“Have you always been this dishonorable to your parents?”
Enrico squeezed her hand harder to give her courage. “To have married Arnaud would have been wrong, Your Majesty. But I know I’ve put everyone through agony and will suffer for it for a long time. All I can hope is that the day will come when you’ll be able to be happy about what has happened and accept me.”
“Mamma—” Enrico broke in. “I spoke to the priest yesterday. Because of Papà’s illness, he understood the urgency and agreed to marry us this morning. We had a private ceremony in the palace chapel with only two witnesses chosen by the priest.”
The queen’s eyes narrowed. “In other words, he dispensed with protocol and waived the banns so you could have your heart’s desire.”
Donetta trembled.
“We’ve waited too long as it is, Mamma.”
“Of course you knew you would never have our permission, Enrico. Have you no decency toward Valentina and her family? They’ll be shattered when they hear this news.”
“Valentina knows I’ve never loved her. If anything she’ll be relieved and now have a chance to meet a man who will love her as she deserves.”
“She loves you!”
; “Love has to be reciprocated. You know that. I could never have married her when I’ve been in love with Donetta for years. We should have been man and wife long ago, but circumstances prevented it before now.”
“How easily you say that when you realize this marriage of yours is forbidden!”
“Only if you decide it is. Something that happened two hundred years ago should have been fixed long before now. I’ve already started to rectify the situation as we speak.”
“Well, I intend to do something about it now. Since you didn’t choose Princess Valentina for your bride, I won’t allow the cabinet to let you be crowned king. There’ll be no coronation!”
Donetta shuddered. The queen’s words couldn’t have been more cruel, but Enrico didn’t act fazed. His father made no sound or motion.
“Thank you for meeting us for brunch, Mamma. I’ll have to thank the chef for outdoing herself. Now Donetta and I ask to be excused so we can leave on our honeymoon. If you need anything while we’re gone, Lia and Catarina will be on hand. In case of an emergency, Giovanni will let us know in an instant.”
Another strange sound escaped his mother’s lips. A part of Donetta felt horribly sorry for his mother. The queen was in so much pain and needed the king, who was helpless at this point.
“Before we go, may I help you push Father into the sunroom first?”
“No thank you,” came his mother’s comment. “I’ll do it myself when I’ve finished my coffee.”
Donetta could see where Enrico had inherited his spine. Both of them were major forces. The whole situation was a nightmare.
Enrico helped Donetta from the table. When they reached the doorway, he left her side long enough to go back and kiss both parents on the cheek. After returning, he grabbed Donetta’s hand and they left the dining room.
He walked her to the main floor of the palace and down a hall to one of the entrances. “We’ll take my Land Rover.”
After they got in, she put a hand on his arm before he could start the engine.
“Enrico—we have to talk.”
“I knew my mother would hurt you. I’m so sorry.”
She shook her head. “You’re the one I’m worried about. But I understand she can’t help but be disappointed over what has happened.”
“Except that she knew I never loved Valentina or planned to marry her. When she realizes how happy we are, she’ll come around.”
“But the protocol in your country dictates the banns be read four months prior to the marriage.”
He grinned. “How do you know that?”
“Because I looked it up after the concorso in France.”