Betrothed: To the People’s Prince

CHAPTER TWELVE

THEY didn’t need to go far. Just as far as the cliff path, where they could look out on the rising moon, the moonbeams glittering over the ocean, where there was only silence and each other.

‘What have you done?’ Nikos asked gently, and Athena smiled because she knew that even now he’d be honourable.

“I’ve claimed my own.’

‘You don’t need to marry me to be a princess.’

‘I never did,’ she said. ‘But I do need to marry you because I love you and I need you by my side.’

He took a deep breath. He turned to face her and he took both her hands in his.

‘Thena, I hurt you…’

‘So you did,’ she said. ‘And I hurt you. It’s in the past.’

‘But you explained…’

‘And you can’t.’ She hesitated, but it had to be said. Once and then never again.

‘Nikos, when I left the island…You know I went hoping you’d follow. I knew you’d be hurt but I hoped…I hoped so much that I could explain my reasons for leaving. But then I found I was pregnant. And, while I was working up the courage to phone you, I was told that Marika was pregnant. And that you’d promised to marry her. And that she was further gone in her pregnancy than I was.’

He groaned.

All she wanted to do was hold him-kiss him-but this had to be said. She had to sort this in her head. Get it right.

‘So I thought you’d betrayed me,’ she said softly. ‘Until today…’

‘So what’s happened today?’ he demanded in a voice she hardly recognised. ‘To make you change your mind.’

And somehow she found the strength and certainty to answer.

‘When Annia said: “He can’t have her. He’d never love her,” I knew then what had happened. I knew.’

‘How can you know? No one…’

‘No one will ever know from me,’ she whispered. ‘You know, and Annia knows-or maybe she’s just guessing as well. But when I left the island I was heartbroken, and I can only imagine how you must have felt. Maybe, given time, you’d have contacted me, seen how things really were. But along came Marika. Sure, I’m guessing, but I know I’m right. I’m guessing Marika came begging for your help. Pregnant by Demos. Abandoned by Demos. Terrified that her bully of a father might well kill her if he found out.’

She couldn’t bear to watch him. She couldn’t bear to see the pain. Nikos said nothing but the bleakness in his eyes told her all she’d ever want to know. She was speaking the truth.

‘So I’m guessing you thought why not? You thought I’d betrayed you and abandoned the island, so why not help Marika? So you went with Marika to her parents and said yes, Marika’s pregnant, but the two of you wanted to marry. Instead of being appalled, her father would have welcomed you with open arms. So you married.

‘But then a baby was born,’ she whispered. ‘A little girl with Down’s syndrome. A child who Demos would never have cared for. Marika herself obviously couldn’t cope and she chose to run.’

Still he said nothing. His silence was frightening her. But she’d come this far-there was no choice but to take it to its conclusion.

‘But you…’ she said, and she knew in her heart that she spoke the absolute truth. ‘You stood with Christa in your arms and you declared to all the island that she was yours. With the respect you and your mother are held on this island, affection for Christa is guaranteed. She has Annia as a grandmama. She has you as her papa. She’s safe.’

And at last he broke his silence. ‘You’re just guessing,’ he said explosively.

‘So tell me I’m wrong. Look at me straight, Nikos and tell me I’m wrong.’

He didn’t. He couldn’t. The pain that had wrapped itself around her heart ten long years ago dissolved and faded to nothing.

He’d do…whatever it took.

Her Prince. Her Nikos.

‘I’ll never ask you to confirm it,’ she said softly, seeing raw pain. ‘But I know I’m right.’ She forced a rueful smile. ‘Christa is your daughter. She stays your daughter, no matter what else happens. My only regret is that I’ve been so stupid. A bit of terror and fifteen minutes in an open boat and I’ve guessed it all. Oh, Nikos, I love what you did. I love what you are.’ She hesitated then, but she’d come so far…Why not go on.

‘So…I know it’s not the woman who’s supposed to say these things,’ she whispered. ‘But your honour won’t let you. So here it is. Nikos, I’m saying, right here, right now, that I love you with all my heart. That if you demand it of me, then I’ll rule this island alone, but only if you refuse what I’m asking. Because it seems to me that we’ve had ten years alone and why wait one minute longer? You asked me to marry you ten years ago and I accepted. Only then Giorgos destroyed it. So today I’ve accepted again, in front of the full island council. And I accept again now.’

