CHAPTER TEN
On the day of the wedding, everyone at the palace rushed around in a frenzy.
Bella dressed in one of the upstairs palace bedrooms, donning a gorgeous blue patterned dress that Beatriz had told her to wear. It wasn’t really her style—more crisp and sleek than her usual romantic ruffles—but she had to admit it was striking. The official wedding hair team had pinned her exuberant curls into an elegant updo and attached a small navy hat—more of a fascinator, really—to her hair with pearl-tipped pins.
Right now she looked a lot more polished and confident than she felt.
She’d wanted to impress Rigo with her amazing admin skills, but she couldn’t find Francine Petrie and after toiling through the files—too slowly for Rigo’s taste, she could tell, and she hadn’t found anything to justify all the time involved. She kept hoping she could discover some big scoop to wow him with, but it all just looked like deadly boring financial reports to her.
She had a role in Sandro and Serena’s wedding as Rigo’s…companion, but after that?
In the last week Rigo had been busy and preoccupied, barely leaving his office while she was at the palace. If she didn’t know he could care less about her and her movements she’d have said he was avoiding her.
If she got fired—which seemed imminent—she’d be out of a job and out of the money to fund her sanctuary.
Desperate times called for desperate measures. At some point today—hopefully her gut would tell her when—she was going to throw caution to the wind and make her move.
A friend of Sandro’s called Louis had arrived from New Orleans to command the catering, and the smell of spicy seafood already filled the gilded hallways and overwhelmed the aroma of the giant floral bouquets that had sprouted everywhere.
Serena was incredibly nervous and wouldn’t let Sandro see her in her dress due to the superstition about the groom not seeing the bride before the wedding. The dress was even more special because her aunt had designed it using a vast expanse of white taffeta exploding from a gorgeously fitted bodice with a scoop neckline and cap sleeves. Her aunt was fussing over the long train while a makeup artist put the finishing touches on Serena’s already gorgeous face.
“You look like a fairy-tale princess,” she said to Serena. “Which is appropriate, under the circumstances.”
Serena shot her a grin. “Thanks. I feel like one, though part of me can’t wait until I’m just married.”
Downstairs guests milled about, many of them staying at the palace and getting ready to head to the church for the wedding. Beatriz introduced Bella to her glamorous mother, Lina, and Lina’s new husband, Amadou Khadem, and she gushed over how much she enjoyed his concert that she’d seen in Berlin two years earlier.
Emma looked radiant in a blue-and-white dress designed by Beatriz, and Sandro and Darias—dapper in elegant formal wear—moved about greeting guests and putting everyone at ease.
Everyone put in a big effort to make Sandro and Serena’s day a huge success—except Rigo, who was nowhere to be seen.
As more and more people headed out of the palace for the short walk to the cathedral, Bella started to feel at a loose end. Should she head there without Rigo and save him a seat? They’d had literally no discussion whatsoever about today’s events, so she wasn’t even sure he knew she was supposed to be his plus-one.
Anxious, she hurried up to Beatriz. “Do you know where Rigo is?”
“Knowing him he’s probably in his office with his head in some papers.”
“I checked there already.”
“Let’s see…where would he hide?” Beatriz pressed a finger to her lips. “Try his bedroom. It’s up the stairs and three doors down on the left.”
“Okay.” The idea of knocking on Rigo’s bedroom door—or even of knowing where his bedroom was—made her feel awkward. What if he was in the middle of something…personal?
She climbed the stairs slowly, turning her head back to scan the crowd below in the hope that he’d miraculously appear. The hallway upstairs was empty, with everyone now either downstairs or headed for the village. Serena was riding there with her parents in a beautiful coach pulled by four white horses.
Bella approached the door with trepidation. Why did her dad have to challenge her to kiss Rigo? She felt awkward enough around him already. Besides, she’d already kissed him once for her own less-than-honorable purposes. It was a ridiculous idea, and she wasn’t going to do it. She must have been out of her mind earlier to think she’d even attempt it.
She knocked gently on the door. “Rigo?”
“Who is it?”
“Uh, it’s uh…” her name temporarily escaped her. Was he naked in there? Or maybe half dressed? “Everyone’s heading to the church. Beatriz told me to get—”
Before she could finish her sentence, the door swung open to reveal a disturbing vision of Rigo dressed in the same elegant gray suit and cravat as his brothers—more handsome and irresistible than ever.
Maybe I should kiss him. The idea crowded her mind.
She chased it away. She had to kiss him in public or it didn’t count.
I’m definitely not going to kiss him. She realized she was just standing there, blocking the doorway and staring at him. “Uh, did anyone tell you that you and I…that we’re…that…”
“They did,” he said grimly. “I hope you’re not too offended. I had nothing to do with it.”
Of course he didn’t. She realized as he said it that she’d cherished a foolish fantasy that he might have requested her at his side.
She pulled herself together. “I think it’s my job to make sure you show up.”
“Where’s your ferret?” He looked for her bag.
