The moment Renee finished eating, her stomach stirred. Today was the day her parents came to Avce and they’d head back to the mainland soon. She glanced at the double doors in the middle of the veranda and assumed it led to the ballroom they'd discussed earlier. This month in Avce had flown by, though it was still the heat of summer.

She asked, "Can we go in and see?"

Marco had no objection. He finished his last bit of coffee and dropped his napkin on the table. Henri would clean up after them. "Also, do castle servants get days off or is this a seven day a week job?"

"I would compare our castle staff with hotel staff in any country, with benefits like vacation time. Most are full time with two days off, but we have part-timers too."

He opened the ballroom door. Renee half expected to be wowed from the enormous chandelier like in the cartoons when she entered the room, but she laughed. Rows upon rows of wedding gowns greeted them, half stealing the limelight from any chandelier, which illuminated nicely. Her face must have given her away because he walked over to her and placed his hand on the small of her back. "Renee, what's wrong?"

"I didn’t know we’d have all these dresses like in your mother’s house." She pulled away and then paced. "Please send a note to your mother that we are getting married and once I go through these, we’ll tell her what dress I want."

Marcus paused. "You don't have to."

"Yes, I do," she said. Something was off inside her, but she didn’t know what it was. She tried to brush off the thought and focus on the task. "And it will be easier to focus in your mother's with this done. I want all our attention on my parents."

"I'll grab my laptop in the library. Meet me there when you're done with the dresses? It's across the hall." He led her to the next doors that he flung open. "I want to take you to the village on this island when you’re through."

She kissed his cheek, thankful she knew where he'd be, and then followed him to close the door the second he left.

The designer dresses were still in the order she'd left her pile. His mother must have known. She picked up the first dress and slipped it over her head.

She stood, looking at the horrible mess she made with wrinkles and twisted lace when Anise came in. "Let me help you, miss."

"Anise." Renee relaxed, thankful until Anise tugged the laces so tight Renee couldn't breathe. Once she adjusted to the dress, she asked, "When did you arrive?"

"This morning." Anise smoothed a line of satin. "My brother called."

Renee trekked out to a mirror in the room and stared at herself in the dress. This modern lace cut wasn't nearly as appealing as she’d thought. She shook her head. "Can you undo me?"

"Of course," Anise replied. "Let's find you a dress so that you can marry Prince Marco."

The next gown reminded her of 1985 Madonna so she laughed. "No." The one after that made her feel like she was poofy and goofy looking, so no. However, the fourth dress was satin-soft material, had a lace neckline up to her throat, and made her feel like a true princess. Elegant, and beautiful. Tears welled in her eyes. "This is it, Anise. Please tell the queen."

"You look lovely," Anise said and helped her out of the dress.

At least her biggest task, according to his mother, was done. She threw on a new green sundress that Anise handed her and her matching green Givenchy sandals. "Thank you."

Renee popped her head in the library, searching for Marco. He had his back turned to her as he stared at his computer screen. She walked over and saw the words "Suspected Anarchists" on the screen in bold but he shut it down when she touched his arm. She asked, "Are you ready?"

If she asked about what she’d read, she'd be more afraid. So instead, she leaned against his table and sent him a friendly smile. "I'm ready." He stood and closed his laptop entirely. "We'll talk soon."

He led her out of the library and toward the door in a circular fashion to get a light jacket from the armory for her to help with the ocean breeze. The moment they were outside, she realized they weren't heading toward the gate and the village. He brought her to a side building next to the castle.

A slight cramp at her stomach made her wonder if she was about to start her period. Or maybe it was the eggs for breakfast.

He opened the side door and chimes played above them. Marco could never be dull. "Where are we going?" She’d thought he’d said the village…

"I want to show you something." He opened a second door for them.

"I'm all yours." The coarseness of his palms was at odds with what she thought a prince would be like. His hardness hadn't scared her. He'd been seriously the best lover she'd ever imagined. "Do you know what's funny?"

"What?"

"I never really thought there would be more to us than great sex and a good time." Her face must be bright red because she felt it was hot. She lowered her lashes to avoid his gaze but kept his hand in hers. "Thinking of you as my husband-to-be is going to take an adjustment, but I'm happy."

"I'm happy too." He took her hand closer to his mouth. "But you asked what else you could do as my princess and I wanted to show you something."

