Bride Ball Read online

  His jaw dropped; forcing it shut took more than a moment. “That’s a serious situation,” he managed when he recovered enough to form words.

  “He has reason to believe she means to harm the child.”

  “Does he have evidence of it? As much as I hate to admit this, without proof, there is not much I can do to aid Darren with the Counselors.” Benjamin anticipated her crestfallen look; he ached that he couldn’t favor her with a simple solution to the problem.

  “He has two witnesses to the conversation,” she offered hopefully.

  “I take it one is the other mistress?” he ventured. He’d seen that more than once.

  She nodded, fussing at her skirt in an attack of nerves.

  Benjamin sighed. “It’s a conflict of interest, Alana. She stands to gain, if the judgment goes to Darren.” There was little question of that, though he loathed the fact that he had to suspect it, that he had to err on the side of solid proof without chance of taint.

  “The other doesn’t have a conflict.” She wound her fingers through each other, yet another nervous show.

  “Alana?” He wound an arm around her waist and drew her onto his lap.

  “In fact, she dislikes both mistresses,” she added. “The witness less so than the accused, but neither are allies.”

  “Sirana is the other witness,” he guessed. He folded Alana into his chest. “She has a conflict of interest, as well.” He knew it would upset Alana to think of a child in danger, considering her condition. Still, he needed proof that wasn’t suspect.

  Alana shook her head. “Sira isn’t the witness.”

  “Matthew? Darren?” There had to be some reason she was stalling off on revealing the witness to him.

  “Amber.”

  For the second time in a hand of minutes, she rendered him momentarily speechless.

  “I know it’s a bad time to question her; the wedding is only two days away. Darren hopes to stall off on the proceedings until the end of his mistress’s confinement, but the battle will come...in days...in weeks, at most.”

  “While Amber still carries,” he mused. It was decidedly a bad situation. “I’ll have to make her testimony as painless as possible, if it comes to that.”

  “It will. You know who the mistress’s mother is, and I’m told this one is cut from the same cloth.”

  She didn’t say Mora’s name, as if she found forming the syllables distasteful. That probably wasn’t far from the truth. The last time Mora had interfered in the royal family’s lives, she’d nearly destroyed all six of them, by Benjamin’s estimation.

  Alana nestled her cheek to his chest, seeking comfort silently. “Should we warn Edward that this is a possibility?”

  “No. They have enough to worry about with the wedding closing fast.”

  She nodded her agreement.

  Benjamin forced his mind back to the subject at hand, needing all the information he could gather about the situation. “I take it he means to dismiss the mistress.”

  “Of course.”

  “And keep the other?” That would give her a pressing reason to lie.

  “Marry the other, as I understand it.”

  He considered that. “Problematic, considering his contract...unless we know she carries his heir?”

  Alana shook her head. “The blood test showed nothing conclusive...nor did the sonogram, and Darren won’t permit an amniot draw for a definitive answer.”

  “I can’t fault him that one. The risk is too high for the return. I wouldn’t allow an amniot draw on you, either.”

  The blood test was less precise than the amniot draw. If it indicated a male child, it was foolproof; if it didn’t, it was inconclusive as to the sex of the child.

  If the blood test wasn’t definitive—and the sonogram wasn’t—there was no way to be certain without an amniot draw. Unless amniot was called for to establish some other genetic marker, most couples would rather be surprised than risk losing the babe to an elective procedure.

  Edward had been confirmed by blood test and sonogram. They’d decided to allow the Goddess to surprise them this time.

  Alana fidgeted again, a sure sign that she was about to suggest something he wouldn’t care for. Benjamin cleared his throat and motioned for her to speak her mind.

  “There is one thing we can do to help, I think.”

  Here it comes. The subject she doesn’t want to broach.

  * * * *

  “A few more moments, Highness,” Trent called out.

  Edward smiled at Amber’s nervous fidgeting. “We’ll be right there.”

