“You have been to my house precisely two times now, Helena.”
Helena thought about it, then she nodded.
“Yes. So I have.”
“The first time you ended our arrangement, the second time is now. The third time is supposed to be lucky.”
“Is it?” Helena asked, very amused.
“Yes. Third time’s the charm.”
“But there is no third time,” Helena said, confused.
“There will be,” Matteo said, his voice deep, his look piercing.
“Well, do go on,” Helena said breathlessly at the way he looked at her.
“Helena, will you marry me? Will you be my life’s partner?”
Before she could answer, he took her hand and kissed it.
“Share this life with me, share every joy, every tear, every kiss, share them with me.”
“Oh, Matteo, you know I shall!”
She flung her arms around him, kissed him with all the love there was in her heart.
“I love you, Matteo Castor, for all that you are, for all that you have, the good and the bad.” Helena ran her fingers through his hair. “I love you.”
They sat for a long time, entwined in each other’s arms. Content and blissful, when Matteo suddenly stirred. He chuckled to himself, earning a puzzled look from Helena.
“What is it? What is so funny?”
Matteo smiled at her.
“There is a clergyman waiting in church, expecting a wedding to take place today.”
Helena looked at him as if he had gone mad.
“Are you suggesting…”
“Precisely.” Matteo smiled his most charming smile at her.
“But the banns? Or a special license…”
“I think I never told you that your father had required me to marry you using a special license. He wanted the Archbishop of Canterbury to know of the connection, I think.”
“You had a special license for our false engagement?” Helena asked in utter disbelief.
“Well, I could not very well tell your father that I refused to get one, could I? It would have ruined our well-crafted plans entirely.” Matteo grinned.
“You really did it.” Helena laughed out loud, her arms encircling him.
“What is more, is that special licenses are valid for three months.” His grin turned wider.
“Are you saying,” Helena stressed every word she said, “that our special license is still valid?”
Matteo nodded.
