Page 6 of A Royal Arrangement
Wes passed a paper across the desk to him. He picked it up, looking at the photo of a young woman with auburn hair and a kind smile that looked vaguely familiar to him.
“They’ve selected Princess Rosalie of Findorra.”
“She’s not in line for her own throne?”
“She has an older brother who is already married and has an heir of his own.”
Colin mulled over his words. “How…old is Rosalie?”
“I know she looks young. She’s twenty-two—almost twenty-three. I’ve been assured she is well-versed on all royal protocol since she’s a princess. She loves children, and she’s beloved by her people.”
Colin nodded. “What’s the catch?”
“Pardon, Your Majesty?”
“Why is she being pawned off to a king eight years older than her if she’s this great and loved princess?”
“Edgemont’s Royal Board has agreed to pay a large sum for her hand.”
His thoughts jumped to the article he’d read earlier that morning on theRoyal Inquisitornews app about Findorra’s financial state. “Ah, so the Royal Board bought me a bride to satisfy another country’s debt,” he deadpanned.
“Well, it sounds bad when you put it like that.” Wes huffed and gave him a look of exasperation. “This is a good thing. It won’t only solve the need for a queen for Edgemont and a mother figure for Addie, but it will also secure an alliance with Findorra. Yes, we’re providing them finances, but you’ll forever be connected to them by having married someone in their royal line.”
“You’ve already mentioned all that,” Colin grunted.
“The alliance part is new.” Wes held his finger in the air, making a point.
His face stoic, Colin asked, “How long do I have to decide?”
Wes slowly and more cautiously passed over more papers. “The contract has already been drawn, Colin. All it needs is your signature, then we’ll send it over to King Frederick in Findorra to sign. They would like the wedding to occur this coming Friday.”
Colin scanned over the words on the contract in front of him. It all sounded fair, yet he paused after picking up the pen. His hand hung mid-air, held back by an invisible wall. All it would take was his signature. One signature, and he would have a new wife in exactly one week. It seemed strange that such a monumental decision could be made with such a small gesture.
The more he thought about it, the more ridiculous this whole idea sounded.I’m all Addie needs. Our little family is perfect as it is.
“I can’t sign this without talking to Addie first.”
Wes took the papers from him with a sad smile. “I understand. I’ll wait for you here. But it has to be signed today, Colin.”
Colin stood. “Then I guess I’d better go find my daughter.”
He peered around the door to his daughter’s playroom, smiling when he spotted her having a tea party with her stuffed animals.
She was moving her arms around enthusiastically, acting out some kind of story for her audience. Colin moved a little farther into the room so he could hear better.
“And then the pwincess went shopping with her mama, and they bought beautiful dwesses.”
He adored the fact that his daughter still pronounced her r’s as w’s, but while listening to her elaborate stories usually brought a smile to his face, this time he felt a sinking feeling in his stomach. Colin hated the fact that Addie had been robbed of having a mother. He knew how badly she needed a womanly influence in her life, but that was what her nanny, Luna, was for.
Addie talking about a princess and her mother doesn’t mean anything, he told himself.She’s happy, and I’m all that she needs.
“Hi, little princess.” Colin walked toward her.
Addie’s light-brown curls bounced as she ran over and hugged his legs. “Daddy! Do you wanna join my tea pawty?”
“I would love to.” He took her hand and walked over to the miniature table, removing a panda from a chair so he could sit down across from her. “I have an important question for you, Addie.”
She looked up at him with eyes of pure adoration. This was perfect.She’ll say she doesn’t want me to get remarried, and I can tell the board I can’t do this without Addie’s blessing.