  The runner turned and strolled out, leaving them alone in the library.

  Edward gathered Amber into his arms. “Why the nerves? We’ve been living as a couple for so long.” Was it that she would be officially named as Princess Amber? She’d switched to Lady Amber, easily enough.

  “I look ridiculous,” she moaned.

  He laughed, adding an extra squeeze. It had been difficult refitting the traditional gown for a woman as heavy with child—children—as Amber was. In truth, the result was rather uncomfortable-looking.

  “It’s only for the ceremony,” he assured her. “You can change for the feast.”

  Amber pulled at the bodice, sighing when the tight, sleeveless satin continued pressing in and up on her full breasts. The high waistline was pushed higher still by her rounded womb.

  Edward rubbed at her lower back, and she groaned, nestling her cheek to his chest.

  “Are you very uncomfortable?” he asked. Though it would be a breach of protocol, Edward would delay the ceremony and let Amber change her dress now, if she was too uncomfortable.

  “No. I suppose not.”

  Edward stroked the hard swell of her womb, enjoying the peace of the moment.

  Darren’s voice came from the doorway. “I hear congratulations are in order.”

  Amber sighed. “We’re not married yet.”

  His cousin’s laughter was deep and rich. “Not that. I meant the babes. I hear that the doctors suspect two boys, that they’ve confirmed one, at least.”

  Amber groaned, folding herself into Edward’s chest, as if she meant to go to sleep. And she might; carrying twins was exhausting.

  “Is she well?” Darren asked, concern stealing his levity.

  Edward sat on the edge of the sofa and pulled Amber into his lap. “Just tired. Perhaps we should arrange a nap between the ceremony and the feast.”

  “Good.” The relief in his voice was unmistakable.

  “Are you saying you want to distance yourself from the throne?” Edward teased.

  Darren hesitated. “It has crossed my mind, of late,” he confided. “But that’s a subject for another time.”

  There was something serious going on here, but Edward let Darren have his space to unravel it at his leisure. Pushing him would likely be a bad choice.

  “Did you bring Kambry?” he asked instead, keeping his voice low so as not to disturb Amber.

  It was a given that he hadn’t brought Marquita to the celebration. She was still in her confinement, recovering from the birth of a daughter almost three weeks earlier.

  “No. She gave birth last night. I may not stay long. I should get back to her.”

  “Really?” Edward raised his head, trying to analyze Darren’s expression. It was troubled...or pensive. “Will there be a wedding?”

  “I... It was another daughter. My father is livid. Marquita is smug, as always. Kambry... She’s too tired to decide what she feels, right now.”

  Edward could see something momentous building behind Darren’s lips, sealed inside. “What do you think about the situation, Darren?” he asked bluntly.

  “I think... No, I know that I’m marrying Kambry anyway.” He darkened, looking as if he’d just been caught in some misdeed.

  “You’re taken with her.”

  “I am. We sit for hours, just as you are now.”

  “Will you dismiss Marquita? Or will you chance her producin
g the heir first?” No wonder Darren was so subdued. Considering his contract, these questions were costly ones, both emotionally and monetarily.

  “I can afford to pay her a handsome sum to be rid of her, and I will. I... It’s always been Kambry, I think.”

  “Then why didn’t you offer for Kambry alone?”

  Darren sank to a chair across from him, looking as if the weight of the world rested solely on him. “Lunacy, I suppose. I was taken with the idea of what they’d offered. They are both beautiful women, in their own ways.”

  “But beauty isn’t everything,” Edward finished for him.

  Amber sighed. “I hope not.”

  “You are beautiful,” Edward chided her.

  She didn’t argue with him, thank the Goddess.

  Darren ran a hand through his hair, looking ten years older than he had the night of the Bride Ball. “Marquita hasn’t aroused me in months,” he admitted. “But Kambry... Her confinement is going to be torture.”

  Edward nodded. “What about your older daughter?” From what Amber said, he knew Marquita would abandon the babe to whatever fate had in store for her...or something worse that even Amber couldn’t put a name to.

