He could hardly think, let alone make a sound. Finally, he managed, “I’ll be right back.” A quick trip to the bedroom to change into his robe and wash his hands, he returned to the kitchen.
“Sit down, amato, and open your gift first.”
In a daze, he unwrapped the tiny box by his glass and pulled out a man’s gold band. “We’ll get it inscribed later. Try it on and see if it fits.”
His heart thudded. “I need your help.”
“No, you don’t, or this roast pig from Prospero’s will go to waste.”
Fausta...
“I guess we can’t have that.” He put it on.
“You’re mine now and I’ll adore you forever.”
Forever.
She put their dinner plates full of food on the table and sat down. While he was trying to take in her beauty and all that she’d created here, she lifted her wineglass. The blue diamond ring was back on her finger. “To the husband who has made me thankful I was born.” There were tears in her voice.
Nico lifted his glass. “To the wife who made an orphan feel like a king and has literally transformed my life.”
He clinked her glass and they drank the liquid, which glistened on her lips, reminding him of the first time at the cantina. He would have sold his soul to kiss her that night. Tonight he intended to kiss the two of them into oblivion.
Her eyes feasted on him as they ate. “Roast pig has become my favorite meal. Every step of your life has enamored me. I guess you saw Pippa give me a gift before we left the castello. They were little photographs of you taken from the time you were twelve. I studied them for hours.”
He took a quick breath. “Trust Pippa.”
“You have no idea how precious they are to me, but she knew what they would mean to me. What a darling boy you were! No wonder you captured their hearts. I’m going to have each one framed.” She stared into his eyes. “Tonight, I’m putting in an order for a baby who looks just like you.”
“I already put in one earlier today, for an enchanting princess with hair of gold and jewel blue eyes, but I’m more than eager to accommodate you this very minute.” He got up from the table and pulled her after him.
Nico could see she’d already inhabited his bedroom. Her feminine items draped around had turned his apartment into a love nest. Giorgio had come out of the closet and sat on the chair. Overcome with emotion, he crushed her to him. He’d never imagined happiness like this was possible.
“I need you, squisita—I want to love you and never let you go.” In the next breath they lay down together. Throughout the hours of the night they gave in to the passion consuming them. His ardent lover thrilled him.
Enzo had called her adorable. Fausta was that, and so many other things—he was blown away by her womanly magic. He would never be able to get enough of her. Toward morning they both fell asleep with their legs entangled, her face burrowed against his shoulder.
When he heard a phone ring, he knew he couldn’t ignore it. A patient might be calling who needed him. But Fausta was one step ahead of him.
“It’s my phone, Nico. I’ll get it. You sleep.” She reached for it on the bedside table, but by now he was awake. For someone to call her at five thirty in the morning concerned him.
She sat up to talk. All he heard her say was “Lanza.” After a minute, she thanked her and hung up.
“What’s going on, Fausta?”
“I think you can guess.” She put the phone on the table and returned to his arms.
“So, our secret is out.”
“Yes. My bodyguards saw us go in with your doctor’s bag. Then they saw the priest leave the castello and knew something was wrong. They caught up to the priest and said they were on the king’s business. He told them he’d performed a marriage service for you and me. That’s all they needed to hear.
“Lanza wanted to give us a heads-up that the parents are now in the know. They wanted to find out what she knew. I’m glad she couldn’t tell them anything.”
“So am I, Fausta, but we need to talk to them before I have to leave for the office. My first appointment is at nine. Let’s get dressed right now and drive to the palace. What we need to tell them has to be said face-to-face. They deserve to know everything. I want them to know how much I love you.”
She threw her arms around his neck. “It’s going to be all right, Nico. I promise.”
“I’m not worried about me, tesoro. It’s you.”
“Don’t worry about me. I have you.”
Her faith in him was humbling. He recalled a certain conversation with Felipe.
I’m thankful I’m not in your shoes. When the time comes, I don’t envy you. But for what it’s worth, I defy the king to find a better man for his daughter than you.
* * *
“Mamma? Papa? I’d like to introduce you to my husband, Dr. Nico Barsotti, who is a family practice physician at the Hospital of the Three Crosses.”
Fausta’s parents had been waiting for them in the salon following her phone call to them.
Nico bowed with infinite composure. “Your Majesties. It’s a great honor to meet you at last.” With his tall, rock-solid build and dark hair, he looked fabulous in his tan suit and tie. She loved him so terribly, her heart hurt.
“How do you do, Dr. Barsotti.” Her patrician father and mother made imposing figures, but she could always count on them to be kind. They’d faced difficult situations with her sisters’ marriages. “Why don’t you and Fausta be seated.”
“Thank you.”
She reached for Nico’s hand and they sat on the love seat opposite her parents.
“Lanza phoned us at Nico’s apartment earlier this morning. We imagined the news would leak out but hoped to have a chance to tell you before you heard it from anyone else. Since it’s too late for that, we want you to know why we didn’t come to you before now. Nico has an amazing story to tell. I’m going to let him explain.”
