"I have an aversion to infidelity. I walked in on Brian with my best friend, and it devastated me. You're..." She lifted her head, eyes roving each feature. She could not find a flaw. Not one. His skin was tanned, his eyes a wonderful pure green that had caught her attention the very first time.
He had a day's growth on his strong sculpted jaw that made him look even more handsome. "You're a prince. A multi-billionaire prince to boot and your reputation is... you've been with lots of women. I don't know what the penalty is here if one kills a member of the royal family, but that's what will happen if I find out that you're seeing someone else." Her eyes glinted at the amused look on his face. "I'm not joking," she snapped.
His thumb caressed her cheek. "I believe the penalty is death," he whispered hoarsely, "or life imprisonment."
"You're laughing at me."
"No." He shook his head. "I'm intrigued by you. Your bluntness, you're going to make a wonderful princess. You're kind and compassionate, yet firm and practical. I love the different sides of you-"
"We've only known each other for a brief time."
"That matters not. Are you saying yes?"
She shrugged helplessly. He was drawing her in, and she could not stop it.
"I suppose I am."
"Can you manage to drum up a little more enthusiasm?"
"I'm scared," she whispered.
His amusement fled when he saw that she really was. Pulling her against him, he wrapped his arms around her, his chin propped on top of her head.
"Don't be," he murmured something in Spanish, which had her smiling.
"You're no knight in shining armor," she refuted.
"I can be." His hands roamed up and down her back soothingly.
"Oh, Tomas," she whispered.
"Come back to bed," he urged. And she did.
*****
She surfaced two hours later to find herself alone in bed and thought she had dreamed last night and this morning. Pushing herself up against the mound of pillows, she just had time to cover herself before the doors burst open and Queen Sofia came bustling in, a smile wreathing her face.
"Queen Sofia!" She frantically glanced at the clock. "I was about to get ready. I-"
The woman waved that away airily, ignoring the fact that the young woman was obviously naked under the sheets sheclutched to her chest, and perched on the edge of the bed, her eyes alight with excitement.
"I heard the good news from my son. You said yes." Leaning forward, she pulled a very surprised Antoinette to her and gave her a warm embrace. "You've made me a very happy woman." Releasing her, the queen continued. "Tomas said it's going to be a December wedding which means-" She frowned thoughtfully. "It will be tight, but doable if we get a team of planners on board."
"December?" Antoinette felt as if she was being sucked into a vacuum. "I never said-"
"It's a royal wedding and the last one was when I got married. You'd never believe the planning." She clapped her hands together. "But don't you worry about a thing, my dear, we'll hire some more people to take care of it."
She started to get up when Antoinette grabbed her arm. "Tomas jumped the gun."
"You did not say yes?"
"I did. Yes." She bit her lip. "It's overwhelming. I wanted some more time."
"I was scared down to my toes when I knew I was getting married, but for good reasons. I knew the king wasn't in love with me. I was a stranger in this country and had no one to talk to, no one to air my fears and doubts." She took Antoinette's free hand. "It's different for you." Her smile came. "You're both in love."
"My son burst into my bedroom while I was in the process of getting dressed and ordered the poor maid out. As soon as she left, he sprang the news on me. I've never seen him this animated before. You brought light into his life, hopes and a new way of life. He loves you. I have a feeling that if it was not protocol, he would whisk you away to somewhere they could offer a civil ceremony."
She squeezed Antoinette's hand. "And I'm pleased that you're the one he has fallen in love with. You make him happy, keep him on his toes and do not allow him to walk over you. Your life together will not be only about duty, but so much more and I love that. Now answer me this: do you love him?"
