The Unlawfully Wedded Princess

“I don’t know. But I’m going to find out.”

Amelia had a smile for Josie, too, but when she looked up at Nick, the smile faded and she looked almost…afraid. “Oh my God, I can’t believe I found you. I was taking a stab in the dark with that page, but you weren’t on the Air France flight to Korosol, and I was so worried you’d run off to Canada or someplace—I’m babbling, aren’t I?”

Nick nodded. Yes, he’d thought about fleeing. He’d even talked to an expert document forger about false passports and birth certificates for him and the kids. But that would be a last resort. Becoming a fugitive would mean no more contact with Eleanor, and that would be tough—not to mention what it might do to the kids.

“Is there a problem?” Nick asked. “Something wrong with my sister?”

“No, nothing like that. You missed your plane. Why?”

He shrugged. “I don’t know. I guess I was hoping I’d come up with a plan for changing King Easton’s mind, but…”

“We don’t have to change his mind,” Amelia said with quiet determination. “I’ve got a plan of my own. Now, it might not be ideal, but I believe it will get the social workers off your back.”

“Okay, I’m listening.”

Amelia suddenly clammed up, looking uneasy.

“What plan?” Josie prompted, proving she’d been paying close attention to the conversation.

“This is a little awkward,” Amelia said, glancing at first one child, then the other. “Maybe you and I should discuss it in private first.”

Josie rolled her eyes. “C’mon, Jakob, they’re going to talk about grown-up things.” She took her little brother’s hand and led him to the far end of the row of chairs, taking her brightly colored rolling suitcase with her. As soon as Nick was sure the children were safely absorbed with a toy, he turned his attention back to Amelia, his curiosity overflowing.

“Just tell me.”

“Okay.” She took a deep breath. “Well, see, if the Ministry of Family objects to the fact our marriage was a sham, we need to prove to them it wasn’t. We’ll tell them we intended to make it real, but my family objected and ordered me back home—”

“I tried that already.”

“I’m not finished. Words obviously won’t convince them. Only actions. I’m suggesting, Nick, that we get married again—nice and legal this time.”

Chapter Four

Nick was so stunned he could say nothing at all for a few moments. Then, his first instinct was to say, No way. Marrying Amelia was what had gotten him into this jam in the first place.

But everything she’d said was true. He had told the Ministry of Family the exact story she’d just related—that they’d fallen in love and intended to be a family, but the royal family had intervened and forced them to separate.

“Nick? You’re not saying anything.”

“Give me a minute. You’ve surprised me, to say the least.”

“I surprised myself. But I cannot allow those precious children to be taken from you, not after everything they’ve been through.”

Nick finally began to recover from the shock and think rationally about Amelia’s suggestion. It was crazy—him marrying a princess—but it just might work. It would certainly lend credence to the story he’d told the government officials. He turned the idea over in his head a few times, trying to find its flaws.

One, in particular, came up immediately. “If your family tore us apart before, why would they now let you marry me?”

“It’s not like I need their permission,” she huffed. “This is an enlightened age. I can marry whom I want. I let them interfere a year ago because I was scared and confused. But seeing you and the children again made me realize we should all be together. You’ve realized it, too—that’s why you came.”

She sounded so sincere, he almost believed her. “Are you bucking for an Academy Award?”

“I only want to convince you it will work.”

“And what will the terms of this marriage be?” He wanted to know.

“We’ll have a simple ceremony, family only.”

He was less concerned with the details of the wedding itself than the events afterward. “You’ll come back with us to Korosol?”

“I haven’t thought that far ahead. I was thinking the wedding itself would be enough to do the trick.”

“Will we stay married?” he asked quietly.

“Long enough to be convincing. Then we can quietly separate.”

“Long enough? A few days? Weeks? What? And you actually think a princess can ‘quietly separate’?”

He’d caught her there. Her gaze slid away from his. “I haven’t worked out all the details yet. But it’ll work, I know it will.”

Nick took a deep breath. This was about the most bloodless proposal he’d ever—then again, when the tables had been turned and he’d been proposing marriage to “Melanie,” he’d been just as pragmatic, just as emotionless. He’d wanted her name on a marriage license so he could get those kids out of Palemeir, and he’d given her no other reason.

Maybe if, at that time, he’d confessed his physical desire for her, his genuine affection and respect for her, things would have turned out differently. Certainly he didn’t like the idea that he’d made Amelia feel then as he felt now—forced to say yes for the children’s sake.

“I assume you would want a prenuptial agreement. You keep your money, I keep the kids.”

She hesitated. “If that’s what you want.” She paused, then looked at him quizzically. “Does this mean you’ll do it?”

“Do I have a choice?”

“Well, you don’t have to make it sound like I’ve proposed tar and feathering.”

“Forgive me if I don’t jump up and down. I realize you’re making a sacrifice on behalf of the children, and I appreciate it. But I resent the government pushing me around, forcing us to go to these ridiculous lengths just so I can keep two children who any idiot can see belong with me.”

“It’s not really such a sacrifice,” she said quietly. “I want to help. And I was, after all, the one who contributed to the dilemma in the first place.”

“Have you mentioned your little plan to your family?”

“Actually, it was my sister Lucia who thought of it.”

“Not the sister I met.”

“No, that was CeCe. Lucia’s the youngest. Very creative.”

“So your family approves of this decision?”

She hesitated again. “Not exactly. I haven’t mentioned it to my mother, and certainly not to the king.” She looked distinctly uneasy at that proposition. “They’ll just have to accept it.”

“Then I guess we’re engaged.” He took Amelia’s hand and led her over to the children. It was amazing how delicate her hand felt in his, like the bones might break if he weren’t careful. But he knew that impression was deceiving. Her hands were strong and capable, but gentle, too. He’d often wondered how they would feel on his body.