Royal Affairs: His Princess of Convenience / Her Royal Wedding Wish / The Secret Princess. Rebecca Winters

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       CHAPTER TWO

      MAYBE ANTONIO’S EYES were playing tricks on him. The stunning woman walking on the arm of her father with the grace of a queen had to be Christina, but it was a Christina he’d never seen or imagined.

      When did the brownish-red hair, which he remembered she’d worn in a ponytail, turn out to be a spun red gold?

      Had her body ever looked like an hourglass before now?

      The lace veil against her smooth olive skin provided a foil for her finely arched dark eyebrows. Because of the light coming through the stained glass windows, her crystalline gray eyes had taken on a silvery cast. Her red mouth had a passionate flare he’d never even noticed.

      His gaze fell lower to the brooch she’d pinned to the beaded bodice of her wedding dress. The diamonds sparkled in the light with every breath she took.

      Elena approached her side to take the bouquet from her. When Christina smiled at his sister, Antonio caught its full effect and was blindsided by the change in her.

      While he’d been talking to her earlier in the bridal suite, parts of her sounded like the woman he’d gotten engaged to four years ago. But she wasn’t the same person on the outside. It threw him so completely that he felt a nudge from Zach to pay attention to the priest.

      “Your Highness?” he whispered. “If you will take your bride-to-be by the hand.”

      Antonio reached for her right hand. Her cool, dry grip was decisive. If she was suffering wedding nerves, it didn’t show. He didn’t know if he was disappointed by her demeanor, which seemed unflappable.

      In a voice loud enough to fill the interior, the priest began. “Welcome, all of you. Today we are gathered here for one of the happiest occasions in all human life, to celebrate before God the marriage of a man and woman who love each other. Marriage is a most honorable estate, created and instituted by God, signifying unto us the mystical union that also exists between Christ and the Church. So too may this marriage be adorned by true and abiding love. Let us pray.”

      Antonio bowed his head, but his burden of guilt over compelling Christina to follow through with this marriage weighed heavily on him. As Zach had reminded him, she’d entered into this union of her own free will because of her love for Elena, but the words may this marriage be adorned by true and abiding love pierced him to the core of his being.

      In the past four years he’d done nothing to show her love. The only thing true about this marriage was their love for Elena, and on his part the need to preserve the monarchy. But at this moment Antonio made up his mind that their love for his sister would be the foundation upon which they built a life together.

      Antonio’s absence from her life except for those four quick visits had made certain she had no anticipation of love to come. To his surprise she sounded happy as she repeated the marriage covenant. He hadn’t expected that.

      When it was his turn to recite his vows, he felt the deep solemnity of the moment and said them with fervency.

      “Who holds the rings?”

      “I do,” Zach responded.

      “Grant that the love which the bride and groom have for each other now may always be an eternal round. Antonio? Take the ring and put it on Christina’s finger saying, ‘With this ring, I thee wed.’”

      She presented her left hand while he repeated the words. Her hand trembled a little as he slid the wedding band next to the diamond from the royal family treasury he’d given her four years earlier. So she wasn’t quite as composed as he’d thought, but it didn’t make him feel any better. If anything, he felt worse because he’d done nothing to ease her into this union and lamented his selfishness.

      Now it was her turn to present him with his ring. She took it and placed it on Antonio’s finger. His new bride was suddenly so composed that again he marveled. “With this ring, I thee wed,” she said in a steady voice.

      They were married.

      The deed was done.

      “Antonio and Christina, as the two of you have joined this marriage uniting as husband and wife, and as you this day affirm your faith and love for each other, I would ask that you always remember to cherish each other as special and unique individuals, that you respect the thoughts, ideas and suggestions of one another.

      “Be able to forgive, do not hold grudges, and live each day that you may share it together. From this day forward you shall be each other’s home, comfort and refuge, your marriage strengthened by your love and respect.”

      Antonio’s shame increased. I’ve shown her no respect.

      “You may now kiss your bride.”

      When Antonio turned to her, he saw a look of consternation in her eyes. Oh, Christina. What have I done to you? You’re so good. So sweet. His eyes focused on her lovely mouth before he grasped her upper arms gently and kissed her.

      Not only her lips but her whole body trembled. Her fragrance assailed him. He deepened the kiss, wanting her to know he planned to make their marriage work. Whether she was putting on a show for everyone, or responding instinctively to new emotions bombarding her as they were him, he didn’t know. But she kissed him СКАЧАТЬ