“King Victor says his daughter will agree. You and Lanza knew each other in your youth and you have a whole year to get reacquainted.”
“But that will be close to impossible, Papà. My schedule has been laid out with back-to-back visits of all the mines through the next eighteen months. There’s no time when so many managers are depending on me, especially with the new mining process I’ve developed.”
His father cocked his head. “After we inform her and her parents of your official proposal of marriage, surely you could find a way to visit her once and stay in touch with her the rest of the time? Both King Victor and I have already talked to the cardinal, who has given this marriage his blessing.”
Stefano could see the die had been cast.
His mother eyed him through drenched eyes. “Our two countries have been looking forward to this day since you were all children. The citizens know that your business interests throughout the world have contributed to our country’s economy. Umbriano will cheer your reinstatement and honor your name for stepping into your brother’s shoes, believe me.”
Stefano found all this difficult to fathom. There wasn’t time for him to get reacquainted with Princess Lanza. Even if parliament voted to reinstate him as a royal, he had crucial business issues around the globe.
His father walked over to them. “I’ve never asked anything of you before, Stefano. I’ve allowed you to be your own person, free of all royal responsibilities, but fate stepped in and took Alberto away too early. Now is the time when your parents and Lanza’s are asking this for the good of both our countries.”
“Alberto told us he hoped to have a family.” His mother stared at him with longing. “I’m sure Princess Lanza was planning on children, too. That dream is gone, but you could make a whole new dream begin. I’ve had that dream for you, too, Stefano.
“On all your travels for business and pleasure, you’ve never brought a woman home for us to meet, let alone marry. We were prepared that you’d eventually want marriage and have a family, but it has never come to pass. If there’s a special woman, you haven’t said anything.”
Stefano sucked in his breath. This whole conversation was unreal, including a discussion of a woman in his life he couldn’t do without. He’d met several and had enjoyed some intimate relationships, but the thought of settling down with one of them hadn’t entered his mind. As Alberto had said, he liked his freedom too much.
“Have you even considered Princess Lanza’s feelings?” he asked them in a grating voice, struggling to make sense of this situation.
His father nodded. “King Victor and I talked about it before the funeral. He’s as anxious as I for this to happen and has probably discussed this with her already. Victor assures me it’s in her nature to do what is good for both countries.”
No normal woman worth her salt would agree to such a loveless marriage, but a royal princess was a different matter if she believed it was her duty. Over the phone a few months ago, Alberto had told him in private that Princess Lanza had a sweet, biddable disposition.
Maybe she did. But the many royal princesses he’d met in his early teens were very spoiled, full of themselves, impossible to please, moody and felt entitled to the point of absurdity.
His vague memory of Lanza was that she was nice, but that was years ago and she’d been so young. His brother was a kind, decent human being. Alberto always tried to find the best in everyone and had probably made up his mind to like her.
After hearing what his parents had just told him about the sacrifice he’d made for Stefano, it was possible Alberto hadn’t liked Princess Lanza at all. But he would have pretended otherwise to fulfill his obligations after making the incredible bargain with their parents. It was Alberto’s way.
Stefano shook his head. He wasn’t born with that kind of greatness in his soul. Humbled by what he’d learned, tortured by the decision his parents were asking him to make, he started for the door. “I need to be alone to think and will be back later.”
Once outside in the chilling air, he drove his Lancia into the city to talk to his best friend, Enzo Perino, who managed his own father’s banking interests. Stefano found him in his office on the phone.
The second Enzo saw him in the doorway, he waved him inside. After he hung up, he lunged from the chair to hug him. “I’m so sorry about Alberto.”
“So am I, Enzo.”
“Chiara and I couldn’t get near you at the funeral. There were too many people.” Stefano nodded. “Come to our house tonight for dinner so we can really talk.”
He stared at his best friend who’d recently married. They’d been friends throughout childhood and had done everything together, including military service. Stefano had been the best man at their wedding three months ago.
“I need help.”
Enzo chuckled. “Since when have you ever needed a loan?”
Stefano sat down in one of the leather chairs. “I wish money were the problem, but it isn’t.”
As Stefano’s father had emphasized, this suggested marriage had a lot more riding on it than financial considerations.
“You sound serious.”
“More serious than you’ll ever know.”
“Go ahead. I’m listening.”
“My father woke me up at the crack of dawn to have a talk.” In the next few minutes he told Enzo the thrust of the conversation with his parents, including the necessary part about being reinstated by parliament.