by Carolyn Zane
“You have certainly helped me realize three very important things in this life.”
“Mmm. And what would they be?”
“Well, for one thing, that life is very short, and to waste even a moment is a sin.”
Her head snapped up and her eyes flew to his. “That’s just what I learned from you!”
“Ahh, good. Then you won’t refuse me, when I ask you to mar—”
“Yes!” Marie-Claire’s squeal was gleeful as she pulled his face low for another kiss.
“I don’t want to wait,” Sebastian said, when she let him up for air.
“Neither do I.”
“Good. You have two weeks.”
“Two weeks?”
“Just enough time to let the public digest the fact that we are not related. Yet, anyway.”
Marie-Claire nodded, the cogs in her mind already grinding into motion. “Two weeks is not much time, but I’m up to the task. There are cable shows and advice columns dealing with just such emergencies….”
“God help us all,” Sebastian moaned.
Marie-Claire giggled and buried her fingers into his back pants pockets. “Sebastian?”
“Hmm?” He was busy kissing the back of her jaw, directly under her ear.
“What else have you realized?”
“Uh…I forgot.”
Her laughter was lazy. “You did not. Think.”
“I can’t.”
“Tell me.”
Eyes heavy with desire, Sebastian paused and thought. “Oh. The second thing is that I have no desire ever to live above my means. So. If you’ll agree to live with me at my house in the—”
“Yes!” Again, Marie-Claire cut him off with a long, soulful kiss.
“And last, but certainly most important of all, I love you more than any man has ever loved a woman.”
“Oh, Sebastian. I love you.”
Sebastian loosened his collar. “You know, it’s still going to take some adjusting, to get me over the idea that you are not my sister.”
Marie-Claire growled and tugged his lower lip between her teeth.
“Okay. I’m adjusted,” he said, and angled her mouth beneath his.
Epilogue
Through a wide arched doorway made of stone, an ethereal gold light, courtesy of the setting sun, streamed into a small garden niche. Just outside the palace walls, it housed a large glass gazebo, erected just for this special occasion. The site was perfect for a twilight wedding in the middle of April.
Fragrance from the spring flowers that crowded the formal gardens wafted about on the light breezes and into the open windows. Gentle spring rains misted the leaded panes on the roof, refracting light and dazzling the guests. Pea-stone paths wended through pine trees and thickly flowered rhododendron bushes and bulbs of hyacinth and tulip, all culminating at the arched door.
Inside the glass house, candles burned and light harpsichord music played as Marie-Claire moved, escorted by a smiling prime minister, toward Sebastian. Made of French silk and Italian chiffon, Marie-Claire’s dress swished along the satin floor runner and Sebastian thought he’d never seen anything so beautiful in his life.
The audience was small, only Marie-Claire’s family and a few friends. A much chastened Claudette sat in the front row, crying real tears at the beauty of the occasion. Ariane had flown home from Rhineland for the ceremony and stood with Lise as maid and matron of honor.
As all weddings do, this one moved to its swift conclusion with an exchange of vows and a kiss that lingered nearly as long as the ceremony had. The minister, having pronounced them husband and wife, held up his hands to still the applause.
“Ladies and gentlemen, it is my privilege, for the first time ever, to introduce Mr. and Mrs. Sebastian LeMarc.”
Over the din, Sebastian leaned in to better hear Marie-Claire.
“So,” she said, “we are family after all.”
He nodded and whispered back. “So we are, my wife. But our family is way too small, to my way of thinking.”
“Are you suggesting that we skip the reception?”
“If we leave now, we can be starting on that baby in less than an hour.”
Losing a slipper as she went, Marie-Claire grabbed his hand and together, they ran into happily ever after.
Special thanks and acknowledgment are given to Carolyn Zane for her contribution to the ROYALLY WED: THE MISSING HEIR series.
ISBN: 978-1-4603-5322-6
OF ROYAL BLOOD
Copyright © 2002 by Harlequin Books S.A.
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*Sister Switch
†The Brubaker Brides