Free Winning the Queen's Heart: Contemporary Christian Romance (The Brides of Belles Montagnes Book 2) by Carol Moncado Page A

family. I asked Poppo if he would walk me down the aisle.” A tear streaked down her cheek. “He told me he remembered my parents’ wedding and that I reminded him of my mother. I have few memories of my parents that are actually mine and not culled from news pieces or magazine pictures.” She wiped away another tear with one, now shorter, manicured nail. “I know there are many, many people who remember my parents far better than I do, and I was honored to have one of them stand in for my father.”
    “Will you be seeing Poppo and his family on your tour?”
    “I am not certain if we will or not. We plan to keep in touch with them, but the schedule for the tour was set quite some time ago.” Christiana looked up to see Diana walk in and make a “wrap it up” motion with her finger. “I am being told that our time is up, Matthew. Thank you for taking the time to sit down with us.”
    He nodded to her. “Thank you, Your Majesty.” Then Alexander. “Your Royal Highness.”
    They stood, Alexander with his left arm around her as he shook Matthew’s hand. Together, they were projecting a much more united and comfortable front than the reality behind closed doors. The reality was Christiana had seldom seen her husband while on board the yacht. Was he avoiding her? Giving her time to adjust and respecting her space?
    Or was there more to it?
    Christiana pushed those thoughts out of her head. He had given her no reason to think that. In fact, she had done her research. There had never been any serious allegations of infidelity against any of the men in his family. A moment of small talk, and they moved on. Lunch would be served with students from the local schools joining them.
    As they walked around the campus with the high school students, Christiana noted how good Alexander was with the young men. When they reached the gymnasium, her husband played basketball with several of them. He was a good shot.
    “He’s cute, Your Majesty.”
    Christiana turned to the young woman standing next to her. “He is, is he not?”
    “Don’t you ever use contractions?” The blonde girl sat on the bottom of the bleachers.
    “Pardon?”
    “Contractions. Don’t. Can’t. Won’t. Isn’t. I don’t think I’ve ever heard you use one.”
    Christiana tilted her head. “I have never thought about it. I spent many of my school years in Montevaro. Their royal family was my closest friends. Queen Mother Alexandra has very strict ideas about what is proper for a member of any royal family. Contractions do not exist in her household. I would imagine I picked up on that.”
    “You should loosen up a bit. Be a bit more casual. I think people would like you more.”
    Something about the words cut Christiana to the core. “People do not like me?”
    The girl shrugged. “I don’t think they dis like you, but like you said. You didn’t grow up here. We all know it was your uncle being manipulative. Now we do anyway, but I remember my parents saying they wished you were here because how would you know how to be queen if you’d never lived here.”
    “Sadly, that sentiment does not surprise me. I do hope I can change some of that thinking while I am on this tour.”
    “I hope so.” The girl spoke frankly. “I like you. I hope everyone else does, too.” She nodded toward Alexander who held his hands above his head in victory as his shot went cleanly through the hoop. “Plus, you married a really cute guy.”
    “I did not marry him because he is cute.” Her husband started toward them with the young men at his side.
    The girl flashed a grin. “I’m sure you didn’t, but it is a nice bonus.”
    Alexander held out a hand to help her up. Did she imagine the tingle that ran up her arm as his fingers curled around hers? She squeezed his hand.
    He really was pretty cute, wasn’t he?
    * * *
    Alexander followed Queen Christiana up the gangplank back onto the yacht. Overall, it had been a good day. He’d enjoyed his time with his wife.