“Come in.”
But she just stood there.
“Mother?”
She shook her head. “I thought I could do this, but I can’t.” She started to turn away.
“Can’t do what?” Christina asked, causing her mother to stop.
“Ask your forgiveness, but I don’t have the right. I lost the right years ago. I knew your father must have had emotional problems when you were born. He wanted to give you up for adoption because you weren’t a boy. I purposely prevented any more pregnancies in case I had another girl.”
Christina was aghast at what she was hearing, but it made sense when she considered what her great-aunt Sofia had told her about the Rose men.
“I bargained with him that I wanted to keep you, and he wouldn’t be sorry. That’s why I kept you away. But you’ll never know my shame for what I’ve done.” She hung her head.
“I may have given birth to you, and your father may have provided you with everything, but you didn’t have parents who showed you the love and devotion you deserved.”
Christina stood there in shock as her mother broke down and sobbed.
“I’ll never be forgiven for what I did to you. I don’t deserve forgiveness, but you’re my sweet, darling girl. I love you, Christina. My pride in you is fierce. Just know that I loved you from the moment you were born and I wanted you to hear it from me. I won’t bother you again.”
“Mother? Don’t say that. I want us to have the relationship we never had. It’s never too late,” Christina said in a tremulous voice. “What you’ve told me about Papa changes everything.”
Her mother turned to her with a face glistening in tears. “You mean you don’t hate me with every fiber of your being? I would, because I’m not the great person you are.”
“Oh, Mama—”
Christina reached for her and hugged her until her mother reciprocated. They clung for a long time. With every tear her mother shed, Christina felt herself healing. “We’ll invite you over for dinner in a few weeks. I’ll be cooking.” She kissed her mother on both cheeks. “Dry your tears and I’ll see you soon.”
“Bless you, figlia mia.”
* * *
On Coronation Day bells rang out through the whole of Voti as Antonio and Christina left the cathedral and climbed into the open carriage. The massive throng roared, “Long live King Antonio and Queen Christina! Long live the monarchy!” They chanted the words over and over as the horses drew the carriage through the street lined with cheering Halencians.
The day had turned out to be glorious. Christina thought her heart was going to burst with happiness. Every few minutes someone called out, “Queen Christina!” When she turned, people were taking pictures.
Antonio sat next to her and squeezed the hand that wasn’t waving. “You know what they want, bellissima.”
She looked back at him. “You mean a kiss? I want it much more.” Showing breathtaking initiative that would probably cause her to blush later, she kissed him several times to the joy of the crowds.
The capital city of Halencia teemed with joyful faces and shouts of “Long live the monarchy.”
“Your country loves you, darling. You don’t know how magnificent you looked when the archbishop put that crown on your head.”
“It’s a good thing I didn’t have to keep wearing it. How does yours feel?”
“I like the tiara. It’s light.”
“Your hair outshines its gleam.”
They were both wearing their wedding clothes. The only thing different was the red sash on Antonio proclaiming him king.
“We made a lot of promises today.” She kept waving. So did he.
“Are you worried?”
“No, but the sun is hot,” he muttered. Their procession went on for over an hour.
Christina laughed. “I feel it too. But don’t worry. We’ll make it through and be alone later.”
“I can’t wait.”
Eventually the carriage returned them to the palace. On their way up to the balcony off the second floor, Antonio summoned Guido to bring them a sandwich and a drink. The chief of staff, who’d chosen to stay on with Antonio, looked shocked, but he sent someone for the food.
Antonio whispered in her ear, “Did you see that look he gave us?”
“We’re breaking royal protocol, darling.”
“We’ll be breaking a lot of rules before my reign has come to an end.”
She shivered. “Don’t talk about that. I can’t bear the thought of it.”
When the sandwich arrived, they both ate a half and swallowed some water. Feeling slightly more refreshed, they walked out onto the balcony to the roar of the crowd.
To please them her husband kissed her again with so much enthusiasm she actually swayed in his arms. A thunderous roar of satisfaction broke from the enormous throng that filled every square inch of space.
Once the royal photographers had finished taking pictures, Antonio grasped her hand. “Come with me.”
“Where are we going?”
“To our home for some R and R until the ball this evening.”
“But we’re supposed to mingle with all the dignitaries.”
“There’ll be time for that tonight.”
She hurried along with him, out of breath by the time they reached their apartment. When they entered, they discovered a lavish meal laid out for them in the dining room.
“Who arranged for this, darling?” she asked.
“My mother. She said it would be an exhausting day and we’d need it.”
“I think she’s wonderful.”
Once in the bedroom, she removed her tiara and asked him to undo the buttons of her wedding dress. “That didn’t take long. You did that so fast I’m afraid you’ve lost interest already. Last time you took forever.”
“I hope it drove you crazy.” He bit her earlobe gently when he’d finished. “Did it?”
“I’ll never tell.”
Antonio caught her to him and rocked her in his arms for a long, long time.
“Your capacity to love is a gift,” he whispered against her cheek. “I don’t know how I was the one man on earth lucky enough to be loved by you. I’m thankful your mother came to see you on the day we got back from Tuscany.
