Page 102 of A Royal Mistake
She worried her bottom lip between her teeth, and his confidence plummeted.
Scheisse. It really was too little, too late. He’d put it all on the line and come up short. He’d lost her. Lost the only woman he’d ever loved because he was a damn fool.
“I am, and will always be, a Valerian princess,” she said quietly. “I can’t change who I am, and I don’t want to. Being with me means you will always stand out, always be in the spotlight, as will our family.”
His heart stuttered and he climbed to his feet, taking Pippa’s left hand. She was trembling, but hell, so was he, barely able to contain the swell of emotion that threatened to overtake his body. “I’ve never been more certain of anything in my life. I love you Philippa Stanley—just the way you are—and I can think of no greater honor than spending the rest of my life at your side. I can live with the paparazzi. I can’t live without you.”
A tear rolled down her cheek, and he brushed it away with the pad of his thumb.
“Yes.” Pippa nodded, her lips quivering. “Yes. Yes. Yes.”
His heart swelled and warmth flooded his body as he swept Pippa up in his arms, spinning her around with unbridled joy. He didn’t give a damn who was watching or what the tabloids wrote about them. This was a moment for celebration and he was going to enjoy the hell out of it, basking in the knowledge that this amazing woman had agreed to marry him.
To be his wife.
Pippa laughed and lowered her mouth to his, wrapping her fingers around the base of his neck and claiming him with her lips just as she’d claimed him with her words. The kiss was chaste, but there was no shortage of heat and he felt the promise of forever in his bones.
A boisterous applause went up from the crowd and Pippa drew back, eyes growing wide, as if she too had forgotten about the onlookers.
He chuckled and lowered her to the ground, but not before her lips brushed the shell of his ear. “Tonight.”
His cock twitched at the promise and he subtly shifted his weight as she smoothed her blue and gold dress, every bit the Valerian princess he loved.
“Tonight.” He removed the ring from the box and shoved it back in his pocket. “May I?”
Pippa held out her left hand, and he slipped the band onto her ring finger. She stared lovingly at the sparkling emerald cut stone before planting another chaste kiss on his lips. “It’s beautiful. I love it.”
A polite round of applause went up from the crowd, and he winked at her. “I think they approve of your choice.”
“Sweet Jesus.” Pippa clapped a hand over her mouth. “Dominik is your brother.”
“Just figured that out, did you?” he asked, chuckling.
A smile tugged at the corner of her lips. “I suppose I should have realized it sooner. Same arrogant smirk, same umber eyes, same hometown.”
“Yes, but only one of us got the charm.” Henry slipped an arm around her waist, pulling her close. “I like to think my parents saved the best for last.”
She gave a throaty laugh that went straight to his cock.
Christ, he’d never tire of that laugh. He couldn’t wait to spend the rest of his life with Pippa. His fiancée. What was royal protocol for post-engagement celebrations, anyway? How long did they have to wait before they could sneak off and celebrate in private?
“It’s about damn time,” Prince William said, stepping forward with his wife at his side. “I was starting to think I’d been wrong about you, von der Recke.”
“Wait.” Pippa turned to face her brother. “You knew about Henry—about his family—the whole time?”
The prince smirked and gave a devil may care shrug. “Of course.”
“You played me.” Pippa planted a hand on her hip and scowled at her brother. “You knew about my deal with Father,andit was your idea for Henry to mentor me.”
“I prefer to think of it as guiding you toward happiness,” Prince William said, smoothing his tie and pitching his voice low. “After all, things have worked out brilliantly. You’re engaged to the man of your dreams and soon enough, you’ll have the funding you need to launch Stanley International. Am I right?”
Pippa gave a quiet harrumph before grudgingly agreeing. “Quite.”
“Actually, he played both of us,” Henry said, studying the prince with an appraising eye. “You purposely delayed our negotiations to keep me in Valeria.”
The cheeky bastard grinned and clapped him on the back, but didn’t confirm or deny.
“Welcome to the family,” Princess Elena said. She offered him a sweet smile that suggested she knew exactly how exasperating her husband’s machinations could be. Then she turned to Pippa and wrapped her in a quick embrace. “Congratulations. And good luck explaining it to Their Majesties.”