His Princess Of Convenience

The priest cleared his throat, prompting Antonio to lift his mouth from hers. A subtle blush had entered her cheeks. He removed his hands.

“Antonio and Christina, if you’ll turn around.” When they’d done his bidding, he said in a loud voice, “May I present Crown Prince Antonio de L’Accardi and his royal bride, Princess Christina Rose. Allow them to walk down the aisle to the foyer of the chapel, where you can mingle outside.”

Elena came forward to give Christina her bouquet, and then the organist played the wedding march. Taking a deep breath, Antonio grasped her free hand, still feeling the tingly effect of her warm, generous mouth on his. He guided her to the first pew where his parents were seated and stopped long enough for both of them to bow to the king and queen of Halencia.

To show Christina’s parents his respect, he escorted her across the aisle to their pew to acknowledge them. He gave her a sideward glance. Her eyes glistened with unshed tears. He didn’t know what that was about.

How could you know when you haven’t spent any real time getting to know her?

More upset with himself and even more shaken by their kiss, he walked her slowly down the aisle. He darted her another glance, but this time she was smiling at everyone. She was so gracious it impressed the hell out of him. She could have been born to royalty.

He’d honored Christina’s wishes by letting her plan the wedding here instead of the fourteenth-century cathedral in Voti. She’d insisted on a simple ceremony. If there’d been any royal formality or long traditional ceremony, she wouldn’t have agreed. Antonio had been so thankful she hadn’t backed out that he’d fallen in with her every wish.

In private he’d asked his parents to take a backseat so this could be Christina’s day. She was beloved of the people, but she couldn’t have abided all the pomp and circumstance. Since his parents were resigned to their fate to put Antonio on the throne, they’d acceded to his wishes. He’d even heard them say they were relishing the idea of retirement and looking forward to more freedom in the future.

At his engagement four years ago, Antonio had vowed to sacrifice his personal freedom and return from California to take the throne at a later date with Christina at his side. He’d felt a strong loyalty to his country and had always been conscious of his royal duty. But he’d only been prepared to marry her on his terms, and hadn’t considered her fears.

There were going to be a lot of changes after his coronation in another week. He had a raft of constitutional issues that would put the royal family in a figurehead role, with specific duties. There would be a much reduced civil list, no hangers-on supported by the state; all personal belongings and lifestyle choices and holidays would be paid for by personal business interests rather than the state.

The areas of change went on and on, which was why the monarchy had been on the brink of disaster. This marriage would hopefully turn the tide of criticism. Christina’s values of hard work and true charity resonated with the people. Her example of selflessness was the big reason they’d embraced Antonio as their soon-to-be king. Antonio still had to prove himself equal to the task. And much more, like becoming the husband Christina deserved.

He walked her outside and across the courtyard to the terrace bedecked in flowers at the side of the palazzo. A small orchestra was playing a waltz at one end of the terrace with an area reserved for dancing. Hundreds of tiny lights strewn among the trees and flowers made it look like a true fairyland and had created a heavenly fragrance. The grand serving table with its fountain and flowers was surrounded by exquisitely set tables, an enchanting sight he’d always remember.

The late-afternoon Tuscan sunshine shone down on them. The picturesque setting and vineyard had an indescribable beauty, yet all he could see for the moment was the stunning bride draped in alençon lace, still clinging to his hand. Antonio swallowed hard.

She’s my wife! She’s the woman I promised to love and cherish.

Suddenly he seemed to see a whole new world ahead of them, uncharted as yet. Her faith in their marriage made him open his eyes to new possibilities. This was their wedding day. He wanted it to be wonderful for both of them. After their kiss at the altar, he was eager to feel her in his arms.

* * *

“Christina? Look this way.”

She was so dazed by what had happened at the end of the ceremony that she was hardly aware of the photographers brought in to make a record of their wedding day. When Antonio had deepened their kiss, she felt a charge of energy run through her body like a current of electricity. She could still feel his compelling mouth on hers.

Maybe this was how every bride felt when kissed on her wedding day. But Antonio wasn’t just any man. He was her husband, for better or worse.

Before everyone could crowd around to congratulate them, Antonio pulled her close. “Do you mind if we talk to our guests later? I’d like to dance with you first,” he said in his deep voice.

Her heart thumped hard before she looked at him. “I’d love it.”

