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Amanda couldn’t help but laugh along with him, finding his exuberance contagious. As they continued to dance, she felt increasingly comfortable in his presence, appreciating the genuine warmth of his personality.
“Your Majesty,” Amanda ventured hesitantly, “I want to thank you for welcoming me into your family so wholeheartedly. It means the world to me.”
King Albert looked at her kindly and patted her hand. “My dear, we are delighted to have you. You bring joy to our son, and that is enough for us. Besides, anyone who can put up with James’s antics deserves a medal!”
Amanda laughed again, her heart swelling with gratitude. The love and acceptance she felt from James’s family warmed her heart.
As their dance concluded, a group of young ballet dancers took to the floor, their tulle skirts fluttering like butterflies as they twirled and leaped to the lilting melody of a piano. Amanda watched in awe, each graceful movement a testament to the beauty of human expression.
“Remarkable, aren’t they?” King Albert said, following Amanda’s gaze.
“Absolutely breathtaking,” she agreed, her eyes glued to the elegant performance.
After hours of mingling, laughing, and thanking their guests, Amanda felt both exhilarated and exhausted. As the reception began to wind down, she caught sight of James across the room, his eyes sparkling with mischief.
“Ready for our great escape?” he whispered in her ear as he approached, wrapping his arm around her waist.
“Absolutely,” she replied, unable to contain her excitement. “I can’t believe we managed to pull this day off.”
James grinned, leading Amanda through the palace corridors toward the exit. “Well, it’s not over yet. I’ve planned a little surprise getaway for us.”
Amanda raised an eyebrow, curious about what her new husband had in store. “Oh? Do tell.”
“Patience,” he teased, pressing a finger to her lips. “All will be revealed soon enough.”
As they stepped outside into the cool evening air, Amanda noticed four identical black cars lined up along the palace driveway.
“James, what is this?” she asked, puzzled by the strange sight.
“Ah, yes,” he explained, clearly pleased by her confusion. “We need to keep the paparazzi guessing, so we’ve arranged for these decoys. Only one car will actually be taking us to our secret destination.”
“Very clever,” Amanda admitted, impressed by the lengths they were going to for their privacy.
“All right, everyone!” James called out to the group of drivers standing by. “To your cars! Let the chase begin!”
The drivers saluted him and rushed to their respective vehicles. James guided Amanda to one of the cars and opened the door for her, helping her inside before slipping in himself.
“Are you sure this will work?” Amanda worried aloud, her pulse quickening at the thought of being pursued by relentless photographers.
James squeezed her hand reassuringly. “Trust me, darling. They won’t have a clue which way we’ve gone.”
With a smooth lurch, the car pulled away from the palace, followed closely by the other three. Amanda watched the world outside blur as they sped off in different directions, her heart pounding with anticipation.
“James,” she murmured, leaning against him and resting her head on his shoulder, “I can’t wait to start our life together, just the two of us.”
“Neither can I,” he replied softly, planting a tender kiss on the top of her head.
HOURS LATER, THE CAR came to a halt after a winding journey through the lush countryside, and Amanda stared out the window, her breath catching in her throat. The hunting lodge, which James had described as a “modest” getaway, was anything but. It stood before them like a fairy tale castle, with ivy-covered towers reaching toward the sky and warm golden light spilling from the windows.
“James, this is... incredible,” Amanda whispered, unable to tear her eyes away from the majestic structure.
“Only the best for my bride,” James grinned, stepping out of the car and offering his hand to help her out. “We may have eluded the press, but that doesn’t mean we can’t enjoy a bit of royal splendor.”
As they approached the entrance, Amanda couldn’t help but marvel at the opulence of their surroundings. The meticulously tended gardens overflowed with vibrant flowers, their sweet fragrance filling the air. She could hear the distant sound of laughter echoing from a nearby courtyard, where a small group of staff members were celebrating their successful escape from the paparazzi.
“Welcome home, my dear,” James said warmly, opening the grand doors to reveal an even more breathtaking interior. The marble floors gleamed beneath the soft glow of chandeliers, while intricately carved wooden panels adorned the walls.
“Home? I could get used to this!” Amanda teased, her eyes dancing with delight as she took it all in.
