WEDDINGS WERE NOT his favorite events.
But Prince Leo had to admit, if only to himself, that the element of will-they-or-won’t-they? made this particular wedding interesting. He had been leaning toward they won’t. And by the worried look that had been on the groom’s face, he had been leaning the same way.
And then the calm and unflappable wedding planner had made her entrance. She’d spoken softly to the groom and immediately put him at ease. Leo couldn’t help but watch her as she took control of the situation. Her demeanor was casual. If she’d been worried about this event reaching its happy conclusion, she hadn’t let on.
When he had to get married, he’d want someone like her to organize it. She seemed to roll with the punches as though she’d been through it a million times and knew that all would work out in the end. His sister probably wished she had a wedding planner like Miss Bartolini too.
Right now, the woman organizing the wedding was the same one who had planned his parents’ wedding. His sister had tried bringing in her own wedding planner from the nation’s capital, but the woman had caved when opposed by the queen and her crony. So his sister’s most important day was about to be his mother’s vision of how things should be without the bride’s input. Leo had tried to help, but he’d been at a disadvantage, not knowing anything about weddings.
He’d known most of his life that when he married, it would be an arranged marriage—a logical, beneficial union. The fact that his parents had planned to have him betrothed as a teenager still soured his stomach. It’d been the last thing he fought about with his father before he’d died suddenly.
It’d taken Leo years to accept that he would marry and have children with a woman he did not love. And so he’d told himself that when he married, it wasn’t going to be a big deal to him. It would be done out of duty and obligation—one more thing to tick off the royal duty list.
Love was intended for other people, like his sister. Giselle had found the love of her life and Leo couldn’t be happier for her. And that was why her wedding was so important to him. One of them deserved to be truly happy.
“Looks like you have the weight of the world on your shoulders.”
Leo turned to find the groom at his side. He smiled, happy for his childhood friend. “Not the entire world, just the weight of Patazonia.”
Benito arched a brow. “Problems at home? I hadn’t heard anything.”
“Oh. You will. Pretty soon my mother and sister are going to have a nuclear meltdown over the upcoming wedding.”
Benito laughed. “I can see that happening. Those are two really strong-minded women. You have my sympathies. I’m lucky. Even though our wedding was spontaneous, we had the perfect wedding planner. She took on the big things, including Camilla’s parents, and let us enjoy our short engagement. Maybe you should hire her.”
Leo was about to dismiss the idea when he realized this might actually work. “You were that impressed by this woman?”
Benito nodded. “Bianca is amazing. She interned with one of the greatest wedding planners in Venice. And now she has returned to her childhood home to start up her own wedding business.”
His friend wasn’t one to say things he didn’t mean. So for him to speak so highly of this Bianca, it meant a lot. If he were to consider hiring her for his sister’s wedding, she would report to him. He would at last have some control over this event that was spiraling out of control—and causing a rift between the bride and groom. Best of all, Miss Bartolini wouldn’t be a subject of the queen. Therefore, she wouldn’t be under her thumb.
The more he thought about hiring his sister a wedding planner, the more he warmed to the idea. And the fact that Bianca was beautiful as well as composed was just a bonus.
“Have you met her?” Benito asked.
Before Leo could respond, Benito was off seeking out the woman who just might be the answer to his problems. The woman who might bring peace back to the nation. And quiet the gossip floating through the media of unrest in the royal household.
And with that in mind, he didn’t try to stop his friend. He was looking forward to doing business with the wedding planner. If this all worked out, he could get back to his search for a bride. And soon he would become king.
A contest.
Not just any contest but one that pitted sibling against sibling.
Bianca still couldn’t believe her parents’ will had spelled out a competition between her and her siblings to decide who would end up inheriting the vast Bartolini estate. It included the villa, the vineyard, the stables with its award-winning stallions and mares as well as hundreds of fertile acres. It was a paradise of luxury and tranquility.
The siblings who didn’t win the contest would lose their childhood home in exchange for an equivalent amount of investments and cash. The money didn’t interest Bianca. It was cold and impersonal.
All three of the Bartolini siblings had been raised to appreciate the beauty of this land. And within the walls of this vast villa were all of their childhood memories. And for Bianca, it was crucial to succeed and win this contest.
