His Princess of Convenience

by Rebecca Winters

  “I know this has come as a shock, but we’re going to get through this because there’s been total honesty between us, grazie a Dio. Remember Elena needs our protection more than ever. She’s very fragile right now.”

  “You’re right. I knew there was something wrong when she kept saying she hoped we’d be happy. Throughout our wedding she was terrified and had to keep all that bottled up inside. The poor thing.”

  He kissed her lips. “I’ll make arrangements for the helicopter to be here at five a.m. Then you and I are going to have a long, serious talk.”

  His composure under these precarious circumstances was nothing short of miraculous. The affairs of the kingdom were falling apart, yet his mastery in dealing with it was a revelation. As far as she was concerned, this was Antonio’s finest hour.

  Whether she ever became queen or not, she would act like one right now because Antonio had never needed her help more to present a unified front. She knew deep down he wanted to be king in order to save his country from possible ruin. More than anything, Christina wanted that for him, whatever it took.

  She grabbed two bottles of water from the refrigerator and hurried through the hut to their bedroom. While she waited for him to come, she started the packing for both of them. Five o’clock would be here soon enough. They needed to be ready to leave.

  Christina lifted her head when he came into the bedroom with their dinner tray. “Did you get through to Manu?”

  He nodded. “Everything is set. Since you’ve packed the bags, we can eat.” He put it on the bed. “Come on.”

  She took a shaky breath. “I—I couldn’t.”

  “You have to. I don’t want my wife getting sick on me. We’re on our honeymoon and I intend to enjoy it for the next six hours.”

  Christina actually laughed despite her agony.

  Together they got on the bed and ate. When they’d finished eating, he got up to put the tray on the table. “Excuse me a moment. I’ll be right back.”

  She wondered what he was doing until she heard Tahitian music from the radio piped into their room. Once he reappeared, he turned off the lamps and crawled onto the bed beside her.

  “This music is enchanting, isn’t it?” she said.

  “I love it. Come here to me,” he whispered. “I need you.”

  The blood pounded in her ears before she moved into his arms. “What are we going to do, Antonio?”

  “We’re going to stay just like this.”

  “You know what I mean.”

  “Yes, but there’s nothing to do about anything until we reach Halenica, so you’re stuck with me.”

  “That’s no penance. You smell wonderful.”

  “So you’ve noticed.”

  She swallowed hard. “I notice everything.”

  “So do I. You’re a warrior under that fiery mane.”

  “What a compliment.”

  “It is, because you’re going to be queen and now I know you have the steel to help me. Any other woman would have gone into hysterics a little while ago. Not you.”

  She smiled in secret pleasure. “You wouldn’t let me. That’s the sign of a great king.”

  “The priest’s words never had as much meaning to me until now.”

  “Which words were those?”

  “The part where he said ‘From this day forward you shall be each other’s home, comfort and refuge.’ Whatever we have to face when we get back home, Christina, I’m not worried because you’ve become my refuge in a very short time.”

  Tears stung her eyelids. He kissed them. “I didn’t mean to make you cry.”

  “It’s the good kind. When I’m happy, I often cry.”

  “I saw tears when you looked at your parents in the chapel. What was going on in your mind?”

  “That I didn’t always want to be a disappointment to them. Now that there’s a national scandal, they’ll consider that I’ve hit rock bottom.”

  “If they can’t see beyond the end of their noses and recognize a hatchet job of major proportions, how sad for them. But I couldn’t be happier that you turned out just the way you are. My one regret is that we’re going to have to leave our paradise far too soon. I’ve had you all to myself since the wedding ceremony and I love the privacy so much I’m loath to give it up.”

  “I feel the same. We’ve been living most people’s fantasy.”

  He suddenly held her tighter and burrowed his face in her neck. “I want this fantasy to go on and on.” The longing in his voice echoed the desire of her heart. “I want you to know I’ll treasure this time together for the rest of my life.”

  “I’ve loved every second of it too. Isn’t this place wonderful?”

  “Yes, but it would be a waste without the right person along. We’ll come back again one day and spend time over at the coral garden. We’ll do a lot of things, but right now I just want to make love to you.”

  Once again the age-old ritual began. This time Christina took the initiative to show her husband how much she loved him. She loved him in every atom of her body and poured out her feelings, wanting to take away any pain he was feeling tonight. At one point he pulled her on top of him. It was heaven to cover his face with kisses and play with his hair. He was such a beautiful man, there were no words.

  “Christina? We only have a few hours before we have to return to Halencia and deal with the mess. If I’d known it was going to happen, I would have insisted we get married sooner and enjoy a month’s honeymoon at least. Now it’s too late for that.”

  But before their wedding, neither of them had a clue that they would come to care for each other in so short a time. Christina was positive that flare of desire she’d felt when he kissed her at the altar had been unexpected for him too.

  “Are you happy?” His voice sounded anxious. “Because I want you to be happy.”

  She heard the longing and drew in a breath. “I’m happier right now than I’ve ever been in my life.”

