Page 15 of A Royal Arrangement
She raised her eyebrows. “I spent most of my meals alone growing up. Seeing as I was the only person at the table, I got used to eating as soon as my plate arrived.” Her face remained devoid of a smile. “It won’t happen again, Your Majesty.”
He stood and motioned for a server who rushed to his side. “Please have my plate taken to my room.”
“Right away, Your Majesty.” The young server hurried away with his untouched plate in his hands.
Colin turned to his new wife. “It’s been a long day. I’m going to retire for the evening.” He walked away before she could respond, not chancing a look back. In that moment, he didn’t know if he could bear to see the disappointed, hurt expression he knew she was likely wearing.
After he ate his meal in perfect silence—just like he preferred—Colin made the short walk to Addie’s room. He opened the door and watched with a smile on his face as she slept soundly in her lavender bed. Her room looked like an explosion of pastels and all things girly, from the rugs and curtains he’d let her choose to the giant castle bedframe, complete with turrets and a moat slide. It was all so completely Addie.
Colin moved to her bedside, sitting down on the floor beside it and leaning his head against the mattress. This right here—he and Addie—that was what mattered. They were a family, the two of them. A piece of paper between him and Rosalie didn’t suddenly change that.
Get your act together, Colin.
He wouldn’t feel bad for telling Rosalie what he truly thought. That was how he treated everyone around him. He told it like it was, and she would just have to get used to it sooner or later.
Chapter Five
Rosalie
Yesterday was supposed to have been one of the best days of her life. Rosalie had always dreamed of her wedding day, but nothing about the actual day had measured up to those fantasies.
Yes, her dress was gorgeous and something she would’ve gladly selected for herself. It had also been nice having her parents there for the ceremony. But she wished her siblings could have been there. She wished her friends could have attended. But most of all, Rosalie wished she had married someone whowantedto marry her.
Apparently, it had been too much to ask that her new husband show even a semblance of kindness or a welcoming spirit toward her. She’d had minimal interactions with him so far, but when she had, Colin’s words had been cold and brief.
Is that what I’m supposed to expect the rest of my life to look like? One-word answers and the barest of interactions?
Rosalie refused to accept that was to be the fate of her marriage. She would continue to hold onto hope.Somehow, I’ll find a way to get to know him.
With her eyes still closed, Rosalie ran her hands across the sheets of her bed. Suddenly, a weight landed on her stomach, pushing the air from her lungs in a rush.
“Oof.”
A small squeal sounded right next to her ear as she slowly opened her eyes.
“You’re finally awake!” A little girl wrapped in a rainbow blanket with a unicorn hood sat on top of her, bouncing up and down in excitement. All of herrsounds came out likew’s, and it was the cutest thing Rosalie had ever heard.
This must be Princess Adelaide—also known as her new stepdaughter.
Wanting to make a good first impression with Adelaide, she decided to play along. Rosalie’s eyes widened as she looked around the room before landing on the girl. “Oh, my goodness, there’s a talking unicorn in my room.” She gasped and held a hand to her mouth.
The girl’s giggle could be bottled up and sold as pure joy. “No, silly.” She pulled her hood off, revealing beautiful light-brown hair that flowed down her back in bouncy curls. Bangs fell over her eyebrows, and the honey color of her hair only helped to make her green eyes pop. “I’m Addie.”
“Oh, good, I like girls named Addie a lot more than I like talking unicorns.” Rosalie sat up and winked at her.
Addie giggled, a wide grin on her face.
She extended her hand to the girl. “I’m Rosalie. It’s an honor to meet you, Your Highness.”
Addie’s nose scrunched up as she appeared to mull over her words. With a smirk on her face, she reached out and shook Rosalie’s hand with more oomph than she thought a four-year-old could have. “You can call me Addie since you’re my new mama.”
The use of the word “mama” made Rosalie stop in her tracks. In marrying Colin, she’d known she would be gaininga stepdaughter. But she hadn’t imagined what it would be like to hear that word aimed at her by the cutest little girl to grace the planet.
When she opened her mouth to respond to her, a booming voice sounded from the bedroom door. Rosalie whipped her head to the right to find Colin standing there, his eyes focused on his daughter.
“Addie, what are you doing? I told you I’d introduce you to Ms. Rosalie later.”
“Nooo,” Addie drew out the word, placing one hand on her hip. “You said you would tomowwow mowning. Tomowwow mowning isnow, Daddy.”