For it was here in the lush, rolling hills of Tuscany that she intended to establish a destination wedding-planning service. And she was off to a mighty fine start.
Bianca glanced around at the mingling guests. And there was her brother, all dressed up in his finest suit and tie. He definitely didn’t look like he spent his days out in the fields tending to the grape vines. In actuality, he cleaned up really well.
After the reading of their parents’ will, tensions between the normally civil siblings was running high. It took a bit but the siblings all agreed that they would go with their strengths. Gia would run the boutique hotel, aka their family’s sprawling villa. Enzo would oversee the vineyard with its world-renowned Chianti wine. And Bianca had agreed to coordinate weddings at the villa—talk about a romantic backdrop.
An outside accounting firm would be hired to tally their net incomes. Everything was to be aboveboard. And the family’s attorney would oversee the contest. Nothing would be left to question. Everything would be certified and final. It seemed so cold—so final.
Enzo smiled at the beautiful young woman next to him. It was then that Bianca realized it was the first time she’d seen Enzo smile since the journal with their parents’ devastating secret had been discovered. It had rocked the very foundation of this family—leaving their relationships vulnerable and strained.
Her gaze moved across the garden area, searching for her sister. Gia hadn’t wanted to attend the wedding even though she managed the hotel. Bianca had pushed until she’d agreed. Bianca wanted the Bartolini estate well represented to the influential guest list. She was hoping for new clients—for all of them.
All her life she’d felt as though she didn’t fit in. She was different than her siblings. While her brother and sister had enjoyed horses and grapes, she enjoyed the finer things in life. Her father used to get aggravated with her reluctance to get dirty.
And when she was pushed out of the nest, just like her siblings, so they could go off and seek their own path in life, she’d ended up in the UK where she’d worked her way through school. Once her education was completed, she moved to Venice. It was there that she followed her passion with a career in wedding planning. And when she landed a prestigious position as assistant to a world-renowned wedding planner, she thought her wishes had come true.
At first, that had been the case. Things went amazingly well. It was later, when Bianca was ready to put what she’d learned into practice that she realized she was terrible at following directions exactly as they’d been told to her.
She had a penchant for embellishing and taking the bride’s ideas into consideration instead of convincing the bride that the wedding planner’s methods were the best. Her mentor couldn’t deny that Bianca had a flair for wedding planning, even if it wasn’t quite the way she’d been instructed.
But now as the bride and groom were surrounded by their guests enjoying the afterglow of the ceremony, Bianca was able to take her first easy breath. Striking out on her own had been the right decision. Things were looking up—
“Bianca, there you are.” Benito rushed up to her. “I’ve been looking everywhere for you.”
Immediately she assumed her wedding planner persona. She stood a little taller and straightened her shoulders, prepared to deal with the latest developments. “What’s wrong? Whatever it is, we’ll deal with it.”
Benito shook his head and smiled. “Nothing is wrong. In fact, something is right. Come with me.”
He motioned for her to follow and then began walking away without any further explanation. She fell in step behind him, wondering what the normally quiet groom had on his mind.
When he stopped, she stepped up next to him. Her gaze met that of the man standing across from them, Prince Leopold. His eyes were a warm golden-brown that made her empty stomach suddenly feel as though a swarm of butterflies had invaded it.
She didn’t know how long she stood there, caught up in his gaze. But when Benito cleared his throat, breaking the connection, heat swirled in her chest, rushing up her neck and setting her cheeks ablaze.
“Bianca Bartolini, I’d like to introduce you to His Royal Highness, Crown Prince Leopold of Patazonia.”
Once again, Bianca curtsied. She willed her face to cool down, but it only succeeded in making her warmer. Goodness. What was he going to think of her? First, she was openly staring at him. And now her face must look like a roasted beet—all red and steamy. Not good. Not good at all.
“You’ve put on a splendid wedding,” the prince said. “I’ve quite enjoyed it.”
“Th...thank you, Your Highness.”
“The prince is searching for a wedding planner,” Benito said. “And I was telling him what a great job you did with our wedding.”
“You did?” Then catching herself, she said, “I mean, thank you.” She’d wondered after the wristwatch delay if Benito would still be happy with her services. “I’m sorry for the slight delay.”
“Don’t worry about it. Camilla told me what happened. Thank you for helping her and calming her down.”
