A March Bride (16 page)

“
Well, then—
”
Nathaniel said, peeking at Susanna.

“
Thank you for everything.
”
Susanna reached for her mama
’
s hand.
“
I know you helped him pull this off. It was beautiful, Mama.
”

“
One of the most beautiful I
’
ve ever seen, and I
’
m not saying it because you
’
re my daughter.
”
Mama kissed Susanna, whispered,
“
I love you,
”
then shuffled back down the steps, walking around the veranda to the outer gate.
“
Avery Mae!
”
she called over her shoulder.
“
Get the lead out. We
’
re heading home. Prince Colin, see you tomorrow for lunch.
”

Susanna yawned, really feeling her exhaustion. She wanted to crawl into bed and relive tonight in her dreams. Meditate on all the special moments.

Seeing Nathaniel standing under the oaks in his grand-father
’
s white uniform, so regal and strong.

His confession of love.

The romantic Christ Church grounds.

Wearing Granny
’
s gown.

Their vows.

Sigh
. . . It was all so very lovely.

Standing, Susanna reached for the Louboutins she
’
d shed twenty minutes ago.
“
Avery, I
’
m ready when you are.
”

Nathaniel cleared his throat.
“
Where are you going?
”

“
Home.
”
She glanced down at him.
“
Avery
’
s my ride . . .
”
Her heart fluttered, revelation dawning, her body responding with fiery pulses.
“
Oh—
”
A deep blush crested her cheeks.
“
I hadn
’
t even thought . . .
”

“
I surprised you. I understand.
”
He stood, reaching for her.
“
But this is our wedding night.
”

“
I-I guess so.
”
She laughed low, shoving the lap blanket
from her shoulders. Did someone turn up the heat in that fireplace?
“
I was all mentally geared for our wedding on the twenty-first. It didn
’
t register that, you know, tonight is—
”

“
We have the whole cottage to ourselves. No Jon, no servants or staff. Not even Liam.
”
He swept her into his arms and held her against him.
“
Come with me.
”

He led her into the house, through the kitchen where the staff, the locals, and the Stratton Palace team talked and laughed, cleaning up.

Walking hand-in-hand up the broad, winding staircase, Susanna made the last mental adjustment she needed to realize that
this
was her wedding night.

Oh, she was staying. She could finally let her heart and desires go. She
’
d not deny this man. Not deny herself. She
’
d waited ten long months for this night, and she wanted to be with him every bit as much as he wanted to be with her. Plans and schedules be darned.

At the top of the staircase, a soft light glowed from the master suite at the end of the hall.

Nathaniel had turned his bedroom into a bridal chamber with dozens of candles, fresh white linens, and a fire flickering in the old stone fireplace. A small bowed gift and a bouquet of roses awaited her on the dressing table.

“
Nathaniel, oh my . . . will your surprises never end?
”
She laughed and shoved him out the door.
“
Now, get rid of our last guest and the cleanup crew. Give a girl a chance to prepare. Got a dress shirt I can borrow?
”

His eyes glinted with passion.
“
In the closet.
”

She rose up on her toes and kissed him.
“
My heart is beating so fast I can
’
t breathe.
”
She pressed his hand over
her heart.
“
Give me a few minutes, and then the rest of the night, I am 100 percent yours.
”

As Susanna closed the suite door, Nathaniel raced down the hall and shook the entire cottage.
“
Everyone out! Out! Good night and good
’
morrow.
”

Sunlight filled the room when Nathaniel woke up, reaching for his bride. Her side of the bed was warm but empty.

“
Suz?
”
He sat up, listening for the sounds of life.

She popped out of the bathroom.
“
Morning, sleepy head.
”

He grinned. Seeing her wrapped in a towel, her wet hair combed back, his desire for her stirred.
“
You going somewhere?
”
He patted the bed next to him. Nothing had prepared his heart for what he
’
d feel for this woman once she was completely his and he was hers.

