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“I was.” The queen’s voice was soft as though all of the fight had gone out of her. “Our enemies will use anything to hurt us, even twisting innocent facts into something sinister.”
He could barely allow himself to believe what he was hearing. “You never blamed me?”
She shook her head. “Your father had health issues.”
“I never knew.”
“Only four people knew of them. Two of them were your father and myself. A king must not look vulnerable.”
Leo had a feeling his mother’s last comment was aimed at his relationship with a commoner. “Bianca will not make me vulnerable. With her by my side, we can do great things together. I love her.”
“But does she feel the same way?” The queen stood. “Maybe she doesn’t love you and that’s why she left so quickly.”
“She left because I made a mistake. Now I need to make things up to her.”
“You really love her, don’t you?” When he nodded, his mother said, “There’s a commercial flight tomorrow.”
It was his turn to arch a brow. “You aren’t going to try and stop me?”
“Maybe I should. But when it all comes down to it, I want my children to be happy. And Bianca makes you happier than I’ve ever seen you. So go get her. Make her your princess.”
“Thank you.” He hugged his mother, something they rarely did, but he had a feeling that was about to change. When he pulled back, he said, “You try to put on a crusty exterior but on the inside you’re just a marshmallow.”
She sent him a playful frown. “Go. Before I change my mind.” His mother turned and walked away. She called over her shoulder, “And have someone move that vehicle.”
Now he had to wait through the night to get to his princess.
It was going to be the longest night of his life.
CHAPTER TWENTY
“YOU’RE BACK.”
It was almost lunchtime when Bianca dragged herself to the main house. She glanced over at Gia as she entered the kitchen. Bianca smoothed a hand over her mussed-up ponytail. She’d forgotten that her sister had turned the place into a boutique hotel and that there might be guests lurking about. She peered past her sister, relieved to find her alone.
“I got in late last night.”
Gia had already turned in by then, but Enzo had still been awake. He knew Bianca was upset but he hadn’t pried. He just let her know he was there if she wanted to talk.
She turned her back to her sister to avoid questions about the shadows under her bloodshot eyes.
“I loved the photos you sent,” Gia said. “Do you have some of the wedding?”
“Um... I do. But not on me.” The last thing she wanted to discuss was the royal wedding. “I was so tired last night that I forgot to plug my phone in and now it’s dead, kind of like me. Do you have some coffee you can spare?”
Gia made them both a cup and then joined Bianca at the kitchen island. “You don’t look so good, considering you just planned the wedding of a lifetime.”
And had my heart torn out and shredded.
“How am I supposed to look?”
Gia shrugged. “Like you’re on top of the world. The phone has been ringing like crazy with people trying to reach you to plan their wedding.”
“Sorry about that.”
“Sorry?” Gia studied her. “Now I know something is wrong. Bianca, what is it? Tell me what has you looking like you just lost your best friend.”
Bianca needed someone to talk to and so she started at the beginning. She left out some of the steamy bits, some things weren’t for sharing. And then the proposal—