Bianca’s eyes widened. “She told you all of that?”
“She did. I told her that she just wanted to keep me guessing for as long as she could.”
Bianca wasn’t used to brides standing up for her. Usually she took the blame, even for something that she had no control over. And when something stunning happened, the bride would take the credit. But every once in a while there were brides that were considerate and kind. Camilla was both of those.
“Anyway, Prince Leopold might be in need of your services. I’ll let you two talk.” And with that Benito made his way toward his bride.
Bianca’s gaze moved to the prince. Her mouth suddenly went dry and she wasn’t sure what to say.
What does one say to royalty? Hi? How are you? Beautiful day?
A nervous giggle welled up within her. She stifled it. What was wrong with her? She wasn’t the nervous type. She’d worked with the very rich and the very famous. In the end, they were all just people. As her mother used to say, they put their pants on one leg at a time, just like everyone else.
But this man standing before her was most definitely not just another person. When he stared at her, like he was doing now, her pulse raced. Her insides shivered with a nervous energy. Her whole body reacted in the most unnerving ways.
She attempted to compartmentalize all these new and exciting sensations.
Focus on business.
If he had a job for her, it must be something big, something important. And it might be what she needed to launch a successful wedding business.
Coming to her senses, Bianca said, “If I may be of service to you, Your Highness, please let me know.”
“There’s going to be a wedding. And I think you might be just the right person to help plan it.”
He wants me to plan his wedding? Me...planning a prince’s wedding?
The honor of such a position was quite apparent to her. To plan such a wedding would mean she would have her choice of weddings going forward. She wouldn’t have to search for prestigious clients, they would seek her out.
It would be sad that such a handsome and intriguing man would soon be off the market—not that she was in any position to be courted by anyone—most especially not a prince. With her heredity in question, it was best to keep to herself. But it didn’t hurt to daydream.
“Um...thank you, Your Highness. I’m honored to be considered for such a role. Please let me know what I can do to help you.”
He didn’t say anything for a moment. “Do you have references?”
She nodded. “I can forward them to you.”
“I will need to know more about you before I hire you for this very important position.”
“Understood.”
His expression gave nothing away. “How old are you?”
“Twenty-nine.” What did that have to do with anything? But she didn’t know the ways of the royals so she kept her questions to herself.
His dark brows drew together as he studied her. “Do you have much experience?”
“I’ve been working in the wedding industry since I was eighteen.”
A brief flicker of skepticism showed in his eyes but in a blink, it was gone. “That’s mighty young.”
She nodded. “I started interning with a wedding planner when I was at university. My parents didn’t believe in coddling their children. When my siblings and I became adults, we were expected to find our own way.”
“But this estate is your family’s, is it not?”
“It is. But our parents wanted us to rely on ourselves and not our birthright. Even now...” She stopped herself. The wound of her parents’ deaths was still too new—too raw—to discuss, not even to gain the wedding of a lifetime.
“Interesting.” He held out his hand. “May I have your phone.”
She pulled it from the hidden pocket in the folds of her blue satin skirt. When she handed it over, their fingers touched. A tingly sensation raced up her arm and settled in her chest, setting her heart aflutter.
He took her phone and ran his finger over the touch screen. “I have given you my contact information. I trust that you will not share it with anyone.”
“You have my word.”
He nodded and then returned the phone to her. “Very good. Forward me your references as soon as possible.”
She took her phone and moved her fingers over the same touch screen where his long, lean fingers had just been. And in no time, she had completed her task.
His phone chimed and he withdrew it from his pocket. She subdued a smile when his eyes widened as he read his phone. “You have forwarded me the information already?”
She nodded. “I like to be prepared. I keep relevant information on a cloud account.”
“Thank you. I will be in touch.” And then he turned and walked away.
She wanted to rush after him and ask when he would be in touch. This week? This month? This year? How was she supposed to plan anything when there was a real possibility of working for the Prince of Patazonia?
Or was it nothing more than a fantasy? Would a prince who could hire the best of the best want to hire a no-name like herself? Sure, she’d worked on the biggest and best weddings, but it hadn’t been her name associated with those weddings, it had been her boss’s. Bianca was still working to make her name known in the wedding world. So thinking a prince would hire her, well, it was nothing more than a fairy tale.