“Well, if you had known that—” Allegra laughed “—all the stars in heaven might not have dragged you into my arms.”
The young king smiled. “On the contrary, I’d have faced a thousand armies.”
* * *
The royal entourage had all soon dispersed for the final preparations. The time for the ceremony was nigh, but what good was it to be queen if you couldn’t be late every once in a while? Geneva, who was busily refreshing her curls, seemed to read her mind, and Allegra wondered if she had inadvertently sighed or shifted impatiently.
“I know, I know,” Geneva murmured. “But, believe me, they will happily wait. We must ensure that everything is absolutely perfect for your adoring citizens.”
Allegra chuckled in agreement. “One must never forget the ‘present’ in ‘presentation,’ as my mother would