His hot blue eyes played over her features. “Let me put your bouquet on this table.”

After he laid it down, Christina felt his arm go around her waist. The contact reminded her of the kiss they’d shared at the altar. She hadn’t been the same since and was more aware of him than ever as he led her to the dance area.

She couldn’t help thinking back to the time she’d been at boarding school. Never in her wildest imagination would she have believed she’d eventually become the wife of Elena’s dashing older brother. This moment was surreal.

As he drew her into his arms she said, “You need to know I haven’t done much dancing in my life.”

He held her closer. “Didn’t they teach you to dance at boarding school?”

“Are you kidding? Whatever you think goes on at boarding school simply doesn’t happen. We were all a bunch of girls who’d rather be home. We all had a case of homesickness and waited for the letters that didn’t arrive. We ate, studied and slept four to a room in an old freezing-cold chateau. You don’t even want to know how frigid the water closet could be.”

He laughed out loud, causing everyone to look at them.

“Once a week we were allowed to go to town with the chaperone. She chose the places we could visit. Elena managed to scout out the dancing places we weren’t supposed to visit, then dragged me with her where we met guys who flocked around her.”

“Sounds like my sister.”

“She taught me the meaning of fun. The rest of the time we went to a symphony or an opera, and other times we went to a play, always on a bus. I liked the plays, especially one adapted from Colette’s writings about a dog and cat.”

Antonio started moving them around the terrace decorated with urns of flowers. “Tell me about them,” he whispered against her hot cheek. His warm breath sent little tingles of delight through her body.

“Elena and I bought the books and studied the lines to help us with our French. Both animals loved their master and mistress. Their battles were outrageous and hilarious.”

“You’ll have to lend me the book to read.”

“Anytime. Wouldn’t it be fun if animals really could talk? I used to love the Doctor Doolittle books as a child. When I first got to Africa, I thought I really had arrived in Jollijinki Land.”

He lips twitched and he held her a little tighter, but her gown provided a natural buffer. “I have a feeling you could entertain me forever.”

She moved her head so she could look into his eyes. Marrying Antonio felt right. She felt like a princess. The feeling was magical. She was living her fantasy and never wanted it to end. Her parents were proud of her today. Everything was getting better with them. “This is a new experience for both of us, Antonio. Forever sounds like a long time. Let’s just take it one step at a time.”

His lips brushed hers unexpectedly, creating havoc with her emotions. “One step at a time it is. Since everyone is watching us, let’s put on a show, shall we?”

She smiled at him. “I thought we’d already been doing that.”

“They haven’t seen anything yet.”

Her adrenaline gushed as he waltzed them around the terrace. It didn’t surprise her that he knew what he was doing. She followed his lead as he dipped her several times, causing people to clap. Dancing with him like this was a heady experience she hadn’t anticipated. He must have been enjoying it too, because one dance turned into another.

“This is fun,” he murmured against her lips. “Your idea for having our wedding here at the palazzo has turned out to be sensational. I remember once when the three of us climbed into the mountains above the vineyards lining Lake Geneva and came to an old farmhouse that had been turned into a quaint inn.

“You said it was your favorite place and went there often on your hikes and bicycle rides with Elena for fondue bourguignonne. I think you must have had it in mind when you chose the Palazzo di Comparino for our wedding. I see similarities.”

Her head tilted back in surprise. “I can’t believe you remembered that hike, let alone made the association with this place.”

His gaze played over her features. “I’ve remembered all our outings. The truth is, I found you and my sister more entertaining than most of my friends, with the exception of Zach.” His comment made her smile.

“When I did fly to Switzerland, I came because I wanted to. Being with you two was like taking a breath of fresh air and kept me grounded. I’ve never told you this, but I was always relieved to know you were there to help temper my sister. She’s always had trouble with boundaries.”

“And I was the insipid, boring tagalong, afraid to break out of my shell, right?”

He frowned. When he did that, he looked older and quite fierce. “You were shy, but amazingly kind to my sister. Even when she got herself into impossible situations you never judged her.”

“You were kind to me too by including me. Remember the day we visited the Chateau de Chillon? We’d climbed up on the ramparts and I was taking a picture when I dropped my camera by mistake and it fell into the lake several hundred feet below.”

“You should have seen the tragic look on your face,” he teased.