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"Maybe a little tired." She lean heavily into him, suddenly not so steady on my feet.
"Take Tanzi someplace where she can rest," mom orders Rio firmly.
King Claudio frowns. "We are not finished with this discussion."
"Can you not see the girl needs a break?" Rio's grandfather admonishes, getting an immediate top spot on myfavorite relatives of my husbandlist.
Rio told me on the plane that for the sake of his health, his grandfather abdicated in favor of Claudio several years ago.
"What do you call an ex-king?" I wonder aloud, things going a little sparkly at the edges.
"Vitorrio!" Queen Therese barks at my husband, sounding very different than the calm woman she was only moments before. "Now."
"Excuse me—" King Claudio starts only to be interrupted by my mom.
"Excuse me, your highness, but my daughter is carrying your first grandchild and she has had a very stressful few days between graduating university, telling the father of her baby about their coming joy and flying off to marry him on a Caribbean beach. And this morning only added to that stress when she was summarily summoned to a palace she didn't even know was in her future. You will save the rest of your questions, harangue and attitude for later."
Oh, man, my mom can do icy disdain with the best of them.
Even my dad knows to back down when mom gets this angry. Apparently, the King of Isole dei Re isn't a complete dunderhead either, because he keeps his mouth shut.
There's no surprise on his face at the news of his impending grandparenthood. There's no expression there at all.
Rio shows he knows when to take an order too, lifting me into his arms and carrying me from the room. Although, honestly, I think I'd be in the same position right this second without our moms and his grandfather putting their oars in the water.
Did my mom really have to spill the beans like that though?
Mom and the queen follow us, giving advice, expressing concern and watching over us all the way down the long corridors, up marble steps and down another plush hallway until Rio stops outside a set of double doors.
Queen Therese gracefully moves around her son to open both doors to a luxurious suite done in dark wood and navy blue. Rio carries me inside it, crossing the outer room without pausing and going directly into the bedroom. There, he lays me down after mom pulls back the bedding.
Everything feels fuzzy around the edges and I have no problem being babied. Especially by Rio.
He tucks me in and then pours a glass of water from the carafe by the bed. "Drink this,dolce bella."
I take several sips, before resting back against the pillows. "I don't know what's wrong with me."
"Stress. It can be debilitating in early pregnancy," the queen says softly.
"Mama, you must talk to him," Rio warns. "I don't care if he wants to yell at me, but he'll treat Tanzi with tender care, or I'll take her away."
Queen Therese nods. "I will speak with him, but I'm confidentSignoraMenendez's announcement will have already gone a long way toward bringing your father back from his anger and his confusion. He is only hurt, you understand? That you did not introduce us to the woman you love. He thinks you are ashamed of us."
The way the king talked, I think it's more he believes Rio should be ashamed of me.
Rio snorts in own disbelief. "Father is too arrogant to believe that."
"You forget his love for his family is greater than even his arrogance," the queen chides gently.
Rio doesn’t look convinced. "That was not on display just now."
"Remember, he is both king and your father."
"King first, father second." Rio's tone has no give in it.
"That is not true. He loves you so much, Rio." The queen's eyes are dark with emotion. "He's worried about you."
"So, he accuses me of using Tanzi as an excuse to dismiss my responsibilities?"
