Diamonds are Forever: The Royal Marriage Arrangement / The Diamond Bride / The Diamond Dad

Everyone jumped to their feet cheering and clapping their approval, but not Lucca. He studied her out of dark, veiled eyes, his expression suddenly indecipherable. Had she said too much? Was he worried what his lover would make of it?

Honesty was usually the best policy, but maybe not in this case. Her off-the-cuff speech would be circling the world before long. It was too late to recall it.

Lucca let go of her hand and put both of his on the lectern. “As you have deduced,” he began in his deep voice, “our marriage is going to be a lively, twenty-first-century version of thrills.”

The crowd gave them a standing ovation. He waited for the din to subside before he said, “I want to thank those members of the media for coming. Because of the cabinet’s urgent business now that my father is stepping down, we would appreciate it if you cleared the conference room so our meeting can begin.”

On cue the cameramen and reporters started to exit the room. While the president of the cabinet engaged Lucca in conversation, Regina came running up to Alex. “You were wonderful,” she whispered, catching hold of her arm.

Alex hadn’t seen her leave her seat. “Thanks, Regina, but I’m afraid I said too much.”

“No. It was perfect!” she argued. “I’ve been dying to learn how you met, but you know my close-mouthed brother. I saw everyone’s reaction, Alexandra. They love you. I love you for loving my brother so much. He badly needs to be loved by a woman like you.”

Lucca was already badly loved by a woman, but Regina didn’t know that. However, the sincerity of her words made Alex realize she’d pulled off her part of the agreement with Lucca. If Regina could accept they were a love match, then she wasn’t worried about other people.

“Come on,” Regina urged. “Papa and Mama asked me to bring you to their suite after the news conference. Lucca will be tied up all day.”

That’s what Alex feared. The hours dragged when she wasn’t with him. “All right.”

“Lucca?” she called to her brother who was busy talking to several men by now. He turned his head in their direction. “We’re going upstairs.”

“I’ll join you later.” His glance swerved to Alex. She saw a nerve throbbing at the corner of his jaw. “You had them eating out of your hand, Alexandra.”

Then why aren’t you happy about it? Alex didn’t understand his unexpected change of mood, but she couldn’t ask him about it. At this juncture the press of dignitaries surrounding him had grown.

Averting her eyes, she turned her attention back to Regina. They left through a private door at the rear of the room. “After we’ve checked in with my parents, I thought you might like a tour of the grounds.”

“I’d love it, but I have another Italian lesson at two with Professor Morelli.”

“There’ll be time for both.” She gave Alex a sideways glance. “I saw him on the stairs after he left the schoolroom yesterday. Apparently Professor Emilio is ill.”

“That’s what I understand.”

“He’s very nice looking.”

Alex smiled. “I agree. He’s a terrific teacher, too.”

One of Regina’s brows lifted. “Does Lucca know about the change?”

“Yes.”

“Ah, that explains it.”

“Explains what?” Alex prodded.

“Lucca’s mood at breakfast after Mama asked if you’d begun your Italian lessons. He didn’t seem to want to talk about it.”

“You know he did seem a little offish after I introduced him to Tomaso. I assumed he was disappointed Professor Emilio couldn’t make it.”

A knowing smile broke out on Regina’s face. “My brother’s jealous.”

“Don’t be silly, Regina. I’ve done nothing to make him feel that way.”

“You don’t have to. It’s an emotion completely new to him. I love seeing him out of control for once.”

Alex couldn’t afford to protest too much. “I think you’re wrong.”

“Better not refer to Professor Morelli as Tomaso in front of him,” she said.

“Does that mean I’m breaking some kind of royal protocol to address him by his first name?”

“Of course not, but you don’t know my brother like I do. At least not yet. He has a possessive streak about certain things he considers his.”

“I am his,” she blurted. Sort of. Come to think of it, he was pretty obsessed over her wearing his pin all the time.

“You and I both know that. However, to be safe I implore you to be formal with Tomaso in front of Lucca and whatever you do, don’t praise your teacher. Lucca would never be able to handle it.”

Alex broke into laughter. She couldn’t help it, but Regina remained serious. “Laugh if you want, but don’t say I didn’t warn you.”

At quarter to three that afternoon Alex was reminded of their conversation when Lucca came striding into the schoolroom unannounced. He was still dressed in the stunning gray suit he’d worn for the press conference. Her breath caught at the magnificent sight of him.

She’d been working on the next chapter in her Italian book while she waited for Tomaso. Evidently he’d been held up at the university and was running late.

“Hi,” was all she could get out.

“Hi, yourself.” He removed his elegant suit jacket and flung it over a chair. Then he removed his tie and rolled up the sleeves of his immaculate white shirt to the elbow, revealing bronzed arms.

“P-Professor Morelli’s late,” she tripped over the word because she almost said Tomaso. “So I’ve just been studying.”

Lucca sat down at the desk facing her. He flashed her a look of male admiration. She’d changed clothes and was wearing a soft orange linen wraparound dress he’d admired on her at the boutique. Her only adornment was the pin. “He won’t be coming anymore. I’ll instruct you every day until Professor Emilio is well enough to do it.”

Joy.

Remembering Regina’s warning, she said, “I’m glad because I’d rather be taught by you.” Her comment seemed to smooth the waters a little. She took advantage of the silence. “How did the cabinet meeting go?”

“Fine,” he answered, but she could tell his mind wasn’t on government affairs. “Every man in the room envied me today.”

“They can envy you all they want, but could any of them make as good a king?”

“You know damn well I wasn’t referring to the title,” his voice rasped.

Adrenaline gushed through her veins. “How do you say damn in Italian? I think I should learn some curse words. In the States all the foreigners can swear in English before they say anything else.”

A quick smile transformed his chiseled features. “Like English, Italian has many subtleties,” he said in a more relaxed tone. “You can say managgia. The slang for it is accidenti. A politer version is diavolo.”

Her head flew back. “I heard you say that word the other day.”

“So I did.” He suddenly shoved himself away from the desk and stood up. “Let’s get out of here. You can work on those words while we take a drive.”