“For over five years, she dealt with her pain alone, but through a series of rather divine events, we came together again.” Stephen clapped his hand over his heart, his gaze now on her, full of blue persuasion. “She loved me when I showed her no regard. When I rebuffed and rejected her. She loved me well. She loved me to Jesus, where I finally discovered what it meant to be a man of worth. So I want the whole world to know I love this woman!” His shout rose to the rafters and rained over them.
The guests cast off decorum and cheered.
Stephen walked her the rest of the way down the aisle to the altar, past their smiling and glassy-eyed friends and family, where the Archbishop of Brighton began the traditional ceremony.
And then the world knew her secret. Corina Del Rey loved the Prince of Brighton.
EPILOGUE
Three days later
Love, I’ve an idea.” Stephen roped Corina into a kiss as she contemplated what to pack for her honeymoon. They were leaving in the morning for an undisclosed place and Stephen’s only hint was,“Pack your bathing suit and knickers. That’s all you’ll need.”
“An idea?” She stared at the pile of clothes on her bed. One with beach wear. Another with mountain wear. “Stephen, babe, come on, where are we going? What should I pack?” She turned in his arms and shoved him down on the bed, kissing him as they tumbled.
“I told you, bathing suit and knickers.” He laughed. Which he did every time he said that, so she had no idea how serious to take him.
“Fine. I’ll pack things that go with bathing suits and clothes that fit over my knickers.” She tried to shove away from him, but he held on, rolling her over and kissing her neck. “Is this your idea from a minute ago?” She laughed softly, unable to resist his wordless overtures.
“No, ’tis not.” He raised up, hopping to his feet. “Let’s pop round to the Manor, say hello to Adelaide and Brill. We’ve not given them a proper thank-you for their part in our relationship.”
Over the four months of their engagement, Corina detailed her strange and seemingly holy encounters with the old proprietors. She’d visited them twice when she’d been in the city for wedding planning. But her last visit had been over six weeks ago.
“Babe, now that’s a great idea. I didn’t get to spend much time with them at the wedding other than to say hi.” Corina took a sweater from the mountain honeymoon pile and slipped on her ankle boots, looking forward to heading out on this crisp, cool Brighton October evening.
“Same here,” Stephen said, tugging a jumper over his head. “I looked for them at the reception but couldn’t find them.”
Downstairs, they informed Nicolas, Stephen’s new butler-aide-valet, that they were going out.
“Very good, Your Highness.”
Stephen took Corina’s hand as they walked toward the garage. He ventured out more and more on his own, without Thomas, to places he could trust.
“I’m still sad about Robert,” he said.
“You did the right thing.”
“But you should’ve seen his face when he confessed he’d eavesdropped on Nathaniel and me, then informed Gigi Beaumont about us . . . He was in tears. Said he didn’t know what possessed him. Who ever dreamed a palace servant would’ve ever been entangled with the likes of Gigi Beaumont?”
“But he has a good place now at The Wellington, right? As for Gigi, never underestimate her.”
“Well Nicolas was thoroughly investigated. Robert was one thing, but I also don’t want another Asif—”
“Hey,” Corina stopped, turning him to her. “That’s it. No more guilt, regret talk. It’s over, forgiven, and we are moving on. And we are safe, babe.”
“Right, right.” Stephen kissed her forehead. “See, this is why I need you in my life.” He opened the Audi passenger door for her.
Before slipping into her seat, she peered into his eyes. “I love you, Your Highness.”
“Same to you, Your Royal Highness Princess Corina, Princess of Brighton.”
She sighed. “I’m not sure I’ll ever tire of hearing that.”
Stephen chuckled and gently pushed her into her seat. “Let’s go. I want to grab a late dinner on the way home.”
They cruised across town, their hands entwined, resting on the console. At a quarter to six, the sun was already drifting toward the west, tracing golden-orange hues across the last of the fall day.
For Sunday evening, the city center lacked the noise and chaos of the week, but the streets flowed with theatre and dinner traffic, and the park was alive with families out for the evening.