  “Grazie a Dio, because I am too. I hope our daughter has red hair like her mother.”

  “Would you mind if our son has red hair instead?”

  “Your hair is glorious. Why would I mind?”

  “Mother wanted to turn me into a brunette.”

  “It’s a good thing you didn’t listen to her. When the time came, I wanted you for my bride.”

  Yes. And he wound up with Christina to save his sister from disgrace. And now that the news had leaked, it was a national scandal, but he didn’t seem worried.

  Their trust was on solid ground. More than ever she understood the deeper words of the priest. Be able to forgive, do not hold grudges, and live each day that you may share it together. From this day forward you shall be each other’s home, comfort and refuge, your marriage strengthened by your love and respect.

  So far they’d shared each incredible day together. Their nights had been euphoric. This bedroom had become their home and refuge. She’d been able to comfort him in a way she wouldn’t have imagined. Living with Antonio was already changing her life and it frightened her that the happiness she was experiencing might be taken away from her after they returned home.

  The next morning they awakened for breakfast. It had arrived with a newspaper. He pored over it.

  Her heart thudded. “Anything to report about us?”

  “There’s a photo of me taken at the airport. No matter how hard my father tried, the word still got out. But so far Manu has managed to keep our exact location a secret. He’s worth every Eurodollar he’s being paid.”

  “Do you think your father will be upset?”

  “Yes.” He flicked her a searching glance. “Are you in with me?”

  “All the way. You know that.”

  He put the newspaper down and moved himself away from the table. “Come out o
n the deck with me. I crave a walk along the beach with you before it rains.”

  Her husband reached for her hand as they stepped down to the edge of the water and started walking. “With Bora Bora appearing and disappearing mystically through the clouds this morning, it looks surreal, Antonio. I feel like we’re in some primordial world. The air is so balmy it’s unreal.”

  After they’d gone a ways, he stopped and grasped her arms so she faced him. “You’re so lovely you seem unreal. I need to know if I’m with a phantom wife.” In the next breath he lowered his mouth to hers and gave her the husband’s kiss she’d been dying for. Fire licked through her veins as she was caught up in his embrace. She knew he had to be in pain, but the way he was kissing her had her senses reeling.

  Their bodies clung. She could feel the powerful muscles in his legs and melted against him. He released her mouth long enough to kiss her face and neck. His hands plunged into her hair before he kissed her throat, in fact, all the area of skin exposed by the sundress she was wearing home.

  “Touch me,” he whispered in a ragged voice.

  Succumbing to his entreaty, she wrapped her arms around his waist and heard his moan of pleasure as his mouth began devouring hers. The rain had started and was so ethereal in nature it felt more like a mist, adding to the rapture building inside her. Antonio was doing the most amazing things to her with his hands and mouth.

  Too soon Manu arrived to tell them the helicopter had arrived. It was time to go.

  CHAPTER EIGHT

  THIRTY HOURS LATER the royal jet landed at Voti International Airport, where a helicopter was waiting to fly them to the palace. To their relief, no press was allowed on the tarmac.

  During the times throughout the flight while Christina napped, Antonio had talked with his sister at length to get her to stop blaming herself. During the night his wife had been restless and couldn’t sleep. They were flying home to a hornet’s nest. She was holding her own, but he knew the emotions of his brave, beautiful wife were in turmoil.

  At one o’clock that afternoon the helicopter landed on the back lawn of the palace closed to the public. He helped her down and they hurried toward the south entrance with several staff members bringing their luggage.

  They rushed up the grand staircase to the second floor of the east wing. When he reached the doors of his apartment, he picked her up again like a bride.

  “Antonio—” She hid her head against his shoulder. “We’ve already done this once.”

  “I don’t care. I might feel like doing it every time we come in.” Before she could say another word, he silenced her with a kiss because he couldn’t help himself. She’d become the drug in his system. Her response electrified him. At this point he needed to be with her inside their home away from the world and make love to his wife.

  After managing to open one of the two tall, palatial doors, he swept her through the apartment to the bedroom and followed her down on the bed. The staff knew better than to do anything but place the suitcases inside the main doors and leave them alone.

  “Welcome to my world, Christina de L’Accardi. Besides family, you’re the first and only woman I’ve ever brought here. It’s always been a lonely place for me. Now it’s going to be our home.” It was liberating to crush her against him. One kiss turned into another. She wanted him as much as he wanted her.

  Like clockwork both his cell phone and room phone started ringing. He moaned aloud before continuing to kiss her, but the ringing persisted until she tore her lips from his. “Of course everyone knows we’re back, Antonio,” she said out of breath. “You at least have to say hello.”

  “That’s all I’ll say.” He sat up and reached for the bedside phone first, impatient because of the interruption of civilization. Being away from technology for a few days had been the best thing that could have happened to them. “Pronto—”

  “Come sta, figlio mio?”

  He looked at his wife, whose silvery eyes fastened on him still had the glaze of desire burning in their depths. His fingers ran over her lips. “Christina and I have been to heaven thanks to your generosity, Papa. But we were called back to earth too soon.”

