Heart Surgeon, Prince...Husband!

by Kate Hardy

  ‘How romantic!’ The sales assistant smiled. ‘And your accent tells me you’re from England.’

  ‘London,’ Kelly said swiftly, not wanting to complicate things. ‘We’re doctors.’

  ‘What sort of doctors?’ the assistant asked.

  ‘Heart surgeon and cardiologist,’ Luc said.

  The assistant clapped her hands together. ‘Two heart doctors—well, isn’t that cute? So do you have any idea what sort of dress you’d like?’

  ‘Not a traditional long wedding dress,’ Kelly said. ‘Something pretty and summery. No veil.’

  ‘OK. I can do that. What’s your bouquet like?’

  ‘Very simple—an armful of glossy red tulips,’ Luc said. ‘Which I’m going to order right now while Kelly tries on dresses.’

  ‘I can give you the number of a good florist,’ the assistant said. ‘And if you’ll allow me to suggest a few ideas, Kelly...’

  ‘I’m completely in your hands,’ Kelly said with a smile.

  Half an hour—and six dresses—later, Kelly was wearing a white silk knee-length shift dress with a sweetheart neckline and a lace overlay; the sleeves were pure lace. Thanks to some very quick and deft manoeuvring by the assistant, Kelly’s hair was up in a simple chignon, and she was wearing red, strappy high-heeled shoes to match the tulips that would be in her bouquet.

  ‘You look amazing,’ the assistant said with a smile.

  Kelly barely recognised the sophisticated woman in the mirror as herself.

  In that dress and shoes, and with her hair like that, she looked exactly like a suitable bride for Prince Luciano.

  Or would Luc Bianchi think she’d gone too far?

  ‘Thank you so much for your help,’ Kelly said.

  ‘My pleasure, sweetheart. I love dressing brides.’ The assistant grinned. ‘Especially ones with cute accents.’

  ‘I’d better check that Luc likes the dress before I say yes.’

  The assistant shook her head. ‘It’s bad luck for him to see the dress beforehand. And besides, I think he’ll love it. He clearly adores you. I think it’s so romantic that you came out here for a romantic time together and now you’re actually getting married, just the two of you.’

  And Luc’s security team, who just happened to be browsing in the store, but Kelly didn’t say that.

  She changed back into her normal clothes and joined Luc outside.

  ‘Everything OK?’ he asked.

  ‘Fine, thanks,’ Kelly said with a smile. ‘I have the perfect outfit.’

  ‘And you, sir—I assume you have a suit?’ the assistant asked when she’d boxed up Kelly’s dress and shoes.

  ‘I do,’ Luc confirmed. ‘It’s a formal dark grey lounge suit.’

  ‘With an ordinary shirt and tie? You know,’ the assistant said thoughtfully, ‘since this isn’t a traditional wedding, you could get away with wearing something a little less traditional. Like losing the suit jacket, wearing a waistcoat instead, and adding a bow tie to match the bride’s bouquet and shoes. It’d look amazing in photographs. Especially if your photographer shoots everything in black and white and then colours in just the red.’

  Kelly and Luc looked at each other.

  ‘Less traditional and less formal—I’m in,’ he said with a grin. ‘And you have an excellent eye for detail. Thank you.’

  The assistant grinned back and found him a wing-tip white shirt, a red silk bow tie and a waistcoat that was grey silk at the back and red silk at the front. ‘Have a wonderful time in New York. Happy wedding day for tomorrow—and every happiness for your future.’ She hugged them both.

  ‘Thank you,’ Kelly said, hugging her back.

  When they were back outside the shop, Luc looked at her. ‘I think we should send her flowers.’

  ‘Great idea,’ Kelly said.

  He smiled at her. ‘We have the rings, the dress, the licence, and the bouquet is ordered—I think we have everything we need. What about your hair and make-up?’

  She lifted one shoulder in a half-shrug. ‘I can do all that myself.’

  ‘I know it’s not a traditional wedding,’ Luc said, ‘but that doesn’t mean you should miss out on having a fuss made of you. I’ll talk to the hotel and organise hair and make-up. And please don’t argue; I’d like to do something nice for you.’

