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But she couldn’t stop now and talk to him—as much as she wanted. She moved to the orchestra and the wedding music started. Bianca moved toward the French doors that were now open. This was where the bride was to make her grand entrance. The bride’s father was standing outside waiting to escort his daughter down the aisle.
When Bianca saw the bride make her entrance, she backed away. She was no longer needed. All her work was done. Now she could take a seat at the back and watch the nuptials. It didn’t matter how many weddings she attended, they never became any less romantic.
And it helped that the prince was in her line of sight. She was drawn to him. His bronze skin, dark hair and mysterious eyes were so attractive. A soft sigh passed her lips. If only she could get to know him. But that would never happen.
CHAPTER TWO
WEDDINGS WERE NOT his favorite events.
But Prince Leo had to admit, if only to himself, that the element of will-they-or-won’t-they? made this particular wedding interesting. He had been leaning toward they won’t. And by the worried look that had been on the groom’s face, he had been leaning the same way.
And then the calm and unflappable wedding planner had made her entrance. She’d spoken softly to the groom and immediately put him at ease. Leo couldn’t help but watch her as she took control of the situation. Her demeanor was casual. If she’d been worried about this event reaching its happy conclusion, she hadn’t let on.
When he had to get married, he’d want someone like her to organize it. She seemed to roll with the punches as though she’d been through it a million times and knew that all would work out in the end. His sister probably wished she had a wedding planner like Miss Bartolini too.
Right now, the woman organizing the wedding was the same one who had planned his parents’ wedding. His sister had tried bringing in her own wedding planner from the nation’s capital, but the woman had caved when opposed by the queen and her crony. So his sister’s most important day was about to be his mother’s vision of how things should be without the bride’s input. Leo had tried to help, but he’d been at a disadvantage, not knowing anything about weddings.
He’d known most of his life that when he married, it would be an arranged marriage—a logical, beneficial union. The fact that his parents had planned to have him betrothed as a teenager still soured his stomach. It’d been the last thing he fought about with his father before he’d died suddenly.
It’d taken Leo years to accept that he would marry and have children with a woman he did not love. And so he’d told himself that when he married, it wasn’t going to be a big deal to him. It would be done out of duty and obligation—one more thing to tick off the royal duty list.
Love was intended for other people, like his sister. Giselle had found the love of her life and Leo couldn’t be happier for her. And that was why her wedding was so important to him. One of them deserved to be truly happy.
“Looks like you have the weight of the world on your shoulders.”
Leo turned to find the groom at his side. He smiled, happy for his childhood friend. “Not the entire world, just the weight of Patazonia.”
Benito arched a brow. “Problems at home? I hadn’t heard anything.”
“Oh. You will. Pretty soon my mother and sister are going to have a nuclear meltdown over the upcoming wedding.”
Benito laughed. “I can see that happening. Those are two really strong-minded women. You have my sympathies. I’m lucky. Even though our wedding was spontaneous, we had the perfect wedding planner. She took on the big things, including Camilla’s parents, and let us enjoy our short engagement. Maybe you should hire her.”
Leo was about to dismiss the idea when he realized this might actually work. “You were that impressed by this woman?”
Benito nodded. “Bianca is amazing. She interned with one of the greatest wedding planners in Venice. And now she has returned to her childhood home to start up her own wedding business.”
His friend wasn’t one to say things he didn’t mean. So for him to speak so highly of this Bianca, it meant a lot. If he were to consider hiring her for his sister’s wedding, she would report to him. He would at last have some control over this event that was spiraling out of control—and causing a rift between the bride and groom. Best of all, Miss Bartolini wouldn’t be a subject of the queen. Therefore, she wouldn’t be under her thumb.
r /> The more he thought about hiring his sister a wedding planner, the more he warmed to the idea. And the fact that Bianca was beautiful as well as composed was just a bonus.
“Have you met her?” Benito asked.
Before Leo could respond, Benito was off seeking out the woman who just might be the answer to his problems. The woman who might bring peace back to the nation. And quiet the gossip floating through the media of unrest in the royal household.
And with that in mind, he didn’t try to stop his friend. He was looking forward to doing business with the wedding planner. If this all worked out, he could get back to his search for a bride. And soon he would become king.
* * *
A contest.
Not just any contest but one that pitted sibling against sibling.
Bianca still couldn’t believe her parents’ will had spelled out a competition between her and her siblings to decide who would end up inheriting the vast Bartolini estate. It included the villa, the vineyard, the stables with its award-winning stallions and mares as well as hundreds of fertile acres. It was a paradise of luxury and tranquility.
The siblings who didn’t win the contest would lose their childhood home in exchange for an equivalent amount of investments and cash. The money didn’t interest Bianca. It was cold and impersonal.
All three of the Bartolini siblings had been raised to appreciate the beauty of this land. And within the walls of this vast villa were all of their childhood memories. And for Bianca, it was crucial to succeed and win this contest.
