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Matrimony With His Majesty
Matrimony With His Majesty
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Matrimony With His Majesty

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She could hear the pain in his voice. “How old are his children?”

“Nine and ten.”

“Such vulnerable ages. My heart goes out to them and their mother.”

In the midst of the silence they heard Phillip say, “What are their names?”

They both turned in his direction.

Alex had been right to leave him be. His curiosity over his father had won out. No telling how long he’d been listening on the other side of the doorway. Darrell didn’t dare breathe while her son’s whole attention was focused on his fascinating father.

Alex glanced at him while he finished rinsing off the plates. “Jules and Vito.”

“One of the guys in my French class is named Jules. We all had to pick a name.”

Alex folded the dish towel. “What did you choose?”

“Philippe.”

“That’s your grandfather’s name.”

“I thought that was your name.”

“It’s one of them. But my mother and closest friends call me Alex so there’s no confusion.”

Phillip took another step closer. “Is he still alive?”

“No. He died six years ago. But your grandmother is very much alive. Her name is Katerina.”

“If you could never find my mother, how do you know about me?”

“Because I went searching for your father,” Darrell declared.

Phillip looked at her in disbelief. “But I thought you didn’t know anything about him.”

“I didn’t. But he gave your mom a very unique ring. I’d forgotten about it until a few weeks ago.”

That was a lie of course. The ring had haunted her for years, but it would still be in her old coat pocket if Phillip had let go of his pain.

“I decided to have it traced…and found your father.”

“When?” Phillip demanded.

“Yesterday.”

His astounded gaze switched back to his father. “You live in Chicago? I thought you were from New York.”

Darrell shook her head. “No, sweetheart. I never went to Chicago or New York.”

“I don’t get it.”

“Maybe this will help.” Alex pulled the ring from his pocket and handed it to Phillip who took it and began examining it with interest.

“This looks like a knight’s shield.”

“That’s exactly what it is,” Alex asserted. “My cousin, Chaz, gave it to me when I turned sixteen. He had it engraved. It says, ‘More than a cousin.’ The shield represents the coat of arms of our family.”

Finally Phillip raised his head. “Where do you live?”

“Switzerland.”

Surprise and wonder broke out on Phillip’s face. “That’s where they speak four different languages. I learned about that in my French class. Which one do you speak?”

“All of them,” Alex answered.

“Even that funny one called Romanish or something?”

Alex smiled broadly, causing Darrell’s heart to flip over. “Especially that one.”

“How come?”

“Because my home is in Bris, the heart of the Romanche-speaking Canton. It might interest you to know there are five forms of Romanche, a language dating back to Roman times.”

“Do you speak those, too?”

“Yes.”

It was too much for anyone to absorb, especially a young American teen who’d just been united with the father he’d always wanted to meet.

“When I had to leave Colorado, I gave that ring to your mother to remember me by. It’s a family heirloom. Now it’s yours, Phillip. No one else in the world is entitled to wear it unless they’re a Valleder.”

“A Valleder?”

“Yes. If your mother and I had married, your legal name would be Phillip Collier Valleder. If you’ve got some tape, I’ll fix it so you can wear it now.”

“There’s some in the drawer.” Phillip opened it and handed the dispenser to Alex. In a minute the ring slid on his finger and stayed put.

Her son’s eyes squinted up at him. Darrell could hear his mind working. “What’s your legal name?”

“Alexandre Rainier Juliani Phillip Vittorio Valleder.”

“Whoa.”

A deep laugh escaped Alex’s throat. It was so contagious Phillip smiled. Darrell hadn’t seen one like it in years…

But when the laughter died down, Phillip grew sober again. “Do you have a wife and kids?”

Alex’s eyes were hooded as he said, “You’re my only child.”

“But at the end of this month he’s getting married to a woman named Isabella,” Darrell informed her son to make certain he understood the situation in no uncertain terms.

After reflection Phillip said quietly, “Did you love my mom?”

