Page 48 of Forbidden Lord
“Who?” he asked.
The maid didn’t look up as she said, “Lady Chelsea. Lady Sky and the Lord and Lady of Normanni.”
Chelsea. Her sister, Stefano and Rossie. She’d told her friends she didn’t want to shop, so why were they here, with Stefano and Rossie? Adrenaline rushed in her veins—what could be wrong? Matteo held the door for her with a shrug. “It seems we’ll see our friends every day.”
Her heart was still on her honeymoon, but she linked her arm with his and walked beside him into the hall as she said, “It seems. Let’s go see what’s going on.”
He patted her elbow and nodded. “Then Fiji.”
A huge weight disappeared from her shoulders. She picked up her pace slightly as she said, “Absolutely. I can’t wait to be alone with you, my love.”
He kissed her cheek and then they raced down the stairs toward the sitting room where his staff directed them.
As they entered, tea and small sandwiches had already been served. Good. She would tell Ms. Pierce, Fiona, that the staff was doing an amazing job. Sheena greeted everyone as they stood near them and curtsied or hugged them in the order they were in. “Stefano, Chelsea. Cassidy. And Rossie, lovely to see you again.”
Stefano’s face was red but he looked at Matteo and said, “Sorry we barged in, but Chelsea and Cassidy had a bit of a shock with their mother. Rossie and I were there too, and I thought it best to tell you both, straight away.”
Chelsea had mentioned her mother at their party on the phone earlier but Sheena hadn’t understood at all how that mattered. She nodded at the sisters. “Tell us what?”
Cassidy squeezed Chelsea’s shoulder. “Apparently our mother, before she married our father, and before the king married his wife…”
Sheena’s face pinched and she wished she could close her ears. This wasn’t her business. She tightened her grip on Matteo’s hand as she gave her guests a curt nod. “This seems so long ago.”
Chelsea said, “Well, yes, but it seems my mother had a son that she gave to the nuns to raise without telling anyone, except the king.”
This wasn’t her business or her life. She pressed her hand to her heart as she asked, “Why would she tell the king?”
“Because he’s the father,” Cassidy clarified, her mouth tight, “and he was about to marry the queen.”
Matteo scooted closer to her but said, “Wait. What?”
Stefano’s jaw clenched. “There is more and it matters to you both.”
How could it? Matteo’s parents weren’t involved, and both deceased. Her mother had died in childbirth and her father had raised her, in his restaurant, without nuns. “What?”
Chelsea took Sheena’s hands and Sheena braced for bad news. “Your Charles. He’s our half-brother.”
Oh. Charles. She breathed easier. He didn’t matter. Not when she had Matteo. She glanced to her side and saw Matteo pale beneath his olive skin-tone. She looked at Chelsea again. “He’swhat?”
Cassidy shook her head and stared at the chandelier in the room. “He’s a royal bastard, our half-brother, and he can prove his lineage, as the nuns kept proof. Our mother didn’t deny it.”
Royal. She squeezed Matteo’s hand. “Does he inherit the throne?” She thought of Crown Prince Antonio.
Chelsea let out a loud sigh. “Thankfully, no.”
Sheena remembered that Chelsea’s sister would inherit her parents’ estate as she was the oldest child. In this case, Charles would be older. Would that change things for the sisters? “Does he inherit your father’s estate then?”
Cassidy met their gazes with steel in her eyes. “No. He’s not my father’s child, but Charles has money and the connections to cause everyone in Avce problems.”
From what they’d said, it would just be drama. Charles wasn’t going to ruin their lives. “What does he intend to do?”
Stefano put his teacup aside. “He’s speaking to the king now.” Pointing to Chelsea and Cassidy with his thumb, he continued, “Their husbands are in court and texting me, as I said we were coming here right away. From what we’re hearing that’s happening, all Charles wants is you, Sheena.”
She jumped backward like she’d just been slapped. Her body was suddenly cold as she asked, “Me?”
Chelsea sucked in her breath and hesitated before saying, “Yes. He said that if the king grants you a divorce, he’ll leave quietly.”
Her heart refused to consider this. She had icicles growing inside her veins, but she squeezed Matteo’s hand and lifted her chin. His hand was all that was keeping her steady as she said, “Absolutely not. Matteo and I are going go Fiji for our honeymoon.”
