Page 44 of Stranded with His Runaway Bride

‘You found ice?’

‘Once I’d taken a hammer and chisel to what was left at the edges of the freezer.’ Her wayward imagination conjured a tantalising picture of him, bent over the chest freezer in the pantry, with that taut backside of his on display.

He pulled out the chair for her and saw her seated before he crossed to the sideboard and returned with a silver platter.

‘Madame, this evening the chef has created something of a delicacy.’ He removed the domed cover with a flourish. ‘Pan-fried bread and haricots blancs in a tomato confit.’

She looked blankly at him.

‘I believe in England you’d call it beans on toast,’ he said. ‘But do make the most of the bread. I discovered these few slices in the freezer, but the rest are spoiled. I fear we’ll have to resort to more canned coq au vin for breakfast.’

He opened the champagne and filled two crystal flutes. ‘This, on the other hand, is of the finest vintage.’ He lifted his glass in salute. ‘Thank you, Grand-Mère, for your excellent taste in wine.’

He handed a flute to Violetta, then with a formal bow and a heel-click he raised his glass to her.

‘May I wish you a very happy twenty-first birthday, Grand Duchessa?’

She took a sip. Crisp, ice-cold bubbles played deliciously over her tongue.

‘Good?’ Leo asked as he took a sip from his own glass.

‘Very good,’ she answered.

She picked up her fork and started on her ‘dinner’. ‘How did you do all this?’

‘I had a lot of free time while you were hiding away.’

‘I wasn’t hiding. I was educating myself about the history of the lace industry in Grimentz.’

His lips curved in a smile. ‘Like I said. Hiding. What scared you most, that you liked the kisses or that you actually like me?’

She made a little harrumph and carried on eating.

‘Surprised you, hasn’t it?’

‘The kisses? I suppose you could call them surprising as I have nothing to compare them to,’ she said, spearing a single bean and popping it delicately into her mouth.

He sent her a wicked smile. ‘Oh, Violetta, you really are delightful.’

She lifted her chin, ‘That’s Grand Duchess to you, or Your Serene Highness. Either will suffice until I decide that I like you enough to allow you to address me by my given name.’

‘Then, Your Serene Highness, are you ready to move on to the next part of the evening’s entertainment?’

Her gaze shot to his. In her excitement, she forgot she was pretending to be haughty. ‘There’s more?’

‘It’s your twenty-first birthday. Of course, there’s more.’

When he opened the doors to the ballroom Violetta’s jaw dropped.

Dozens of candles glittered in the candelabras. Dozens more bounced back from the reflections in the mirrors lining the walls. She stared up at Leo in wonder and his mouth creased in a crooked smile.

‘It’s your birthday and you should have a grand ball to celebrate your accession to the throne. Naturally you should be escorted by a handsome prince,’ he said with a wink that made her heart race, ‘and led to the floor for a dance.’

He held out his hand. She placed her fingers in his and followed him to the centre of the room.

A waltz started up. In the mirrors she caught the reflection of Leo pocketing a small black remote, and in the corner of the room spied the CD-player they’d listened to last night.

He began to move.

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