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I should call him.It’s the polite thing to do.
Before I lose my nerve, I place the call.
“Princesa,” he murmurs. “I’ve been thinking about you.”
“Thank you,” I whisper. “My mother’s jewelry is one of the few things I have left of her. I can’t tell you how much it hurt me to sell it.”
“I can’t take credit. It was Cristiano’s idea to buy the pieces back as you sold them.”
“But you agreed. Otherwise, it wouldn’t have happened.”
He doesn’t respond.
“This means so much to me.”
“It’s not the only things you have left of your mother. Now that everyone knows you’re back, after the wedding Cristiano will take you to your parents’ house. Alma packed away anything of value. We did some upkeep of the property, but most everything is as you left it.”
“I’m having a hard time understanding you,” I say, fighting back a sob. “Every time I think I have you figured out, you do something that surprises me.”
“Don’t spend too much time trying to understand me,” he murmurs into the silence. “You won’t like the answers you find. I told you once that I was everything you thought, maybe worse. That hasn’t changed. You’re marrying me because I’ve given you no choice. Don’t be wooed by a box of trinkets and a trip to visit Isabel. You’re smarter than that.”
I’m not sure I am.
69
Antonio
From the anteroom, I gaze out into the church. White flowers and satin ribbon grace the altar and every pew. The greenery adds some warmth to the vast stone structure.
Guests are beginning to arrive, and the security we have in place to protect them melds seamlessly into the fabric of the ancient church.
Rafael, Cristiano, and Lucas are attending to last-minute details, and I’m happy to have a few minutes alone to digest the weight of the moment. I’ve been busy the past week, putting out small fires as the concerns of the individual port houses bubbled to the surface.
Daniela returning on my arm sent a seismic surge through the valley, just as I expected.
I haven’t had a minute to think about—toreally think about—what this marriage will mean for me, not from a business perspective, but personally.
My life is about to change in ways that I don’t pretend to fully understand. Only a fool would believe that everything will remain the same.
I always knew I’d eventually marry—fulfilling my duty to produce a legitimate heir. But I expected to feel more hesitant, some wistfulness or regret when the time came. While I don’t love Daniela, I have no regrets.
There’s something about her—something beyond her beauty and my carnal attraction to her—something that calls to my better angels.
“Antonio.”My mother.
I had zero success in getting her to stay away. As did Edward and Samantha, although I’m not convinced Samantha tried very hard, because she insisted on coming, too, much to her husband’s dismay. William understands the threat better than most.
“You’re here early.” I place a small kiss on each of her cheeks. “You look lovely.”
“And you look so handsome,” she says, her hand cradling my face. “I want to see the bride.”
And so it begins.
“You’ll have plenty of time to chat with Daniela after the wedding. I expect her to be around for a long time.”
Cristiano must have seen her approach the anteroom, because he’s at the doorway, waiting to save me if it becomes necessary.
“I want to see her now,” my mother demands. “You’ve managed to keep her away from me with the promise ofamanhã. Well, tomorrow has come. I’ll find her myself,” she adds in a huff.
