Page 24 of The Forever Match

Victoria turned to him. He’d always been there for her, but she knew that wouldn’t always be the case. She wanted to soak up whatever wisdom he had to give.

“I would love some.” She took his hand in hers.

“Always be true to yourself.” He glanced out at the screaming crowds. “I know you have, and I’m so proud of you for doing this wedding on your terms. But you’ll still face more criticism and observation than other monarchs. Tell them all to bugger off and live your life. That’s my advice. Your mother has done it to a point, but she also loves tradition. I think you need to make tradition work for you. And make your own traditions.”

He drew her hand to his mouth and kissed her knuckle. “Also, deep breaths today. Try to take it in, and remember, everyone wants you to succeed. We’re all on your side. And you’ve chosen so well in Ash. She’s a wonderful woman.”

I’m not going to cry.

I’m not going to cry.

“Thank you, Papa.” Victoria breathed deep, just like he told her to. “I will try to follow what you said.” She paused. “I love you.”

She didn’t tell him nearly enough.

“I love you, too,” he replied, his eyes glassy.

They waved all the way back along The Mall to the crowd’s delight, and when the coach finally swung back into the Palace courtyard to where they started, both Victoria and the King exhaled, then sank back into their seats.

“No matter how many times you do that, it never gets any less weird, does it?” her father remarked, not needing a response.

The footman helped Victoria down, and she went into the nearest bathroom to refresh herself, her aide Tanya appearing by her side, telling her she looked incredible. She hugged her tight.

“My mascara still good?”

“You look like a goddess,” Tanya replied.

“Remind me to give you a raise when we get back from honeymoon,” Victoria told her, smiling.

“I’ve been told to tell you that Ash and Cam are in the marquee, Ma’am.”

Fuckity fuck.

Victoria nodded. “Okay.” She checked her watch. It was time.

But then again, what had her father said? “It’s the bride’s prerogative to be late.”

“I just need to do one thing,” Victoria told Tanya. “Will you help me up the stairs?”

Getting upstairs was no mean feat in a dress with a train, but Victoria managed it, and made straight for the back window of the Red Room. “I just want a moment,” she told Tanya. “Wait at the door?”

She crossed to the window and looked down into the garden, where the white marquee glowed in the afternoon sun. This was it. The biggest day of her life, and she was about to marry the love of her life. So many before her hadn’t been able to. So many still couldn’t. How lucky was she?

When she glanced up, her smile was so wide she was certain it would do something terrible to her makeup. She didn’t care. She moved closer to the glass, then squinted.

There. She wasn’t imagining it.

Arched faintly above the marquee, threading through the last of the clouds, was a rainbow.

On her wedding day.

Maybe god really did love the gays.

Chapter 11

“I know you’re sort of famous,” Ash’s dad said, eyeing the back of someone’s very recognisable head through the marquee glass door. “But seeing world leaders and proper Hollywood stars at your wedding is very peculiar.”

“Sort of famous?” Ash replied with a grin.