Chapter 28
ROSE
The flight passed without a hitch, and we checked into the Palazzo, and as we take the elevator, I sense that I’ve angered him, and I didn’t mean for that to happen.
I want him to be relaxed around me, and I thought giving him options would reassure him.
Apparently not. If anything, he appears angry that I’ve been so flippant, and I seek to reassure him.
However, the elevator stops before that can happen, and as we step into the space, I’m shocked when a woman steps forward.
“Good morning and welcome to the best day of your life.”
Julius glares at her, causing the woman to shift an uncomfortable gaze between us, and then he turns to me and huffs, “Go with Fiona. She is your wedding coordinator and has everything required to make you the perfect bride. You have one hour before the priest arrives.”
“The priest, I don’t understand.”
He points to Fiona.
“There isn’t time to explain other than we marry in this room and Fiona will be our witness. So go, enjoy, and I’ll see you back here in sixty minutes’ time.”
He leaves without a backward glance, leaving me in pieces.
Fiona steps forward and smiles sympathetically, probably wondering what the hell is going on.
“Men!” She rolls her eyes and sighs. “They possess the emotion of a block of wood most of the time. He’s probably just nervous.”
“I guess.”
I smile politely. “I’m–”
I falter because what do I call myself? I was Phoebe Sullivan in Spain and Desdemona Graham on the flight.
“Rose.” Fiona’s smile is warm. “Come, we only have sixty minutes, and I have planned it to the second.”
I follow her to a room set off the one we’re in, which is in the opposite direction to where Julius headed.
As we step inside, I notice a huge bedroom, and Fiona says briskly, “Go through there and shower the journey away. Wash your hair, and I’ll meet you in there, where I’ll do your makeup and hair.”
“What will I wear?” I glance down at the rather understated two-piece I traveled here in, and she laughs with delight. “A wedding dress, of course. I must say your fiancé has excellent taste and, apparently, a healthy bank balance because Maria Alexis doesn’t come cheap.”
I nod, but I don’t have a clue what she is talking about.
Designers were never on my radar, and I prefer my clothes simple rather than ostentatious.
However, it warms my heart knowing that Julius has chosen the designer if not the dress, and it appears he worked hard last night arranging a day I doubt I will ever forget.
One hour later and my head is spinning. Fiona was a whirlwind as she transformed me into a princess.
My hair has been styled in an amazing updo, and the makeup has transformed me into a movie star.
I certainly feel like one in the dress I never want to take off.
It swirls around my waist as if it has a life of its own, and I am giddy with excitement.
The shoes on my feet may as well be invisible, and the lingerie I am wearing is downright wicked.
I am a new woman, and I wonder what the others would say if they could see me now.
If anything, that is the one thing missing from this.
My family. I can’t stop worrying about them, even though Julius has reassured me they are in safe hands, and yet of the three of us I’m right where I’d rather be right now.
Here.
About to marry a man I never knew was my endgame until I started one.
Fiona steps back and smiles happily. “I’m so happy for you, Rose. You resemble a princess.”
“I can’t thank you enough. You made me beautiful.”
“I merely worked on what was already there, and you are beautiful without any of it.”
She nods her appreciation.
“Your fiancé is a lucky man.”
I say nothing because this wedding is a little unconventional, and I’m guessing she is already aware of that.
The fact we are marrying in the hotel room is strange enough, but to go full-blown bridal with my outfit is ostentatious, and yet I’m so grateful.
Julius makes me feel like a princess in every aspect, and this is no different.
I am so lucky. I remind myself constantly of that, and as she points toward the door, butterflies flutter around inside me because I am getting married, and the man in question is fresh out of my dreams.
We make our way out of the bedroom, and my heart flutters when Julius turns to watch our progress.
He is immaculate in a black suit, his usual black shirt having been replaced with a white one and a black dress tie the perfect choice.
His slightly unruly hair has been brushed away from his face, accentuating the dark eyes that glitter as we approach.
It’s as if his gaze caresses every step I take, and I almost don’t realize there is another man in the room.
My gaze holds the one I’m about to marry, and I can’t look away.
If anything, this moment is perfect because we are the only ones in the world right now.
Two souls uniting for what? An arrangement of sorts.
Not for love, not yet anyway, but for mutual pleasure.
Mutual gain and the desire to be right here and nowhere else and I will remember this moment until my dying day.
I stop beside him, and he grasps my hand and raises it to his lips, kissing it like a gentleman, causing me to shiver inside.
The priest is smiling, glancing between us like a proud parent, and Julius leans forward and whispers in my ear, “There is still time to back out, baby. Just say the word.”
“Is that what you want?”
I’m slightly nervous about that, and he rolls his eyes. “A question with a question isn’t an answer, Rose.”
For some reason, it makes me giggle, and the amusement is evident in his smile as I shake my head. “You don’t get out of this that easily. So, answering your question, no, I haven’t changed my mind.”
He nods with satisfaction, and the priest says firmly, “We have come here today to formalize the union of Julius and Rose, who wish to be legally joined and committed in matrimony. Their love signifies all that is great and wonderful about marriage, such as trust, loyalty, tolerance, devotion, kindness, and true, honest love. Marriage is the name of a deep and powerful commitment and is not dependent or swayed by mood or situations. Let your love sustain you and help you grow as individuals.”