“My neighbor Marie is looking after Squiggles today. Do you miss him?” She headed out into the hallway, hoping he’d follow without further coaxing.
“Unquestionably. What a shame that he’ll miss the ceremony.”
“I don’t think he’d like all the crowds. He’s a very retiring ferret.”
Rigo walked a few steps behind her, and she could swear she could feel his gaze zeroed in on her backside. Which probably didn’t look half bad in this very fitted dress. She made a concerted effort not to sway her hips.
Only a few stragglers now remained downstairs, possibly security personnel cunningly disguised as wedding guests. “I think we’re supposed to walk,” she offered, as they headed outside.
“Were you hoping for a carriage ride?”
“Who wouldn’t?”
“You look very pretty in that dress.”
His unexpected words hit her like a blow. “Oh. Thanks!” She scrambled to act normal, which meant at least slightly snarky. “Does that mean I usually don’t?”
“You fit right in here in Altaleone with all your romantic ruffles and knee-high lace-up boots. I feel like I’m back in another century.”
“You hate that, don’t you?” She was genuinely curious how he felt about Altaleone.
“I don’t know.” He frowned, looking down the drive as they walked. “I thought I did, but there’s something about the place that’s so peaceful. Being here puts things in perspective. In New York every minute seems vitally important. Here, where families have lived in the same spot for hundreds of years and cows have pedigrees as long as humans, our day-to-day panics and worries don’t seem as pressing.
“You sound like you’re ready to move back here and become a shepherd or something.”
“That would be a sad waste of my law degree.”
“Why did you study the law?” Again, she was genuinely curious.
He shoved a hand through his hair as if he needed a moment to think. They were almost down the driveway, passing through the tall gates that led out toward the village. “Growing up here where everything is set in stone and things are the way they are because they’ve always been like that, I found myself questioning everything. Once I got out into the outside world I could see there were many injustices that needed to be addressed, and I knew the law would be the best way to do that.”
“So you’re kind of a superhero in a suit.”
“Only when I win.”
“I heard you always win.”
A tiny smile tugged at his mouth. “As soon as I win one case there’s another waiting. Do you know how many refugees there are in the world right now looking for a place to call home?”
“More than at any time since the end of World War II.”
“Yes. And while they’re still waiting, and people abducted by human traffickers are still hidden away, and innocent people are locked up in prisons, I’m impatient to work.”
“When you put it that way this enormous and carefully planned wedding must seem like a huge waste of time.” They left the palace grounds and entered the village, where they could see long lines of people filing into the ancient cathedral.
“That would be my New Yorker perspective, but my Altaleone brain reminds me that it’s a beautiful occasion in the lives of two special people and it makes good sense to help them celebrate it.”
“So Altaleone makes you want to stop and smell the roses.”
“Or the edelweiss. The ugly truth is that problems will always be piling up in my inbox, and I’m betraying my family and friends if I ignore them to focus on the needs—even the urgent needs—of strangers all the time.”
“Well, I think you’re a hero.” His words had humbled her. “I wish I was a better assistant. I know I’m not that good.”
He didn’t respond immediately, which made her realize she’d been fishing for compliments. Idiot! She should have kept her incompetence to herself.
She tried to join the end of the line, but a well-dressed usher approached them and gestured for them to come past the crowd and up to the front of the church.
“It seems that animals are more your passion than filing.”
“Is anyone passionate about filing?”
“Oh, yes. My admin Sonia in Manhattan lives for it. She designs the labels for the files and has them custom-made. That’s dedication.”
The buzz of conversation about them made it easy to talk. “I admire and envy her.”
“No, you don’t.” The usher pointed them to two seats in the front row, next to Beatriz and her fiancé, Lorenzo. “And you shouldn’t. What you’re doing is every bit as important to those animals as what I’m trying to do for needy humans.”
“Thanks.” That was genuinely sweet of him, even if he was just saying it to be nice. She picked up the program and sat down, taking a quick—and alarming—glance back at the hundreds of people seated behind them in the long nave of the cathedral.
Now would be a good time.
She opened the program quickly, cursing her mind for even straying along such a stupid path. Imagine kissing Rigo in front of all these people sitting waiting for his sister’s wedding?
What would Beatriz say? A quick glance at Beatriz caught her kissing Lorenzo softly on the lips.
Great!
They were sitting on a bench, all crammed together like sardines so her hip pressed against Rigo’s on one side. Awkward!
At least her father wasn’t here. He hadn’t been invited to the wedding itself, only the reception, which he was probably stewing about since he took his social standing very seriously.
She glanced around, recognizing a few faces in the crowd. Most were strangers. These people must be wondering who I am. Maybe some thought she was Rigo’s girlfriend. Maybe they even thought she was another American fresh off the plane from New York like Emma and Serena.
She rather liked the idea of being a lady of mystery, even if she was really just a lady-in-waiting of mystery.
At last everyone was seated, Sandro appeared looking very dashing and excited in his ceremonial uniform, and processional music began. Serena’s proud dad led her up the aisle. Two of Serena’s young cousins with floral crowns on their heads carried her train very gravely and carefully. Her little nephew carried the rings on a pillow and a tiny niece was a very adorable and smiley flower girl.
