AllFreeNovel
Share Us
I blink at him. Did my grandfather just make a joke?
Abigail laughs softly. "Of course, I'm very fond of your grandson, so if the pregnancy happens before six years are up, you’ll have to forgive us. Odds, and hormones, and biology and all that.”
I’m unable to hold in my surprised laugh.
Diarmuid also actually smiles now.
“But seriously, I can understand that this is a huge surprise to you,” Abigail says to him.
“Not such a surprise. Even if Jonah wasn’t required to forward all of your security information to us ahead of time, I would have heard about it from the podcast.”
Now Abigail looks at me with surprise. “Jonah forwarded security information?”
But it’s my grandfather who answers. “Of course, we can’t have just anyone sleeping within the palace walls. Not to mention joining the family. We need to know everything about you. But you passed everything with flying colors.”
She’s still frowning but says, “Of course I did. I get excellent grades in everything.”
Diarmuid laughs at that, and I’m shocked. He nods. “Yes, that’s what I understand.” Then he sobers a bit and asks, “So what was the reason for the sudden wedding? A courthouse in New Orleans rather than a wedding ceremony? Even in the US?”
“We didn’t want to wait,” I tell him. “Once Abigail agreed to marry me, I didn’t want to wait another moment.”
She gives me a sweet smile, then turns to my grandfather. “Truthfully, he did it for me. I’m not very good in front of crowds. Even crowds of my own family. I’m much more comfortable in smaller, intimate settings. Torin respects that and protects me. The courthouse got us just as married as a bigger, more elaborate ceremony would have. It seemed there was no real reason to wait.”
“There has already been grumbling here about the lack of ceremony,” Diarmuid informs us.
I had expected as much. But now that I’m back on Cara soil, I can make some appearances, and charm the people. “They’ll soon see that Abigail and I have even better things planned for them than a one-day party.”
Abigail nods. “I’m anxious to get started on my work. There’s no reason to take a bunch of time off to plan a wedding. We’re married. The most important part of that is that we are together.” She gives me a beatific smile.
“So you won’t even honor us with the tradition of the ceremony?” my grandfather says to me.
I frown and Abigail turns in her seat, giving him a puzzled look.
“Is that actually insulting somehow?”
“There hasn’t been a royal wedding in years. It gives the people a sense of security. Seeing the new leader settle down, celebrate age-old traditions, and include the people in a major life event will make the people happy.”
“Hasn’t Torin proven his commitment, and how much he loves the tradition of this country in other ways?”
My grandfather sighs and I brace myself.
“My grandson left the country, Abigail. Abdicated his throne. After telling me everything I was doing wrong. He took his siblings with him. Then stayed away for a decade. Now he’s only been here for two years, and we’ve argued nearly every day. Now he says he wants to settle down, but he’s doing it with an American and all of her work, all of her traditions and customs, all of her roots, are still across an ocean.”
I feel the frustration twisting through my chest. I don’t know how to convince him of what I feel for this country. I don’t know how to convince him that I’m here to stay.
But Abigail is watching him with interest, rather than any hint of anger or exasperation. Her hand is still resting on my thigh.
I cover it with mine. “Let’s go. We’re here to stay for a few days before we go to the ranch. We can talk again later.”
But Abigail shakes her head. “I completely understand what you’re saying,” she says to the king.
Shock tightens my gut. “What?”
She looks at me. “I’m just saying that how he’s feeling is fair. Not only did you leave the country for a very long time, now that you’re back, you’ve come and gone a lot. And then you suddenly bring home a wife who, as far as the king knows, could want to hop on a plane and leave tomorrow.”
The king is watching her, as if contemplating something.
“I want you to know that I understand how you feel,” Abigail says to him. “But Torin and I are here now, and we’re going to show you what we want to do as Prince and Princess. We understand that’s going to take some time.” She stands up from her chair, not realizing that she needs the king to excuse her. “So we’re going to get out of your way right now. But I do hope you’ll come out and visit our farm soon. And regularly. You’ll get to see it as it comes together and grows. Literally.”
