Behind him people sighed.
He stood straighter but glanced at Anna. Her face was white. He must have been lost in thoughts of her longer than he’d realized. He picked up her hand and kissed it.
The priest began to speak and Leo whispered to Anna, “So now he speaks in Latin for the blessings?”
She released a long breath that she must have been holding. “I thought you had changed your mind.”
“I was lost in thoughts of you and our honeymoon.” He leaned closer and smelled her sweet flowery perfume, or was it the bouquet in her trembling hands?
Her hands stopped shaking as she relaxed at his words. A moment later, she whispered back, “Any idea where we’re being sent on our honeymoon?”
He’d made arrangements earlier that morning. His parents had demanded they go somewhere private and alone. Now that he stood here, as the priest continued this long ceremony, he understood why. Being alone with Anna would be very good. They could talk then, among other things. “I’m taking you to the South Castle.”
She swayed a little but then held her bouquet closer as she glanced into the calla lilies. “I’ve never been there.”
The priest had stepped aside, but now his father was giving a speech on the future of Avce being tied to their family.
He pressed his hand on her lower back just to touch her. “It’s a small island with few inhabitants, so we’ll be alone, though if you want to go somewhere else, out of Avce, we can.”
“I’m happy to go to the island.” She sounded steady and sure. “The pictures I’ve seen of the castle make it seem lovely.”
The king ended his formal speech. Good.
Now the priest started in on the ending prayers. Any moment this ceremony would finally end.
His hair stood on end as he said, “Good. I hope we always get along.”
Again the priest stared at them like they were children behaving badly.
Anna whispered, “The priest is probably hoping we start following the rules.”
Soon, she’d not care and give a flash of royalty back. He winked at her.
The priest raised his voice and said, “Now by the power vested in me, I declare Prince Leopoldo Cosimo Francesco Gastone Giuliano Piero Charles Marcus Lorenzo Antonio Aussa of the House of Lukceva and Miss Anna Camila Bruno husband and wife.”
Silence clung in the air.
Goosebumps grew on his arms. Yesterday’s kisses lingered in his memory and caused his mouth to tingle again.
She stared up at him with big brown eyes as she asked, “What do we do now?”
This kiss would be for show. Soon he’d have her alone and they’d do this right. He wrapped his arms around her small waist and pressed his forehead to hers. “Kiss me, Anna.”
She closed her eyes and lifted her face. “I’m scared of all this Leo…”
Leo captured her pink lips and a spark washed through him.
Anna was now his.
Maybe he shouldn’t want to claim her, but she intoxicated him with her innocence--she pressed herself into him like she needed him to hold her upright.
He held her as the kiss ended until he was sure she was steady. He took her hand and said, “Relax and trust me. Now all we need to do is wave and get into the limo.”
She waved as they made their way down the aisle and the piano played the recessional while the children’s choir performed.
She checked her veil was in place after a few steps and asked, “No reception?”
Fifty meters, Leo thought, and no more ceremony. From now on it was just the two of them. He stayed beside her and took a few more steps as he smiled and said, “I wanted us to disappear right away. We will have the reception when we get back.”
