Anna circled her, her arms crossed as she checked out the bridal gown. She nodded at the end and met Kristin's stare. "And my son is waiting to marry you, which means soon you'll be mydaughter."
"I hope I do you justice today." Kristin lowered herlashes.
The designer stepped away so nothing was between them now. Anna came closer, brushed her shoulders, and fixed the heirloom necklace that Kristin wore as something borrowed. "You already do, but you'll have to forgive me when tomorrow I start the 'when will you make me a grandmothercampaign.'"
For the second time, Anna made her laugh. She wanted to go forward with her, but she stayed still as the designer adjusted the back of her dress. Kristin ignored the designer for that moment and tilted her head. "Let me marry Antoniofirst."
"Is she ready?" Queen Anna Camilla stated in a way that a few hundred years ago if someone answered no they’d probably lose theirheads.
The designer backed away and bowed. "Yes, YourHighness."
The queen then looped her arm with hers and walked her to the door. Renee followed behind them holding the flowers while the queen told Kristin, "Proceed down the grand stair case alone. Don't trip—hold your dress as you go down. Every ten steps there is a level step that's elongated. Stop and wave and if you see a camera, smile brightly. Once you make it down, walk into the carriage. Then as the horses bring you forward, wave at the crowds on both sides of you. Don't favoroneside."
Half the directions became jumbled in her head. Walk, stop and wave were all she processed. Kristin felt more adrenaline rushing through her, but she tried to hold still. "What if Imessup?"
"So what if you do?" Queen Anna let her arm go at the top of the stairs and stepped back. "As long as you get to the church and sayI dotomyson."
Kristin hugged her. Antonio's mother must be where he got his personality from because underneath all the pomp, she was caring and devoted. She let her go and asked, "Where willyoube?"
"In the black limo in front. You're going to be great." Queen Anna then turned toward her friend. "Renee, you'll come with me as Kristin does herthing."
Renee nodded and then handed Kristin a small bouquet of roses that were designed for her walk down the stairs. Kristin remembered the drill. At the church she'd get her bridal bouquet. She accepted the flowers and Renee told her, "Think about Antonio and how you are about to be his. Meditate on his face. You'll beawesome."
"Thank you." Kristin looked at the huge flight of stairs she was to walk down. She admitted quietly, "This part is slightlyterrifying."
"Antonio is at the end. Don't lose faith." Reneebackedaway.
"Got it." Kristin told her, but then the trumpetsblared.
Someone outside said, "Presenting Kristin Wells, soon to be the Crown Princess of Avce. May God grant her a long life, and with our lady’s divine help, may the family continue to bless allofus."
Kristin almost tripped on the first step. No one saw, but she left the shadow and made it to the light. On the first level, she stopped andwaved.
An image of Antonio's smile played in her mind and she thought about last night and the night before that. Once she made it through this, she'd be in his armsagain.
She proceeded down the next flight and smiled again with a wave. Despite the bright lights, she made her way down the steps and into the carriage. With every step she went one more inch toward believing loveexisted.
Chapter19
Antonio carriedhis tuxedo jacket into the groom’s quarters of the church and draped it over a chair. His fiancé was soon to be his wife, who was about to be a princess. It would take a while to make it through the throng of people who wanted toseeher.
He heard laughter in the next room and knocked on the door. He hugged his brother, who’d arrived late last night. "Lucio, good to have both of mybrothershere."
Lucio patted Marco on the back and said, "Marco said the woman you found online wasworthy."
Lucio had no idea. To him, Kristin was the best thing that he’d ever found and he'd not lose her, not now. "Worthy? Lucio, she's the best wife I could have possiblyfound."
Lucio wrung his hands together and paled. "I have nine months left. If my method fails, I may ask for yourbackup."
With the Internet, everyone's secrets and who they truly are were there to be data-mined. He hadn't believed his computer technicians during that intial proposal meeting 60 days ago himself, but he’d been desperate. Now he wanted to sponsor everyone to use the technology to find their match. It had worked for him. He kept his words short though. "Tomorrow, if we're still princes, set up a meeting with IT. Answer every question, bothofyou."
Lucio shook his head, as if not ready to hear it. "Let's get through this day and get you married." He then poured everyone glasses of water as the champagne was for the rest of the day, after the wedding. As he handed Antonio a glass, Lucio said, "Mother likes her, from what I understand. That has to make thingseasier."
Antonio hadn’t considered his mother's possible disapproval. He stared into the dark eyes of his brother and said, "Strange thing to say Lucio. Did mother not approve of one of yourdates?"
"That was a long time ago, as a teenager." Lucio drank hiswater.
Trumpets blared and Marco gulped his glass, stood and announced, "Mother and Fatherarehere."