Fausta’s beloved husband sat forward and began his incredible tale, starting with life at the orphanage. As the revelations continued to unfold, she watched her parents’ somber expressions change to ones of disbelief and eventual awe.
Her father was the first to shake his head. “You’re the son of King Carlo and definitely look like him. How amazing, and how sad that you didn’t get to meet him.”
“As Signor Bruno explained, he didn’t dare bring me out of hiding until he felt there was no threat.”
“Your father was a remarkable king who had to rule under the very difficult circumstances of war. I would have attended his funeral if I’d been physically able.”
Her mother had put a hand over her heart. “You never got to meet your mother either. I’m so sorry.”
“So am I. Where the queen is concerned, I don’t know what’s going to happen. Fausta and I wanted to be married before I have to make a decision, but we just don’t know what that decision will be until she reaches out to me.”
Fausta felt her father’s eyes on her. They were smiling. “You always knew your own mind. Are you still angry with me that I sent Dego and his sister to school in Italy years ago?”
“Funny you would ask me that, Papa. Last night as I was getting our dinner ready at the apartment, I found myself thanking you for preserving me for Nico. He’s my life.” Her voice shook.
“That’s the way it should be, figlia mia.”
“I truly did want both of you at the ceremony, but the fuss of a royal wedding isn’t for me. I know a worthy cause where we could donate the money.”
Her father nodded. “I’m grateful for Enzo and Pippa.”
“So are we!” she cried. “They were wonderful to help arrange for the priest to marry us.”
Nico nodded. “They’ve been like parents to me. I owe them so much I can never repay them. Perhaps the day will come when you’ll forgive us for ge
tting married in private.”
“That was my fault,” Fausta blurted. “Nico wanted to tell you, but—”
“But you wanted to do it your own way,” her mother said with a smile. “You always did, and now you’ve married the man who has set you on fire. We couldn’t be happier. Welcome to the family, Nico. Whether doctor or king, you’ve made our daughter happier than we’ve ever seen her.”
“I’m the one who’s happy. Fausta is a gift, one I’ll treasure all the days of my life.”
Fausta got to her feet. “I wish we could talk longer, but Nico has to get to the hospital.”
Her parents stood up and walked over to Nico to give him a hug. It thrilled Fausta’s heart to watch the three of them embrace.
“Walk me out,” Nico whispered a minute later against her neck. When they reached the foyer, he gripped her upper arms tightly. “I never met such gracious people in my life.”
“I told you it would be all right.”
“No wonder you’re the way you are. Thank heaven your father got rid of Dego. Thank heaven for Angelo. Thank heaven for Enzo and Pippa. Thank heaven for Lorenzo, who got me a position at the hospital. The day I met you was the beginning of my life, Fausta.”
“And mine. What time can I expect you home?”
“I promised Felipe I’d go out for a beer with him after work. He wants to tell me about their wedding plans. Expect me by seven.”
“After you tell him we’re married, maybe you might make it by eight?” she teased and pressed a kiss to his lips. “I won’t be able to breathe till you get home.”
* * *
Later that evening Felipe came in to Nico’s office at quarter to six. They left in their cars for a favorite pub that served sandwiches and local beer. After ordering from the bar, they found a booth. Sports reviews were on the TV closest to them.
They talked about Felipe’s wedding set for August 5. There would be a rehearsal dinner the night before.
Nico was about to tell Felipe everything when there was a news flash that interrupted the latest scores of soccer matches.
“We interrupt this program to bring you breaking news from the royal palace. In a secret wedding ceremony, twenty-five-year-old Princess Fausta Rossiano, middle daughter of King Victor and Queen Ginata, was recently married to commoner Dr. Nico Barsotti. More details will be forthcoming on the ten o’clock news. Now back to our regularly scheduled program.”
Felipe let out a whoop everyone in the pub could hear. A grin broke out on his face. “You sly fox. I knew something’s been going on. How come I had to hear it on the news?”
Nico lowered his beer glass. “You would have been the first person I told, but Fausta and I still hadn’t talked to her parents and that didn’t happen until this morning at the palace. I’m positive they didn’t release this news to the press, so of course there’s been a leak.” Which meant Basil and Queen Liliane had heard about it too.
“Where did you get married? When?”
In the next little while Nico told him everything. His friend studied him in sheer amazement as his story unfolded.
“Santo cielo! Over the years you’ve been looking for your parents, when all this time you’ve been the son of King Carlo? And now you’re the heir apparent to the throne of La Valazzura? This is the most incredible thing I ever heard.”
Nico nodded. “I’m still trying to deal with it. If I didn’t have Fausta with me...” He finished the rest of his beer. “Nothing’s final. It can’t be until I hear from the queen. My father’s evil cousin, Giuseppe Umberto, wants the throne for himself. A battle is waging for control over there.”
“Would you hate me if I said I hope you stay in Domodossola for the rest of your lives? Mia adores Fausta. It’ll be a loss neither of us will get over.”
Those words warmed Nico. “How could I hate you when you’ve been the closest thing I’ll ever have to a brother?”
“Amen.”
