AllFreeNovel
Share Us
Olivia scanned the news stories. A few mentioned rumors that Gabriel had been considering abdicating the throne to one of his younger brothers, but ultimately, the affair ended instead.
Awash in concern, Olivia went looking for images of the couple. What she saw wasn’t reassuring. The news outlets had gotten it right. The couple had been very much in love. Olivia stared at Gabriel’s broad grin and Marissa’s blinding smile and guessed if she hadn’t been a commoner and an unsuitable candidate to give birth to the future king of Sherdana, they would have married and lived happily ever after.
Obviously Gabriel had chosen his country over his heart. And Marissa had vanished.
Hearing soft whispers coming from the bed, Olivia rose from the sofa. Sure enough, the twins were awake. They’d pulled the fluffy cream comforter over their heads, encasing themselves in a cozy cocoon.
For a moment, Olivia envied them each other. An only child, she’d always longed for a sister to share secrets with. If her mother had lived, she could have had a second child and Olivia might not have grown up so isolated from other children. Because her world had been filled with adults—nannies and various tutors—she’d never had a best friend her own age to play with. In fact, playing wasn’t something she’d been given much freedom to do.
Multiples obviously ran in the Alessandro family. Did that mean she could expect a set or two of her own to be running around the palace in the years to come?
Olivia tugged on the comforter, pulling it down little by little to reveal the twins. They lay with noses touching, intent on their communication. Their first reaction as the comforter slid away was fear. Olivia saw their hands come together, as they took and received reassurance from each other.
Then, they recognized her and smiled.
“Someone’s been sleeping in my bed,” she teased, her words bringing forth giggles. “And they’re still here.”
Then she growled like a big bad bear and reached down to tickle them. Squeals and laughter erupted from the girls, a vast improvement over last night’s terrified protests.
Olivia sat down on the bed. The prince would be back soon and the girls needed to be prepared to meet him. No doubt he’d informed the king and queen and they would be interested in meeting their grandchildren. It would be an overwhelming day for the girls and Olivia wanted to prepare them.
“Today you are going to meet many new people,” she told them. “I know you might be scared, but you don’t need to be.”
“A party?”
“Sort of.” If that was what it took to keep the twins from being afraid, then so be it.
“A birthday party?”
“No.”
“Mommy said.”
Bethany’s mention of their mother reminded the girls that she was dead. Olivia saw Karina’s lip quiver and rushed to distract them.
“Are you this old?” She held up two fingers and was rewarded with head shakes.
“We’re this old.” Bethany held up one finger.
“But you’re too big to be one. I’ll bet you have a birthday coming up soon.”
“Get pony,” Bethany said with a definitive nod.
Olivia rather doubted that, but clever of her to try to sound convincing. “I’m not sure you’re old enough for a pony.”
Karina spoke for the first time. “Puppy.”
That seemed more doable.
“Pony,” Bethany repeated. “Mommy said.”
“There might be a pony in the stables,” Olivia said, aware she was already caving to their demands. She hadn’t pictured herself the sort of mother to give in to her child’s every whim.
Bethany nodded in satisfaction. “Let’s go.”
“No.” Karina shook her head. “Puppy.”
“Oh, no. It’s too early to go to the stables. We have to get dressed and have breakfast. Then we have to get you settled in your own room.”
