Shocked by her response, he opened his eyes only to be fed the cake, part of which fell onto his chin into the napkin she held for him. The wedding guests laughed and clapped their hands. Of course everything had been caught by the videographer.
Christina cleaned him up nicely, then kissed his chin. “Thanks for being a good sport, Your Highness.”
“Don’t call me that.”
She looked surprised. “No?”
“Not ever.”
She flashed him a smile. “Are we having our first fight?”
Her question caught him off guard. Before he could respond, Lindsay came up to Christina with her bridal bouquet. “When you’re ready to leave the party, you can toss it behind you.”
“Thank you, Lindsay. All your planning has made this the most beautiful wedding party in the world. I’ve never been happier.”
“You look radiant, Christina.” She gave her a hug, and Antonio saw his wife whisper something to her in private.
“It’s already being taken care of,” Lindsay whispered back, but Antonio read her lips.
Intrigued, he couldn’t wait to get his bride alone, but no one was ready to leave the reception yet and Zach had snatched her away to dance. He decided now was the time to dance with his mother, then his mother-in-law.
The queen gave him a hug before he danced her around the terrace. “You’re going to have to keep an eye on that one,” she said, eyeing Christina, who was still whirling around with Zach. “She isn’t quite as docile as I remember.”
“She’s her own person,” Antonio replied with the sudden thrilling realization that his new bride might mean more to him than he could have imagined.
“Indeed she is. You both look perfectly marvelous together. She’s changed so much since the engagement that I hardly recognize her. You have no idea how glad I am that you’ve come home for good to settle down. A man needs marriage, and your marriage is good for the monarchy. I’m very happy with you today.”
“Thank you, Mama.” Except that marriage hadn’t stopped his parents from having their offstage affairs.
He twirled her back to the table and asked Christina’s mother to dance. She had been a former fashion model and was still a very attractive woman. But as he gazed at Christina, who was laughing quietly with Zach, he thought she was the real beauty. Not only in her appearance, but in her character.
“Are you sorry our daughter wanted the wedding here instead of at the cathedral in Voti?”
“Anything but. Don’t you think every woman should be able to have the wedding of her dreams where she wants it?”
“But you’re the crown prince.”
Antonio smiled at her. “Tonight I’m a new bridegroom and I can’t imagine a more perfect setting for Christina and me than this delightful spot in Tuscany.”
“Then I’m glad for both of you. You make a stunning pair.”
“Grazie.”
He could still hear Christina’s words when she’d told him what it was like at boarding school. We were all a bunch of girls who’d rather be home. We all had a case of homesickness and waited for the letters that didn’t arrive. The emptiness in her voice had conveyed pain, even after all these years.
If he didn’t do anything else, he would make certain she didn’t feel pain because of him. “Did you visit her in Africa?”
“We made it over once and were guests in the palace of Marusha’s parents. They’re very westernized there.”
“Your daughter has made a big contribution. It’s no small thing she has done to help those in poverty.”
“I’m very proud of her.”
He was glad to hear it. On that note he danced her back to the table. After thanking her, he went over to the table where Marusha was seated and asked her to dance with him. The charming woman had come with her husband. He gave her a turn around the terrace.
“You honor me, Your Highness. I’m very happy Christina is your bride. We hope you’ll both come to Kenya and stay with us.”
“I’ve always wanted to travel there and promise to visit you when the time is right. You honor us by coming. Christina thinks the world of you and your family.”
“We feel the same. Thank you.”
Once she was seated, Antonio hurried to find Christina, who was talking to Elena. His sister smiled at him. “It’s about time you paid attention to your bride.”
“First I want a dance with you, little sister, if it’s all right with my wife.”
Christina darted him a serious glance. “She’s the reason we even know each other. You’re welcome to enjoy her for as long as you want.”
He knew she meant that and moved Elena around the terrace. She had a gleam in her eye. “Having fun, brother dear? More than you thought?”
“Much more,” he confessed.
“Christina has that effect on people. Mother can’t get over the change in her. I told her that Christina is like the woman in the stone. All Michelangelo had to do was chip away at the marble until her beauty emerged for all to see.”
His sister had just put the right words to his thoughts. “It’s a perfect analogy.”
She studied his features. “It’s growing dark. Are you ready to leave the party?” she asked with a sly smile.
“The truth?”
“Always.”
“I feel like I did the first time I had to jump out of a plane during my military service.”
Elena chuckled. “Since you survived, I’m not worried.”
“In all honesty, I haven’t made this easy for Christina by maintaining distance between us over the last four years.”
“Don’t worry about it. She married you today and I think you’ve both met your match. I’m so happy for both of you I could burst. Don’t let me keep you from whisking your bride away.” She kissed his cheek and hurried off.
He was left standing there while her last comment sank in. Antonio hated to admit he felt nervous for what was to come. He’d be taking his wife upstairs to the bridal chamber. This was a new experience for him. Taking a fortifying breath, he made a beeline for Christina, who was talking to more guests.
Lindsay came up to him. “Christina still needs to throw her bridal bouquet to the crowd. If you’re ready, take her to the front of the palazzo and I’ll make the announcement to the guests to follow you.”
“Thank you for all you’ve done.”
“It has been my pleasure.”
He kissed her cheek before reaching for his wife. Christina’s gaze flicked to his. “What is it?”
“We have one more ritual to perform.” He picked up the bridal bouquet. After putting it in her hands, he slid an arm around her slender waist. Her lovely body was a perfect fit for him.
“I already know where I’m going to throw it,” she whispered as they left the terrace and walked around to the front entrance of the palazzo.
“So do I,” he drawled.
“Antonio?” She eyed him with surprising tenderness. “Thank you for dancing with Marusha. To dance with the future king had to be one of the big highlights of her life.”
“I wanted a chance to thank her for coming. She’s been your true friend all these years. I have a feeling you