Page 22 of All the Gossip from Paris (Royal Fashion #2)

CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE

The wedding hall, H?tel Couvé,

Marly-le-Roi

Two days later

It didn’t take long for Liam to come to the realization that French weddings were very different from American ones.

For a start, the engaged couple had to have a legal civil ceremony at the wedding hall, rather than at a church or a private venue.

Instead of a minister or celebrant, the ceremony was officiated by the local mayor.

And in this particular village, the wedding could only be held after 2pm on a Friday.

There was none of this ‘let’s fly off to Las Vegas and do a drive through wedding’ business.

Ryan and Camille’s wedding was small, with only the respective parents of the bride and groom present. Liam and Sophie who were acting as the two witnesses made up the rest of the party. There was no best man. No bridesmaids. And no cute children acting as ring bearers.

Camille was dressed in a simple two piece cream woolen ensemble, while Ryan wore a dark blue suit. His tie had the gold and red Royal family crown emblem running through the pattern. It was weird to think that after today Ryan would no longer be a Collins.

The ceremony was conducted in French. Brenda and Pete had found an app which translated the spoken word, and they were following the proceedings along sharing a pair of earbuds.

His parents both looked amazing. Brenda was wearing a mother of the groom suit Camille had helped her select back in New York.

Pete, who’d been on a father of the groom diet for his son’s big day, was dressed in a suit which matched Ryan’s.

Liam had chosen to go with a tailored blazer, open necked shirt, and pants rather than a formal suit. He could get away with semi casual for the wedding, but would be in full formal tuxedo for the reception later tonight.

Standing beside him, dressed in a pale blue pant suit, and matching killer heels, which she totally rocked, was Sophie. He loved that she’d offered to act as his personal interpreter.

“Au nom de la loi, je vous déclare mari et femme,” announced the mayor.

“In the name of the law, I now pronounce you husband and wife,” whispered Sophie.

Ryan and Camille were kissing. Her parents were beaming. His parents were beaming. The local dignitaries were beaming. It was nice to be at a wedding where everyone was happy for the couple.

The last wedding he’d attended was that of his former fiancée and former best friend.

To this day, Liam couldn’t figure how he’d managed to get through the service without screaming.

He hadn’t bought the happy couple a wedding present.

He figured that him keeping quiet over how they’d gotten together was more than either of them deserved.

The mayor handed Camille a small book. “It’s the family record book. A legal document to prove they are married. When the baby is born its name will go into the book,” explained Sophie.

“Huh. So the marriage certificate and birth records all in one. Cool,” mused Liam.

And that was it. His brother and Camille were married. Ryan Collins was now Ryan Royal. He still found it hard to get his head around that fact, but the smile on his brother’s face had tears of joy pricking at Liam’s eyes.

* * *

When he’d received his invitation to Ryan and Camille’s wedding it had noted that the dress code for the evening reception was black-tie formal.

Liam had seen tuxedos in movies. Had even imagined what it would be like to dress the same as a certain British secret agent.

But he’d never actually worn a tuxedo. Or a bow tie.

His plans to hire a tux had been quickly crushed by his brother.

This was a wedding where the other males in attendance would be wearing their own bespoke suits.

Ryan was not going to have the Americans turn up looking like they were dressed in $50 Walmart outfits.

Liam hadn’t known Walmart even sold tuxedos.

He wasn’t going to argue the point, especially not when his future sister in law’s family had insisted on paying for everything.

Standing to one side of the entrance to the grand ballroom at the Royal family’s chateau later that evening, watching as hundreds of guests filed past him, Liam was grateful he was wearing a fitted evening suit. He might have felt out of place, but at least he didn’t look it.

Somewhere in the middle of the crush of people were his parents.

To their credit Brenda and Pete had taken to the billionaire circle like pros.

They’d made friends and were mingling as if they too had been born with a silver spoon in their mouths.

The international Royals had welcomed them warmly into their embrace.

Earlier, he’d caught his father having a spirited discussion with one of the Italian members of the Royal family.

The topic of conversation the merits of various brands of fruit crushing machines.

Pete, who grew soft fruits on the Collin’s family farm, had his firm opinions.

Apparently, the other gentleman was a winemaker and set in the old ways of stomping on his grapes.

An invitation to come visit his Tuscan estate during the summer months had been graciously accepted.

I couldn’t get either of my parents to walk across into Canada at Niagara Falls. Now they’re going to Italy.

Moving further into the ballroom, Liam took a glass of champagne from a passing waiter’s tray. Destination nowhere, he slowly began to make his way through the crowd. He didn’t know anyone but how hard could it be to spend a few hours drinking and mingling with four hundred super wealthy strangers?

The mixture of languages all being spoken in the room made it hard for him to pick up on any conversations. He’d learned bits and pieces of Spanish, French, and German on his travels, but not enough to make sense of what people were saying. And especially not when they all spoke so fast.

He’d just decided to go find his parents again, when a firm hand landed on his shoulder.

Liam spun round. Standing in front of him was a tall guy in a tuxedo.

But it wasn’t the man who caught his attention.

It was the woman in a long golden gown standing next to him that had Liam doing a double take.

Is that Chloe Fisher, the popstar?

If it wasn’t then she was a doppelganger for the world’s biggest recording artist.

The guy held out his hand. “Hi, I’m Jordan Royal. I’m one of New York Royals. And this is my wife, Chloe. Ryan asked us to come find you, make sure you’re having a good time.”

Liam accepted the offered hand. While it was good to meet someone else who spoke English, he was still lost for words. It wasn’t every day that you met one of the most famous people on the planet.