His hands were tight on hers. His face was expressionless again, but she knew what that meant. It meant he was hiding what he felt. She knew this man as she knew herself.

‘I love you, Nikos,’ she whispered. ‘I’ve loved you since I was eight years old and I love you still. If you want me to be your wife, it would be an honour and it would be my joy to accept.’

‘If I want you,’ he whispered.

‘So?’ she said, and tilted her chin and even managed a smile. ‘So, Nikos Andreadis? Prince of my heart. Dare you.’

‘Dare to marry you?’

‘I’ll make a very demanding wife,’ she whispered, venturing a smile. ‘Plus I have it on the best authority that I snortle.’

‘I love your snortle.’

‘I don’t snortle.’

‘I believe you just said…’

‘Nikos!’

‘I like to get my facts right,’ he said, mischief emerging, the wicked grin that had her heart doing handsprings causing its normal damage again-and more. ‘I need to let myself know what I’m getting into,’ he said. ‘One wife?’

‘Only one,’ she said. ‘No Henry the Eighth absurdity for this royal couple.’

‘Agreed,’ he said promptly.

‘One son?’

‘And one daughter,’ she said serenely. ‘And…and maybe even more?’ And his answering smile was enough to make her heart turn over.

‘I guess you’ll expect me to adopt Oscar as well,’ he said, struggling for a martyred tone.

‘Of course I will.’

‘So…’

‘So?’ she whispered and held her breath.

‘So,’ he said and dropped to his knee before her.

She gasped. ‘Nikos…’

‘So let’s get this right,’ he said softly. ‘As my Princess, to whom I owe fidelity and all honour, you’ve asked me to marry you.’

‘Yes,’ she said, suddenly doubtful. ‘But it doesn’t mean you must.’

‘No, but there are connotations of duty to my Crown Princess,’ he said. ‘And I’d hate you to think I’d just said yes to stop myself being thrown in a dungeon.’

‘Do we have dungeons?’

‘We’ll find out together,’ he whispered. ‘Meanwhile, Princess Athena Christou of Argyros, would you let me get a word in edgeways?’

‘Yes,’ she said-and did.

‘Will you do me the great honour of becoming my wife?’

‘Of course I will,’ she said, and tugged him up to stand before her. ‘If you really want me.’

‘How can you ask?’

‘I’ll never ask again,’ she whispered. ‘I’ll never need to ask again. Oh, Nikos. My one and only love.’

‘My Thena,’ he whispered into her hair. ‘My Princess and my life.’

And then he put her away from him. He held her at arm’s length and his face broke into a smile she’d never seen before. It was a look of exultation, triumph and pride. ‘My Thena.’ It was a shout of pure joy and it echoed down into the cove below, back into the palace behind them, out onto the sea breezes blowing over the whole island.

He swung her round and round and round, and then he set her down before him and he kissed her, long and hard and true.

And then, finally, he set her back from him again.

He held her hands and he held her heart.

‘Thena, I’ve loved you for ever,’ he said softly. ‘So…you’ll really be my wife?’

‘Yes.’

‘Princess to my Prince?’

‘Absolutely.’

‘Mama to my Papa?’

‘That, too.’

‘My lover?’

‘You’re very demanding.’

‘You have no idea how demanding,’ he said. His hands were tugging her into him, his eyes were dark and fathomless and she was against his heart, held tight, his hand cupping her chin so her mouth was just under his.

‘We’re family,’ he said fiercely, and it was as if he was making a vow. ‘You’ll be my wife and I’ll not let you go again. I love you Athena. I’ve loved you since I was eight years old and I don’t intend stopping until I’m a hundred and eight. Or longer if I’m granted more years by your side.’

‘Stupid,’ she said softly, lovingly, and as an echo to a vow it was pretty dumb-but it didn’t matter.

She was kissing him.

He was kissing her back.

And, on the steps of the Royal Palace of Argyros, half the island council and practically all the palace staff were craning their heads to see.

The island had its royal family.

And the Prince and his Princess didn’t notice their audience at all.

The combined wedding and coronation of the Crown Prince and Crown Princess of Argyros was a day to remember for ever. The sun shone gently on the rugged cliffs and distant mountains. The ocean glittered in its sapphire and diamond brilliance. The warm breeze from the sea was almost a caress.

