He was ready to contact his pilot when he saw the helicopter approach. The second it set down, he got out of the car and hurried toward the door even though the rotors were still going. His pilot opened it and there stood Abby who cried out his name and climbed right out into his arms.
“Dieu merci you’re here.” He covered her face with kisses. “Another minute and I would have lost my mind.”
“You’re not the only one.” She kissed him with enough passion to rock him back on his heels.
“Let’s get you in the car with all your things and I’ll drive us to the hotel near the city hall where you can change.”
With the help of his trusted pilot, they stowed all of her things. Raoul waved him off and got in behind the wheel. He shot her a piercing glance. “Are you ready?”
She reached for his hand and squeezed her answer hard.
Once they reached the hotel parking, they took only the things she’d need for the ceremony and hurried inside. Everything else would stay locked in the car.
He’d gotten them a room on the second floor near the elevator where they’d both change. Raoul had ordered breakfast. They ate quickly. As soon as she disappeared into the bathroom with her garment bag, he put on his white dress shirt and formal gray suit.
Then he waited with pounding heart for her to emerge. When she walked out a few minutes later, he couldn’t catch his breath. Her dress, made of the finest white Chantilly lace, covered her from her neck to her wrists, and followed her curving shape to her knees. On her feet were matching lace high heels.
“Abby—” His voice shook.
He took one white rose from the white rose bouquet he’d had made up for her and tucked it behind her ear.
Abby’s green eyes roved over him hungrily, feeding his desire. “I’m the luckiest woman in the whole world.”
Raoul handed her the bouquet of roses and her purse. “Let’s go get married.”
A taxi waited for them out in front of the hotel and drove them to the entrance of the city hall. As he helped her out to the pavement, a volley of whistles sounded. She literally stopped traffic as they walked up the steps into the building.
He cupped her elbow and walked to the room where Deputy Mayor Judge Tibault was waiting for them. The older man couldn’t take his eyes off Abby. After introducing them to the two witnesses who’d been brought in from the other room, he winked at her. “No wonder Raoul wanted the banns waived. If I were thirty years younger...”
Abby blushed and clung to Raoul.
“If you’re ready, then stand in front of my desk and hold hands.”
She put her bouquet on a chair, then placed her right hand in his.
“Abby Cederlof Grant and Raoul Capet Regnac Decorvet, do you both come together of your own free will in the prefecture of Dijon on this ninth day of June to be united in marriage?”
“Yes,” they said in unison.
“Raoul? Do you take Abby to be your wife?”
“I do”
“Do you promise to love, honor, cherish and protect her, through the good and the bad, forsaking all others and holding only unto her?”
“I do”
“Abby? Do you take Raoul to be your husband?”
“I do,” sounded her tremulous voice.
“Do you promise to love, honor, cherish and protect him, through the good and the bad, forsaking all others and holding only unto him?”
“Yes,” she said emotionally.
“Abby? Hold out your left hand. Raoul? Repeat after me. Abby Grant, I take thee to be my wife, to have and to hold, in sickness and in health, for richer or for poorer, and I promise my love to you. With this ring I thee wed.”
After saying the words, Raoul pulled the diamond ring from his pocket and slid it on to her ring finger. Her eyes took in the three-carat diamond solitaire before she lifted moist eyes to him. They burned with love.