Playing the Royal Game

But the photographer wanted his final formal shot; for tonight,there were no cameras allowed. As the royal newlyweds entered and the doorsclosed behind them, there was a feeling of relief. The day had gone brilliantly,the night...well, who knew, but tonight old money and new would mingle.

‘You look stunning.’ Bobby beamed as she stepped in andaccepted a glass of champagne. ‘Oh, and I didn’t get a chance to say it earlier.Zoe...’ He turned to the queen. ‘You look amazing. Love the hair!’

Alex said nothing, at least not till they were safely on thedance floor. In public, even on his wedding night, he was still on duty, stillthe cold fish her father assumed, but as they danced there were words betweenthem, words no one else heard. The love between them was palpable.

Because as Izzy started to sing, as the senior couples startedto dance, everyone saw that she laughed as Alex said something to his bride,something that made her throw her head back and laugh.

‘He is flirting.’

‘He’s not.’ Allegra laughed. ‘He’s just...Dad.’

‘My poor father.’ Alex groaned, watching Eduardo hold his wifejust a little tighter.

‘He’s never been happier.’ Allegra smiled and then rested herhead on his shoulder, could hear Izzy’s glorious voice filling the room. Even ifshe had wanted to stay in bed, she could now happily stay in this momentforever, dancing with her husband, her family and his together and love fillingthe room.

‘Soon we do speeches.’ He held her a bit tighter. ‘You couldgive your father the book then.’

‘Can you?’ Allegra asked. ‘As part of your speech?’

‘I would be proud to.’

‘After that, you throw your bouquet...’ He stopped. ‘That’sright, you don’t have one.’

‘I’m sorry,’ Allegra said. ‘It just seemed the right thing todo.’

‘It was the right thing to do,’ Alex said. ‘The people deserveto be a part of today.’ He gave her a smile, that smile, the one that wouldforever win her heart. ‘Did you like the flowers I had added?’

‘You!’ Allegra said. ‘I thought it was because we’d forgottenblue.’

‘Blue?’ Alex frowned, because he had never heard of thattradition. ‘Always the bride carries white roses, picked from the Santinapalace—it seemed wrong. When I drive through Santina now, as my plane comes intoland, when I see those flowers dotted everywhere, always it makes me think ofyou.’

‘Your common weed,’ Allegra teased.

‘No—I am having it renamed. It will be our national flower, theSantina Star. I have realised that to us it is ordinary, but to the world it isextraordinary.’ He kissed her cheek; he pulled her in a little closer and sheblossomed inside, her heart unfurling that last little bit as his mouth foundher ear.

‘Just as you are to me.’

* * * * *

Congratulations to Alex & Allegra,

Their Majesties theCrown Prince and Princess of Santina!

Read on for an exclusive peek

behind the palace walls for anupdate

on the rest of the Santina Royal Family!

ASH & SOPHIA...

Dearest Sophia,

How lovely it was to see you and Ash and thetwins over Christmas, and thank you so much for the gorgeous ruby earrings—solike you to remember that rubies are my favourite stone.

It was wonderful to see you and Ash so obviously happytogether. He’s a changed man, Sophia, or rather he has become the truly charmingand delightful man he promised to be in his youth. When I said as much to him hetold me that that is all down to you and your love for him. Indeed I couldhardly get him to stop praising you and the boys or to talk about anything oranyone else. To see him behaving so lovingly and tenderly towards you and theboys was a delight. He quite adores you. The love between you both is so plainto see and so strong. As a mother I could not ask for more for you.

Ash was full of praise for the work you are doing with hispeople, and that of course made your father feel very proud. Just to see the twoof you with your twin sons so obviously happy together truly lifted my heart.Your father and I are looking forward so much to our coming royal visit to you.