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With a reverence befitting the sanctity of their union, Bernard eased the gown from her shoulders. Eloise's breath hitched. What if he didn’t like how she looked when she wasn’t wearing multiple layers of clothes?
"Beautiful," he murmured.
Laughter, light and unbidden, danced upon Eloise's lips as Bernard endeavored to untangle the mystery of the laces and hooks that guarded her modesty. His brow furrowed with concentration, humor glinting in his eyes as he met her amused gaze.
"Who would have thought," he quipped, "that the greatest challenge of my life would not be affairs of state but the intricate defenses of my wife's attire?"
Eloise giggled, the sound echoing like a sweet melody through the chamber, as much a part of their wedding night as the vows they had exchanged.
"Patience, my prince," she teased. "For every knot undone, a secret revealed."
Time passed unnoticed, marked only by the soft whispers of fabric falling away and the rhythmic breathing shared between two souls entwined. The world outside their door ceased to exist, leaving only Bernard and Eloise, discovering each other in the most intimate of dances.
As dawn approached, cloaked in the subtle hues of daybreak, servants arrived, silent as shadows, bearing trays laden with sustenance. The couple, ensconced within the sanctuary of silken sheets, welcomed the interruption only for the briefest of moments. They feasted not on the fare before them but on the company they kept, nourished by laughter and whispered dreams.
Eloise marveled at how natural it felt, this seclusion with him. The outside world, with its expectations and protocols, could wait. Now was for them—for whispered promises and the sacred exploration of newfound unity.
Each meal, delivered by servants, became an extension of their connection, a celebration of the love that had transformed a stately bedroom into an Eden of their very own making.
ELOISE TRACED THE INTRICATE brocade of the bedspread, her fingertip meandering as if to memorize the pattern, while Bernard watched her.
"Bernard," Eloise began, her voice a soft melody that danced upon the stillness of the room, "we cannot remain ensconced within these walls forever, much as I cherish the notion."
"Ah, yes," Bernard replied with a chuckle that rumbled from deep within his chest, "the people of Allenia might start to believe I have been kidnapped and forced into a life of servitude if we wait too long."
Eloise's laugh joined his, light and airy, yet beneath it was the weight of duty that now bound them both. "Yes, we need to be mindful of our roles as royalty. Even if we don’t want to."
"Speaking of which," Bernard said, shifting to prop himself on one elbow, the linen sheets caressing his skin as he moved, "I have spoken with my aunt, the queen. She has graciously offered us one of the crown's properties in the countryside. A beautiful manor surrounded by verdant woods and serene lakes. We could spend our first fortnight there as husband and wife before our official duties beckon us."
"Two weeks?" Eloise queried, the prospect igniting a sparkle in her eyes. "A honeymoon secluded amidst nature's splendor sounds divine. But when should we depart for this idyllic retreat?"
"Whenever you wish," he said, tracing the curve of her cheek with the back of his fingers. "We can leave immediately or linger here for a while. The choice is yours."
"Perhaps one more night wrapped in the cocoon of pleasure," she mused, nestling closer to him. "Then, with the morning's light, we shall embark on this new chapter."
"Agreed," Bernard declared with a kiss upon her forehead, sealing their plan with the tenderness of his lips. "To Allenia we will go, but only after relishing the dawn of our lives together in this private Eden we have created."
BERNARD'S LAUGHTER, a warm baritone melody, filled the chamber as Eloise attempted to fold herself into the grand wardrobe. It was a lighthearted jest, a playful rebellion against their inevitable departure.
"Eloise," Bernard chided with an indulgent smile, "I fear you may wrinkle your gowns."
"Perhaps," Eloise replied, emerging with a mock pout. Her attempt at humor was met by his appreciative chuckle, one that dispelled the lingering nerves of new matrimony.
He drew her into his arms. "Yet I find myself eager for the future—our future. After these two weeks of blissful seclusion, we shall reside in the crown's manor by the sea. Have you ever seen it? The way the sunlight dances upon the waves is quite enchanting."
"It sounds wonderful," she mused. "A sanctuary for us, where each tide brings the promise of our shared purpose."
"Indeed," Bernard agreed, his voice tinged with pride. "Our roles as working royals come with responsibilities. Engagements to speak, charities to champion."
"Speaking engagements," Eloise echoed thoughtfully. "Standing before throngs, voicing our passions and pursuits—I confess, it daunts me."
"Ah, but your eloquence is matched only by your compassion," he assured her. "You will inspire as you have inspired me."
Eloise nodded, a newfound resolve fortifying her spirit. She would get through speaking engagements in Allenia, the same as she had in Theron.
ELOISE GLANCED AT THE silver tray arrayed with an assortment of delicacies, the candlelight casting a soft glow over the exquisite spread. She reached for a plump strawberry. With a playful glint in her eye, she held it up for Bernard to see.
"Might I tempt you with this morsel?" she teased.
