“My parents have declared the twenty-eighth of this month a state holiday in honor of the coronation and my wedding to this wonderful woman.” He lifted her hand and kissed the back of it. The barrage of flashes almost blinded her.
“Before the cabinet meeting starts, Alexandra and I will entertain a few questions now.”
Too many voices called out at once. “One at a time please,” Lucca said with enviable calm.
“Princess Alexandra, how does it feel to be wearing the Ligurian teardrop diamond?”
Lucca darted her an amused glance, obviously curious to know what she was going to say.
“Like I’m carrying a monument around.” Her comment set off an explosion of laughter in the room that included Lucca’s own deep, attractive brand. It took a minute for the noise to subside.
“Princess Alexandra?” came another voice. “How did you manage to keep your involvement with the prince a secret all this time?”
“I have my ways.” Taking a risk she added, “My mother was always in the news. I learned certain tricks to remain invisible.”
“Over here, Princess Alexandra—” This from a burly journalist in the corner. “Rumor has it your father had ties to the mafia in Las Vegas. Can you confirm that?”
Lucca stiffened. She could tell he was ready to intervene but she preempted him.
“Yes,” she spoke clearly. “It was rumor. My father was an excellent businessman who used his own money to be successful. Sadly, his life was cut short in an airplane crash. I would give anything if he were still alive.” Her voice shook.
A strong arm slipped around her waist, pulling her closer, then Lucca said, “One last question.”
“Princess Alexandra?” This from an older woman journalist. “It’s obvious that like your mother you could have your choice of many men, be they sheiks, royals or film stars.” That was news to Alex. “What was it about Prince Lucca you couldn’t resist?”
Alex needed to put on a convincing act, but it wasn’t hard. She slowly smiled at him. “We met while I was in a shop. At first I mistook him for a security guard. I was in a very anxious state at the time and I’m afraid I unfairly took it out on one of the employees.
“When Lucca intervened, I assumed he’d been watching and had decided to take charge. We exchanged words. Actually I flung insults at him and demanded to know if he was going to have me arrested. In his maddeningly reasonable way he assured me nothing could be further from the truth and suggested I sit down. Now when I look back on the incident, I realize he’d used his monarch voice on me.”
Laughter burst from the audience. Lucca eyed her with a devilish gleam.
“The man had so much charm that before long I discovered I was having the time of my life. When he finally admitted who he was, I’m afraid I was hooked.” At this point she fought to keep her voice steady.
“I say afraid because I didn’t want him to be a prince, but once the heart feels that pull, you have no choice in the matter. He more or less took me away, but not to prison, thank heaven. Of course, the fact that he was easily the most attractive man I’d ever met didn’t hurt the situation any.”
Everyone jumped to their feet cheering and clapping their approval, but not Lucca. He studied her out of dark, veiled eyes, his expression suddenly indecipherable. Had she said too much? Was he worried what his lover would make of it?
Honesty was usually the best policy, but maybe not in this case. Her off-the-cuff speech would be circling the world before long. It was too late to recall it.
Lucca let go of her hand and put both of his on the lectern. “As you have deduced,” he began in his deep voice, “our marriage is going to be a lively, twenty-first-century version of thrills.”
The crowd gave them a standing ovation. He waited for the din to subside before he said, “I want to thank those members of the media for coming. Because of the cabinet’s urgent business now that my father is stepping down, we would appreciate it if you cleared the conference room so our meeting can begin.”
On cue the cameramen and reporters started to exit the room. While the president of the cabinet engaged Lucca in conversation, Regina came running up to Alex. “You were wonderful,” she whispered, catching hold of her arm.
Alex hadn’t seen her leave her seat. “Thanks, Regina, but I’m afraid I said too much.”
“No. It was perfect!” she argued. “I’ve been dying to learn how you met, but you know my close-mouthed brother. I saw everyone’s reaction, Alexandra. They love you. I love you for loving my brother so much. He badly needs to be loved by a woman like you.”
Lucca was already badly loved by a woman, but Regina didn’t know that. However, the sincerity of her words made Alex realize she’d pulled off her part of the agreement with Lucca. If Regina could accept they were a love match, then she wasn’t worried about other people.
“Come on,” Regina urged. “Papa and Mama asked me to bring you to their suite after the news conference. Lucca will be tied up all day.”
That’s what Alex feared. The hours dragged when she wasn’t with him. “All right.”
“Lucca?” she called to her brother who was busy talking to several men by now. He turned his head in their direction. “We’re going upstairs.”
“I’ll join you later.” His glance swerved to Alex. She saw a nerve throbbing at the corner of his jaw. “You had them eating out of your hand, Alexandra.”
Then why aren’t you happy about it? Alex didn’t understand his unexpected change of mood, but she couldn’t ask him about it. At this juncture the press of dignitaries surrounding him had grown.
Averting her eyes, she turned her attention back to Regina. They left through a private door at the rear of the room. “After we’ve checked in with my parents, I thought you might like a tour of the grounds.”
“I’d love it, but I have another Italian lesson at two with Professor Morelli.”
“There’ll be time for both.” She gave Alex a sideways glance. “I saw him on the stairs after he left the schoolroom yesterday. Apparently Professor Emilio is ill.”
“That’s what I understand.”
“He’s very nice looking.”
Alex smiled. “I agree. He’s a terrific teacher, too.”
One of Regina’s brows lifted. “Does Lucca know about the change?”
“Yes.”
“Ah, that explains it.”
“Explains what?” Alex prodded.
“Lucca’s mood at breakfast after Mama asked if you’d begun your Italian lessons. He didn’t seem to want to talk about it.”
“You know he did seem a little offish after I introduced him to Tomaso. I assumed he was disappointed Professor Emilio couldn’t make it.”
A knowing smile broke out on Regina’s face. “My brother’s jealous.”
“Don’t be silly, Regina. I’ve done nothing to make him feel that way.”
“You don’t have to. It’s an emotion completely new to him. I love seeing him out of control for once.”
Alex couldn’t afford to protest too much. “I think you’re wrong.”
“Better not refer to Professor