, but he never had. Just the one time before he
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