Francine was about to concede and tell her mother the truth, but Raphael said, “Well, if you’re certain it won’t take away from the current marriage festivities, we’d be grateful and delighted to accept your generous offer.” Raphael leaned down and pecked a kiss on Francine’s mouth. “Wouldn’t we, love?” He winked at her as if to tell her, “Play along and let’s see what happens.”
“Yes,” she said. “We’d be delighted. Thank you so much.”
Adeline’s sly expression didn’t waver. “Excellent. We’ll announce it during the reception luncheon and everyone who is able to do so can stay on for a reception dinner.”
“Is that possible?” Francine asked.
Adeline Duvall was going out on a limb with this plan. Francine wasn’t certain what her mother was up to, but heaviness gathered in her belly. Raphael, estranged from his royal family or not, was likely not expecting to actually take a wife today.
“Yes, of course, dear. We planned an after-wedding dinner for all the guests who came from out of town and off planet. Why not add another wedding? We’ll be the talk of the season.”
“Right. Why not?” Francine saw through her mother immediately. She wanted to embarrass Francine even more than she had the last time she’d crashed a Duvall wedding. “Before that happens, though,” Francine said in a low tone, leaning toward her mother, “you’d have to reinstate me back into the family. How long will that take, do you suppose?”
Thatgot a reaction. Her mother’s eyes widened even as her mouth shrunk down to an unhappy O shape. “Don’t be silly, dear. You have always been part of the family.”
Francine wanted to snort and roll her eyes. She wanted to shove the exorbitant bill she’d received from her forced trip out of the last wedding into her mother’s tightened fist. Instead, she took a cleansing breath and managed to form a small smile.
Her mother was about to press her advantage. Instead of being dragged out of the elaborate reception by two Guardsmen and placed on an expensively rapid shuttle bound for Earth, Adeline Duvall wanted to give the guests a show with the heightened probability that either the bride or the groom in the second ceremony would leave the other at the altar. What a grand display of embarrassment for each of them to endure, regardless of who won the game of chicken before the ceremony even started.
A ripple of whispers rose from the queue behind them. The closest guests had obviously heard about the additional wedding ceremony plans and shared the news with those further back.
“What’s that?!” The shocked yet irate and very loud demand came from the elderly gentleman, presumably Raphael and William’s father. “Luther is getting married? Who’s he marrying? What’s her name? Is his prospective bride worthy of our title?”
“Father, lower your voice,” William said. The two Boudreaux men had yet to be announced. Francine thought the elderly gentleman could give the usher a run for his money as far as voice projection went. They could be present for the later declaration of another recently reinstated daughter being wed to someone important. It was win-win for her mother.
Either Raphael or Francine would bow out publicly or they’d be married in front of nearly every important connection of the family, including Raphael’s brother and father who were, in fact, royalty.
So is Raphael.
Francine lifted her hand, seeing her fake engagement ring in a whole new light. He hadn’t received it as payment for a job. He’d given her a royal Boudreaux family ring worth a literal king’s ransom.
Adeline looked at the ring on Francine’s finger and sucked in another sharp breath. “The royal violet diamond from the Boudreaux family collection.” Her sharp-eyed gaze went straight to Raphael. “Are you truly engaged to my daughter?” she asked, as if just realizing the magnificence of her scheme to force them to wed today.
She grabbed Francine’s bejeweled hand, drawing the ring nearly to her face to inspect it. The look on her face was hungry. Power hungry.
“I’m not your daughter anymore,” Francine said, snatching her fingers away. “I was kicked out of the family, remember? Because I certainly do.”
A growing cacophony of voices rose from the queue behind Raphael’s father and brother. Francine took a step away from her mother, and said, “We’re holding up the receiving line.”
The usher announced, “His Royal Highness, Lucius Grant Boudreaux, and his heir, William Wellington Boudreaux.”
Francine turned to her father. He wore a sheepish expression, but she hardened her heart. “Father,” she said briskly, nodding at him once as she continued past him.
Her feelings were so jumbled she had to forcefully set all her concerns aside to revisit later. If she didn’t, she’d break down in a crying jag right in the middle of the reception. That would not do. She refused to let her mother see her shaken, despite the fact she was completely off the edge of reason.
Her chief issue among many was not even possible reinstatement into her family. That was something she never thought would be possible. No, her primary thought was to wonder why Raphael lied to her about being a royal Boudreaux, followed by why he’d lied about the ring.
She shook hands with each of the groom’s parents, uttering platitudes she wouldn’t be able to remember later, hoping she sounded sincere.
Francine stopped in front of Prudence, leaving Raphael engaged with her parents. “Pru,” she said with a sincere smile. “You look grand. I hope you two have a wonderful life together. I’m so glad I got to see your wedding.”
Pru practically glowed with happiness. “Thanks, Francine. I’m so elated that you were able to come.” They hugged tightly. Francine breathed deeply. Her sister always smelled like flowers fresh from a garden, even though flowers were a rare commodity on Alpha-Prime.
Francine had to stifle a tear as yet another fierce emotional rush moved through her. According to Lucy, Pru and her new husband had fallen in love as they made their way through the arranged marriage process, and it showed. Pru introduced Antonio. They shook hands, then Francine hugged him, whispering, “Thank you for making my sister so happy.” He nodded and looked at Pru like she hung the moon in the sky.
Pru said, “You certainly know how to bring life to a reception, Francine. Dragged kicking and screaming out of the last one by Royal Guardsmen and then engaged to Ichor-Delta royalty and set to wed your fiancé directly after our reception.”
“You know me, always needing to be the center of attention.”
