Yesterday afternoon she hadn’t been her best and he’d given her another chance. She held him close. “You sure you’ll beokay?”
He gave her a smile with those dimples of his that made her melt. “No women allowed for my afternoon. Remington and I will ride and exercise thehorses.”
Everything was set. Today she would choose a dress to get married in and her life would become an adventure better than the stories she’d read. “Can we honeymoon inParis?”
He winked. “Ofcourse.”
She let go of his hands and turned toward her friend. “Are you ready,Beth?”
Beth nodded but said to Blackwell, “Donna needs the proper clothes to be a duchess. Your mother promised to help her, like we did yesterday, but I wanted to know yourthoughts.”
He stared at her blankly and then walked over to help Beth into the car. “I think the accountant set up an account for my future duchess years ago. I’ll have the paperwork for Donna when she gets back. And Donna wants you to move here permanently, so I’ll get the driver to pass the house I think you’dlike.”
Beth scoffed. “I can’t afford European taxes on myretirement.”
Donna’s heart stopped. She needed herfriend.
Blackwell said, “The house is part of my estate. Don’t worry about property taxes or anything. Consider joiningus.”
Beth nodded. “I’ll think about it.” She ducked inside the car. “Have the driver point out the house—it wouldn’thurt.”
Donna kissed Blackwell, intending a light meeting of their mouths, but he held her close and kissed her hard, stealing herbreath.
He then helped her inside and closed herdoor.
The driver took off in the same direction and once they reached the gate, Beth patted her knee. “Donna, have I told you I like this fiancé much better than yourlast?”
For once everything was good in her life and no dark clouds hung over them. She smiled and said, “No, but we better not dawdle anymore. We have an appointment with thequeen.”
She looked behind her and saw Blackwell waving them off. She pushed the window down and waved back. “Goodbye,Blackwell.”
Now she had her chance. She just needed to be thankful. Nothing could gowrong.
