Chapter 10
“It’s all so grand, Linette! So truly grand!”
As trumpets sounded from the entrance to the cathedral, Estelle twisted around in the pew, her rose-colored gown rustling, to see if she could catch a glimpse of Valentin.
The sudden movement made her flinch, but she didn’t care. The important thing was that she’d felt well enough to see him officially become the crownedprince of Bratavia, along with her sister, Adam, and hundreds of people who had packed the lofty church. Thank God she was there!
Anticipation rippled through the crowd at a second blast of trumpets. Estelle gasped when Valentin appeared in the narthex, looking so handsome and splendidly dressed. Everything about him—his blond hair shining in the afternoon sunlight streaming from the windows,the scarlet robe trimmed with ermine around his shoulders, and his gold brocade uniform—bespoke the splendor and responsibility of the title for which he would soon swear his coronation oath.
Estelle felt her heart leap when he spied her across the sea of onlookers all craning for a view, a brief smile touching his lips before he sobered again and looked straight ahead of him.
Then everyonerose and she couldn’t see him any longer from where she stood in the middle of the third pew on the right side of the cathedral. The front two pews were filled with members of Valentin’s privy council and their wives, other prominent dignitaries, and of course, Princess Hortense and her husband, the Baron of Toulouse.
Her exquisite satin gown also of gold, Valentin’s half-sister had barely acknowledgedEstelle as she had come down the center aisle moments ago on Edward Bertrand’s arm, although her husband had inclined his head and given her a look that was almost sad.
Clearly he remembered her, which had surprised Estelle considering how much he’d drank when she had sat next to him at dinner. She’d done her best to be kind and gracious to him regardless, and had even made him smile a time ortwo with her stories about life in Cornwall, but always sadly like he’d done today. No wonder she felt sorry for him!
Especially when the poor man was married to such a haughty wife, Estelle a little stung that Princess Hortense had looked away when she’d glimpsed her in the pew. It was quite apparent that Valentin’s half-sister hadn’t softened her view of Estelle at all, but it was the smugsmile on the woman’s face that she’d found so strange.
As if Princess Hortense were the proverbial cat that had swallowed the canary, Estelle feeling a cold shiver, which she’d nonetheless done her best to shrug off.
The trio of beauties who had come to Bratavia to vie for Valentin’s affection had also slighted her as they’d taken their seats in the same pew as Princess Hortense, none of themsparing her a glance. Yet she didn’t care, no, she didn’t care! She was so thrilled not to have missed this momentous occasion that no snubs or slights would dampen her excitement.
As majestic processional music swelled from the chamber orchestra in the balcony, Adam stood tall enough to look above the crowd and leaned toward Estelle to tell her what was happening.
“Valentin’s coming down theaisle…almost here…almost…now!”
Her heartbeat racing, Estelle bent forward so she could see him around the other guests filling the pew, and again, his subtle smile told her that he knew exactly where she was standing. Then he was gone from her view, but not for long as he walked up the steps toward the altar, where a gilt throne had been placed for the coronation. At once he was surrounded byclergymen dressed in splendid robes, the music swelling to a crescendo and then ending as everyone took their seats and the formal ceremony began.
Estelle watched, enthralled as the presiding archbishop administered the coronation oath. Valentin stood tall and proud, answering each question in a strong, sure voice that rang out for all to hear. A solemn blessing followed, after which he proceededto the throne and sat down. An expectant hush fell over the cathedral when the archbishop first handed him a golden scepter and then placed a bejeweled crown upon his head.
“Long live our sovereign prince, Valentin Antoine Pierre Chevalier!”
Hundreds of voices echoed the archbishop’s pronouncement in a resounding response that exploded into cheers and applause. Her heart swelling with happinessfor him, Estelle knew then just how deeply loved Valentin was by his people. To acknowledge them all, he swept his gaze from one side of the packed church to the other…until it came to rest upon her.
His steel blue eyes held hers for a breathless moment, Estelle hoping that he saw how much she loved him, too, shining in her eyes. Soon she and Valentin would become husband and wife at this verycathedral!
Something told her that he must be thinking the same thing as he inclined his head toward her, and then rose from the throne and stepped forward with the archbishop and clergymen assembling behind him. Fresh cheers erupted when the orchestra commenced a triumphant recessional, Valentin proceeding down the steps and into the center aisle as men and women bowed and curtsied to theirnewly crowned prince.
Estelle curtsied, too, as did Linette, while Adam bowed his head, so she didn’t see Valentin as he passed by them, though she felt the warmth of his presence as if he stood right next to her.
A blush firing her cheeks, she couldn’t believe the unforgettable ceremony was already done, but she imagined celebrations throughout Bratavia would continue into the night. The greatentrance doors were no sooner thrown open than a deafening roar went up from the throngs of well-wishers gathered outside, the cathedral not large enough to hold everyone.
“How the people love him!” Linette said to Estelle, raising her voice to be heard. Then she drew closer to murmur into her ear, “Just as they’ll love you, dearest sister.”
Linette’s words thrilling her, Estelle could not stopsmiling, nor did she wish to.
She had never felt so happy and there was still the ball to attend. Though she hurt a little, sleeping through the past few days had done wonders for her and she felt nearly as good as new. She couldn’t wait to dance with Valentin!
“There she goes…the queen bee and her minions,” Adam observed, thankfully only loud enough for Estelle and Linette to hear.
Estellewasn’t surprised that Princess Hortense didn’t spare her a glance as she went down the aisle with the baron, and neither did Princess Ophelia, Lady Ingrid, or Countess Alicia, who all flounced past her in their richly hued gowns.
Yet Estelle didn’t care! She would allow nothing to steal the joy she felt about Valentin and the future they would share together. Nothing!
***
“Whereisshe?Robert, do you see them?”
