so many wasted years.
A long steamy kiss sent blood racing through her veins and arousal trickling to her fingers and toes, and other parts.
“Come here, madam.” Simon climbed over her, and slid his fingers over her hot, ready sex.
“Yes, Your Majesty.” Her back was already arching, ready to receive him. Her fingers pushed into his thick hair as he entered her, making her gasp with pleasure. Wedding anxieties shriveled and floated up to the sky like embers as they moved together under the soft covers, reveling in each others’ bodies. The sweet relief of their climax left them relaxed and ready to face anything.
“I can’t believe we get to do this whenever we want for the rest of our lives,” breathed Simon heavily, as they lay spent, with their heads on the same pillow again. “I’m the luckiest man on earth.”
“We are lucky, aren’t we? This year started out with all the shocking press revelations that I was the president’s daughter, and spiraled out of control from there. I seem to have landed in a very soft place.”
“Are you trying to say my body is soft?” He poked her gently.
“No one could accuse you of being soft. Well, except your heart.”
“Okay, that I’ll admit to. I’m just glad I found the right woman to give it to.”
A knock on the door made them jump. “Sorry to disturb you,” called a tentative voice. “But the dressmaker requires your presence for an urgent fitting.”
“Oh, dear,” she whispered. “I think we’d better get up.”
“If we must.” He nuzzled her face. “The best part is that tonight we’ll be right back here together.”
* * *
The ceremony took place in the estate’s thirteenth-century chapel. Since the chapel was only large enough to seat immediate family, Simon and Ariella’s vows were simultaneously broadcast to the gathered crowd of guests on the estate lawns and an eager viewing audience on both sides of the Atlantic. When they were declared man and wife, the newest royal couple joined the guests outside on a glorious summer’s day.
Scarlet had planned and executed the wedding with skill and courage worthy of a major battle. Tables and chairs were arrayed across the rolling lawns, each decorated with fresh flowers, and, in a green touch that Ariella especially loved, an assortment of beautiful tableware and linens borrowed and bought from collections, antique stores and markets, for a spontaneous yet luxurious, country garden picnic feel.
Given the estate’s large size and the volume of the crowd, they decided that one band wasn’t enough, so in addition to the traditional orchestra, they had an African ensemble, a bluegrass band and a group of singers from the Westminster Abbey boys’ choir, who wandered the grounds serenading guests as they mingled on the lawns and nibbled delicacies at their tables.
Ariella saw Scarlet rearranging a Meissen jug full of roses, and hurried over to her. “Hey, lady, you’re not supposed to be working today. You’re here as a guest, remember?”
Scarlet spun around, red curls flying. “Old habits die hard, though the team we hired is doing a great job. I’m surprised you’re not rearranging the glasses yourself.”
“It’s taking a lot of discipline.” She grinned. “But I’m working hard to retrain myself.”
“I’m still ticked off that you’re leaving DC Affairs. You could have been our British office.”
“I’ll have my hands full arranging events for the palace.”
“Lucky you.” Scarlet sighed. “The most magnificent venues in England at your fingertips. And the most sought-after guests as your family. How did the queen feel about Simon choosing you as his bride?”
“I was very nervous about it but weirdly enough she was lovely to me from the first moment Simon told her he’d proposed to me. She said she could see how perfect I was for him and she welcomed me into the family. Probably the biggest surprise of my life. And with her on my side everyone else welcomed me, too. Simon’s brothers are so sweet—it’s like having brothers of my own.”
“How did you talk them into letting you plan their parties?”
“I could see they needed someone with an imagination to take over. They were still throwing the same parties that seemed fun during post-war rationing. I told them I can provide ten times the flair for half the money, so they’re letting me go wild. British people really know how to party when they get a chance.”
“So I’ve noticed.” Scarlet glanced around with a grin.
“And some of the Americans are getting crazy, too. I saw you and Daniel dancing like demons to