CHAPTER THREE

THE question had been thrown out like a live wire.

Alex put his hands on Phillip’s shoulders. “We only knew each other for a few days. Not long enough to find out our deepest feelings. But we were obviously attracted enough to spend all our free time together. I wish I’d known about you.”

Darrell felt his thick-toned voice resonate to her bones.

“Whether you believe me or not, I’m thrilled to discover I have a son. This is the most exciting moment of my life. I couldn’t get here fast enough. I love you, Philippe.” The admission came out as naturally as the French version of Phillip’s name.

After a throbbing silence Phillip whispered, “I’m sorry for what I said to you earlier. I…love you, too.”

In the next breath both of them were hugging. They held on to each other for a long time.

The moment was so profoundly tender, Darrell pressed a hand against the strange pain in her chest.

“What would you like to do about our situation?” Alex asked once he’d finally let his son go.

Phillip stared up at him with a new light shining from his eyes. “Will you come and visit me sometimes?”

“Of course.”

“Can I come and visit you sometimes?”

“Whenever you want. It’s up to your mother.”

Phillip flicked her a glance she couldn’t decipher. Then he looked at Alex again. “How long are you going to stay in Denver?”

“I have to fly back to Switzerland tonight.” While Darrell’s heart plummeted for Phillip’s sake, Alex unexpectedly said, “How would you like to come with me and see where I live? That invitation includes your mother. You’re welcome to stay with me for as long as you want.”

“Mom—”

Phillip was ready to burst with joy.

Darrell knew what he was asking, but everything was happening way too fast.

“I’m afraid you can’t go right now, sweetheart. For one thing you don’t have a passport.”

Alex eyed her with a direct stare. “That’s no problem. Trust me.”

Of course it wasn’t a problem. He was the king. He could let anyone in his kingdom he wanted. It appeared he wanted his son.

“What’s the other thing?” Alex challenged her.

He knew exactly why she was holding back! The news about Phillip would be like a hundred megaton bomb exploding in his country.

How could he just get off his private jet with a son in tow no one had ever seen or heard of? Surely he would want to prepare his family first. His fiancée most of all…

Darrell tried to put herself in the other woman’s place. The shock of learning the king she was going to marry came complete with a twelve-year-old son would destroy her dreams of starting out marriage in the hope of raising a family of her own.

“Phillip? Remember that Danice asked us to spend the Fourth with her?”

“But I told you I don’t want to go.”

Alex flicked her a penetrating glance. “You have other plans made?”

She averted her eyes. “Not yet. That call in the kitchen was Danice phoning to finalize everything.” She could feel both of them looking at her, yet neither said a word. Already father and son were in lockstep.

The onus was on Darrell. If she said no to Phillip, he wouldn’t understand. Not when she’d gone all the way to Switzerland to find his father.

Now that she’d achieved her goal, a whole new range of problems loomed over the horizon. She was starting to get scared and Alex knew it.

“Tell you what, Phillip. I’ll go out to the limo so you and your mother can talk in private.” He was reading her mind.

“Come outside when you’re ready and let me know what you’ve decided.”

“Thank you, Alex,” she murmured.

“But, Mom—”

In a few swift strides his father left the house. Phillip turned to her ready to do battle.

“Before you say anything to me, young man, I want to ask you a question.” He blinked. “What else did your French teacher tell you about the Romanche-speaking canton?”

He blinked again and shrugged his shoulders. “I don’t remember.”

“It’s ruled by a king.”

“That’s cool.”

“Cool doesn’t begin to cover it. Your father has a very important job which is different from the jobs of any of your friends’ dads.”

“What is it?”

“Did your teacher happen to mention the name of that particular canton?”

“No.”

She drew in a deep breath. “It’s the Valleder Canton.”

He cocked his head. “That’s Dad’s last name.”

“That’s right. Your dad…is the king of Valleder.”

Phillip let out a bark of laughter. “No, he’s not.”