“I’m surprised I want to marry you, Julius.”
I raise my eyes, and she giggles softly. “A few days of freedom and I’m already charging into another confinement of sorts. It appears I don’t work well on my own, even for a few days, and you’re the unlucky man who has to deal with that.”
“Unlucky?” I shake my head. “Any man would be honored to be chosen by you, Rose, but it makes me wonder if I am merely the first port in a storm and you may regret your decision.”
“Would it matter?”
I’m shocked at how I hate hearing that.
“Of course it matters.”
My chest heaves as I frown. “This is your life, Rose—my life. You are agreeing to something with long-term implications on a whim, which I don’t respect.”
“Is that what you think?”
“Then tell me differently.”
I’m angry and pushing her because for the first time in my life, I feel used, not desired. Rose is asking the impossible of me because if she believes for one second that the moment my ring hits her finger she can opt out, she has another thing coming. My declaration promising she could return to the convent was a genuine one—for her benefit.
I’m aware she may have acted in haste and may regret it. The only place I would ever agree to her being, other than by my side, is back at the Order of the Holy Mother of God, and I meant every word I said. I would wait for her to come back to me. Marriage is for life in my opinion, and Rose must learn that the hard way.
Til death us do part are the most important words in the service we are about to experience, and I wonder if she is aware of that.
28
ROSE
The flight passed without a hitch, and we checked into the Palazzo, and as we take the elevator, I sense that I’ve angered him, and I didn’t mean for that to happen. I want him to be relaxed around me, and I thought giving him options would reassure him. Apparently not. If anything, he appears angry that I’ve been so flippant, and I seek to reassure him.
However, the elevator stops before that can happen, and as we step into the space, I’m shocked when a woman steps forward.
“Good morning and welcome to the best day of your life.”
Julius glares at her, causing the woman to shift an uncomfortable gaze between us, and then he turns to me and huffs, “Go with Fiona. She is your wedding coordinator and has everything required to make you the perfect bride. You have one hour before the priest arrives.”
“The priest, I don’t understand.”
He points to Fiona.
“There isn’t time to explain other than we marry in thisroom and Fiona will be our witness. So go, enjoy, and I’ll see you back here in sixty minutes’ time.”
He leaves without a backward glance, leaving me in pieces.
Fiona steps forward and smiles sympathetically, probably wondering what the hell is going on.
“Men!” She rolls her eyes and sighs. “They possess the emotion of a block of wood most of the time. He’s probably just nervous.”
“I guess.”
I smile politely. “I’m–”
I falter because what do I call myself? I was Phoebe Sullivan in Spain and Desdemona Graham on the flight.
“Rose.” Fiona’s smile is warm. “Come, we only have sixty minutes, and I have planned it to the second.”
I follow her to a room set off the one we’re in, which is in the opposite direction to where Julius headed.
As we step inside, I notice a huge bedroom, and Fiona says briskly, “Go through there and shower the journey away. Wash your hair, and I’ll meet you in there, where I’ll do your makeup and hair.”
