the end of the aisle, having paused several times to accept good wishes and hugs of congratulation, Emmeline’s mouth was aching from the forced smile she’d adopted.
A crowd had formed beyond the church and there was a throng of paparazzi. Inwardly, Emmeline trembled at the idea of being photographed. Her husband apparently had no such qualms.
‘Ready?’ he asked, pausing just inside the door, sparing a quick glance at her face.
Then again, why would he hesitate? This was his life. If the number of photographs of him on the internet proved anything it was that he was followed and snapped often. He probably couldn’t walk down the street without someone taking his picture.
But Emmeline’s life hadn’t been like that. A handful of society events had led to her picture sometimes being splashed in the papers, though not often. She was too drab. Boring. Ugly. Why print a picture of Emmeline Bovington unless it was to compare her unfavourably to the renowned beauty her mother had been?
She closed her eyes, sucking in a deep breath, and was unaware of the way Pietro’s eyes had caught the deceptive action.
He studied her thoughtfully. He’d seen panic before, and he saw it now. Was this idea so unpalatable to her? Hell, she’d suggested it and her father had railroaded him. If anyone should be panicking it was Pietro.
Her hesitation annoyed him—probably more than it should. He stepped out through the door, holding her hand and bringing her with him into the brightness of the Italian afternoon. The steps towards the street were empty, but beneath them was a large crowd, and as they erupted from the church applause broke out. Rose petals were thrown high into the air. The noise was deafening.
He smiled, lifting a hand in acknowledgement, and turned towards his bride.
There it was again.
Panic.
Blinding, devastating panic.
Impatience crumpled his common sense and quickly ate up his judgement. He caught her around the waist and this time he tipped her back in a swoon worthy of an old black and white Hollywood movie.
His lips on hers were an assault; it was a kiss that gave voice to his annoyance when he wasn’t otherwise able to. Her hands curled around his neck, her fingers tangling in the hair at his neck, and she made that noise again. That little whimper of confusion that made him hard all over.
That annoyed him even more, and he pressed his hands into her back, lifting her higher, pressing his arousal against her abdomen, leaving her in little doubt of just what kind of man she’d married.
It lasted only seconds, but when he eased her back to stand and pulled away from her the crowd broke out into thunderous applause.
Her eyes were thunderous too. Thunderously pissed off. He could practically hear the storm brewing.
Good. Let Little Miss Refined work on that.
‘I swear to God, kiss me again and I’ll wait until you’re asleep and do some serious damage to you,’ she said angrily, but her smile was plastered on again seconds later as Col came up behind them.
‘I know I wanted this for you both, but seeing you together...’ He shook his head wistfully, tears in his eyes. ‘I could die a happy man right now.’
Emmeline laughed, not noticing the way her husband had stiffened at her side. ‘God, Daddy, don’t say that. You’ll tempt the heavens.’
‘Che sera, sera,’ Col said with a shrug.
Emmeline dismissed that attitude. Her father was clearly thrilled that the wedding had taken place, and she wasn’t going to take that away from him. Now there were several family photographs to pose for.
Emmeline had met Pietro’s mother Ria a few times over the years, and it was easy enough to make conversation with her. His brother Rafe was similarly easy. At least five years younger, Emmeline wondered why he hadn’t been suggested as a possible groom by her father. He boasted the same pedigree and was equally handsome. Less established in his career, it was true, but with their family fortune what did that matter?
‘So, you’re now my sister-in-law, eh?’
She returned Rafe’s smile, and felt herself relaxing as they posed in the sunshine for the requisite shots.
Nonetheless, it was a relief when the photographer declared she had enough ‘for now’ and they were free to return to their guests. For Emmeline, that meant Sophie and a hint of normality.
‘Ah, the woman of the hour.’ Sophie grinned, passing her half-finished champagne flute to Emmeline.
‘Don’t remind me.’ She took a sip, and then another, closing her eyes as the cold bubbles washed down her throat.
‘So, Maria was just running through the details with me.’
‘Ugh—there’s still more, isn’t there?’
Sophie laughed softly. ‘The reception. But don’t worry—that’s just a cocktail party at a gorgeous restaurant overlooking the river.’
‘Okay, I can cope with that.’
‘Then you and Pietro will take your leave—insert catcalling and whistling—and the rest of us young, hip and happening people will have an open bar at some club that’s just opened. Apparently your husband had something to do with the financing of it.’ Sophie shrugged. ‘Sounds kind of fun.’
Emmeline pulled a face. ‘Not to me. I can’t think of anything worse.’
‘Yes, well... I’m sure you’ll have your hands full anyway...’
Emmeline sent her friend a scathing look. ‘Yeah, right.’
‘Hmm, I saw the way you guys kissed. I know passion when I see it.’
Emmeline practically choked on her champagne. She coughed to cover it, lifting a hand to her mouth.
‘Trust me—that’s not what this is.’
‘Then you need to get to a hospital, because if you can be in the same room as that guy and not need CPR then you are some kind of cold fish.’
‘Or just a very sensible woman,’ she said quietly.
* * *
The formalities seemed to last forever. Speeches. The cutting of the cake. Their first dance as a couple...
Emmeline stood in Pietro’s arms, trying her hardest to pretend not to be affected by her husband’s touch when a single look had the power to turn her blood to lava.
‘So...’ he drawled, the single word imbued with more cynicism than she’d known was possible. ‘You are my wife.’
The sentence brought a smile to her face, but it wasn’t a smile of pleasure.
‘Don’t sound so thrilled about it.’
He slowed the movement of their bodies, his eyes scanning the crowd. ‘I can name three people who are beside themselves,’ he said coldly.
She followed the direction of his gaze. Her father and his mother stood to one side, each of them beaming with obvious pleasure.
‘Yeah, I guess this is a dream come true for Daddy,’ she said with a small shake of her head.
There was a look of frustration in her eyes that Pietro thought about probing. But the last thing he wanted was to get to know his inconvenient bride any better.
‘And for my mother,’ he said simply. ‘I’m sure she’s imagining a lifetime of calm now that I’ve apparently hung up my bachelor shoes.’
‘Apparently.’ She repeated the word, rolling it around in her mouth, wondering about the practicalities of what they’d agreed to. The idea that he’d be free to see other women so long as he was discreet.
It didn’t bother her. At least