Corina tipped her head back to see his face, brushing her hands over his delicious hair because she’d been aching to do it since he came back into her life. He was hers. All hers. “What happened to you Prince Stephen of Brighton?”
“You happened to me. I have so much to tell you. Let’s start with this,” he walked through the foyer, pointing to his left ankle. “Healed. Miraculously. Haven’t worn the boot in two days.”
“You’re healed?”
“Miraculously.”
Corina leaned in for another kiss because she could, because she was thirsty for him again. Would she ever fill up?
“I went to see Archbishop Caldwell and—”
“And you came to God?” Corina’s heart jumped at the prospect of Stephen being God’s man. All the way. Emptied of his pain and bitterness.
“No,” he said, kissing her hand. “He came to me.”
“How? And why did you go to see Archbishop Caldwell?”
“To ask him why he married us that night.”
“And what did he say?”
Stephen chuckled. “I’m not really sure, love, but I found myself on the floor, weeping, repenting, being washed and healed inside and out. My ankle stopped hurting, and all the locks on my heart opened. I fixed to fly here as soon as I could.” There in the foyer, he bent to one knee, pulling a ring from his pocket. “Marry me. Please. Again.”
A sputter of joy tickled her lips as she knelt in front of him, as he slipped the diamond and platinum ring on her finger. She regarded him for a moment, then kissed him with the kisses of grace and peace. “Yes, I’ll marry you again. And again. The ring is beautiful, Stephen.”
“A jeweler friend of Nathaniel’s opened his shop yesterday for me. I wanted to ask you more properly this time. And I wanted a ring that was just yours and mine.” Stephen walked her into the living room, falling into the recliner, pulling her along with him.
“I love it, but babe, aren’t we already married?” Corina draped her legs over the arm of the chair and cuddled against Stephen.
“I filed the annulment papers.”
Corina reared back. “Y–you filed them? Then flew all the way here to propose?”
“I’m serious. I want to do it proper this time round. I want to start over, have an engagement time with parties and press conferences. I want to marry you in a big fat royal wedding with you in a white gown every lass will want to model,” he fanned the feathers of her dress, “and me in my uniform—”
“You’ll put on your uniform?”
“Yes, I will. I want the families of the lads in the front row. I want my parents and yours in attendance, our friends and family. What we had before, Corina, got bruised and broken. We need to end that chapter of our lives and start over.” He swept his hand over her cheek. “But this I know, you are the only true love for me and if you give me another chance, I’ll fight every day to put our marriage first and make us the couple God meant us to be.”
Tears were sometimes the only sufficient answer. Resting her head on his chest, Stephen held her close. So very, very close.
There was no place more like home than in his arms.
TWENTY-NINE
Brighton Kingdom
October 12
Once again he found himself standing in the warm wings of theMadeline & Hyacinth Live!show. The still air created a sting of perspiration down his back. He adjusted his collar, then his shirtsleeves.
But he never let go of her hand.
“Are you all right?” Corina looked up at him with those amber eyes of hers that made his heart skip a beat.
“Just a bit stuffy in this spot, don’t you think?” Stephen kissed her forehead, then glanced at Thomas, who shook his head, cocking a sly grin.
Since his Florida proposal, Stephen felt swept off his feet, by God, by Corina, by the power of love and forgiveness.