Coronations and royal weddings should take place in a formal setting-most properly in the Great Hall of the Royal Palace. That was a problem, for the Great Hall only held five hundred, and all the island wanted to see.

So they held the ceremony on the wide sweep of lawn between the palace and what had once been the most private of beaches. No invitation was necessary. Whosoever loved this island and wished it well was welcome, to see the beginning of its future.

And its future was assured. In the best of monarchies, the royal family was an embodiment of the hopes and dreams of the people and, in Nikos and Athena, the islanders of Argyros had found that dream.

Nikos, in royal uniform-jet-black jacket and trousers, shining boots, tassels, braid, dress sword-was eye-candy enough to have at least half their audience sighing with pure enchantment. And Athena, in her clouds of swirling silk and lace, was a bride to turn the most hardened islander misty-eyed. She made her vows clearly and solemnly and she looked so happy there was hardly a dry eye on the island.

Even Father Antonio…The old priest married them with love and with pride, and there was definitely a tear or two rolling down his wrinkled cheek. As he blessed the bride and groom, his old voice became redolent with joy.

His blessing was supposed to be just for the bride and groom-the Prince and Princess-but he didn’t stop there. He blessed the ancient ring on Athena’s finger, the ring of Argyros, ancient silver, gnarled and twisted and lovely, with three magnificent diamonds embedded in its depths. He blessed the islanders looking on. He blessed Alexandros and Lily from the Isle of Sappheiros. And he blessed Stefanos, even now trying to sort the future of the third and last island.

And of course he blessed the children. Nicky was pageboy, torn a little between embarrassment and pride. Pride was definitely winning. Christa was flower girl, with so many pink and white flounces she’d announced that any minute now she might float. Indulging her fancy, the dressmaker had attached a tiny pair of gossamer wings to her back. Christa’s happiness was complete. She had a mama and a papa, a brother and a dog. And wings. She was tossing her rose petals with delight, and she was making Nicky toss them with her.

Two royal children…and even now the island grandmothers were dusting off their knitting needles in hope.

But knitting was for the future. Everything was for the future. For now the royal couple knelt to receive the ancient crowns that had lain in storage for over two hundred years. They rose to thunderous applause.

To a happy beginning.

Crown Princess Athena and Crown Prince Nikos stood hand in hand on the raised dais and looked out on the island of their birth, and if there were tears shed in the crowd then the islanders’ tears found reflection in the face of the new Crown Princess of Argyros.

The Crown was secure. The Argyros diamonds were confirmed as belonging to the people, and legal proceedings were already underway to ensure no royal held such terrifying powers again.

Demos was stripped of his title and waiting for the courts to administer justice. Exile, Athena thought, for there was room in her heart to almost feel sorry for the man.

So what was next?

It had been leaked by the media that Prince Nikos had decreed a month’s honeymoon was the minimum required to cement their union. The islanders, deliriously happy at their good fortune, could only smile their agreement.

Nikos had offered his wife any place in the world for their time out. A deserted island in the Maldives, a tropical bure, nights alone by candlelight…

She’d chosen…the Eagle’s Nest. They’d leave for there tonight. With Nicky and with Christa and with Oscar.

‘For I have a daughter now,’ she’d whispered proudly to Nikos.

He’d held her close, he’d kissed her eyelids and he’d felt so much in love that surely his heart must burst.

They’d face the future together, he thought, and if the worst happened…They were a family. They’d face their future with love and with courage.

And with a dog called Oscar. And with a grandmother called Annia. And uncles and aunts and cousins. And thousands of islanders who loved this place as they did.

Their island home.

‘It’s perfect,’ he whispered to Athena as they stood side by side and waved to the assembled population of Argyros. ‘I can’t imagine anything more perfect than this.’

‘I can’t imagine anyone more perfect than you,’ she whispered back.

‘Then you need to look in the mirror,’ he retorted, and then this very serious ceremonial occasion was marred.

This ceremony had been timed to the last nanosecond. There was no room for improvisation. Right now the Crown Prince was supposed to take the Crown Princess’s hand and solemnly lead her to the pair of gold and crimson thrones at the middle of the crimson-carpeted dais.

He didn’t.

Instead, for three whole minutes-for one whole trumpet chorale that was supposed to see them taking the throne together-the Crown Prince of Argyros took the Crown Princess of Argyros into his arms and he kissed her.

As he intended to kiss her for the rest of her life.