“I think Liam might be a bit starstruck,” said Chloe.

Liam gave her a nod of confirmation. “It’s nice to meet you. I. Well. I…”

Jordan laughed at Liam’s stuttering response. “She has that effect on most people.” He turned to his wife and smiled at her. “Including me.”

So this was the American contingent of the family. Ryan had explained that there were some Royals who lived in New York. They owned, and managed the US operations for Royal Resorts. The CEO of Royal Resorts USA, Bryce Royal, was an investor in Camille’s fashion label.

“How are you finding Paris? I love coming here. This is the first time I’ve actually visited France and not been in the middle of a concert tour,” said Chloe.

Stirring from his starstruck stupor, Liam gathered his thoughts. “I’ve been to Paris a few times. Camille’s sister Sophie showed me around some new places earlier in the week. She brought me out here and we took a look inside the atelier up on the rooftop.”

Chloe’s eyes grew wide. “Oh my god. I didn’t think Francois would let you within ten feet of the door. I’ve been trying to get a peek inside his workshop for months, but he won’t let me near the place.”

Jordan rolled his eyes in mock outrage. “Now I’m going to have to go and talk to my uncle. Demand that he let us in before we fly home or else there’s going to be trouble.”

Chloe nodded her approval. “Damn straight there will be.”

Another couple now joined the chat. The family resemblance between Jordan and the male stranger was unmistakable. This other man had to be another one of the American Royal brothers.

“Hi, I’m Matthew Royal,” he said holding out his hand. Liam took it and they shook. Matthew then turned to the blonde woman who’d arrived with him. “And this is my fiancée, Rachel.”

Rachel gave him a tiny wave. “You look as overawed by all of this glamor as I do. Which considering that this time yesterday morning I was standing up to my knees in mud and sludge on a construction site, isn’t the least bit surprising.”

Matthew chuckled. “Rachel and I are the lead architects on the new Royal Resorts eco development in Aspen Colorado. We had a drainage issue. I was in New York, so my poor colleague was the one who had to go deal with the problem.”

“Colleague? That’s a strange way to describe the woman who only two hours ago had her lips wrapped around your…”

Matthew swiftly pulled her into his embrace and kissed her soundly. Everyone in their little group laughed.

No prizes for guessing what she’d been about to say.

Liam grinned as he took it all in. The American branch of the Royals were fun. He was still smiling when a hand was pressed gently to his back. The familiar scent of Sophie’s perfume filled his senses.

A shiver of delight raced down his spine as Sophie moved closer and spoke seductively into his ear. “I’m glad to see the American cousins have found you. I’d be sad if you were standing here all alone.”

Chloe one of the world’s most beautiful women was standing a mere foot or two away, yet she didn’t hold his attention the same way Sophie did. It wasn’t just Sophie’s perfume which filled his senses. It was her mere presence.

She had changed from the pantsuit she’d worn to the wedding service, and was now rocking a long black evening gown.

And while there was a demur halter neck at the front, the back of the gown was completely open.

A pleasing amount of female flesh was on display.

Liam wanted to run his hand down Sophie’s naked back.

To see if his touch affected her the same way her mere presence moved him.

The way Sophie makes me feel is something else.

He wasn’t sure how to describe that feeling other than to say she was pure temptation. The way she was dressed tonight was fucking fantastic.

The lustful vibes he was rocking from simply being this close to Sophie had Liam’s body thrumming with unsated need. For a moment he was jealous of Matthew Royal and his ability to simply grab the woman he loved and kiss her in public.

“Liam tells me you took him upstairs earlier this week,” said Chloe.

“To your father’s workshop,” Liam said, in further explanation. He didn’t want any of the Royals getting the wrong idea. And especially not when he and Sophie had already been that wrong idea. His libido was still writing checks his body was in no position to cash.

But every time he thought about New York, he kept coming back to the same conclusion. That night had been so right between them.

Why are we both fighting it?

“I tell you what Chloe, now would be the perfect time to go find my father and ask him for a favor. Camille’s wedding gown is absolutely divine, and Papa looks like he is finally beginning to relax. Another glass or two of champagne and he will be as close to pliable as he gets,” said Sophie.

“And we need to talk to Francois about making plans for Rachel’s wedding gown,” said Matthew, finally releasing his fiancée from his embrace.

If the future bride-to-be was the slightest bit embarrassed about having been pawed in public, she didn’t show it.

The woman who was destined to become Rachel Royal was positively beaming.

Linking arms with Liam, Sophie gave the American Royals a friendly wave goodbye. “While you four are off seeing my father, I’m going to take our special guest and introduce him to some more members of the family.”

“I can’t believe your cousin is married to Chloe Fisher,” said Liam, as they walked away.

The ballroom was huge, but so was the number of wedding guests. Liam was glad that he and Sophie were walking arm in arm. It would be so easy to lose her in this glittering crowd.

“You mean Chloe Royal. My sister made her wedding gown last year. Chloe is just the right person for Jordan. He had a troubled past but since they got together, she has quietened his soul. I love seeing how happy she has made my cousin.”

Sophie’s gaze drifted over the room, and then she sighed. “All these bliss filled couples and their weddings. It makes me want to believe in love again.”

As Sophie led him through the crowd, Liam pondered her words. It hadn’t occurred to him that she might not believe in love. He thought he was the only one who felt that way. The only one who love had left beaten and bloodied in the aftermath of deep betrayal.

At least she wants to believe in love again.

He wasn’t sure if he would ever be strong enough to trust his heart to someone a second time. To open his life to such vulnerability. But if someone like Sophie who’d had her heart broken could want to believe in a happily ever after, then why couldn’t he?