Alexander & Rebecca (Royals of Valleria #1)

Chapter 23

Cat could not believe the words coming from her mother's mouth. "Are you serious?"

"We are very serious, Catharine," Genevieve said with a quick glance to Gabriel, who did not look entirely comfortable with the conversation. "You have one year, starting tomorrow. By the time we reach the end of the Royal Marriage Notification Year, you should be engaged."

"Mama, this is ridiculous. We're living in modern times. I don't need to be engaged or married before my elder brother weds."

"People are already beginning to talk, and I just want you to enjoy the wedding without having to deal with all the gossips."

"I don't care what the gossips say and neither do they, quite frankly."

"I know, Catharine."

"Shall I go and pick someone off the street, then?" Cat took a long drink of ice-cold water to clear her head. Perhaps this whole conversation was just a figment of her wine-induced imagination.

"Don't be ridiculous," Genevieve said. "You needn't agree with the first person who comes along. Choose, but choose wisely." She took Cat's hand in hers and held it tight. Cat always felt comforted when her mother held her, even now when Cat was angry at her. "I just want you to be happy, more than anything. I don't want you to be afraid to take risks, or open your heart. Alex took a risk and look how happy he is."

Cat glanced at her twin brother. His fiancée was tucked under his arm, and they were whispering to each other as lovers were prone to do. He did look exceedingly happy.

Truthfully, Cat wanted that kind of happiness, too. She sighed and said, "I'll do my best, Mama, but that's all I can say at this point."

"One year, dear," Genevieve said and kissed her daughter's cheek before turning to Gabriel.

"What was that all about?" Marcello asked next to her. "I couldn't really hear with all the noise in this room."

"You mean you tried to eavesdrop and were unsuccessful."

"I'm in charge of Valleria's national security; of course I was eavesdropping."

Cat chuckled. "Maybe I'll tell you later." Right now, all she wanted to do was escape for a while. She knew once the engagement was announced, they'd all have to give statements to the press and such. After that was over, she was taking a week off.

"You're planning something," Marcello said.

"You're far too observant for your own good."

"Don't change the subject."

"I'm thinking of taking a vacation."

Marcello crossed his arms over his chest and gave her a critical gaze. "Didn't you just spend three weeks with Nonna during the national holiday?"

Cat winced. It wouldn't look good if she left on vacation again so soon. "Don't you have some business or other coming up, someplace far away where I could tag along?"

"Well, I do have to go to London soon. There's a meeting of various European and international security heads." Marcello knew he would be the butt of snide comments and innuendo the entire time due to the security issues that had led to Rebecca's kidnapping. Not going, however, was not an option, either. He would need to go to assert Valleria as a strong and secure country.

"A trip to London sounds perfect." Cat grabbed his arm as her mind began making plans. "I still haven't seen the new royal baby, and I'm sure we could set up some royal visits and things while I'm there. Oh, it's perfect! I could even drop in on Grace."

"Grace?" Marcello asked, wanting a distraction from his own worries.

"Lady Grace is a friend of mine from university. She became a widow not too long ago. I wasn't able to go to the funeral, and I'd love to spend some time with her."

"She's your age?" Marcello asked, becoming curious about a woman he'd never met.

"Yes, a little younger actually. She started university early. She's whip smart."

Marcello wondered about Cat's intelligent friend who'd lost her husband so young. Had he been a soldier, like him? "Do you know how he died?"

"An accident, I think. I haven't really heard any of the details."

A rough life for someone so young. He wondered what she looked like. "Sounds like she's had a tough time. She must have been married young."

"Just after we finished our graduate degrees." Cat frowned. "We've stayed in touch over the years, but we're not as close as we used to be. I'd like to change that."

"Why do you think you lost touch?"

"I'm not sure. Between the two of us, I don't think her marriage was a very happy one, so perhaps that's why."

Married so young, he thought, then glanced at his parents who must have been married even younger than Lady Grace. "Was her husband at university with you?"

Cat shook her head. "He was a bit older than us, as I recall. He had a title and I remember her parents were keen on the match."

Had she been forced to marry? Marcello wondered why the widow he had never met was tugging at him.

"Anyway," Cat said. "I think this will work out perfectly. Let me know when you plan to leave."

"Will do, Kitty Cat," he said, using her nickname, something he knew brought a smile to her face, and it did. Though she was his older sister, he'd always protected and taken care of her as though she were a younger one.

Cat began chattering about her plans and what she and Grace may do while she was in England. Meanwhile, Marcello wondered if he would have a chance to meet the intriguing Lady Grace. With his security credentials, he could easily find out more about her and her home. Yes, it was his brotherly duty, after all, as well as his responsibility to oversee royal protection and make sure the home was secure. It was simply his duty, that was all.

THE END

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