  “I love Erika, and so does Kambry. We intend to raise her as Aliya’s sister. Marquita will make a fuss for more money, but she doesn’t want the babe. She never really has.”

  He nodded. “All for the best, then.”

  Trent appeared in the doorway again. “It is time, Highness.”

  Edward started to lift Amber to her feet, but she was heavily asleep. He settled down, caressing her back.

  “Highness?”

  “There will be an hour delay,” Edward informed him.

  “But Highness,” he started to protest. “The guests are—”

  “My bride is exhausted. She needs to rest, for my heirs’ sake...and she will. An hour.” Or more.

  “Yes, Highness. I will inform the guests.”

  Darren chuckled.

  “You find this funny?” Edward asked.

  “No. It was the right choice.”

  “Then why are you laughing?”

  “Because, now I know it’s the right choice. If you’ll excuse me...” He stood, unbuttoning his jacket. “I don’t belong here, Edward. I’m going home to Kambry. Appearances be damned.”

  “And that, cousin, is the right choice.”

  * * * *

  Amber yawned, stretching to the hands rubbing her sore back.

  “Feel better?” Christopher asked.

  “Much. Yes,” she mumbled, half awake. She opened her eyes, wondering at how much darker the room was. “Has the sun gone into hiding?”

  “No. It’s still shining brightly.”

  She worked her way off Christopher’s lap, with his assistance. “How long did I sleep?”

  “Nearly two hours.”

  Amber’s heart skipped a beat or two. “Oh, no,” she moaned. “I’m late to my own wedding.”

  His hands wrapped around her shoulders from behind. “No, you aren’t. The wedding was delayed for your comfort and health.”

  “What of your mother’s comfort?” she countered. “What of her health?” Was anyone thinking of Alana, as Christopher was thinking of her?

  “Only you would worry about that.”

  “That’s not true. I’m sure your father worries about it.”

  “True. She’s early in, not even showing yet,” Christopher assured her. “Now, will you stop arguing or delay the ceremony further by continuing to argue the rights and wrongs of this?”

  Her horror melted in light of the fact that he was teasing, and she knew that well enough. “This isn’t over, Your Highness.”

  He smiled against her cheek. “I hope that is true.”

  Benjamin strode into the room, visibly distressed. “Edward... Amber...” he greeted them with slight bows of his head. “I’m afraid I have to ask a bit of your time today.”

  Amber nodded. “If it’s important, of course.” She’d already wasted the time of others. It was the least she could do.

  He crossed the room to her, taking her hands in his. “I need you to give testimony to the Counselors, just after the ceremony.”

  Her heart stuttered. “Testimony? Me?”

  Benjamin nodded, his expression starkly serious.

  “About what subject?”

  “There was a conversation. I’ve been told you were a witness to it, and as the only disinterested party, we need your testimony as to what was said.”

  Her head spun. “What conversation?” What could be so important?

  “There was a discussion of some sort between Mora and her daughters, before the Bride Ball.” He left off, seemingly waiting for her reaction to that much.

  Her breathing hitched, and her stomach dropped out. She pressed a hand to her mouth, then drew it away. “Good Goddess,” she managed. “What has Marquita done?” She grasped at Christopher’s hand for support, tears stinging at her eyes. “She found out that Darren intends to dismiss her and did something to her babe? Please, tell me she hasn’t.”

  Benjamin reached out to steady her. “No, thank the Goddess, but Darren believes she will. You feel that strongly that she will harm her own child?”

  The two men together guided her back to the sofa, and Amber sank into it, her stomach churning so badly it ached.

  “I have no doubt of it.”

  Benjamin nodded. “Then the Counselors will have to hear your testimony.”

  Christopher closed a hand on her shoulder. “I suggest we get Ivyvine to run a few tests, as well.”

  Amber smiled weakly. “I’m certain this is simply due to shock,” she assured him.

