Chapter Three
"I've never seen anything more beautiful in my entire life." Madison stared up at the stained glassed windows. Sunlight spilled through them, creating the effect of colored jewels strewn on the marble floor. Reverently, she ran her fingers along the intricately carved design on the pew in front of her. "This is magnificent. There's no other word."
"I'm glad you find it so." Luis stood by her side.
She turned to look up at him. "Thank you for bringing me here, but even more, thank you for so patiently giving me the time to savor everything."
A slow smile stretched across his face. "Believe me, there is no place I'd rather be right now."
"Me too. So I take it that we're not in a hurry?"
Luis shook his head. "My time is yours."
"It was generous of Nico to spare you for the day." As soon as the words were out of her mouth, she regretted them. An expression she didn't understand flashed across Luis' face. Clearly she'd offended him, but that hadn't been her intent."I'm sorry, that didn't sound the way I meant it to."
With only the briefest hesitation, he waved his hand as if to dismiss her concern. "It is not a problem." He motioned toward the front of the cathedral. "May I show you the altar? It was made from a rare variety of marble that is considered to be the very finest in Italy. Shall we?"
"Lead the way, I'd love to see it." But as she followed him, Madison realized that although she was impressed with the cathedral, she was even more intrigued by the man who was showing it to her.
When they reached the front of the cathedral, she listened attentively as Luis shared with her the history of its design. The scene carved into a creamy alabaster colored marble depicted the Last Supper. By no means did Madison consider herself well versed in art history, but she spent several moments lost in the wonder of centuries-old craftsmanship.
Luis leaned ever so slightly toward her. "I would like to know what you think when you view this."
Madison kept her eyes focused on the altar. "I can certainly see why this is the jewel of the cathedral."
"But?"
Startled, she glanced up at him. How astute of him to realize how much she was leaving unsaid.
"Tell me," he urged her.
"I don't think you'll understand."
"Try me."
"Well, when I look at the altar, I wonder who the man was who must have spent years of his life creating this. Who was this man who so painstakingly brought this scene to life from a marble slab?"
"The artist was a gentleman by the name of Giovanni Marchegiano."
"Yes, but who was Giovanni? When he finished his work for the day, did he go home to a wife and children who waited for him every night? Or was he an artist so devoted to his creations that his whole existence centered around his work?"
"Which would you prefer to be true?"
Madison didn't need time to think. "I much prefer the idea that he was a simple man, a man who was more devoted to his family than to what his patrons thought of his work. Someone who considered himself a laborer rather than an elite or entitled artesian."
Luis nodded. "Your Giovanni would be a simple, humble man without pretense, yes?"
"Exactly. He would be a man with no title, and with no sense of importance bestowed upon him by someone else. I'm not sure if that makes much sense."
He was quiet for so long, she wasn't sure if he'd heard her. "I understand better than you think," he finally said.
"I imagine you do. Your life is far more like our version of Giovanni's life than Nico's could ever be."
Luis frowned. "That is quite a leap, Madison. What makes you think this?"
"Well, how can Nico ever really know if someone values him for himself or for his position in the royal family? I don't think he can." She shuddered. "It must be a terrible way to live."
"What about your friend Kat? She apparently was able to separate the man from his title. She didn't hold his birthright against him any more than he did her status as a commoner. From what I understand, she wasn't born into nobility."
"Not even close, Luis. I assure you that her origins were humble indeed."
He held his hands out, palms up. "You see? She will one day be the Queen of Monterra. Isn't that a true testament to love?"
"I hope so."
Luis' eyes widened. "You only hope so? You can't see it for yourself? You've spent time with them together."
"I have, and trust me when I say that I wish them both every happiness in the world." She laid a hand over her heart. "Truly, it's my greatest wish that they can build a life together despite all of this."
His brows drew together, his confusion clear. "This what?"
Again, Madison saw some emotion she couldn't identify flash across Luis' face. What was his story? Was he a man satisfied with his life? Perhaps working for titled nobility was difficult for him. What were his dreams for his future?
"This what?" Luis repeated, his words breaking through her reverie. "What is your concern for the prince and princess?"
"Nothing about this life feels real to me. The titles, the palace, the traditions, the protocol, not any of it. How can they build a life together based on such a-" she broke off, trying to think of just the right word.