  ‘Then thank you. That would be lovely.’ She stifled a yawn. ‘Sorry. I’m starting to flag a bit.’

  Luc glanced at his watch. ‘It’d be eleven at night, our time, and we had an early start; plus long-haul flights are tiring. How about we have an early dinner at the hotel and an early night tonight?’

  ‘That sounds really good,’ Kelly said gratefully.

  She was almost too tired to enjoy the spectacle of the hotel’s dining room, full of palm trees and pillars and with an amazing stained-glass dome, and she knew she wasn’t appreciating how good the food was.

  Luc kissed her goodnight in their parlour. ‘I’m going to stay up for a bit, but I’ll be quiet so I don’t disturb you.’

  ‘I can stay up a bit later with you,’ she said.

  He stroked her cheek. ‘You look tired. Go to bed. I’ll see you tomorrow. And prepare to be pampered in the morning.’ He paused. ‘Just out of interest—what’s the neckline of your dress?’

  ‘Sweetheart,’ she said. ‘I guess, since it’s not a traditional wedding, you could see it now.’

  ‘No. We’ll stick with that particular tradition. I’m not going to see you now until the wedding. I’m going to have my breakfast with the guys tomorrow, and I’ll have yours delivered by room service. The limo will take you to the Clerk’s Office—I’ll meet you there.’

  And then, she thought with a shiver that was a mixture of excitement and nervousness, they’d get married...

  CHAPTER EIGHT

  THE NEXT MORNING, Kelly woke to find herself alone in the suite. Luc had left her two packages with a note propped up against them.

  Another tradition—something ‘old and borrowed’, and something blue. See you at the Clerk’s Office at two. L xx

  She remembered the old rhyme. The new was obviously her dress and shoes. The ‘blue’ turned out to be a Tiffany box containing an exquisite pair of sapphire stud earrings.

  But the ‘old and borrowed’ really made her catch her breath: a beautiful and clearly antique string of pearls. Another note from Luc said,

  These were my grandmother’s, if you’d like to wear them today.

  Meaning that he’d like her to wear them?

  OK. She could do that. And he’d made it clear that they would be borrowed, which was fine by her.

  By the time she’d showered and dressed, room service arrived with her breakfast. And then she had an appointment at the beauty salon: a massage to relax her followed by having her hair and nails done. She had a sandwich and fruit for lunch—beautifully presented and making her feel very spoiled—and finally the beautician did her make-up. Just as they finished, the Reception called to say that her flowers had arrived.

  The bouquet was gorgeous: a simple posy of glossy red tulips that matched her shoes and Luc’s tie and waistcoat, with matching red silk ribbon tied round the stems to make them easy to carry.

  Back in her room, she changed into her dress and stared at herself in the mirror.

  In less than an hour’s time, she’d be Luc’s wife. For a few months.

  Nerves fluttered in her stomach. But Luc was a good man, and she trusted him. Her family liked him. And what they were doing meant that Luc would be able to carry on with his career, making a real difference to the world, instead of being forced into a job that he’d hate. They were doing the right thing.

  She brushed one finger along the pearls. ‘Luc didn’t tell me about you,’ she said, ‘but I’m guessing you were special to him, if he wants me to wear your pearls. I hope yo
u know that I’ll support your grandson through this whole thing.’ She dragged in a breath. ‘And, Simon. I’ll always love you. This isn’t to disparage our wedding at all. I’m helping a friend, and he’s helping me. And then we’re going to move on with our lives. I won’t forget you, but I’m also not going to live in seclusion, because I know you’d hate me to shut myself away from the world. I just want to wait until I’m ready.’

  The Reception called to tell Kelly that the limo was ready whenever she needed it. She headed downstairs, and sat in the back looking out at the city as the driver took her through the streets of Manhattan. Towards Luc. Towards their wedding. Towards whatever the future held.

  * * *

  Luc took a deep breath as he waited outside the Clerk’s Office in Manhattan. Five minutes until Kelly was due to arrive.

  He knew she’d keep her word and turn up for their marriage of convenience, but he felt as nervous as any real groom might feel.

