Brighton Kingdom
October 12
Once again he found himself standing in the warm wings of the Madeline & Hyacinth Live! show. The still air created a sting of perspiration down his back. He adjusted his collar, then his shirtsleeves.
But he never let go of her hand.
“Are you all right?” Corina looked up at him with those amber eyes of hers that made his heart skip a beat.
“Just a bit stuffy in this spot, don’t you think?” Stephen kissed her forehead, then glanced at Thomas, who shook his head, cocking a sly grin.
Since his Florida proposal, Stephen felt swept off his feet, by God, by Corina, by the power of love and forgiveness.
He’d arranged for Agnes and Baby Bird to receive Lt. Mitchell “Bird” O’Connell’s death benefits and set up an education fund for the five-year-old, as well as for the children of the other men who died that day.
Even Asif’s.
One weekend a month he ferried down to Hessenberg to spend a night and day with Archbishop Caldwell, learning what he should’ve learned in Sunday school catechism but had not.
His heart nearly brimmed with the growing reality of a loving King as his Savior.
When he’d injured his ankle on the pitch that spring day seven months ago, he’d have never believed what kind of life awaited him. He was unworthy. On his own. Jesus made him worthy and that was a sacrifice he could accept.
Stephen pressed his hand to his chest, to the swirling rise of emotions.
God, I praise you.
In the past three months he’d made an open book of his life, confessing to the press about his secret marriage, annulment, and now re-engagement. If that was a word. How he’d gone dark after events in Afghanistan and how God had wooed his wounded heart to him through the love of Corina.
At one time, Stephen clung to rugby and life on the pitch as his only salvation, afraid to wander away lest he crumble. What he counted as freedom was his prison.
But now that he knew true salvation, and true freedom, his possibilities were endless. He was free to be Prince Stephen again. And since their engagement, he’d been sleeping like a baby. The night terrors had ended. Such a good, good God.
The stage manager passed by. “Sixty seconds.”
The show crew quickly changed the set from bright lights with tall director’s chairs to a living room aura with plush cream-colored love seats facing one another and a faux fireplace.
Stephen squeezed Corina’s hand. “Ready?”
“Ready.”
Madeline and Hyacinth took their positions, standing before the cameras as they came out of the commercial break.
“Madeline, we’ve had some amazing shows this year,” Hyacinth said, starting things off. “But this afternoon we have probably one of the best shows we’ve ever done, or will do.”
“I’m so excited about our next guests,” Madeline said, reading the cue card. “We surprised you with him before, so we’re surprising you with him again, along with his fabulous fiancée. Ladies and gentlemen, please welcome the Prince of Brighton, Prince Stephen, and his fiancée, Corina Del Rey.”
Stephen led Corina into the wall of applause, their strides together and even. The former beauty queen was perfect for him. The limelight neither frightened nor fascinated her.
After a round of cordial hugs with the show’s hostesses, Stephen and Corina sat together on one couch, Madeline and Hyacinth on the other. As if friends sharing tea.
“Let me start off by saying congratulations,” Madeline said. “We are so grateful to have you on the show.”
“We’re pleased to be here,” Stephen said with a glance at Corina, who glowed.
“We have a lot to talk about, but first things first. Corina, we’ve heard a lot about your Diamatia gown these past few months, but nothing on your wedding dress.” Hyacinth wrinkled her nose at the future princess. “Can you tell us anything? Just a hint.”
Corina’s laugh was classic and musical. “I can tell you it’s being designed by Melinda House. I really love her work, and she’s been a big support to me during this season.”
“Well, we cannot wait to see it.” Hyacinth smiled like Corina’s answer was enough, but Stephen knew she ached for more.
“We hear estimates of five hundred million viewers around the world for the wedding,” Madeline said. “Corina, do you think of that at all?”
“So far, I’m in the throes of planning a wedding like every other normal engaged woman.” She peeked at Stephen and he loved her confidence. “I’m not focused on the watching world.”