Bella felt her eyes grow moist as Serena approached her husband-to-be. She’d never experienced this kind of romance. Never even been in love. She’d had boyfriends but nothing serious. It must be wonderful—and scary—to meet someone and know that this is the person you wanted to spend the rest of your life with.
She snuck a glance at Rigo, who gazed at the whole proceedings with apparent stony disinterest. He was probably ruminating over the details of some pressing legal case in New York and barely paying attention to the romantic events unfolding right in front of them.
The service took place in the local language, which was then immediately translated into English by a perky female translator, so that the many American guests could follow along. When they said their vows—Sandro first, then Serena—there was barely a dry eye in the whole church. Their kiss was so tender it made her heart squeeze.
Beaming, Sandro and Serena made their way back up the aisle together and soon the assembled crowd rose to its feet with a rustling of programs and a muffled hum of conversation.
One down! She really had no idea how many more events today entailed because she hadn’t wanted to make a nuisance of herself by asking and the printed program was vague. While most of the guests filed out of the church one row at a time, starting with the back, the royal family—including her—was whisked out the side door and toward a train of waiting horse-drawn carriages. The horses had white plumes on their heads and black-and-gold harnesses.
“Oh, my goodness,” she exclaimed. A brocade-uniformed footman helped her in, and Rigo squeezed in next to her. The lovely carriage was clearly designed for the smaller people of an earlier time, and Rigo’s head almost touched the satin-quilted ceiling.
“Isn’t this lovely?” she exclaimed, peering out the rather small window.
“I can’t wait until this part is over. I feel like a sitting target. During Darias’s coronation someone lobbed a firecracker into the procession.”
“True. I remember reading about that.” Apprehension crept up her spine. “Do you think we’re in danger?”
“Probably almost every other person along the road back to the palace is hired security staff, but even they can’t always be trusted.”
“Maybe it would have been safer—if more boring—to go in limos.”
“The Leone family does not cower in the face of aggression.” He said it simply, not even turning to look at her.
“Of course not.” She straightened her shoulders. Still, she didn’t want to die. Who would take care of her animals? All of Squiggles’s fur would fall out again, and Pepe would go back to anxiously plucking his feathers.
Rigo turned to her. “I’ve made you nervous.”
“I’m fine,” she said, trying to sound brave.
“If anything happens to you today, I’ll make sure all your animals find good homes.” His eyes twinkled, like he was teasing.
She rose to the bait. “What if you’re dead too?”
“Then we can both come back and haunt someone into looking after them.” He said it as if he were deadly serious.
Which made her burst out laughing. She could picture the pair of them—in their ceremonial finery—wafting about Altaleone terrorizing people into buying cat food. “I think you’re crazier than I am.”
“I doubt it.” One brow lifted very slightly. That mischievous twinkle still sparkled in his dark eyes.
I could kiss him now.
Damn it, she’d like to. His mouth was only inches from hers, and the barest hint of a smile tugged at its reluctant corners.
But if she kissed him inside the carriage no one would see it and she would shock and alarm Rigo, thus blowing any chance of kissing him in a more public setting where she’d actually be following her father’s suggestion.
The carriage lurched into motion unexpectedly, throwing her against him. He flung out his arms to steady her, and they ended up wrapped around her.
Help! The warm male scent of him embraced her like the lure of madness. Why did he have to tease her and make her laugh? Rigo was much easier to handle as a humorless legal automaton.
The carriage rumbled along the road—the horses were trotting—and the seat, which must be on springs, bounced them around as if they were on a carnival ride. Rigo held her in a firm embrace, which grew more hotly weird by the second.
Oh, dear. His muscled arms felt way too good wrapped around her. His sturdy thigh mashed against the length of hers. His strong fingers pressed into her back.
“I’m afraid to let go,” he murmured. “Are you going to bounce off the seat?” The bench seat was quite narrow, and Rigo took up most of it.
“Possibly.” In her high heels she couldn’t use her feet to stabilize herself effectively. And she didn’t want him to let go. Which made no sense. Out the tiny window she watched the palace gate flash by and they trotted up the drive to the big courtyard in front of the palace.
Don’t kiss him. Her lips were only a few hot inches from his, as they sat, pinned together, side by side but with Rigo turned toward her, holding her. He looked out the window. “Almost there.” Then he turned to her and she tried desperately to think of something sensible to say but since sensible wasn’t her strong point instead she leaned in and kissed him.
Their lips barely brushed at first—just enough to send a cascade of sensation down to her belly—then Rigo leaned in and planted a firm, fast kiss that sucked all the breath from her lungs. Just as she was about to explode into flames of long-ignored passion, the carriage jerked to a stop and their mouths flew apart.
Before she could say something—anything—a uniformed footman jerked the carriage door open and she climbed out into the cobbled courtyard, face flushed and heart beating like it might burst into a million pieces.