Page 61 of Lorenzo & Lily

Chapter Ten

After initially directing the movers, Lorenzo spent the next two hours showing Liliana around the family wings. As efficiently as they’d packed and shipped, the movers unpacked and organized at Lily’s direction, so they were finished just in time for lunch.

“Now you’re going to meet some of your uncles.”

Liliana, her little hand clutched in his, looked up at him with eyes that mirrored his own. He felt that tightening in his chest, the well of love he’d never felt before until he recognized her as his daughter. “They’re princes, too?”

Lorenzo nodded. “Most of them are. One of them, his name is Eddie, won’t become a prince until he marries my sister, who’s a princess.”

“What should I call him?”

Lorenzo looked over to Lily, who was holding Liliana’s other hand. It was times like these he felt inept as a parent. Shouldn’t he know the answer to this, just as he should have known she still needed some supervision in the bathroom? He had eight other siblings – two born after him – so why hadn’t he paid attention to details like this as they’d all been raised?

Lily took his cue. “You can call him Uncle Eddie, honey.”

“Even Rebecca is your aunt now. And tomorrow, you’ll meet your grandpapa and grandmama.”

Liliana’s eyes widened. “Are they the king and queen?”

Lorenzo nodded.

“Wow.”

Lorenzo chuckled, then glanced Lily. She’d gone pale and her smile seemed forced. Was she nervous about meeting his parents, or worried about something else? He was pulled from his thoughts when Liliana spoke again.

“Am I going to school tomorrow?”

Something else he and Lily had yet to discuss. “Right now, you’re taking a few days off, just until we get settled.” He gave Liliana’s hand a little squeeze. “Do you like your school?”

“Oh, sure. Miss Jane is nice and she lets me color and play dress up.”

“Do you like learning, too?”

“It’s okay. I like dress up better.”

“And the other children in your class? How about them?”

“Oh, they’re okay. Some don’t like that I’m the best color-er and the best at dress up, so sometimes they’re not nice but Miss Jane is nice.”

His brows drew together as he turned to Lily, who was mouthing ‘Later’ again. Oh, they’d have a lot to discuss later.

They entered one of the smaller dining rooms in the Royal Wing, though that wasn’t saying much as it was still large enough to accommodate the nine of them for lunch. He’d timed it so that they’d enter first; he didn’t want Liliana overwhelmed by a room full of people. This way, she could greet everyone, just one at time.

He introduced Lily and Liliana as his brothers arrived. They each saw the resemblance between him and Liliana was unmistakable. Lorenzo had known his family would be friendly and charmed with Liliana, but he wasn’t sure how they’d react to Lily. They were cautiously polite and Lily was a little reserved, except when speaking with Liliana. Once his brothers saw her as a mother, polite disappeared and welcoming took its place. He only hoped his parents welcomed her as well when the time came.

Lunch was an easy affair. Eddie, who had three nieces of his own, was used to caring for little girls and asked Liliana questions about television and movie characters Lorenzo knew nothing about. It was just one more thing he’d have to learn. Suddenly, he felt as incompetent as his brothers thought he was.

After lunch was over, Alex pulled him aside for a moment and his brothers followed. “I just received word from Tavin. The press releases hit.”

Lorenzo crossed his arms over his chest. “And?”

“The press have already descended on the castle here and the palace in Valentia. Mama and Papa are all right, but the tabloids are being particularly vicious this time.”

“That’s my fault,” Marcello said as he glanced at his phone. “They’re claiming my order to the Election Commission is a ruse to detract attention away from the Liliana story.”

Lorenzo’s hands curled into fists. “She’s not a story; she’s a little girl.”

Nate squeezed his arm. “I know that, and you know that, but that’s not how things are always reported. We’re doing our best to manage the situation.”

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