He takes a breath and turns to Julius with a solemn expression.
“Please repeat after me. I, Julius Ravera, know of no legal impediment why I may not marry Rose Clementine Zaferelli and spend eternity with her.”
Julius turns to me, and his eyes positively smolder as he says loudly, “I, Julius Ravera, know of no legal impediment why I may not marry Rose–” He smiles. “Clementine Zaferelli and spend eternity with her.”
The priest addresses me.
“Now, Rose, please repeat after me. I, Rose Clementine Zaferelli, know of no legal impediment why I may not marry Julius Ravera and spend the rest of my life with him.”
My heart beats like a drum as I say firmly, “I, Rose Clementine Zaferelli, know of no legal impediment why I may not marry Julius Ravera and spend the rest of my life with him.”
The priest nods with satisfaction and continues.
“Please face each other and state your vows.”
Julius nods and takes both of my hands in his and says huskily, “I promise to always put you first, Rose. To care for you, to treat you right and to protect you. There will be nothing I will not give to you, and I will devote my life to making you happy, even if it means I don’t like what that involves.
You can trust me; I will always have your back, and I am excited to see what the future holds for us.
I will demand a lot of you, and I apologize for that in advance, but in marrying me today, Rose, I am not underestimating what a gift this marriage is.
I never believed I would find a rose blooming in the darkness, which reveals how unique you are, and like your namesake, I will care for my beautiful flower until my dying day. ”
For a long moment, I am speechless, and emotion burns heavy in my eyes. It’s almost as if he means every word. If he’s pretending, he’s certainly fooled me, and I nod, happy tears spilling down my cheeks as I deliver a speech I never prepared for.
The priest turns to me and smiles.
“Please recite your vows now.”
I take a deep breath to steady my breathing and turn to Julius with a heart heavy with devotion. It hasn’t escaped me that this vow is completely different from the one I have practiced over the past few years but somehow is the right one.
I know that deep inside my heart, and so I smile with happiness as I whisper, “I already see you as my rock, my strength and my future. With you, I am safe, happy and filled with excitement for the years we will share. Circumstances brought us together, and fate will keep us together because the moment I met you, Julius, everything clicked into place. I’ve been lost my entire life until you found me.
You are the one my life has been mapped with, and I truly believe that.
In return for your kind promises, I pledge my loyalty, my truth and my future.
I will be honored to be your wife. It’s not a decision I took lightly, and I will prove to you that your faith in me was written in the stars. ”
I catch a breath and then stare at him straight in the eyes and whisper, “I have never looked at anyone the way I look at you and I doubt I ever will because my world stops at you Julius, and I hope it always will.”
The way his eyes burn tells me he knows what I am referring to. The gardener was an idea—a mere dream—but Julius is my reality. He is one million times more important to me already than the gardener ever was, and there is no comparison. He will always be my savior and I will never forget that.
The priest adds, “Rings and weddings have shared a connection since time immemorial—they are symbolic of commitment and have a deep meaning with regard to how valuable love and attachment are and how rare it is for two people to find it in life and formalize it with the bond of marriage.”
He turns to Julius.
“Julius Ravera, place your ring on Rose’s finger and repeat after me. I give you this ring as a symbol of my decision to make you my wife, partner, and closest friend until the rest of my days. ”
Julius nods, and my breath hitches as he opens a velvet box and pulls out a simple gold wedding band studded with beautiful diamonds.
I can’t look away as its meaning is clear.
Diamonds brought us together and will tie us together for all eternity, and as he takes my hand, I stare into his eyes with so much emotion, it’s overwhelming.
His tone is husky as he whispers, “I give you this ring as a symbol of my decision to make you my wife, partner, and closest friend until the rest of my days.”
As the ring slides onto my finger, I gulp as the emotion of the situation grabs hold of me, and the priest interrupts the moment by turning to me and saying, “Rose, place your ring on Julius’s finger and repeat after me.
I give you this ring as a symbol of my decision to make you my husband, partner, and closest friend until the rest of my days. ”
I hesitate because I haven’t prepared for this, and I’m surprised when Fiona taps me on the shoulder and hands me a similar velvet box. As I open it, I notice a thick gold band, and my heart jerks as I place it on his heavily tattooed finger, to add to the others on his other fingers.
“I give you this ring as a symbol of my decision to make you my husband, partner, and closest friend for the rest of my days.”
The priest takes our hands before I can process the moment and says in a loud voice, “The vows you’ve taken and the rings you’ve now exchanged have enhanced the love you already share in your hearts and by the power vested in me by God, I pronounce you married! You may now share a kiss!”
It’s as if the priest and Fiona disappear into thin air as I take a step toward my husband as he does the same.
He reaches for me and pulls me close, and as his hands cup my face, he kisses me with strength, purpose and, dare I say it, devotion.
His strong lips close against mine, and his tongue entangles with mine in a way that leaves me under no illusion.
He meant every word he said, and this is a promise of what happens next. I now belong to him in body, mind and soul, and there is no backing out now. I am his, and in my heart I knew that from the moment he gazed at me through those dark demonic eyes and flashed the wicked grin of a devil.
My heart pounds and my knees tremble as the full enormity of my situation hits home. I have gifted my soul to the devil, and there is no way home from hell.