“Yep. It’s a distant connection, but the Reginald family spends a healthy batch of credits each year trying to keep that link out of the public eye whenever someone stumbles across any record of it.”
“Huh.”
“Shall we go sit down and discuss some things?”
“What things?”
“Today’s wedding, perhaps?”
“The wedding?” She seemed confused.
“You know,ourwedding.”
“Oh, that.” She sounded so disheartened, he could have kicked himself.
Raphael slid his arms around her. Softly, he suggested, “Or we could discuss my sordid past. I want you to know that I’m sorry I wasn’t as forthcoming as I could have been about my family history. I thought I’d have more time to explain it to you.”
Francine hugged him back. “Please, you don’t have to explain anything to me. My parents are the ones forcing us to get married today. Before they can, they have to claim me as their daughter. I don’t know how complicated that will be, especially given how I was treated at the last wedding.”
Before he could reply, an usher approached to guide them to their assigned seats.
Raphael produced the invitation, the usher scanned it using a nifty device the size of a fat pen with a display that showed numbers and letters, likely their seats. He led them to a table in the front of the large room near the wedding party, as warranted by the Boudreaux family name. He expected his brother and father would join them at the premium spot for an even more uncomfortable discussion about the last estranged decade, his and Francine’s surprise wedding, or any number of topics he wouldn’t want to discuss with anyone, let alone William or his father.
Raphael checked the other four names indicated on the place settings as he and Francine circled to their seats, and breathed a sigh of relief when he didn’t see his family’s among them.
While they were still alone, Raphael took Francine’s hand in both of his. “My father kicked me out of the family a decade ago for not bending to his every demand about the way I lived my life and my staunch refusal to wed the rich royal he’d chosen. I totally understand about arranged marriages, by the way. But that was the final straw for my father. He said I had to marry this horrid woman or I was going to be kicked out. I was delighted to go, although I knew I’d miss my brothers.”
Francine’s expression softened. “You truly don’t have to explain, Raphael.”
“You’re sweet, but I do need to at this point. I always intended to tell you all of this after we made it through your sister’s wedding. I didn’t want to add to the stress of what was already on your mind.”
“Okay.”
He held the hand with his family ring. “This engagement ring is one of many in the Boudreaux family collection. It is the ring I was supposed to give to the woman I intended to marry. Several years after I left home, I discovered someone had sold it. I set up a plan to retrieve it from the person who’d purchased it. He wanted a favor to not only keep our transaction quiet, but also to return the ring. Ididbring in a bounty to get the ring back.”
Francine’s smile made his heartbeat do double-time. “Okay. I’m glad you explained that to me.”
“Good.”
“Even though I’d already decided that whatever else, you are a good man. I know that much is true.”
“Thank you. But don’t let that get out. I’d be summarily dismissed from the biggest and baddest bounty hunter club in the galaxy.”
Francine’s laugh made his insides glow with love.
“What if we do get married today?”
“What? You really want to marry me?” She looked surprised.
“I do. I’ve never met anyone like you, Francine. I know it’s rushed and not what we planned, but would you do me the honor of becoming my wife? It’s only a matter of time. One way or another, I want to marry you. The when isn’t as important as ensuring we spend the rest of our lives together.”
Several expressions crossed her lovely face, surprise, confusion and then joy. “I would love to marry you, Raphael.”
A harsh voice intruded on their sweet, forever-love moment. “Too bad he’s already married to someone else.”
Francine was absolutely exhausted from all the machinations at this wedding and reception. Her mother, with theI’m calling your bluffsurprise marriage ceremony. Raphael’s family showing up unexpectedly. Learning her fake fiancé trulywasa member of a prestigious royal family on Ichor-Delta.
