The Prince's Texas Bride (15 page)

“About what?”

“About your staying in Chantaine,” he said, then looked away as he tried to find the right words. “I've fallen in love with you and I need you to stay. I need and want you in my life. I realize that I'm asking a lot from a woman as independent-minded as you, but I am who I am. I have responsibilities that I can't shirk, but I don't want to live my life without you. What I'm saying is,” he said, turning to face her, “I want you to—” He broke off when he saw that his heartfelt marriage proposal was falling on deaf ears. Eve had fallen back asleep.

 

Eve turned a corner that day and began a dramatic improvement. At least, other people considered it dramatic. She still hurt like hell every time she even thought about moving. And no one had let her near a mirror. That bothered her when she thought about it, but Bridget pooh-poohed her concerns and gently brushed her hair. Phillipa gave her reports on Stephenia. Stefan spent far too much time with her. She didn't know how she was going to tell them all that she was leaving, but she had to do it.

The day she was to be released from the hospital, Bridget arrived and applied makeup and fixed her hair. After she left, Stefan came to see her.

“You shouldn't be here,” she told him. “People are going to start getting suspicious and then there will be rumors.”

“No one is suspicious and there won't be rumors because we're getting married,” he said.

She gaped at him. “Excuse me? Have you lost your mind? You can't marry me. I'm a commoner. I'm an American. I'm—”

“The woman I love.” He wrinkled his brow. “We already discussed this. Don't you remember?”

“Remember what?” she said, searching her rusty brain. Surely she would remember this kind of conversation.

“I told you that I love you and want you by my side. I don't want to imagine my life without you. I realize being princess of Chantaine may not have been in your game plan, but I'll try to make it worth your while. I'll do my best to make you happy,” he said, lifting her hand to his lips.

Her heart twisted with emotion. “Oh, Stefan, I can't. I can't do it to you. I can't do it to your future. I'll ruin you,” she said and couldn't fight the tears burning her eyes.

“If what you're doing is ruining me, then do your best, sweetheart. I feel as if I'm a different man with you, and I like who that man is.”

Trying to banish her hopes, she shook her head. “But you should marry someone who can help Chantaine.”

“You do that,” he said. “You already have.”

“I mean in terms of connection or title. I really must leave Chantaine,” she said.

“You need to forget that poisonous conversation you had with my senior adviser. He's been dismissed.”

She gasped. “No.”

“Yes. He's lucky I didn't do worse. I wanted to,” he said, anger lighting his eyes. He clenched his jaw, then appeared to calm himself. “That's in the past. You and I
need to concentrate on the future. You agreed to marry me, so it's settled.”

She shook her head. “I did no such thing. When did we have this discussion?”

“A couple of days ago,” he said nonchalantly.

She narrowed her eyes. “I was drugged. You're trying to hold me accountable for something I said when I was drugged. You're insane.”

He leaned toward her, his gaze making her heart stop and stutter. “Tell the truth. Do you love me?”

She opened her mouth to protest, to lie, but the word stuck in her throat.

“Where's your courage, Eve? You face down a gang of villains for my sister, but you can't admit your feelings for me?” he challenged.

She glanced out the window, searching for strength. Her chest felt so tight she could barely stand it. “When you put it that way,” she said. “I do love you. In a perfect world, I would love to be with you, but it's not a perfect world. And I don't want to mess up your destiny.”

She felt his fingertips on her chin as he guided her to look at him. “You are my destiny,” he said. “I know it will sometimes be difficult, but together I think we can face anything.”

“I really don't see how this is going to work,” she said, her eyes growing wet again. “I'm not princess material. Your people will never accept me.”

“Trust me. They will,” he said. “Marry me and it will be the ride of your life.”

She couldn't possibly say yes. She couldn't. It would be insane, crazy… She couldn't possibly say no. “Yes,” she said. “I will.”

He kissed her gently and Eve clung to his hand, still not certain she'd done the right thing.

A nurse's aide arrived with a wheelchair. “Ready?” she asked.

Stefan patted beneath Eve's eyes. “You may want to check a mirror to repair—”

“Oh, the makeup,” she said. “I need a mirror, please.”

“Just a second,” the aide said and quickly returned with a mirror.

Eve looked into it and swallowed a scream. “Oh, my God. I look like a monster.”

“The swelling will go down,” Stefan assured her. “You haven't seen your face before?”

“No, and I don't want to look at it again anytime soon. I need a very large pair of sunglasses,” she said, setting the mirror facedown on the bedside table.

The kind aide managed to find a couple pairs of sunglasses for Eve. She chose the larger of the two and carefully placed them on her nose. The aide wheeled her down to the hospital lobby. “I hope you're ready for your fans.”

“Fans?” Eve echoed and looked up at Stefan. “What fans?”

The front door opened and a large crowd applauded. Stunned, she looked at Stefan. “What is this?”

“You are Chantaine's brave heroine. My people love you,” he said, helping her to stand. They walked toward the limo and were showered with rose petals.

“Viva Eve. Viva Eve,” the crowd shouted.

Overwhelmed, Eve felt her eyes well with tears yet again. She bit her lip and waved, then threw a kiss.

“Just like a pro,” Stefan said as they both got inside the car. “You handled your first royal appearance just like a pro.”

S
even months later, Eve stood in an upper room of Chantaine's most historic chapel dressed in a wedding gown with a train so long it could have won a place in the Guinness World Records. She had thought it was over the top, but Bridget had insisted that the people of Chantaine wanted a grand dress for the bride of their prince. Eve was going to do her best to enjoy the affair. After all, she and Stefan had already made their own vows during a private ceremony just between the two of them. Today was a state occasion, and since she was going to be doing the princess thing, she was going to have to get used to state affairs. It was part of her role as wife to Stefan.