Indeed, she was going to make a lovely royal.
Madeline and Hyacinth prattled on with more wedding questions and observations, announcing again to the viewing audience that the big day would be held at Cathedral of David, October 19 at noon, with an afternoon reception at the palace and a private one that evening.
“Why the Braithwaite for your private reception?”
Corina fielded that one. “The Braithwaite has a history and meaning with us, so we wanted to go back to that place to celebrate where we are now and the start of our lives together.”
Where it all began, it ended. Now it would begin again, new, fresh with a sense of holy approval.
“Prince Stephen, the King’s Office informed us you have an announcement to make.” Madeline read from her cue cards.
“I do,” he said, tightening his grip on Corina’s hand. “Even though my ankle is in the best shape it’s ever been in—”
“Is it true you experienced some sort of miraculous healing?” Hyacinth did not hide her skepticism.
“I did, and as a result a lot has changed in my life—”
“Indeed, you were coronated as Prince of Brighton last month,” Madeline said. “What a lovely ceremony.”
“And with the coronation, I became patron of the War Memorial. The memorial needs some attention, and there is much to be done for the families of our military men and women, so today I’m announcing my full retirement from professional rugby.”
A tangible, forceful gasp rose from the audience.
“This is such a sad day for Brighton rugby.” Hyacinth leaned toward Stephen, cue card in hand.
“Corina, what do you say? Do you support this?” Madeline read from her cards. “You said in an interview last month that you first fell in love with the rugby player not the prince.”
“I said I fell in love with him on the rugby pitch. I fell in love with the man. I had to accept the prince part that came with him.”
The audience laughed with a soft sprinkle of applause.
“Will you be starting a family soon?” Hyacinth said.
“Tell you what, Madeline, you’ll be the first to know when a baby’s born,” Corina said to the delight of the audience.
Stephen tucked back his grin, but he could not be more proud of his soon-to-be wife. She was going to do fine in the circus that followed his family.
“I’m sure the Eagles will miss you, Your Highness,” Hyacinth said. “Will you miss the sport? You’ve been quoted many times over the years saying rugby was your life.”
“I love rugby and it’s been very good to me. I’m grateful to Coach and the lads on the team. I couldn’t have achieved what I did without them, but they’ve several wingers coming up who will far outshine me. And good for them.”
They bantered about rugby and Stephen’s triumph in the Number 14 wing position until commercial.
“Having a good time?” Stephen whispered to Corina.
“Yes, because I’m with you.” Corina kissed him, the audience approving with a corporate sigh.
The studio light came up as the show returned from the commercial break. “We’re back with our very special guests, Prince Stephen and his fiancée, Corina Del Rey,” Hyacinth said. “We are just so excited to have you both.”
“Hy,” Madeline said, breaking in, “I just have to ask this.” She bounced in her seat. “Corina, Prince Stephen has been touted as one of the world’s most eligible bachelors, and certainly one of the most sought after. Though he was so focused on rugby he didn’t notice.”
“I think I’m liking rugby more and more,” Corina said.
“So you can imagine how floored we all were to hear you two were married. I’m sure the women in our audience are dying to know, how did you catch the prince?”
Corina released his hand, sitting forward, clasping her hands at her knee. “I’m not really sure. We met in a postgrad class at Knoxton and—”
“Can I answer the question?” Stephen sat forward. He was the only one who really knew how this incredible woman won his heart.
“Please do,” Madeline said.
Corina swiveled to face him. “Oh no, babe, what are you going to say?”
“Babe? Is that your nickname for him?” Hyacinth loved the nitty-gritty.
“One of them,” Stephen said with a wink.
“Oh, I want to hear more about that in a minute,” Madeline said. “But just how did American Corina Del Rey catch the heart of our Prince of Brighton?”
Stephen reached for Corina’s hand. “She loved me well. She loved me well.”