Page 52 of A Bride Fit For A Prince?

‘So what did you think of the last Princess of Madlena?’ Luca asked when they arrived back at the palace. Having parked the Harley in the vast courtyard at the back of the building, they strolled through the exquisitely manicured gardens to their apartment.

‘I think your grandmother is absolutely amazing,’ Samia admitted as they paused in the shade of a rose arbour, where swags of pink roses exuded the most exquisite scent. ‘It would be impossible not to love her. You must be very proud.’

‘I am,’ Luca confessed. ‘She helped to bring me up, though she thought I’d be better off with my brother after she was widowed and her life started gravitating towards the artists’ community she’d created. Pietro would soften me, she said, while she might lead me astray with her bohemian lifestyle, which in her opinion was the last thing I needed.’

‘She’s a wonderful woman.’

‘And a wonderful princess, adored by the people of Madlena. They see her strength and love her for her eccentricity, and they know her to be deeply caring. She’ll do anything in her power to help them, and proves it every year by donating all the proceeds of her work to Madlenan charities. She’s a very different type of royal as you and I will be. I’m not going to ask you again if you want to go on this journey with me,’ he added as he drew Samia into his arms. ‘I’m going to tell you that I’d be nothing without you. I’d be all steel and no heart. You’re the love of my life, Princess Samia, and though I’m not too good at expressing things, because I’ve never felt this way before, I can promise that I’ll tell you that I love you again and again.’

‘Please do,’ she whispered, staring up into Luca’s eyes.

‘I love you and I want you at my side. You’re not just a princess who is more than worthy of the name, you’re the woman I adore, and will do for the rest of my life.’

‘Love,’ she whispered, loving the sound of that word. It made all the difference in the world.

‘Adore,’ Luca countered. Adopting a thoughtful expression, he added, ‘Youlovehamburgers, but I’ll give you every reason to adore me.’

‘I loveandadore you.’

‘No more than I adore you,’ he said.

EPILOGUE

A year later...

THEFORMALBLESSINGof Luca and Samia’s marriage was held on Prince Pietro’s Day. Starting from this day, Luca’s late brother would be honoured every year with an annual public holiday.

The glorious medieval cathedral in Madlena with its soaring vaulted ceiling was bathed in jewelled light streaming through the stained-glass windows. Guests from all walks of life had gathered to celebrate an outstanding first year for Prince Luca and Princess Samia. Not only was the country riding the crest of a wave thanks to the tireless marketing of its many assets by a talented princess who used the home-grown artwork of her grandmother-in-law’s artists’ collective to enhance her promotion of the country, but Princess Samia was pregnant, which was a cause for general rejoicing.

Domenico insisted on escorting Samia down the length of the aisle to where her handsome prince was waiting, while Princess Aurelia, dressed for the occasion in diamonds and ankle-length shocking pink silk-satin, stood on her other side. Glorious organ music accompanied them, while the scent of white roses filled the air.

‘Much as it pains me to hand you back to this brute of a man,’ Domenico murmured as they reached the steps of the altar, ‘I have to say, you’ve improved him a little, but there’s still a lot of work to do.’

‘A lifetime of work, I hope,’ Luca remarked dryly.

Samia’s heart swelled with love as she stared up at the handsome prince at her side. In his official regalia of black and gold, with a red silk-satin sash of office pinned with a magnificent jewel running diagonally across his powerful chest, Luca was...quite simply, the man she loved. He had restored her confidence in every way, and set her free to fly.Which only goes to prove, she reflected,that even when a bird flies free, it still returns to those it loves.

As Domenico and Princess Aurelia melted back into the congregation, Luca stared deep into her eyes. ‘You look beautiful...again,’ he murmured.

The smile they exchanged was both intimate and perfect. Samia’s elegant peach-coloured gown was cut cunningly to flatter, rather than to hide her growing bump. They were both so thrilled about the tiny prince or princess that they celebrated constantly—often in the most unlikely places. Who knew a palace had so many nooks and crannies for a love-struck couple to hide away?

‘That gown is gorgeous,’ Luca said huskily. ‘I can’t wait to take it off you.’

‘Shh!’ Samia implored as the thundering organ quietened.

But, with its lace bandeau bodice and filmy long sleeves, it was a fairy-tale dress. It had arrived as a surprise from Paris. ‘So you can’t refuse to wear it!’ Luca had teased his practical bride.

When she’d lifted the filmy creation from its reams of tissue paper, the gown had taken her breath away.loz

‘And I want you to wear this too,’ Luca had said as he’d produced the priceless fringe tiara of sparkling blue-white diamonds that had once belonged to his late mother. ‘You’ll have to take that off before I make love to you,’ he murmured discreetly now. ‘Or we’ll end the night in the ICU.’

‘You’resoromantic,’ Samia remarked with loving irony as the service began.

‘Aren’t I just?’ Luca agreed. ‘But I’d do it allagain,’ he insisted.

‘And again, I hope,’ she murmured back, ‘because I love you.’

‘As I love you,’ Luca responded, smiling into her eyes. ‘With all my heart, and my body too...’

‘What a coincidence,’ she said as Domenico cleared his throat theatrically to draw their attention to the fact that the service had begun, ‘because I adore you too, and I always will.’

‘Ditto,’ Luca mouthed with a wink for Domenico.