Page 124 of Scandal Queen

I didn’t care. I slipped down the stairs in my stockinged feet and ran for the doors that led to where he would be.

He waited, his arms coming around me right as he pulled me in, his mouth against my neck. “How many hours was that?”

“Too many.”

I pressed feverish kisses to his mouth, his cheeks, until he eventually pushed me away.

“I’d say you looked like the beautiful bride, but it seems you aren’t ready yet.” One of his hands slipped under the light fabric of my robe and his eyes widened. “Now that, I can’t wait to see later.”

“I’m sorry. I’m trying to get ready. I just keep…”

“Sweating?” His lips quirked.

“That obvious?”

“No, just I am too. Seriously, you don’t want to see under the arms of this shirt right now.”

I laughed so loudly and clutched my hands against lapels of his dress coat. “You look very handsome.”

“And you look beautiful. I’d be happy to forgo the wedding dress if it weren’t for the millions of people watching.”

A ready calmness radiated from my chest. He made everything normal. He always had.

“I got you a wedding gift. I wanted to give it to you later, but I think now is the right time.”

His eyes widened. “Leia! There are cameras everywhere.”

“Shush. Here.” I unclipped the jewelled bag, again distracted for a moment by the sheer weight of one handbag. Inside, the present weighed next to nothing in comparison. “I wanted to tell you yesterday, but I was trying to be romantic.”

He stared at the small plastic stick.

I mean, it wasn’t yesterday’s. This one was fresh this morning, just to double check.

“That blue cross means the royal spermage did its thing.” I chuckled nervously, trying to fill the silence as he stared at the pregnancy test.

“I’m speechless.”

“Well you aren’t speechless, because you just said, ‘I’m speechless.”

“Leia, please shut up.” His lips landed on mine with a hunger that ate into my heart. I kissed him back with everything I owned, every cell of my being, even the cells that didn’t belong to me, that came from something we’d created together.

Eventually, I pulled away to meet his bright gaze. Tears made them sparkle. “I have to go and get ready for my wedding now.”

He nodded, still visibly shocked. “Can I keep this?”

“Sure.”

I watched as he slipped it into the inside pocket of his coat. “I’ll see you at the altar.”

I nodded and then turned back for the stairs, knowing he was watching me every step of the way.

Back in the room I walked into an audience of expectant gazes.

“Okay. Let’s get this bride ready.”

Margi went to hand me a glass of champagne, but I shook my head. “For the nerves?” she asked.

“I’ll explain later.” I gave her a hug and then submitted myself to the ministrations of Lizzie or Izzie and her royal contouring.