"Stage?" he supplied.
"Exactly, yes. That's the perfect word." She was strangely pleased that he understood her. "Kat and Nico will live their life on display. Perhaps not all of it, but enough to make me worry that the lines are so blurred between royal life and real life that they'll lose their way." She laid a hand on his arm. "I'm sure you understand what my concerns are. You're not from their world."
"Madison, there's something I need to tell you. I-" but he broke off speaking, his eyes suddenly focused on something behind her.
Madison looked over her shoulder. A priest in a long, black cassock was walking toward them. His hands were folded at his waist, and as best she could tell, his gentle smile was welcoming. She turned back to Luis. "What's wrong? Aren't you supposed to be here?"
His only answer was a quiet groan.
***
"Your Highness, what a pleasure to have you visit us again."
Luis acknowledged the priest's greeting with a nod. He watched as Madison looked around to see whom the priest was addressing. But there was no one around. Her confused gaze locked in on him.
"Luis? What's going on?"
"I can explain, Madison. If you'll just give me the chance." But Luis wasn't able to say anything else before the priest was beside them. If he hadn't been in a house of worship he would have cursed his luck for running into the one priest who enjoyed practicing his English. It served him right, he should have gently set Madison straight this morning when she'd mistaken him for a palace driver. But it was too late for regrets. His only hope now was damage control.
He shook the priest's outstretched hand. "Good morning, Father Bruno."
"Welcome, Your Highness. It's such a pleasure to see you, as always." He clasped Luis' hand between his own for a brief moment before turning to Madison, his smile wide and his sparkling blue eyes curious. "And whom do we have here?"
Madison cocked her head and looked at Luis. Nico's driver. Correction, the man who said he was Nico's driver. She lifted an eyebrow. "Yes, introductions all around would be nice."
This time, Luis did silently curse an unmerciful fate who just couldn't, wouldn't, let him spend even half a day as a civilian. Had it been too much to hope for a few hours with the lovely American before he had to confess his royal status as a Prince of Santa Rosa? Apparently so.
"Father Bruno, allow me to present Miss Madison-" but he broke off when he realized he didn't know her last name. Which was fair enough considering that Madison hadn't known he was a member of the European aristocracy. "She is an American friend of Monterra's new princess."
Madison favored him with a look that could most diplomatically be described as challenging before she turned her attention to the other man. "It's a pleasure to meet you, Father."
"I assure you the pleasure is mine. Perhaps you would allow me to give you a tour?"
Luis spoke first. "Thank you, Father. But we wouldn't want to take up any of your valuable time."
The priest waved his hand as if to brush aside Luis' objection. "Nonsense. Welcoming a first time visitor to Monterra's National Cathedral is by far the best way I can spend my time." His smile was benevolent. "Now Miss Madison, tell me where in America are you from?"
"Amarillo, Texas. Have you ever been to the United States?"
The priest laughed. "No, but as a boy, I loved to watch John Wayne movies if that counts."
Madison laughed. "It's a start. Texas certainly seems a world away from here."
"Well, Texas' loss is certainly Monterra's gain." He motioned for Madison to precede him toward one of the side altars. "Come, let me show you my favorite sculptures." Almost as an afterthought, he turned back to Luis. "If Your Highness has other business to attend to, I would be happy to send Miss Madison home in one of our cars."
"That's generous of you, Father, but I'm Madison's assigned driver for the entire day." His eyes went over the priest's head and issued Madison a silent challenge. Call me out now, call me out later, but you're not getting rid of me easily.
When she looked away instead of saying anything, his heart sank. But he wasn't about to leave.
Instead, like a third wheel, he trailed after Madison as she was treated to a grand tour. Dressed in a bright red sundress, with her golden blonde hair and fair complexion, she stood out in sharp contrast to the cathedral's subdued interior. It was too cliché a thought to ever speak aloud, but Madison was a breath of fresh air. Her questions indicated an intelligence every bit as impressive as her beauty. Her manner with the priest was patient and sincere, not to mention, gracious, but Luis didn't doubt that he'd see a different side of her once they were alone.
If, that was, she ever wanted to speak to him again.