Nights Like This

Chapter 26

Prince Sebastian arrived the Tuesday before Thanksgiving, accompanied by his wife, Princess Alma, his daughter, Princess Sancha and her husband, Baron Sergei de Moreno. They checked into the Belair Charleston. Sebastian and Alma settled into the Presidential Suite. Sancha and Sergei had another large suite. Marco and Alexei joined them, sharing their own suite.

Sebastian ordered a buffet dinner in his suite for their first night. The family could eat and talk comfortably, catching up and making plans for the holidays. After dinner, Alma brought Sebastian coffee. He took it, murmuring a soft "Gracias, mi amor."

"Would anyone else like coffee?" she asked.

"No, Mamma, I have a glass." Marco held up his half-filled wineglass.

"I'd like a cup, Mamma. Black, please," said Sancha. Alma got her coffee and sat next to Sebastian.

Sebastian sipped his coffee. "I am quite pleased at how well you have done here, Marco. And you, Alexei, Sancha tells me you are well recovered from the effects of the plane crash?"

"Yes, Popi, much better. I sleep through the night. Most nights. I told my therapist I would no longer see him after December."

Sebastian smiled happily. "I am happy you are recovering. Marco, you have made me proud these last few weeks. I am glad you stopped seeing Miss Portnoy."

Marco looked uneasy.

"You have stopped seeing her?" Sebastian looked directly at Marco. Alma looked from Sebastian to Marco.

"I told her I would not see her only. I date other women." Marco mumbled, not meeting his grandfather's eyes.

"She accepted this?"

"Or I don't see her." Marco swallowed.

Sebastian's frowned. "It is more important than you think, Marco. What I am about to say will not be told outside our family. He looked at each person. They each nodded in agreement.

"Are you still serious about Doña Drusila?

"Very much so, Popi. We write and talk every week. Text."

"Young people." Sebastian shook his head. "When I was courting Alma, I had to arrange long distance calls in advance." After a moment, he continued. "The reason I ask is, my health holds steady, but the doctors have many concerns. I must step down soon. I want to live out my last years with Alma at Casa Mar Vista on Isla de las Ubreras."

"Yes, Popi, I know you wish to abdicate after I am married. In a year or two, if Drusila will have me, we can celebrate our wedding at the Cathedral of St. Cyril."

"It can be sooner," said Sebastian hopefully. "You and Drusila have been close since you were young. I wish you to be married no later than December of next year. Then, the next January, I'll abdicate. You and Drusila will be Prince and Princess of Almurias."

Marco was silent, blinking at his grandfather, worried over the need for hurry. "Popi. Are you that ill?"

Sebastian shook his head slowly. "Exhausted. I have ever more difficulty fulfilling my duties. You need to be ready."

Marco put his hand on his grandfather's. The tired old man looked hopefully at him. "Yes, Popi, I'll be ready. Drusila is the only woman I've ever seriously considered marrying. If she accepts my proposal, we'll marry next December."

Sebastian looked more cheerful. "I have talked with the Duke. He knows we approve of Drusila, although I made no commitment. He confided to me that he would cede her the title of Contesa de Plano Azul with an income."

Sebastian sipped his coffee. "There is the matter of the succession. The reform party has won the majority in the Cortés. Cristina Algarve, our new prime minister, tells me her party plans to pass the law allowing succession to the throne and other titles by birth order regardless of sex. Heirs who are not first born may be grandfathered to the succession, but then new generations go to first born. They plan to pass this change to our Constitution early next year. I will sign it into law. Marco remains heir, but Sancha will be next after him, then you, Alexei, your brother, Rodrigo. Your brother, Diego, will not be in the succession. My youngest child, Juan, will move behind Sancha's family."

"Does Juan know of this?" Marco asked.

Sebastian bowed his head. "He knows. He is not pleased. When the Partido Conservador led the Cortés, they blocked this reform. Alejandra, Juan's wife, is the daughter of their leader."

Alma spoke up. "If you had died in the plane crash that killed your parents, Marco, Juan would be heir. But you lived. Then your auto accident. You are not texting and driving again, are you?"

Marco swallowed. "No. Yes. I try to pull over, Mamma."

There was silence, finally broken by Sebastian. "When the change to succession is law, I will make Sancha's children Serene Highnesses of Almurias."

Marco caught Alexei's eye and nodded.

"Her husband will also be raised to Serene Highness."

"That's a lot of changes, Popi," said Alexei.

"Overdue. Long overdue. Other European monarchies have made this change. Almurias will."

Sebastian finished his coffee. "Marco, it is necessary for you to return to Almurias after this semester. You can start your naval service in January. When you have finished your three-month training, and transfer to the reserves in April, I will invest you as Duque de Veza, Hereditary Prince of Almurias."

Marco's relief was obvious. "Thank you, Popi. I am honored and will dedicate my life to Almurias and our people."

"If your romance with Drusila goes well, we will announce your engagement after you become Duke."

"I must assure her of my sincerity. She is fond of me, I know."

"Bueno, Bueno. It has been a long, few days. I will retire for the night." He looked at Alma.

"I am tired, too. We will see you at breakfast, my dears."

Sancha and Sergei walked out, followed by Marco and Alexei. They walked down the hall to their rooms, passing Sebastian's valet and Alma's maid on their way to the Presidential Suite.