Finally, Aunt Maude turned to Lady Mandeville and asked, “Is this normal behavior for the prince?”
“I’ve never heard of such a thing,” she confessed. “It’s quite irregular. But—”
“But what?” Aunt Maude demanded.
“The prince loves grand gestures that bring him attention, and he is quite loyal to his friends, so it does not truly surprise me. He often talks of his visit to America and how he’d like to go back one day. It appears he is making plans as we speak.”
Aunt Maude no longer looked outraged, but she still seemed doubtful. “Are you telling me the truth, Alec?”
“I have never lied to you before,” he said, “and I am not lying now.”
“Well”—she gave a pointed look to our hands—“perhaps you haven’t lied, but you’ve clearly kept something a secret from me.”
I looked at Alec, and he smiled at me.
“There are some things that cannot stay hidden forever,” I told her. “And this is one of them.”
He lifted my gloved hand to his lips and placed a kiss there.
“I love Keira,” Alec said, turning back to Aunt Maude. “And I would like to marry her, as soon as the prince is able to join us.” He took a deep breath. “Do we have your blessing?”
I wasn’t sure what we would do if she didn’t give it, but there was little that could keep me from marrying Alec.
She looked from me to him, and then back to me.
“I don’t know what you did to convince the prince to help you,” she said to me, “but it’s quite evident that he’s fallen under your spell. I am disappointed that you betrayed me this way—however, having the Prince of Wales as a guest at my niece’s wedding will make Mrs. Astor squirm to get invited and will do more for my social status than having you marry the Duke of Severton. So, I will give you my blessing.”
Though I was relieved we would not need to fight her any longer, I had determined then and there that I was done bowing to her dictates.
Being adopted was supposed to be an unconditional gift, and I now knew I was worthy of that gift. Not because the Prince of Wales was my father, but because I was the daughter of the King of Kings.
Alec moved a little closer to me on the seat, and I knew that from this day forward, nothing could drive us from one another’s side.
25
August 9, 1883 Newport, RI
Three months after the night of the duke’s ball, I stood in one of the drawing rooms at The Prince of Wales Hotel overlooking the Atlantic Ocean in Newport. My heart was so full of wonder, I had to place my hand on my chest to contain it, touching the locket I’d chosen to wear on my wedding day.
“You want to walk me down the aisle?” I asked the prince as I faced him. “What will people say?”
Light streamed into the room through the windows, illuminating his bearded face as he smiled at me. “If I cared what people said about me, I would have no fun at all, my dear.”
I returned his smile and recalled what Aunt Maude had said in London. What the prince wanted, the prince would get.
He stood before me in impeccable clothing, a watch chain hanging from his pocket, highlighting his expanding middle. He was the height of fashion.
“I would be proud to have you walk me down the aisle,” I said to him.
“Very good.” He offered me his arm, about to speak, when he noticed the locket. Pausing, he lifted it and held it tenderly in his large hand. “I never thought I would see this again.”
“I wanted to wear it today, to feel close to my mother.”
He slowly lowered the locket and met my gaze. “I still cannot believe how much you look like her.”
I smiled. It was the greatest compliment.
“Are you ready?” he asked me.
