Page 12 of A Royal Arrangement
“You make a beautiful bride.” He tentatively approached her, looking more like the father she’d known as a little girl rather than the king of Findorra.
She wrapped her arms around his middle in an awkward hug, being sure not to crush her bouquet. “Thanks, Dad.” When she pulled back, she saw her father’s eyes were wet with unshed tears, but he quickly blinked them back.
Rosalie forced a smile onto her face, pretending everything was fine. Even though she no longer resented her parents for making an impossible decision, her heart still hurt from the loss of her greatest dream.
She sighed. “Now what do you say about walking me down the aisle?”
He straightened his suit jacket before extending his arm to her. “I’m ready if you are.”
Rosalie wrapped her arm through her father’s and held her bouquet with her other hand. She gave him a decisive nod, and he gestured to the palace staff that they were ready.
The sound of the wedding march flowed through the doors as they opened.
There were so many unknowns about this situation and her future. But there was at least one thing that she couldcontrol—her attitude. She put on a polite smile even when anxious tears gathered in the corners of her eyes.
As she stepped into the chapel, her eyes immediately searched for Colin. When her gaze landed on him, her breath hitched.
He was truly the most attractive man she’d ever seen. His brown hair was clean cut on the sides with a little length on top. She could see his arm muscles even through his suit coat.
When they stopped in front of Colin and the archbishop, her father placed her hand in Colin’s. Her almost-husband immediately dropped her hand after she stepped up to join him at the altar.
Rosalie lifted her head, looking into Colin’s chocolate-brown eyes, hoping to see some inkling of a reaction. But his eyes were cold and distant. He would barely meet her gaze, looking over her shoulder for most of the ceremony without a hint of a smile.
She knew it wasn’t the love match she had dreamed of, but she had hoped her husband would at least look at her and show some amount of kindness toward her.
Finally, at the end of the ceremony, he gave her a small nod of acknowledgment.I guess that’s better than nothing.
Surely he wouldn’t remain aloof and distant forever. Rosalie was hopeful that she would be able to break down his walls someday. Maybe they could form a friendship that would one day develop into love. For now, she would just have to hold onto the hope that someday she would have the one thing she’d dreamed of her whole life—a true love of her very own.
Chapter Four
Colin
Colin stood stiff as a board as the chapel doors opened and his future bride walked down the aisle toward him. His back would be sore tomorrow, but he didn’t care. He didn’t want anything about his posture to imply he was pleased with this situation.
Everything about this feels so wrong. It seems like just yesterday that Isabella was walking down the aisle toward me…and now I’m marrying another woman.
His first wedding had been filled with love and joy. As Rosalie walked toward him now, he felt bitterness and a tinge of sadness.
From his brief glances at Rosalie, she still only looked vaguely familiar to him. But he wouldn’t have really noticed her back then—she probably would’ve been a teenager the last time he saw her.
But the person walking toward him wasn’t a young girl anymore. She was a woman. A full-grown,beautifulwoman. Her auburn hair flowed around her shoulders in long waves, and her dress fit her in all the right places, showing off soft, feminine curves.
Colin averted his eyes. Sure, she looked nice, like any bride on her wedding day. However, this was strictly an arranged marriage.
He pressed his lips into a firm line.I don’t know why I went along with this.
But he did know it was too late to back out now. He shoved his clammy hand into his pocket and rubbed his thumb over Isabella’s wedding band. Having a token from her usually helped to soothe him, but the closer he’d gotten to marrying Rosalie, the more his usual method hadn’t worked.
His bride and King Frederick stopped in front of him.
“Who gives this woman to be married to this man?” the archbishop asked.
The king of Findorra had a wide grin on his face, likely pleased with how much money Colin was providing him.
“Her mother and I do.” King Frederick placed Rosalie’s hand in Colin’s. He dropped her hand the instant after helping her up to the altar.
Colin could feel her eyes on him throughout the whole ceremony. He avoided meeting her gaze, staring over her shoulder instead. When he had to repeat the lines about how he would take her for better, for worse, and all those mushy things, he finally looked at her.
