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I looked deeply into her eyes and knew that I wanted her more than anything in the world. I leaned in for a kiss, and she met me halfway. Our lips touched and sparks flew, igniting a fire that I knew would never burn out.
“I wish I could take you home tonight,” I whispered.
“Me too.”
“I’m sure our parents will want to get together for lunch with your father before we go home. A lot of plans will have to be made.”
“My mom will want to video chat,” she said. “She’s been planning my wedding for twenty years.”
“I imagine it’s going to be quite the affair,” I said with a grimace.
“It would have been a wedding fit for a queen, but considering that’s not my job anymore, maybe we don’t have to go through all the pomp and circumstance. We don’t have to please anyone. This is our wedding. I want you to have a say in the planning.”
A wave of relief washed over me at Emilie’s words. I had been dreading the thought of planning a wedding that would satisfy her mother’s grandiose expectations. The idea of having a wedding that was truly ours, one that reflected our love and personalities, was a relief.
“I want that too,” I said, taking her hand in mine. “I want our wedding to be a celebration of us and our love, not some stuffy, formal event.”
Emilie’s eyes sparkled with joy, and I knew that we were on the same page. We spent the rest of the evening talking about our hopes and dreams for our wedding, and I felt grateful that I had found the woman of my dreams.
EPILOGUE
EMILIE
Eight Months Later
Our wedding day had finally arrived. I wasn’t nervous. I was excited. I was so ready to start our life together as a married couple. The last eight months had been incredible. It was a little hectic with all the planning and moving and sorting out our duties. But today, finally, it was all about us. We didn’t have to worry about anything else except sealing our lives together.
Theo and I had decided to do what we wanted. It did get a little pushback from my parents, but ultimately, we won. We were getting the wedding we wanted. It was unconventional for someone of my royal status, but we opted for a wedding in the heart of South Carolina. We skipped the big wedding-party traditions as well. It would only be me and Theo standing in front of our guests. The guest list had been pared down with only our closest friends and family.
I stood before the full-length mirror and took a good, hard look at myself. Today was the day I’d been dreaming of since Theo asked me to marry him.
I found the most exquisite wedding gown I could have ever imagined. The ethereal beauty was tailor-made for the outdoor ceremony. Again, going against the grain, Theo helped me choose the elements for my gown. He hadn’t seen the finished product, but he had a general idea.
The dress was white satin. The bodice hugged my figure in the most flattering way, emphasizing the curves that Theo declared he wanted to see. Delicate, hand-sewn lace embellishments cascaded from the neckline down to the waist, creating an intricate pattern.
The neckline was a sweetheart shape, giving a touch of femininity to the otherwise classic design. The dress was a romantic, timeless A-line silhouette, cascading into a graceful train. I wore my grandmother’s necklace along with new earrings Theo had gotten made just for me. My hair was pinned up with an antique comb from my mother’s collection. I felt beautiful. I felt like I had finally stepped into the person I was always supposed to be.
As I stood there, waiting to make my entrance, I couldn’t help but admire the enchanting scene before me. The ceremony was outdoors beneath a vast canopy of trees that filtered the golden sunlight, casting a warm and gentle glow over the gathering. An arbor, entwined with delicate yellow blossoms, stood as the centerpiece, framing the spot where Theo and I would pledge our love.
The aisle was lined with soft petals, their pale yellow color contrasting beautifully with the lush green grass beneath our feet. I opted not to have a runner. I chose to walk barefoot. It wasn’t like anyone was going to see my shoes anyway. I loved the feel of the soft grass under my feet. My mother had been horrified and even Mrs. Ashford seemed a little put off at the idea of a shoeless bride, but it wasmywedding.
I found it to be romantic and it was who I was. Since we’d been living in South Carolina, I found myself shoeless most of the time. It was freeing and made me feel grounded, literally. I was in touch with nature.
As I began my walk down that aisle, accompanied by the soft strains of a violin, my heart swelled with emotion. I could see Theo at the end of the aisle, his eyes locked onto mine, a tender smile playing on his lips.
Our guests were seated on white wooden chairs in perfect rows. Their faces were filled with joy. My infant brother was in my mother’s arms with my father’s arm protectively around her shoulders. I saw a lot of tears, which threatened to make me cry.
“You are absolutely the most beautiful woman in the world,” Theo whispered when I reached him at the end of the aisle.
“Thank you.”
Theo and I exchanged vows and got to have our big kiss. His lips sealed over mine for the first time as my husband, and fireworks exploded inside me.
The reception was held on the property. A dance floor and a DJ were set up alongside the tent that served as the dining hall. Laughter and music filled the air as our friends and family danced beneath the stars. Nora and her husband were on the dance floor, looking very in love.
As the night wore on, I found myself getting lost in the crowd, my body moving to the rhythm of the music. Theo was somewhere, out there, dancing with his friends and little sisters. I didn’t mind. I was enjoying myself too much to care.
“Can you hold him?” Mother said as she held out my little brother. “I need to use the restroom and your father is busy with some men he’s talking business with.”
