‘And the plastic ring?’
‘I’ll never forget it, but this,’ she said as Luca drew her close, ‘will be the ring of my heart.’
He dipped his head to kiss her just as Ma Brown called out from the other room, ‘Are you ready to get dressed, Callie? We can’t keep that carriage waiting.’
‘Punctuality is the politeness of kings,’ Luca teased.
‘And my time-keeping’s dreadful,’ Callie fretted.
‘Lucky for you I’d wait for ever if I had to.’
Luca had turned serious in a way that made her body ache for him, but with the briefest of kisses he was gone.
* * *
The second royal winter wedding was perfection, if a little grander than the first. The streets were packed with people eager to see their new Princess, and they weren’t disappointed. There were food stalls and bands, and Christmas decorations still glittered everywhere. The theme was white and silver, which made everything seem filled with light. There might not be snow in Fabrizio at Christmastime, but beneath the flawless blue the gentle sunshine warmed the throngs of wedding guests as they cheered their new Princess dressed in yards of white silk chiffon that floated behind Callie as she walked along, and yet moulded her body so beautifully. The finest lace covered her arms and shoulders, while her train was almost twenty feet long. Anything shorter than that, and there wouldn’t have been enough fabric for all the young Browns to take a handful of, Ma Brown had proclaimed ominously, but all the small bridesmaids and pageboys behaved perfectly on the day. There wasn’t a spill or a smudge from any of them, and under the Browns’ and Anita’s prudent shepherding, Callie felt as if she were floating down the aisle of the glorious cathedral in Fabrizio before she finally halted at Luca’s side.
‘Who giveth this woman—’
‘We do,’ Pa Brown piped up, to be heartily shushed by his wife.
No one in the congregation noticed anything amiss, as they were all too busy watching the way Luca gazed at his bride. There was no doubt in anyone’s mind that this was a royal love match, and one that would benefit all.
‘Happy Christmas,’ Luca murmured, and as Callie’s gaze dropped instinctively to his mouth he added in a sexy whisper, ‘Remind me. How long is it since we made love?’
‘Too long,’ Callie whispered back, her gaze locked on Luca’s. ‘Must be almost three hours now.’
‘We may have to miss the reception,’ he said with a mock frown.
‘Almost certainly,’ she agreed. And then the announcement rang out that His Serene Highness, Prince Luca of Fabrizio, could now kiss his bride. ‘We may have to ask the congregation to leave,’ Callie said dryly when Luca kissed her and she felt his very obvious impatience for herself.
Turning Callie, so that now they faced the packed body of the church together, Luca announced in a firm, strong voice, ‘My Princess.’ And as everyo
ne applauded, he added, ‘The love of my life.’
* * *
‘There are no affairs of state for me to deal with for the next two weeks,’ Luca told Callie as their horse-drawn carriage made its stately progress along the gracious main boulevard lined with cheering crowds. ‘There’s just my long-running affair with my wife to concentrate on now.’
‘After our wedding feast,’ she reminded him as she waved happily to the crowds.
‘Did I mention we’ll be delaying our arrival?’
‘Really?’ she asked, pretending to be shocked.
‘I have commanded the carriage pause at our private entrance to the palace, so we have chance to...freshen up.’
‘You think of everything,’ Callie remarked dryly.
‘I try to,’ Luca confirmed.
If the staff at the palace was surprised by the sight of their Prince and Princess racing full tilt, hand in hand, across the grand hall, the bride with her tiara askew and her lengthy train bundled up beneath her arm, they of course made no comment. Minutes later, the happy couple had slammed their bedroom door behind them. Frantic seconds later Luca had opened every button down the back of Callie’s beautiful gown. She barely had chance to remove her tiara before he swept her into his arms and carried her to the bed. The room was full of flowers and the scent was divine. ‘And all for you,’ he said.
‘They’re so beautiful,’ Callie gasped when Luca gave her the briefest of chances to take everything in. ‘Everyone’s gone to so much trouble.’
‘For you,’ he declared as he took her deep, groaning with pleasure as she claimed him. ‘For ever,’ he whispered.
‘Or even longer than that,’ Callie agreed.