Page 56 of Forbidden Bastard
She stood and wiggled into her pants while she laughed and said, “And be wed? That… like… totally… rhymed.”
A laugh escaped his lips too as he kissed her forehead. “Yes, my American bride.”
She yawned. “I thought it was bad luck to see the groom before the wedding.”
He pressed his hand on her back to guide her toward the balcony. “I figured we could skip that nonsense.”
She nodded and stayed beside him. “True, but before I start the day I need-”
“Coffee.” He opened the door for her where the table was set with breakfast options despite the late hour. “It’s waiting for you.”
She kissed his cheek and passed him with a direct line toward the coffee station. “See how easy it is to love you?”
Sandi poured two cups of coffee and handed him one as he said, “Your mother is guarding the dress, though she showed it to Michael. The stylist just arrived and is waiting for when you're ready.”
“Then we better hurry.” She put food on her plate.
He joined her for coffee and a pastry.
It was good for her to eat a little, so for a few minutes they enjoyed the warm sea air and view.
As she had her third cup of coffee she finally stood and motioned for him to join her near the edge.
They overlooked the patio where servants were busily setting up rows of seats, and an altar of flowers. He’d approved the peonies, calla lilies, and hydrangeas that the florists had made into an arch.
Sandi rested her head on his upper arm and shoulder and patted his stomach muscles as she said, “This is all beautiful. Just spectacular.”
“Nothing is as beautiful as you.” He kissed her cheek.
Her face turned red but he claimed her lips.
Nothing else mattered now.
Sandi was here to stay.
A high-pitched older voice called from behind them, “No more of that.” The world crashed back to reality as Sandi’s mother said, “Charles, it’s time for you to go. Clara wanted you at the dower house, remember?”
Right. Clara had sent a message an hour ago but he'd gotten distracted. He kissed both of their cheeks and said, “See you tonight.”
Sandi’s gaze stayed on him until he left.
He stood taller thinking he'd won the best woman he’d ever meet. Charles marched with a faster step down the path toward the dower house. However, he slowed when he saw palace security guards outside the door.
They let him inside, but he wasn’t quite sure what was going on.
His gut tightened.
He went to the sitting room where he saw Clara, dressed in her fanciest Parisian tea dress she’d worn to a dinner at Versailles, and the King and Queen of Avce in matching blue and gold. He hurried to Clara’s side, and took her hand. “Clara.” He then bowed to King Leopold and Queen Anna Camilla. “Your Highness. My Queen.”
The king, his birth father, motioned toward the couches and said, “Charles, we were having a very interesting conversation with Miss Clara Belrose.”
Clara didn’t feel tense next to him right now--she seemed at ease. Charles stiffened anyhow and met his father’s gaze. “Clara is the only mother I’ve ever had.”
Queen Anna Camilla served the tea. “She was a hero to a small boy.”
“Hero? No.” Clara accepted the teacup. She set it in front of her and added a sugar cube as she said, “I couldn’t leave a motherless child alone, not when my own grandson, his age, had been murdered. I knew I’d never forgive myself if I didn’t help Charles. And when he told me the nuns had left him, I promised to be his mother.”
His entire body froze. He lowered his head as he sat next to Clara on the couch and folded his hands. For a moment he couldn’t speak but finally he asked, “I thought you mistook me for your grandson.”
