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He grinned. “I could say the same about you, Princess. The smudges on your face only make you more beautiful.” He touched her nose, right cheek and forehead.
Goodness, she’d never considered what the hours of dust and grime had done to her fair complexion. “I must be a mess.”
“Nothing a hot bubble bath wouldn’t cure, and I’m volunteering to scrub your back,” he whispered.
“I’ll take you up on that, Your Highness.”
And shortly after, they left the graveyard and returned to the farmhouse.
They had one night left to share here. And Portia was sure, Juan Carlos would make it memorable, bubble bath and all.
* * *
Portia was too much in love to think about her future and how marrying Juan Carlos would affect her life and her career. She had no details to cling to, only love, and it would have to see her through the tough decisions she would have to make. Now, as she sat at a long dressed table in the palace’s elegant dining room, she gazed first at her secret fiancé seated at the helm. Dressed in a charcoal-black suit, he was beaming and full of determination. He appeared ready to make the announcement to his family. Rafe and Emily sat across from her with her friend Maria and Alex Ramon.
Gabriel and his wife, Serafia, sat to her left, along with Bella and James. James’s little girl, Maisey, was holding tight to her chest a princess doll dressed in aqua-blue with hair the color of glistening snow.
“It’s a lovely doll, Maisey,” Portia commented, smiling at the child.
“She looks a lot like you, Portia,” Bella commented. “I’m just noticing the likeness.”
Maisey’s curious eyes shifted to Portia and the girl giggled. It was true that she shared a resemblance with a famous cartoon character that all young girls seemed to love.
Juan Carlos covered Portia’s hand, entwining their fingers. “Ah, but Portia is a one-of-a-kind princess.”
All those close to Juan Carlos were here. He’d invited them for dinner tonight under the pretense of disclosing the facts around the graveyard find. Only he and Portia knew the truth.
“Before the meal is served, a toast is in order,” he said. “We have much to celebrate tonight.”
Waiters poured champagne into crystal flutes.
Once all the bubbles settled, Juan Carlos rose. “Thank you, cousins and friends, for joining me tonight. We all have much to be thankful for. As you know, with Portia’s help, we have found the missing pieces of art at the Montoro family farm. Yes, it’s true, we dug up mock graves to unearth the treasures. The finds are yet to be authenticated, but we are fairly certain our ancestors wouldn’t have gone to such extreme measures to hide fake artwork. Portia will do the preliminary research on the items we’ve found and under her advisement we will also hire an expert to verify each piece.
“But that is not why I’ve called you here today. I have something more personal to share with you.” He turned to Portia, offering his hand. She took it and rose, warmth traveling up her cheeks. All eyes were on her and the king.
Juan Carlos went down on one knee, and gasps erupted from the diners at the table. She had no idea he would go traditional on her in front of his family. But how silly of her not to think it. Juan Carlos was a man of tradition and so as she gazed into his gleaming dark eyes, she began to tremble.
“Princess Portia, you know I love you with all of my heart. I have since the moment I laid eyes on you.”
Tears wet her eyes.
“I have one precious thing left of my childhood and now, I am offering it to you.” He reached into his jacket pocket and came up with a diamond ring, the stone so brilliant, it caught the chandelier light and virtually illuminated the room. “This was my mother’s wedding ring,” he said, his voice tight. “And here before our family and close friends, I ask you to wear it and become my wife. Portia, Princess of Samforstand, will you marry me?”
Not even a breath could be heard in the roomful of people.
Her cheeks were moist with tears as she nodded. “Yes, yes. Of course I’ll marry you, Juan Carlos. I am honored to wear your mother’s ring.”
Her hand shook as he slid the ring that once belonged to his mother onto her finger. He stared at the ring, his eyes deeply reverent, and then grinned wide, looking foolishly happy. With the pads of his thumbs, he wiped at her tears and then took her in a kiss that nearly muffled the screams of delight and applause coming from behind her.
After the kiss, they were both swarmed with handshakes and hugs.
