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Alex’s thumb swiped gently over the back of her hand. Shockingly reassuring.

Luca nodded. ‘I need to get the paperwork and a witness.’

‘Your assistant,’ Alex ordered. Imperious arrogance on full display. ‘Be quick.’

The chaplain’s quick steps echoed like a drumming summons to battle. Tilly glanced up to see Alex watch him go, his eyes flickering with an emotion she couldn’t decipher. Something else was definitely at play between him and the older man.

‘He’s just doing his job,’ Tilly muttered.

Alex looked down at her. ‘He wanted to swoop in and rescue you.’

She faked a careless shrug. ‘I figure I’m better off with the devil I know.’

His gaze sharpened on her. ‘You think you know me?’

Goosebumps rippled down her arms. Those eyes of his were devastating. He remained steadily regarding her. Honestly his focus was locked on her and it was doing weird things to her lung capacity. He was uncharacteristically serious and still pale.

‘Are you sure you want to do this?’ she murmured weakly.

His smile was that cynical slash. ‘Don’t worry, Tilly, I’ve not come over all heroic—this is entirely self-serving.’

Luca returned, followed by a man carrying a folder and a pen.

Oh, hell. This was actually, definitely happening. Here and now. The mocking challenge in Alex’s eyes made her straighten.

‘I’m honoured to be of service, Your Highness.’ Luca seemed to have warmed to the idea in the hot minute he’d been gone. ‘I didn’t think I would ever have this privilege—’

‘And if you don’t hurry up, you’ll lose the chance.’ Alex handed the assistant his phone. ‘Take some photos. Part of your witnessing duties.’

‘Of course.’ The bug-eyed assistant bowed.

Tilly truly couldn’t breathe. She was too aware of Alex. Of course she knew him. He was a jerk. But as she listened to him vow to love her and honour her, to protect and to care for her, her mind fogged. She was so disconcerted she barely remembered reciting the same vows back to him.

‘You have a ring?’ Luca asked.

In the ensuing silence Tilly almost laughed. She shot Alex a sideways look, delighted that for once everything wouldn’t go easily his own way. But Alex merely smirked back. To her horror he twisted the heavy signet ring from his little finger and grasped her hand.

She fisted it immediately. ‘I can’t wear that,’ she whispered. ‘It’s too important.’

He’d been given the seal of the Crown Prince in an official ceremony on the day he’d turned twenty-one. Not that Tilly had been anywhere near Montaurella then, but she’d seen the portrait in the palace. She knew the significance of that occasion and of the ring.

‘We’ll share it,’ he replied. ‘What’s mine is yours.’

She tried to remember to breathe as Alex slid the heavy, still warm band onto her ring finger.

Luca beamed, apparently delighted—clearly he’d missed the irony in Alex’s tone. Whatever worries he’d harboured evaporated as he folded a length of fine linen around her and Alex’s joined hands—linking them, blessing them. Perhaps he thought this was a great secret love story, but they were hardly Romeo and Juliet. She sure had no intention of dying anytime soon. This would be a very temporary arrangement.

‘I pronounce you husband and wife.’

Seriously—in just a few sentences?

‘Where’s the paperwork?’ Alex was all business.

Was there no kiss-the-bride moment? Tilly breathed out slowly. Good. That was good. The assistant wrote their names and details on the official form and then an ornate certificate with an inky flourish. Tilly glanced at her new husband, but he was glaring at the intricate tapestry hanging at the rear of the altar, his fingers hooked in his watch strap.

‘Tilly?’ Luca guided her.

To her amazement her signature was quite legible. Alex then stepped forward and scrawled.