Even though she barely recognized herself when she glanced in the mirror, she knew Stefan was worth it all. Her hair was pulled up in front and the back of it flowed past her shoulders in waves highlighted with
tiny baby's breath. The veil she wore was made of the finest Venetian lace, but crafted by local seamstresses. Her dress had also been designed by a up-and-coming local designer.

Her jewelry designer was also homegrown in Chantaine. The pearl-and-diamond drop earrings and choker had been created to complement the centuries-old tiara on her head.

“People still can't stop talking about your insistence to use only Chantaine's designers for your entire wedding. You could have had the most exquisite couture,” Bridget said wistfully.

“I think our citizens did a great job. I didn't know I would be causing such a stir when I made the decision,” Eve said to the small group of loving women assembled in the room with her.

Hildie, her aunt, just nodded in approval. “Practical choice. Why go to another country when you've got folks here who can do a good job?” Her aunt's face softened and she dabbed at her eyes. “Besides, she looks beautiful.”

Seeing her aunt well up with emotion made Eve's heart constrict. Hildie had been there for her when no one else had been. She'd inspired her to reach beyond her situation, and Eve counted her as a huge influence on her success and confidence. Ignoring the gown, she moved to Hildie's side and hugged the woman. “Thank you for everything you've done for me. I just hope I can always make you proud.”

Hildie squeezed her, then pulled back and blew her nose. “You always have.”

Valentina stepped closer. “I wanted to give you this as something borrowed,” she said, pressing a handkerchief into her hand. “It belonged to my great-great-great-
grandmother,” she said and rubbed her cheek against Eve's. “I'm so happy for you and Stefan. I can only hope that the two of you will have as much happiness as Zachary and I do.”

“Thank you, Tina. The first time I met your brother, I never would have believed I would fall in love with him.”

“We're all glad you did,” Phillipa said. “He's a different person since you came to Chantaine.”

“Thank goodness for that,” Bridget muttered, then smiled. “He's happy. You're happy. The baby's happy. Now if I can finally get my year in Italy…”

Eve lifted her hands in surrender and laughed. “Not my area,” she said. “You and Stefan will have to negotiate that one.”

A knock sounded at the door and Bridget ran to open it a crack. Since the ugly stampede all those months ago, Bridget had become very protective of Eve. “Oh, it's you,” she said excitedly. “Just a second,” she said and closed the door. “Stefan's wedding gift for Eve has arrived.”

“Wedding gift?” Eve said. “He already gave me a new foal.”

Bridget clasped her hands together in excitement. “This gift is a little different,” she said and opened the door again. A tall man stepped through the doorway and Eve felt shock waves roll through her. For the first time in almost fifteen years, she was looking at her brother Eli. She struggled with disbelief at the same time she drank in the sight of him. He was older and broader than the slight teenager she remembered. His eyes held a few character lines, but the love she saw in his eyes was the same as always.

Heedless of her gown, she raced toward him and
put her arms around his neck. “Eli, you're here. I can't believe it! I can't believe it. How did he find you?”

“Let's just say your husband-to-be is one determined son of a gun. After I left, I sent you letters, but when I didn't hear back, I figured you didn't want anything to do with me.”

A knot formed in Eve's throat. “I didn't receive any letters,” she said.

“That's what I figured, after Stefan tracked me down. I didn't come here to spend your wedding day talking about me, though. I came because I wanted to be here on one of the most important days of your life. I've missed a lot of other ones and I didn't want to miss this one, too.”

“I'm so glad you came. So glad you're here. We will get a chance to talk, won't we?” she insisted.

“Not as much today, but I've already promised to pay another visit after you get back from your honeymoon. You're beautiful inside and out, Evie. I couldn't be more proud of you. I'm gonna head out now. I'll see you on the other side,” he said with a smile and a wink.

She kissed his cheek and stared at the door after he left, her eyes burning with tears. “I'm marrying the most amazing man in the world,” she said, then turned to look at the women surrounding them. Each of them was dabbing her eyes or sniffing.

Bridget was the first to recover. “Enough,” she said. “Now I must touch up your makeup.” Eve was fussed over and hugged, then suddenly the women left and she was alone, filled with nerves and anticipation. Sometimes she still couldn't believe all that happened, that
she
of all people was going to be a princess and do princess things. Stefan had encouraged her to adapt the role to her personality. There was going to be some give and
take, such as the elaborate dress she wore today, but Eve had begun to fall in love with the people of Chantaine, so stepping outside of her comfort zone to help make the citizens happy didn't bother her as much as it once had.

A knock sounded at the door and her heart leaped. “Yes?” she said, walking toward it.

The mistress of ceremonies opened the door and nodded in approval. “You look beautiful, the most beautiful bride I've ever seen. It's time. Are you ready?”

Eve's stomach dipped. “Yes,” she said, then followed the women to the foyer of the beautiful church. An orchestra swelled, signaling her to walk down the aisle. Eve took her first steps and immediately found Stefan with her gaze. She knew people would be staring at her, watching her, and her nerves could possibly overwhelm her. Looking at Stefan gave her courage.

She walked all the way down the aisle and he took her hands and greeted her with a kiss. “How is the light of my life today?” he whispered.

“Happy and excited, Your Highlyness,” she said.

Stefan smiled. “After today, when you are crowned princess, I'll be saying the same thing to you. I love you, Your Highlyness-to-be.”