“
It
’
s twelve thirty. We all leave tomorrow, so I thought it would be fun to go to the Shack for lunch and hang out with the friends and fam.
”

He crawled out of bed.
“
I thought it would be fun to
hang
with my wife.
”

“
You have the rest of your life to
hang
with me.
”
She kissed him, teasing and slow. Then she turned him toward the shower.
“
Get ready. Let
’
s go see everyone and continue the celebration.
”

“
Married not even twenty-four hours and my wife is bossing me around already.
”
He reached for another kiss, letting her love awaken his sleepy heart.

After his shower, Nathaniel headed downstairs, snatching up the SUV keys from the dining room table.
“
Suz, love, let
’
s go. I
’
m dialing Liam. Making sure he
’
s at the Shack with everyone. I
’
d like him there so he can have fun
and
we have security.
”

He
’
d kept this wedding private, away from the watchful eyes of the media, but he didn
’
t want to venture far without Liam. Word was bound to spread over St. Simons sooner or later that a royal wedding had occurred.

Though he felt sure they were safe for one more day, he didn
’
t want to risk it. Two Royal Air Force planes had crossed the Atlantic in less than a week. Surely they
’
d alerted someone, somewhere.

“
Liam, we
’
re on our way to the Shack. Yes, see you there.
”
Nathaniel tucked his phone in his jeans pocket.
“
Suz, love, you ready?
”

She bounded into the room glowing and beautiful, free and sweet. He hooked her with one arm and kissed her.
“
Want to walk on the beach later?
”

“
Whatever you desire, Your Majesty.
”

“
Whatever I desire?
”
He nuzzled her neck.
“
You . . .
”

Susanna laughed softly and leaned into him for another kiss as he fumbled for the doorknob. As he swung it open wide, a gush of cool, fresh air swirled around them, along with the battering sound of a dozen camera shutters.

Photographers flooded the front veranda, the lawn, and down the driveway.

“
King Nathaniel, is it true you were married last night?
”

“
Your Majesty, if Susanna is still an American citizen, how does this impact your monarchy?
”

“
Susanna, King Nathaniel, look this way, this way . . .
”

Nathaniel slammed the door shut, grimacing at Susanna, anger boiling in his bones.
“
I
’
m sorry, love, but our honeymoon is over.
”

K
ING
N
ATHANIEL
II
IN
B
REACH OF
M
ARRIAGE
A
CT
; P
ARLIAMENT TO
T
AKE
A
CTION

T
HE
K
ING
’
S
P
OLITICAL
O
PPONENTS
H
EAT
U
P
:
“
H
IS
M
ARRIAGE TO THE
A
MERICAN
D
EFIES
O
UR
L
AWS
”

B
RIGHTON
W
EDDING
N
OT
G
OOD
E
NOUGH FOR
O
UR
K
ING
? P
EOPLE
O
UTRAGED AT
A
MERICAN
W
EDDING

I
n the Parliament Debate Box, a windowless anterior room outside the Senate and Commons joint chambers, King Nathaniel faced off with Prime Minister Brock Bishop, Susanna standing beside him.
“
You can
’
t be serious.
”

“
Most serious.
”
Brock crossed his arms with a smug glance at his vice minister.
“
You knew what you were doing, Your Majesty. Why are you surprised Parliament is outraged? Not to mention, you robbed your people of seeing their first reigning king marry in three hundred years.
”

“
So you
’
re demanding my throne?
”
After the paparazzi surprise on St. Simons Island—Nathaniel had yet to discover who leaked the wedding—the Brightonian media exploded with stories, opinions, documentaries, online polls about the American ceremony.

Days and days of unrelenting coverage.

“
Mr. Bishop.
”
Susanna spoke with reverence and honor.
“
I was very reluctant to give up my American citizenship, but I
’
ve come to realize it
’
s not what defines me. Nor does a Brighton citizenship. Sure, it
’
s hard to give up something that
’
s been a part of me before I was born, but I am taking the Brighton Oath of Allegiance tomorrow morning and renouncing my American ties. So what
’
s the harm here?
”

“
Harm? That our king went behind our back, defied the law, and married a foreigner without her having taken the oath of citizenship. Never mind the renunciation of your civil ties to America.
”
Brock motioned for his aide to hand him a document.
“
Many already see this as a compromise with another nation. The influence has started. The Liberal-Labor Party in the House of Senators is demanding you step down from the throne.
”