Page 23 of Falling for the Widowed Prince

"Who?" Nessa spoke first.

"Do you remember Ms. Madeleine who had dinner with us last week?"

They all nodded.

"I am going to marry Ms. Madeleine sometime in the next couple of weeks. I'm not sure exactly how it's all going to work, but she'll help me take care of all of you, and it will let me help Catherine."

Issy's face lit up. "I like Maddie!"

"Me, too." Catherine spoke.

"Madeleine will come to live here with us, help us make dinner, do homework, play games, make artwork, help put you to bed, all of the things a mummy does, but..."

"She won't be Mummy." Catherine finished for him. "She told me if you married someone, it would be someone who loved us but wouldn't try to take Mummy's place."

Madeleine had already laid some of the ground work for him? That seemed like something she'd do, but he hadn't thought to talk to her about it beforehand.

"That's right. Madeleine will love all of you, but she knows you already have a mum."

"When?" Nessa asked the question.

"I'm not sure, but soon."

They talked for another half hour. Some of it was about Madeleine and the changes in their lives, but also just about anything and everything any of them wanted to talk about.

After tucking them all in, he went to the sitting area in the bedroom of the Monarch's Suite. He should probably vacate it soon and let Catherine move in when she was ready. Or maybe that would be too much change for them all at once. They needed to know not much would be different.

The furniture in the sitting room had been chosen for function over form. He sat in his favorite recliner and pulled the lever to kick the footrest out. He closed his eyes and grabbed the quilt lying on the floor next to him. A gift from a visiting American dignitary, Caroline had loved it.

As he had every night since his world fell apart, Anthony would sleep in the chair rather than in the bed he'd shared with Caroline for the entirety of their marriage. One day he might have to sleep there again, but this was not that day.

December would arrive in just a few days. Did they want to get married in November so it wouldn't compete as much with Christmas or wait a week or two to give themselves enough timeto plan a little bit? His wedding to Caroline had been everything his wife had dreamed of. He doubted that would be the case this time. Madeleine wouldn't have that choice. At most, it would likely be a small ceremony in the chapel attached to the palace. It might not even be that. It could be an even more simple ceremony in front of one of the fireplaces or a nice window.

He needed to find her the next day and discuss these things, along with several others about their immediate future.

A buzz from his phone told him to check his messages. One had just come in from Madeleine.

When can I tell my family and best friend? They can all be trusted, but they'll need to be prepared to make plans once we know more details.

He typed out a quick response.

Whenever you're ready. Just ask them not to say anything until after the official announcement.

Word would start getting out soon, no matter how they tried to control it. Best they hear it from her.

He changed the settings on his phone so it wouldn't disturb him, and willed himself to sleep.

8

So much had happened in such a short period of time. Now, just over two weeks before Christmas, Madeleine stood in an ante room near the chapel attached to the palace.

"You look beautiful." Liana stood next to her, dressed in a dark maroon dress that was the only nod to Christmas in the wedding. There were no poinsettias in the decorations. No red and green ribbons in the chapel. No mistletoe anywhere around.

Unsurprisingly, her family and best friend, had been shocked, but after discussions with Anthony and spending a day with him and his family, they were cautiously on board.

She'd spent time with Anthony and the children almost every day since the decision was made. Three days after the press conference, a press release was sent out identifying her as the bride. She hadn't been subjected to any interviews or things of that nature. In fact, she hadn't left the palace since. Anthony had sent staff members to her apartment to pack her things and move them to the palace.

Madeleine shook herself out of the thoughts of the last few weeks, and tried to focus on the next few minutes which would see her become stepmother to a queen.

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