  “Yes, but there are other things we can do to help the cause.”

  Chapter Twenty

  Darren looked up in surprise at the maid rushing toward him.

  “Is something wrong?” he asked. The manor suddenly seemed too still. What had happened?

  “There was a...disturbance, Hein.”

  “Disturbance?” Without asking for more information, he started up the stairs toward Kambry’s rooms.

  The maid hurried along. “Lady Marquita and her mother, Lady Mora, tried to burst in on Lady Kambry and your mother. There was something of a scene when the guards refused them entry.”

  His heart stuttered, and Darren broke into a trot. “Is Kambry all right? What about Aliya and Erika?”

  “All well,” she reported. “Lady Mora and Lady Marquita were ordered under room arrest by your mother. She is caring for Lady Kambry and the babes.”

  He nodded, breaking into a run and outdistancing the maid. The guards cleared the way for him with a slight tip of their heads, and Darren bolted into Kambry’s room.

  She was asleep beneath a pile of quilts, showing no signs of abuse, thank the Goddess. He took a calming breath, looking for his mother.

  Sira sat in the padded rocker, feeding Erika a bottle. “She’s fine, Darren,” she assured him. “They’re all fine.”

  He nodded, striding first to Aliya’s cradle, then to the bed, checking on them, all the same. Kambry sighed at his touch, but she didn’t wake.

  Darren sank to her side on the mattress. “Tell me what happened.” Depending on what he heard, he might have to ask Benjamin to leave the wedding festivities to seek a judgment.

  “Marquita demanded her child, and the guards informed her that, by your orders, she was forbidden to see Erika without you.”

  He winced at what probably followed. “She had...words for the guards, I am sure.”

  “The guards, you...Kambry most of all.”

  “What words?” What foul thing had Marquita accused this time?

  “She threatened Kambry’s life, Darren. This has to end.”

  His blood ran cold at that. “I agree. Send Vincent for Father and Uncle Benjamin. Wedding or no wedding, a judgment has to be made on this.”

  * * * *

  Kambry woke to find herself cocooned in quilts in the middle
of Darren’s bed. Her head spun, and she fought for a coherent memory stream that would lead her here.

  “I moved you while you slept,” Darren assured her.

  He was sitting in a comfortable chair, his feet propped up on an ottoman. One of the babes was curled to his chest, but wrapped in the blanket as she was, Kambry couldn’t tell if it was Aliya or Erika.

  “I had the babes brought here, as well. They won’t be leaving, and you’ll all be much safer on this level than the one your sister and mother currently inhabit.”

  “What will we do now, Darren? Marquita is trying to take Erika away. She’s reasoned her way to your plan now.” Just the thought of it made her ill. She’d come to love Erika, come to dream fondly of the idea of raising her two girls together.

  “I’ve asked for a judgment. My uncle should arrive within the hour with the Counselors’ decision. I don’t care what it costs me, Kambry. If you’re willing, you will be my wife, Marquita will be dismissed, and Erika will be ours...for a reasonable amount, if the Counselors side with us, or everything I have, if they don’t.”

  “I wish it,” she answered.

  He nodded. “Then let’s get you into a robe and move this chair into the sitting room. The proceedings will take place here, in your confinement, if we’ve been driven to it.”

  * * * *

  Darren tucked the quilts around Kambry and looked to the two nurses and four guards standing in the doorway. “The doors are to remain locked. The six of you are to remain in the bedroom, no matter what you hear on this side of the doors. Am I understood?”

  “Yes, Hein,” the Captain responded.

  The head nurse nodded her agreement.

  “If Aliya wakes for a feeding...” He glanced at Kambry, waiting for her nod of approval. When she gave it, he turned back to them. “A bottle this one time won’t harm her. I don’t want my daughters in this room.”

  “Yes, Hein.” That time, they said it in unison.

  His orders given, Darren waved them into the bedroom, listening until the lock clicked shut.