Venetian Masquerade (22 page)

“What are you doing?” she asked, confused.

“At this moment, I want us to look into each other’s eyes to see the true feelings there. I told you the first day I met you that you would be mine. It was an arrogant assumption then, but it’s still what I want more than anything. Amy, my dearest darling, will you marry me?”

For a couple of seconds, Amy was too shocked to reply, but then, “Of course…Oh, Alessandro, of course I’ll marry you,” she whispered.

“And will you settle for the shortest engagement in history?”

“What do you mean?” she asked, mystified.

“I have had to enlist the help of your…our…wonderful friends to make this happen, but in the marquee, all our guests are waiting. They include the Registrar, who has permission to marry us here…now…if you agree.”

She gaped at him, quite sure her knees were about to give way, but then joyfully, she looked up at him, smiling through happy tears, and nodded. Taking her hand, he led her through the hallway to where a curtain had been draped across the entrance to the marquee. Beyond it, a smiling Sonya was waiting to hand her a bouquet of crimson roses before taking James and Donna firmly by the hand, ready to follow them to the center of the rearranged marquee, where the Registrar, also in costume, waited for them. The string quartet began to play music by Vivaldi, and dimly, she was aware of all her friends and her mother among the guests smiling at them, as she and Alessandro walked slowly towards their new life—together.

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