  “I’m thrilled you’ve had a wonderful time, but now we must talk.”

  “Not now, Papa. My wife and I need the rest of this day together.”

  “But there’s a crisis.”

  His muscles clenched. “So I’ve been informed, but nothing’s more important than my time with her. I promise I’ll take care of things starting tomorrow. Give my love to Mama. Ciao.”

  Christina chuckled. “You’ll have to answer your cell phone or it will never stop.” Letting out another sound of frustration, he reached in his pants pocket and pulled it out. When he saw the caller ID, he didn’t mind answering.

  “Zach!”

  “I’m glad you answered. Where are you?” His friend sounded more than anxious.

  He smiled down at Christina. “We’ve just entered our humble home after being flown to paradise and back.” She kissed his fingers.

  “I’ve never thought of Paris as paradise.”

  “No. Bora Bora. A surprise wedding gift from my parents. You should take Lindsay there. You’d never want to come back.”

  “Antonio? Is this really you? You sound strange, like you’re on something.”

  He grinned. “I’ve been drugged all right.” A laugh came out of his wife. “Listen, I’ll call you tomorrow.”

  “But you’ve got problems, buddy. Big problems.”

  “My other half is going to help me solve them.”

  “But she’s part of the problem, if you get my meaning,” Zach said, lowering his voice.

  “You’ve got that wrong. She’s the solution, but I appreciate your concern. You’re the best friend a man ever had next to his wife. Ciao.”

  No sooner had he hung up to indulge himself with his beautiful bride than Christina’s cell phone rang. She had to get off the bed for the purse she’d accidentally dropped on the inlaid wooden flooring while her husband was carrying her.

  She didn’t need to look at the caller ID to know who it was. Might as well get this over now. “Pronto?”

  “Christina?” Her mother sounded mournful rather than angry. “Is it true that you had an affair while you were engaged to Antonio?”

  She held her breath. “If I tell you that was a lie, would you believe me?”

  “Yes.”

  “Would Father?”

  “I—I can’t speak for him. What are you going to do?”

  Her mother sounded as though she really cared. “It’s up to Antonio.”

  “Just remember I’m here for you if you need me.”

  For her mother to say that was astounding to Christina. “Thank you, Mama. We’ll talk later.”

  Antonio’s arms were locked around her from behind. But for once she didn’t feel like crawling into a dark hole never to come out again. She turned to Antonio. “Mother just gave me her support.”

  “It’s about time, but don’t forget you’ve got me now.”

  “I know.” She lifted her mouth to kiss him, but there was a knocking on the outer doors, loud enough to reach their ears in the bedroom. “Tonio? It’s me,” Elena cried. “Can I come in? It’s an emergency!”

  “Tell her to come,” Christina urged him. “She’s been waiting for us.”

  He gave her another hug before they both hurried through the apartment to greet his sister.

  When he opened the door, they barely recognized Elena, who’d been crying for so long her blue eyes were puffy and her face had gone splotchy. “I’m so glad you’re home.” She threw herself into Antonio’s arms and sobbed.

  Christina closed the door and the three of them went into the living room. When he let her go, she turned to Christina. As they hugged, his siste
r had another explosion of tears.

  “Elena—it’s going to be all right. Come and sit down on the couch.” She drew her by the hand. Antonio sat in the love seat near them.

  She brushed the tears from her cheeks. “I have something to tell both of you. Marusha and I have had a long talk. Her husband found out through another doctor that before Roger left Africa, he got drunk and told things to the doctor that were supposed to be kept quiet. But the other doctor was unscrupulous and leaked it to the news.”

  Christina shook her head. “I should never have gone out with him.”

  Antonio stood up. “If we all keep blaming ourselves for everything, nothing will be accomplished. What’s done is done.”

  “There’s more,” Elena admitted.

  He took a deep breath. “Go on.”

  “I broke down and told our parents why you and Christina got engaged. I also told them Christina had never slept with that doctor. It was pure fabrication.”

  “It’s all right, Elena. The truth will free all of us.”

  His wife was so right!

  He’d already known that Christina hadn’t given herself to the doctor. Antonio had been stunned at the time and overjoyed.

  “They think you’re both so noble,” Elena kept on. “Our parents are prepared to do anything to help you. But as you know, they’ve lost Guido’s respect and he has powerful friends in the council who are ready to abolish the monarchy altogether. Some of the others wanting to keep the monarchy alive have prevailed on the archbishop to grant an annulment so you can remarry. There’s a list of titled women they’re vetting now with Princess Gemma at the top.”

  Filled with joy that Christina was his wife, Antonio stopped pacing. “No. That isn’t going to happen. I’ve got plans, ideas to build the economy. Christina and I plan to enlarge the African charity to make it far-reaching. I have a new jobs initiative to help us become a leader in technology. Scandal has rocked this nation for years, but we’ll weather it. We have to.”

  Elena stared at him as if she’d never seen him before.

  His wife got up from the couch and stood in front of him, wearing the same white suit she’d worn on the plane to Tahiti. “We will.”