  ‘Are you sure about this, boss?’ Gino asked.

  ‘Yes. It will send a very clear message to my father.’ Luc looked at Gino. ‘So I don’t expect you to risk your position by being the witness. I can ask the photographer to do that.’

  ‘Ask someone you barely know? Are you kidding?’ Gino frowned and shook his head. ‘It will be my privilege to be your witness. Besides, I’m already an accessory.’

  Luc clapped his hand on Gino’s shoulder. ‘True. And thank you. I assure you there won’t be any consequences.’

  ‘I don’t care if there are,’ Gino said. ‘I like Kelly. A lot. And you’ve been much happier since she’s been around.’

  ‘We’re friends. The marriage is in name only,’ Luc reminded him.

  ‘She likes you. And I think you like her, too.’

  He did. He was aware that his feelings towards Kelly had grown and changed over the last few weeks. That he was starting to fall for her. But he didn’t want to put any pressure on her. He knew she needed time to get over losing Simon. It wasn’t fair to ask her for something she couldn’t give, and besides any real emotional involvement would make their simple marriage of convenience way too complicated. ‘The limo’s here,’ he said, more to distract himself than Gino.

  And he caught his breath as the driver helped Kelly out of the car. She looked absolutely stunning. The dress was gorgeous, the flowers and her shoes were the perfect pop of colour, and she was wearing his grandmother’s pearls.

  ‘Hi,’ he said when she walked towards him. And how odd that his voice had gone all croaky, his palms were sweaty and his heart rate was galloping. Kelly was his friend. This was going to be a marriage in name only. So why did this feel right now as if it was for real?

  ‘Hi.’ Her voice was all breathless and shy, too.

  ‘You look lovely.’ And he couldn’t resist leaning forward and kissing her lightly.

  She blushed. ‘You look pretty good, too. And thank you for the loan of these.’ She touched the pearls with a fingertip.

  ‘Pleasure.’ He smiled. ‘My grandmother would have liked you very much.’

  ‘Were you close to her?’ Kelly asked.

  He nodded. ‘She was the one who persuaded my father to let me train as a doctor in the first place.’

  ‘These,’ she said, ‘feel like a symbol of approval.’

  ‘They are,’ he said softly. ‘Ready?’

  ‘Ready,’ she confirmed.

  They walked into the Clerk’s Office together and collected their number so they could wait to be called into one of the two chapels. Luc took a snap of them on his phone. ‘For posterity,’ he said.

  ‘You look beautiful, Kelly,’ Gino said.

  ‘Thank you.’ She smiled at him.

  ‘This is Patty, our photographer,’ Luc said when a woman came over to them. ‘Patty, thank you for coming. This is Kelly.’

  ‘Pleased to meet you, honey,’ Patty said. ‘Your dress is beautiful. And the colour coordination between you—that’s good.’

  ‘We were thinking,’ Luc said, ‘or, rather, the wonderful sales assistant at the bridal shop suggested, maybe you could process some of the photos in black and white—’

  ‘—and pick out the accents in red?’ Patty finished. ‘Great idea.’

  Patty took a few shots of them together, and then their number was called.

  ‘This is it,’ Luc said, feeling incredibly nervous. There was no going back now. And this was the right thing to do, he was sure.

  The chapel was painted apricot and peach, with a pink striped abstract painting next to the lectern. The officiant announced them, and they stood at the lectern in front of the clerk.

  ‘Welcome, Luc and Kelly,’ the officiant said. ‘If there is anybody present who knows of any reason why these two people should not get married, please speak now.’

  There was silence.

  ‘Do you, Luc, solemnly declare to take Kelly as your lawful wedded wife?’

  ‘Yes, I do,’ Luc said.

  ‘Do you promise to honour and cherish her for as long as you both shall live?’

  ‘I do,’ Luc agreed.

  ‘As a symbol of your promise, please place the ring on her finger,’ the officiant directed.

  Luc did so, smiling at Kelly. Nothing about this part was fake. He’d honour her always.

  ‘Do you, Kelly, solemnly declare to take Luc as your lawful wedded husband?’ the officiant asked.

