Luke glanced at Sarah. "Of course they do. Why wouldn't they?" He flexed his arm. "Who couldn't love this?"
She pushed him. "Stop. I mean it. Did your father ever walk the streets like this?"
"Oh, no. He wouldn't be caught dead. He felt that he needed to live by a stricter code, or a higher level, than everyone else."
"Well, see. You're already making a difference."
When they reached the center of the gardens, Luke watched as Sarah took in all the sights. Waterfalls were surrounded by flowers of every color imaginable, and a river ran from garden to garden, providing life to all of the plants. Tall pillars held up gazebos and park benches dotted the area so people could just sit and enjoy the beauty.
"It's gorgeous here," Sarah said as she stopped to smell a flowering bush.
"It's the Sacred Gardens for a reason," he teased. "Beauty makes people happy."
"Does it now?" Sarah stopped and turned toward him. "Is that a royal proclamation?"
"No, it's how I feel about you. You make me so happy that I almost can't believe it's real."
"And in a few days, we'll be married, and you'll be stuck with me and this kid forever."
"I've never been so happy to be stuck," he responded as he kissed her and pulled her close.
A couple walked near them and stopped. The man smiled at Luke. "Never lose your displays of affection. It makes everything here in the gardens even more beautiful."
Luke shook his hand. "Not likely to happen. I'm so happy with this woman right here that there's not enough time to explain how much I love her."
Sarah beamed at him. "That was really sweet."
"And certain to spread around that the king is a romantic mess. And I'm okay with that."
"What's going to happen to... you know. I don't even want to say her name here."
"They are being transferred to the very people they duped. They will not be a problem for us at all. Whatever happens to them is of their own doing, and I have sent Gerard along with them to face the music. We never have to think of them again."
"Then I guess the only thing left to do is get married."
He kissed her and caressed her belly. "I'd do it tomorrow if you wanted."
"My mother would kill me. She has everything planned out to the minute."
They turned back toward the castle. Luke laughed as they walked. "Then we better not piss off your mother."
He just wanted the wedding to be as soon as possible. If this happiness was a drug, he wanted to feel the effects forever.
Chapter Twenty-Seven: Wedding Bells
Sarah Hale
Sarah stood in front of the mirror and stared at the beautiful white wedding dress that had been styled just for her to cover most of her belly with layers of satin and tulle. Tiny beadwork had been sewn into the layers, and the matching veil she wore completed the look of a happy, anxious bride.
“I can’t believe the royal seamstresses made a beautiful dress even better.”
“I just wanted them to add a few details. My gown had those tiny beads when I married your father.” Vinia stood behind her with tears in her eyes. “I hope you don’t mind that I took the liberty.”
“Of course not, Mama. I love it. And I love that it has something of Daddy in it, too.”
Vinia adjusted the veil. "Just look at you. You already look just like the queen that you're going to be. You're absolutely beautiful."
She turned from side to side, and the dress flowed with her. "I'm definitely not the cowgirl from Colorado right now."