"What is it?" Her lips craved another kiss, but the glare of the lights in the next room killed her libido. Other people were too close.

Liveried servants opened the last door for them. Marco waved at security and another set of doors opened the moment they stood in the middle of the room. This was top notch security, she thought, like something in a movie. He guided her inside where two young military-type men stood in procession. "I promised to keep you safe. I wanted to show you the village but first I want to give you a tour of the training camp I run."

That explained the young boys that stood at attention near the doors. She took off her jacket, very warm in this room. "So we're seeing military stuff?"

"It's not the military, though I am big on security." He shrugged out of his coat too and handed them both to a waiting servant.

"I remember." Near him, even with the bomb threat, she’d felt safe.

"Here you are safe." He guided her down the hall and toward a classroom where she saw girls who seemed to be first graders painting. "And it's not just about protection. It's more."

Now she was curious. She followed him into the classroom—she knew this was a school, instantly, but asked because it seemed out of place. "Why are their children here?"

"You were a teacher. And I think the tourist thing fits you, but for our day-to-day, this is school for the residents of the island. These students are given extra activities to help them perform better in academics, sports and everything else. You can help on the board here."

The school was part of the castle grounds? Good. Helping students succeed meant everyone in the future was better off. She looked around and saw these girls clearly loved art class. "I’ve never been on a board and now it seems I’m heading the tourist committee and taking part in guiding education. It’s quite a learning curve, but I’m game."

He pulled up a small chair meant for a child and sat. "I'm hoping through education we find industrious individuals who can help us continue the economic transition my brother Antonio already started. I'd like you to take an active interest in our local system, here."

She followed him, but a young girl walked over and handed Renee a doll. Her precocious pig tails and clear blue eyes somehow made her smile more jubilant. She lifted the doll with a smile. "This is adorable."

"Keep it, my lady." The girl bowed her head.

Renee lowered herself onto one knee. "I'm not a lady."

"Tomorrow, Renee becomes my princess." Marco scooted his chair closer to them.

Tomorrow? What happened to meeting her parents first? She didn’t argue, but he had to stop making such bold statements. The girl didn't move. Renee turned to Marco and whispered, "Why would she give me her doll?"

Marco stared at the girl until she finally looked at him and he gave her a conspiratorial wink. "In our culture, we welcome newcomers with gifts."

Renee tucked the doll on the table beside Marco. "What's your name?"

The girl curtsied. "Maria, my lady."

Renee took the girl's hand. "Maria, I want you to be in wedding." Whenever it is. "I don't have a flower girl and you'd be perfect."

A huge smile grew on her face. Marco placed his hand on Renee's back to help steady her as she rose to stand. "Maria, please report to the palace with this note for Henri. He'll set you up with the seamstress for the dress and give you a rundown of your responsibilities and send you and your parents to the mainland for the ceremony."

"What about my brother? He's only four," Maria said. "My mother won't leave him."

"She shouldn't leave him." Marco winked at her. "He can come too."

Renee drew strength from Marco’s hand on her back.

"Thank you, my lady." Maria skipped back to the group of girls.

"You made her day, Renee."

Marco guided her out of the classroom and the front door and Renee's heart felt lighter. His school meant he cared about others too.

Henri and Anise were talking in the courtyard, their heads together as they headed inside the main castle. It had been so thoughtful of Marco to bring Anise to help with the dresses.

As they walked toward the gate and the village, she asked, "Marco, thank you for showing me the school and I'd love to help with historical tourism. But what did you mean tomorrow? You have to stop announcing these things."

"Sorry. Our wedding can be next month…or tomorrow." A flush crept up his throat. "But I would like to set a date."

"That we can do." Again, she tingled for a kiss that hadn't even been offered, but then she felt a slight discomfort in her belly. She ignored it, took a deep breath and continued down the cobblestone path. She’d better not have the flu or there would be no walking down the aisle. "Okay. So, what's next on your agenda for today?"

He came beside her and placed his hand on her back. "Our date continues. We will see the village, and then I’ve got a treat where we can spend the afternoon alone."

"Lead the way." She lifted her face to the summer sea breeze that tickled her skin. Marco’s strong profile, his care for her comfort...She sighed. Life was good at the moment. Perhaps they had a future and all she needed was to have faith.