The Royal Collection. Rebecca Winters

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 each other. You’re welcome to enjoy her for as long as you want.”

      He knew she meant that and moved Elena around the terrace. She had a gleam in her eye. “Having fun, brother dear? More than you thought?”

      “Much more,” he confessed.

      “Christina has that effect on people. Mother can’t get over the change in her. I told her that Christina is like the woman in the stone. All Michelangelo had to do was chip away at the marble until her beauty emerged for all to see.”

      His sister had just put the right words to his thoughts. “It’s a perfect analogy.”

      She studied his features. “It’s growing dark. Are you ready to leave the party?” she asked with a sly smile.

      “The truth?”

      “Always.”

      “I feel like I did the first time I had to jump out of a plane during my military service.”

      Elena chuckled. “Since you survived, I’m not worried.”

      “In all honesty, I haven’t made this easy for Christina by maintaining distance between us over the last four years.”

      “Don’t worry about it. She married you today and I think you’ve both met your match. I’m so happy for both of you I could burst. Don’t let me keep you from whisking your bride away.” She kissed his cheek and hurried off.

      He was left standing there while her last comment sank in. Antonio hated to admit he felt nervous for what was to come. He’d be taking his wife upstairs to the bridal chamber. This was a new experience for him. Taking a fortifying breath, he made a beeline for Christina, who was talking to more guests.

      Lindsay came up to him. “Christina still needs to throw her bridal bouquet to the crowd. If you’re ready, take her to the front of the palazzo and I’ll make the announcement to the guests to follow you.”

      “Thank you for all you’ve done.”

      “It has been my pleasure.”

      He kissed her cheek before reaching for his wife. Christina’s gaze flicked to his. “What is it?”

      “We have one more ritual to perform.” He picked up the bridal bouquet. After putting it in her hands, he slid an arm around her slender waist. Her lovely body was a perfect fit for him.

      “I already know where I’m going to throw it,” she whispered as they left the terrace and walked around to the front entrance of the palazzo.

      “So do I,” he drawled.

      “Antonio?” She eyed him with surprising tenderness. “Thank you for dancing with Marusha. To dance with the future king had to be one of the big highlights of her life.”

      “I wanted a chance to thank her for coming. She’s been your true friend all these years. I have a feeling you two are going to miss each other.”

      “That’s something I want to talk to you about, but we’ll discuss it later.”

      An alarm bell went off in Antonio’s head. Did Christina want to go back to Africa? She’d lived a whole period of her life there that he knew nothing about. In fairness, she didn’t know details about his former life either. While he stood there filled with new questions that needed answers, the guests had congregated in the courtyard.

      Before he knew what she was doing, his wife cleared her throat and faced the crowd. “Antonio and I want to thank you all for coming to share in our beautiful wedding day. I’m one of the lucky girls in the world who actually got to marry a real prince. His kindness to his sister, Princess Elena, my dearest friend, proved his princely worth to me years ago. I can honestly say there’s not another man like him, prince or otherwise. So this is for you, Elena. May you find your own wonderful prince too!”

      Christina turned her back to the crowd and threw the bouquet in a southeasterly direction that was no mistake with Elena standing there. It was no accident that everyone made room around his sister so she could catch it. Then a roar of approval and clapping burst from the crowd. Antonio’s breath caught. With that speech she’d ensured her place in everyone’s heart as their queen-to-be.

      Filled with emotion, he put his arm around her shoulders and pressed a kiss to her lips. She kissed him back and it felt convincing, but was this a show for the camera? He’d felt a distinct spark when they kissed at the altar. But if it had only been on his part, he didn’t want to believe it right now. Was she nervous too?

      Without asking her permission, he grasped her hand and drew her along with him to the inside of the palazzo. He leaned back against the closed door, still holding her hand. Now that the moment was here to be alone with her, he felt slightly breathless. The wedding night was upon them.

      “Are you up to climbing to the third floor?”

      * * *

      The bridal suite.

      Their bridal suite now. The kiss Antonio had given her in front of the palazzo felt...hungry. In that moment she’d experienced an answering rush of desire that took her by storm. Her fantasy had taken on a new dimension. What