Page 16 of Falling for the Widowed Prince

Liana laughed. “You’ve apologized three times already, Mad. It’s fine. I’ll miss you, but we’ll get together for Christmas.” She paused. “Unless you’re going home?”

There was something else Madeleine hadn’t thought about. What about her parents? Her brothers? Would her Christmas plans ever include them again?

She quickly gathered herself so Liana wouldn’t have to snap her out of her thoughts again. “I’m not certain what my Christmas plans are just yet, but I’ll let you know.”

“You’re always welcome to join me and Scott, you know that.” The sound of a blinker being turned on clued Madeleine in on Liana’s progress. There were only two turns between their homes.

"I know, and I appreciate the offer." Madeleine had joined her best friend and her husband several times when winter weather prohibited travel from Eastern Novigradia's capital city to the town on the northern coast where they'd grown up.

"Gotta run, Mad. Love you!"

Before Madeleine could reply, the call ended.

With a chuckle, she set her phone down and picked her mug back up, taking a sip as the lights twinkled in front of her.

How could she have been so preoccupied that she hadn't checked her calendar for something as important as their traditional pre-travel girls' night?

If she married the prince, would she ever get to have girls' nights again? They'd almost certainly look different than they ever had.

What Madeleine really needed was a chance to talk to the prince or someone he designated and ask all of these questions and many more that were sure to occur to her.

But she didn't even know how to get ahold of Prince Anthony except to call his office or send an email. He wouldn't see it until morning unless one of his assistants alerted him to it. The prince never checked his email outside of office hours. One of his aides kept an eye on it until morning and only passed on urgent messages.

Madeleine doubted she'd make the list of people the aides would pass on.

Her cocoa cooled long before she came to any genuine conclusion. A glance at the clock told her she should send for dinner or make something easy in the kitchenette found in one part of the suite.

When her phone buzzed again, she knew it was a text without looking. It was likely a picture from Liana showing the movie Madeleine was now missing. A minute later, Madeleine picked it up and gasped when she realized it wasn't from Liana after all.

The number hadn't been saved in Madeleine's phone, but the text of the message told her exactly who it came from.

Prince Anthony.

Though he only used his given name. She couldn't do that, even in her own mind.

More important was the request that came along with his name.

To have dinner in the family suite.

With his children.

Anthony had staredat the text for several minutes before convincing himself to hit the send button inviting Ms. Woodward to dinner with his family. He'd asked her to marry him, but before a decision could be finalized, he needed to see her with his children.

The wedding would have to happen at least a week before Christmas to give everyone time to get the official paperwork sorted out.

If Ms. Woodward chose not to marry him, or he realized it wasn't going to work, for any reason, he'd need to find someone else. Maybe one of his wife's distant cousins?

No.

They were nice enough, but had purposely stayed out of the royal spotlight most of the time. Being in the center of attention, or at least adjacent to it, wouldn't be high on their wish list.

A notification told him Ms. Woodward was nearing the family quarters. He needed to meet her. Staff members were already setting the table and bringing the food in. Some nights he cooked or they cooked as a family, but he hadn't done that since...

Well, since everything changed.

Anthony called out to his eldest child, the one who was now queen, to keep an eye on her siblings, and he'd be back in a minute.

Once outside the ornate wooden door, he turned left and walked to the end of the wide hall. Ms. Woodward stood in front of the most recent family portrait that hung near the entrance to the restricted area.

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