“I love being a doctor, Felipe. I’m not sure I can give it up.” He let out a troubled sigh. “But whatever happens, I promise you we’ll be here for your wedding. It’ll be my privilege to be your best man.”
“Is it all right if I tell Mia?”
“She’s probably heard already.”
“But not your story. I’m sure you want to get back to Fausta. You’re still on your honeymoon. Let’s go.”
After another hug, they parted company at their cars. Nico drove home knowing Fausta was there waiting for him. She was all he could think about as he hurried inside the apartment, breathless to sweep her in his arms.
He thought he’d find her in the bedroom since he’d returned later than he’d meant to. Instead he saw her sitting in the living room still dressed in casual clothes. His normally radiant wife looked worried. She wasn’t alone. Signor Bruno was with her.
La Valazzura’s intelligence agents worked with a speed that didn’t escape Nico.
CHAPTER ELEVEN
“BASIL?” HE WALKED over and shook his hand, then sat next to Fausta and grasped her hand. “I take it you’ve heard the news about our wedding.”
The older man nodded. “What’s more important, the queen has her spies and your marriage has caused such a serious problem for her, she has sent me here to talk to you personally. Perhaps your wife should be the one to explain to you since I’ve told her everything.”
Nico turned to her. “What’s going on, tesoro?”
“The queen made the decision that she wants you to be the next king. Since she’s Slovenian, she has a young cousin, Princess Anne of Slovenia, who will make you the perfect wife. A marriage between the two of you will keep the ties close between your two countries. Therefore, she wants our marriage dissolved as if it had never been.
“For the sake of the crown you should listen to him, Nico. I’m an impediment. We’ve only been married for two days and could end it just as quickly.”
Angrier than he’d ever been in his life, Nico got to his feet. “When I met with her, Basil, I was a single man. We didn’t discuss my marital state, nor did she lay down any conditions.”
“Nevertheless, she has now set the rules. I’m here to present them to you.”
“Do you mean to tell me that even though she knows I’ve just married my heart’s desire, she could cold-bloodedly ask me to divorce my new wife in order to gain the throne?”
Basil stood up, composed as ever. “She knows your chances could fail if you arrive with a foreign-born wife. It could create more problems for our paranoid nation. She fears the parliament would have great difficulty accepting the situation or trusting it.”
Nico didn’t believe any of these reasons were the major force driving the queen. She was still unforgiving of what Nico’s father had done to her. But it would give her some satisfaction to know he would have to take a new bride he didn’t love in order to fill his father’s shoes. Somehow, she would have her revenge if he divorced Fausta.
His body tautened. “Thank you for delivering her message to me. You can return to La Valazzura and tell her that no earthly throne is more important to me than a celestial marriage. I plan to live with Fausta through eternity.”
Basil’s eyes studied him for a long moment. “You’d make a remarkable king. Your cousin will never be able to fill your father’s shoes, but I know you could.”
“Thank you for the vote of confidence, Basil.”
The cousin of Nico’s father was banging on the doors of the Azzura palace, ready to burst them down. Let him.
“Thank you for being so gracious, Princess.”
As Basil had discovered, Fausta was the epitome of all those exceptional Rossiano qualities. Nico had never loved her more than he did at this moment.
“I’ll convey your decision to the queen.” Their visitor bowed to both of them and left the apartment.
“Bellissima—” He swung aro
und to embrace her, but she stood at a distance, all closed up. Nico knew that look. “The waiting is over, grazie a Dio. Our new life is ahead of us. Come to bed with me. I’m aching for you.”
She took another step back. “We have to talk first.”
He took a deep breath. “There’s nothing to talk about. We’re staying here in Domodossola for the rest of our lives.”
“Nico—you’ve just been told that Queen Liliane wants you to be the new ruler of your country and take over where your father left off. We know it’s what he would have wanted if he were still alive.”
“Except that she wasn’t honest with me and had her own secret agenda. I’m a married man now and that disqualifies me.”
“But we can get a divorce.”
His brows furrowed. “I’m going to pretend I didn’t hear you say that.”
“You have to listen to me! You’ve been on a path your entire life to discover your identity. I believe with all my heart that you’re supposed to be the new king. There’ve been too many little miracles along the way that prove to me you’re the one who’s been destined to be the head of the country.”
Her words gutted him. “Does our love mean so little to you that one word from the queen and you’re willing to destroy everything between us so that I can be king?”
“No. I’m not saying this right. Please, darling, I—”
“I think you are,” he cut her off. “Is it possible that my becoming king at any cost is more important to you than I am? How many times have we talked about the class difference between us? I’m beginning to see that there truly is a gigantic gulf that separates our thinking.”
She shook her head. At this point tears were spilling down her pale cheeks. “I need to explain what I meant.”
“I heard you loud and clear. You’re from the aristocracy. You people really do march to a holy drum. Angelo was right. Queen Liliane has decreed what she deems necessary, and you fall on your sword. But where does that leave me? According to you, there is no us! Our wedding ceremony can be discarded for the greater good. Is that it?”
How to Propose to a Princess Page 14