Page 85 of Royally Matched
Erma takes Sofia’s left hand in hers and lifts it up to inspect it. “You’re not married! Oh, are you new lovers?” she exclaims with glee.
I can see Sofia struggling with what to say, but Constance jumps in quickly, “When are you going to throw a ring at it, eh, young man?”
Sofia suppresses a giggle. “I think you mean put a ring on it.”
Constance shakes her head. “I’m sure it’s throw a ring. More dramatic that way, you see, and you young people are all about the drama.”
“Throw a ring at what?” Erma asks, confused.
“This.” Constance brandishes Sofia’s left hand, causing her to lurch into my side. I steady her, my arm around her waist. She shoots me a grateful look, and I enjoy the sensationof having her so close, of feeling her warmth against me.
“For someone so small, she’s certainly strong,” I whisper in her ear.
“Do you think I could have my hand back now, please?” Sofia asks Constance, who’s still gripping her wrist.
“All right, dearie,” Constance says, finally letting go. “But there needs to be a ring on that finger. Too many young people put off getting married for far too long. What’s wrong with being married when you’re young?”
“It’s romantic and wonderful,” Erma replies with authority.
She stabs her finger in my direction. “You do the right thing by this one,” she instructs me. “She’s a beauty, and you’d be hard pressed to find anyone half as lovely.”
She’s preaching to the choir.
“Thanks, I’ll take your advice on board,” I reply.
“A young bride is a very beautiful bride,” Constance agrees.
Erma nods, peering at Sofia. “Well, this one will be, anyway. That’s for sure.”
“Lovely hair,” Constance adds.
“Lovely eyes,” Erma agrees.
Both women look Sofia over, nodding their approval.
“Dearie, has anyone ever told you that you look like one of the princesses?” Erma asks.
Uh-oh.
“Ooooh, Erma, I think you’re right,” Constance declares, scrutinizing Sofia closely. “The boring one who never smiles much. What’s her name? Cindy? Sophie?”
“Sofia,” I say, taking her by surprise.
She gawks at me.
“But I assure you, my Hadley is infinitely morebeautiful and infinitely more wonderful than Princess Sofia,” I say, smiling down at her, and the two women clap their hands in glee.
“Lovely!”
“Lovely!”
Sofia clears her throat, clearly relieved. “Shall we keep walking? We need to get a move on if we want to get back to the city tonight.”
Thankfully, both women drop their microscopic inspection of Sofia, and we continue down the cobbled street to the festival. There we find a band playing old-fashioned dance music. Couples are dancing while others are watching, snacking on delicious-smelling food. The atmosphere is full of fun and laughter, and with the cobblestone streets aglow with string lights and the scent of fresh food in the air, the warmth of the small community fills every corner.
I catch Sofia’s gaze, noticing how she too is swept up in the atmosphere. And I want nothing more than for us to be Marco and Hadley, the young lovers come to town, on the precipice of taking a leap of faith into marriage, carefree and in love.
Chapter 23