The Royal Collection. Rebecca Winters

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       CHAPTER THREE

      “YOUR HIGHNESS, THE photographer is waiting for you and your bride to cut the wedding cake.”

      Antonio switched his gaze to Zach, but his mind and thoughts had been concentrated on Christina and it took a moment for him to get back to the present. “Thanks, Zach. We’re coming.”

      “I hope you love wedding cake,” she whispered as they made their way to the round table holding the fabulous three-tiered cake.

      He flashed her a quick smile. “Is this the moment you’re going to get your revenge on me for past misdeeds?”

      “If you’re referring to the chocolate you fed me full of cherry cordial that dripped down my blouse on one of our outings, I wouldn’t be surprised.” The impish look in her beautiful gray eyes was so unexpected that his heart skipped a beat.

      “Be gentle,” he begged, putting his arms around her from behind to help her make the first cut with the knife. Another chuckle escaped her lips. With great care she picked up the first piece and turned to him, waving it in the air as if trying to decide how to feed it to him. This produced laughter from the guests.

      “Just take your best shot, whatever you have in mind.”

      “So I do have you a little bit worried.”

      “Please, Christina.”

      “I tell you what. I’ll have a napkin ready.” She plucked one off the table. “Now open sesame.”

      He closed his eyes and obeyed her command.

      “You have to keep your eyes open, coward,” she said in a low teasing voice.

      “I can’t do both,” he teased back.

      “Then I’ll eat it instead.”

      Shocked by her response, he opened his eyes only to be fed the cake, part of which fell onto his chin into the napkin she held for him. The wedding guests laughed and clapped their hands. Of course everything had been caught by the videographer.

      Christina cleaned him up nicely, then kissed his chin. “Thanks for being a good sport, Your Highness.”

      “Don’t call me that.”

      She looked surprised. “No?”

      “Not ever.”

      She flashed him a smile. “Are we having our first fight?”

      Her question caught him off guard. Before he could respond, Lindsay came up to Christina with her bridal bouquet. “When you’re ready to leave the party, you can toss it behind you.”

      “Thank you, Lindsay. All your planning has made this the most beautiful wedding party in the world. I’ve never been happier.”

      “You look radiant, Christina.” She gave her a hug, and Antonio saw his wife whisper something to her in private.

      “It’s already being taken care of,” Lindsay whispered back, but Antonio read her lips.

      Intrigued, he couldn’t wait to get his bride alone, but no one was ready to leave the reception yet and Zach had snatched her away to dance. He decided now was the time to dance with his mother, then his mother-in-law.

      The queen gave him a hug before he danced her around the terrace. “You’re going to have to keep an eye on that one,” she said, eyeing Christina, who was still whirling around with Zach. “She isn’t quite as docile as I remember.”

      “She’s her own person,” Antonio replied with the sudden thrilling realization that his new bride might mean more to him than he could have imagined.

      “Indeed she is. You both look perfectly marvelous together. She’s changed so much since the engagement that I hardly recognize her. You have no idea how glad I am that you’ve come home for good to settle down. A man needs marriage, and your marriage is good for the monarchy. I’m very happy with you today.”

      “Thank you, Mama.” Except that marriage hadn’t stopped his parents from having their offstage affairs.

      He twirled her back to the table and asked Christina’s mother to dance. She had been a former fashion model and was still a very attractive woman. But as he gazed at Christina, who was laughing quietly with Zach, he thought she was the real beauty. Not only in her appearance, but in her character.

      “Are you sorry our daughter wanted the wedding here instead of at the cathedral in Voti?”

      “Anything but. Don’t you think every woman should be able to have the wedding of her dreams where she wants it?”

      “But you’re the crown prince.”

      Antonio smiled at her. “Tonight I’m a new bridegroom and I can’t imagine a more perfect setting for Christina and me than this delightful spot in Tuscany.”

      “Then I’m glad for both of you. You make a stunning pair.”

      “Grazie.”

      He could still hear Christina’s words when she’d told him what it was like at boarding school. 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. The emptiness in her voice had conveyed pain, even after all these years.

      If he didn’t do anything else, he would make certain she didn’t feel pain because of him. “Did you visit her in Africa?”

      “We made it over once and were guests in the palace of Marusha’s parents. They’re very westernized there.”

      “Your daughter has made a big contribution. It’s no small thing she has done to help those in poverty.”

      “I’m very proud of her.”

      He was glad to hear it. On that note he danced her back to the table. After thanking her, he went over to the table where Marusha was seated and asked her to dance with him. The charming woman had come with her husband. He gave her a turn around the terrace.

      “You honor me, Your Highness. I’m very happy Christina is your bride. We hope you’ll both come to Kenya and stay with us.”

      “I’ve always wanted to travel there and promise to visit you when the time is right. You honor us by coming. Christina thinks the world of you and your family.”

      “We feel the same. Thank you.”

      Once she was seated, Antonio hurried to find Christina, who was talking to Elena. His sister smiled at him. “It’s about time you paid attention to your bride.”

      “First I want a dance with you, little sister, if it’s all right with my wife.”

      Christina darted him a serious glance. “She’s the reason we even know СКАЧАТЬ