“Si. Not King Lorenzo III and Queen Aurora, but my parents. Mama and Papa. They will adore you as I do.”
Sabrina puffed out her cheeks. “If you say so.”
Nora laid on her stomach. “Si. I do.”
Sabrina turned onto her side and rested her head on a pillow. “Nora. Can I ask you?.?.?. have you ever had a serious boyfriend?”
Nora blinked her eyes lazily. “Does being engaged for the past three years count?”
Sabrina jerked herself upright. “Why am I just finding this out now? Why have you never said anything? Who is it? Where does he live? Tell me everything.”
“My fiancé is named Lucas. He is a graduate student in paleontology at the University of Queensland, Australia.”
Sabrina let out a long whistle. “He sounds smart.”
“Oh, he is absolutely sharp as a whip.”
“Then why have you never spoken of him or even mentioned him?”
Nora sat up straighter. “Lucas and I have a unique arrangement with one another. He boasts his own set of titles. When we became engaged, it was to mutually satisfy our parents. He wanted to continue his studies in Australia, and I wanted to be able to find my own career pathway in Florence, away from Isola Nostrum. We were good friends, and at the time, we knew it would buy us at least four or five years of freedom.”
Sabrina raised an eyebrow. “You two have an engagement of convenience? Or do you prefer to be labeled a fake couple?”
“The former.” Nora splayed her hand on her chest. “At first, neither one of us was going to ever let it progress this far. But now, we’re both in too deep. Both his parents and mine have begun initiating wedding chatter. It’s set to be one of the premier royal weddings. A crown princess and an earl.”
“What a mess.” Sabrina retrieved her hot chocolate and finished the warm beverage. “Are your siblings aware?”
“Lorenzo is clueless, but I’m confident that Lucia might harbor a few suspicions.” Nora stood and stretched. “Admittedly, it is wonderful to be able to speak about it freely with someone other than Lucas.”
“I’m honored that you would share the news with me. Can I meet him sometime?”
“The next time we video chat, I’ll be happy to introduce you two.” Nora yawned.
Bidding Sabrina good night, she tiptoed past the sleeping form of her brother to her room. Sabrina walked through the door to the kitchen, rinsed out the mugs, and loaded them inside the dishwasher.
What a day. What an absolutely insane day. Lorenzo. Lucas. Fake romances. It’s no wonder Nora is able to come up with so many interesting plot points for her stories.
She leaned against the door frame of the kitchen, ignoring the sharp twinge of pain from hitting the bruised portion of her shoulder. She watched Lorenzo, his limbs sticking off the sofa, hair disheveled, and chest rising and falling.
My very own sleeping prince. One fact is certain—there is nothing fake about our relationship. I thought given distance and time, I’d stop pining for you, but it is as they say—absence makes the heart grow fonder.
From the flowers, the jewelry, and the book, I know you’re invested in there being an “us” just as much as me. But can we both trust one another? Have I grown enough to be able to separate the past from the present? If I give you my heart, there is no going back.
Sixteen
When in Rome
Fond of exchanging letters through the post, Sabrina and Lorenzo continued to pen missives to one another over the next two weeks.
Dear Lorenzo,
Have you completed your assignment from me? If yes, what is your final verdict? Which Austen characters and novels have you officially adopted as your favorites? Least favorites? I have my own suspicions that you might choose Colonel Brandon or Captain Wentworth. I see you opting for characters that are less mainstream and more complex than meets the eye.
You asked in your last letter why Austen is so beloved. It has had me thinking that it isn’t merely her ability to craft “real characters,” but rather her ability to write between the lines that has continued to keep her work relevant into the present day. Readers have the ability to form their own unique, creative interpretations of what has happened to lead from one moment to the next. Her work is a study on how a novel should be written.
Best,
Sabrina