  ‘Yes, I do.’ Her voice was firm and clear.

  ‘Do you promise to honour and cherish him for as long as you both shall live?’

  ‘I do,’ she affirmed.

  ‘As a symbol of your promise, please place the ring on his finger.’

  She slid the matching ring onto his finger. Luc caught her gaze, and he could see how enormous her pupils were. So did she feel this strange, unsettling, meant-to-be feeling, too?

  ‘And as much as you both have consented to be united together in matrimony and have exchanged your wedding vows in front of us all here today, by the power vested in me by the laws of the great state of New York, I now pronounce you husband and wife,’ the officiant said.

  And that was it.

  They were married.

  ‘Mr and Mrs Bianchi, congratulations on behalf of the state.’ The officiant smiled at both of them, signed a piece of paper with a flourish, waited for them both to sign it along with Gino as the witness, and then gave them their official marriage registration.

  ‘So this is it,’ Luc whispered.

  ‘We’re married,’ she whispered back.

  ‘You may kiss the bride,’ the officiant said.

  Luc did so, intending it to be light and easy, but somehow he couldn’t quite pull away from her. He was aware of everything about her: the sweetness of her scent, the warmth of her skin, the feel of her mouth against his.

  When he finally broke the kiss, he felt thoroughly flustered. And she looked as if she felt exactly the same way.

  Patty took a couple of photographs, and then Luc held Kelly’s hand as they headed outside. Patty posed them outside the doorway, with the words ‘New York State’ above their heads. She took a shot of them smiling, another with them showing off their wedding rings, another of them kissing—and then she took the bouquet and gave it to Gino for safe keeping. ‘A little prop,’ she said with a grin, and gave them a banner which proclaimed ‘just married’ in capital letters, with a heart separating the words.

  Luc laughed. ‘Just about perfect for two cardiac doctors.’

  They held up the banner and Patty took a shot, then another of them on the steps under the words ‘Office of the City Clerk’.

  ‘Iconic pictures,’ she said thoughtfully when she collected the banner and returned the bouquet to Kelly. ‘I know just the place.’

  At her direction, the limo driver took them to Brooklyn Bridge Park. She took a few s
hots of Luc and Kelly by the river with the iconic skyline and Brooklyn Bridge behind them, and then she shepherded them towards the carousel. ‘It’s a hundred years old,’ she said with a smile. ‘I think this is perfect for you two.’

  She posed them both on the horses and in one of the chariots, taking photographs of them as they whirled round on the carousel.

  ‘And that’s a wrap,’ she said with a smile. ‘Thank you for being patient. I’ll deliver the final photographs at your hotel before breakfast tomorrow morning, and email you the link to the downloads so your family and friends can see them when you get home and order any prints they choose.’

  ‘Thank you.’ Luc shook her hand warmly, and Kelly hugged her.

  ‘So now the photographs are over,’ Luc said when Patty had left, ‘that means dinner and dancing. I have things booked, if that’s all right with you?’

  ‘It all sounds wonderful,’ she said. ‘It’s my first time in New York, so everything is new for me and I’ve had an amazing time already. I loved the carousel.’

  ‘Me, too,’ he said. ‘Can you walk in these shoes?’

  ‘Yes.’

  ‘Then let’s take a stroll,’ he said.

  And somehow it felt natural to walk with his arm around her shoulders, talking and enjoying the views and taking snaps on their phone for her to send home. As if they really were married and enjoying their honeymoon.

  The limo took them back to Manhattan for a swish meal in a Michelin-starred restaurant. And it was an incredible space, with pale walls and classical architecture that reminded Luc of the ancient palazzos in Bordimiglia. The tables and chairs were all made of dark polished wood, the starched damask tablecloths were white, and in the middle of each table was a bowl of tulips—some red, some yellow, some pink and some a dramatic deep purple. The whole thing looked beautifully stylish.

  ‘Tulips! Our wedding flowers. Did you ask for them especially?’ Kelly asked.

  ‘No,’ he admitted. ‘It’s pure serendipity. But I did ask if they would swap the red meat options on the tasting menu for something else of your choice, and they agreed.’