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"I know," Bernard chuckled. He took a seat beside her, ensnaring her hand with his own. "Yet, time has never dared to defy us."
Eloise squeezed his hand. "Every second hastens our union," she mused. "And every tick of the clock is closer to the beginning of our future together."
Bernard’s lips met Eloise's with urgency.
Eloise felt the world recede until there was nothing but the two of them—a prince and his betrothed. His hands cupped her face with a tenderness that belied the intensity of his feelings.
"Time may separate us," he murmured against her lips. "But it will be hard to be away from you."
Laughter escaped her. "I hope we can continue to see each other at least on weekends," she replied.
"I think my weekends are free," he conceded.
"Then I hope to see you on them. We’ll be parted for a little more than three weeks before the wedding on June first."
"Ah," he sighed, "we will do video chats every day."
She nestled into the crook of his arm, feeling the solid certainty of his presence. "That will help to appease me, but I shall miss your touch...your kisses." Eloise declared.
Bernard pressed his lips to her forehead. “Then we’ll have to make certain to kiss as much as we can while we’re together.” He lowered his head and kissed her passionately, making memories for them both to look back on.
Chapter Ten
Princess Eloise stood before an ornate mirror. Her mother, Queen Beatrice, fussed over Eloise’s veil.
"Mother, you'll smother the life out of this veil if you keep at it," Eloise teased, her eyes twinkling with mirth in the reflection they shared.
Queen Beatrice chuckled, her hands pausing their adjustments. "Eloise, on this day of all days, perfection is not a request but a requirement."
"Perfection," Eloise mused, "doesn’t seem like the right thing for marriage, does it?" She turned to face her mother, catching the glint of pride in the queen's eyes.
"Perhaps," Queen Beatrice conceded, "but it's a companion well-suited for my daughter's wedding day."
With a final approving nod, the queen stepped back, allowing Eloise a moment of solitude with her reflection. The princess took a deep breath, her nerves steadying under the weight of her wedding dress. It was time.
The heralds trumpeted, announcing the departure of royalty, as the horse-drawn carriage awaited its precious cargo. Eloise, with a practiced grace belying her inner excitement, descended the palace steps where her carriage gleamed like a jewel under the sun's approving gaze.
Once settled amidst the velvet cushions, the carriage lurched forward, pulled by steeds whose hooves clattered rhythmically against the cobblestone. The capital unfolded before them, its streets lined with citizens whose cheers and applause rose like a wave set to crest upon the shores of the church steps.
"Listen to them," Eloise said looking from side to side as the open carriage passed through the streets. "They sound almost as happy as I feel."
"Yes, they do," Queen Beatrice agreed, her voice laced with affection. "You have captivated their hearts just as surely as you've captured Bernard's."
Laughter bubbled up from the onlookers as the carriage wove through the thoroughfares, children scampering close enough to toss petals that danced in the air before settling upon the cobblestones. A group of local bakers, aprons dusted with flour, waved loaves of bread shaped like hearts in a whimsical display of blessing for the marital union.
"Look at those," Eloise pointed. "Bernard would approve. He has quite an affinity for pastries."
"Then he shall fit right into our family," the queen replied with a chuckle. "But let us hope his love for sweets does not overshadow his love for exercise."
"Or his feelings for me," added Eloise realizing he’d never told her he loved her, or she him. But she was still certain their marriage would be a good one.
"Impossible," her mother assured her, patting her hand with gentle certainty.
As the church spires came into view, Eloise felt the carriage slow, and the thrum of her pulse quickened in tandem with the slowing hooves. Today she would become a wife and forever a partner to the prince awaiting her at the altar. With a deep breath and a smile bright enough to rival the midday sun, Princess Eloise readied herself to step into the next chapter of her royal romance.
BERNARD STOOD AT THE altar, his heart thrumming a regal march that only he could hear. He desperately wanted to pace, but there were too many people watching him. The church, awash in the golden glow of a thousand candles, held its breath for the arrival of Princess Eloise. The murmur of the congregation faded into hushed tones as the first notes of the bridal chorus cascaded from the organ loft.
Then she appeared.
