My father steps forward and gives us a sad smile. “We’re not here to stop you.”
“Good, because we’re not changing our minds. We want out,” I say, straightening my back.
“I know, and you have every right to do this. You really do,” he says. “In fact, part of me hopes you do go through with it and you make a wonderfully adventurous life together, beholden to no one and nothing.”
“But?” I ask.
“But we didn’t want you to leave angry at us. We thought maybe we could make things up to you before you go so you can have a beautiful wedding without worrying about us,” he says in a quiet voice. “Also, we very much want both of you in our lives and if you choose not to be, we’ll miss you terribly.”
Oh, well, that’s not what I was expecting. I thought he’d go all ‘I’m the king and you’ll do what I say.’ In fact, I wish he had because then I could yell no at him instead of tearing up at his words. I blink quickly and tell myself to woman up.
Arthur clears his throat. “I’ve contacted the legal team to see what they can do to get you out of the contract with ANN. It may not be possible, and someone will have to pay back all the expenses, but they’re going to try to see what they can do.”
“Seriously?” I ask him. “Why would you do that?”
“Because we want you to be happy,” Arthur says. “Really happy, and if this is what you need to do, we want you to do it.”
Harrison nods. “We’re all really sorry for what happened. We embarrassed you both and added so much stress to your lives at the exact moment when we should have been here supporting you.”
Libby tries to say something, but it comes out in the form of loud sobs. Finally, after a few attempts, she wails, “I’m so pregnant!”
“Oh, sweetie,” Tessa says, wrapping an arm around her. “Isn’t it just the worst thing ever?”
“Yes!” She sniffles. “I hate it so much. I never would have yelled at any of you if I were in my normal frame of mind. Not-Pregnant Libby is really nice.”
“That’s true,” Emma says. “Super-organized and super-nice.”
“I’m sure that’s the case,” Tessa says, rubbing Libby’s arm. “And I don’t even have an excuse for what I said. Well, except I’ve been dieting to get the baby weight off again in time for the wedding so I’m really grouchy.”
Libby nods at her. “The pressure of looking good for the cameras is just awful! I’ve only had it for two days and I’m ready to punch the film crew. I don’t know how you do it.”
Is this really happening or am I hallucinating from exhaustion?
Oh, it’s real. Gran just rolled her eyes. Libby and Tessa are in a full-on hug now, both of them crying and apologizing. Libby says, “I never should have said that about James. I watched a YouTube video of him speaking in French. He’s a very bright boy! He could definitely be king when Arthur dies.”
“He totally could,” Tessa agrees. “He’s highly intelligent like all my brothers. One of them is an actual rocket scientist. But, setting that aside, Arthurnevershould have called Clara a pushy brat. I yelled at him for a good hour over it last night. Clara was right to shove James. Girls need to stand up for themselves in this world,” Tessa tells her.
“They do,” Libby says with a nod. “They really do.”
Gran sighs, then cuts in with, “I’ve already offered my heartfelt apologies to Harrison and Emma about the ‘all brawn’ comment, but I need to do the same for you, Will. I know you’re a smart young man. If you weren’t, my granddaughter never would have fallen in love with you.”
Will nods. “Thank you, Your Highness. I appreciate that.”
“You are rather brawny, though. Kind of makes me wish your grandad were still alive,” she says with a wink.
“Gran!” I hiss. Then I glance back and forth between all of them, not knowing what to do with them. They’re making it exceedingly hard to stay angry. And staying mad is the only way I’m going to manage not to feel guilty about cutting them out of the wedding. “As nice as it is that you all made up, Will and I are quite determined to elope. Consequences be damned.”
“Of course you should. It’s your wedding and you should have it however you want it, wherever you want it,” Rosy says, walking over and capturing Arabella and me in one of her big, bosomy hugs. “We love you so much. And we’re going to be one big happy family. All of us. The royals and the royal pains in the butt.” She lets us go and takes Arabella’s cheeks in both hands. “You’re my Angel Bear.”
Pierce stifles a laugh, and Emma gives him a look. “What? Do you want me to tell them what she calls you?”
He shakes his head, then says, “No thank you. I’m not really involved. In fact, I’m not even sure why I was made to get up this early to be here.”
“Because, Bootsy Bear, this is an all-hands-on-deck situation,” Rosy tells him.
Now Arthur lets out a snort and Pierce glares at him. “That stays on this boat.”
“I’m sorry, but there is no way I cannottell everyone we know,” Arthur tells him.
