Randle's Princess (17 page)

They slowly made their descent down the red carpet, the music still playing until they finally made it within two feet of Thomas and the minister.  The music stopped and all fell silent for only a moment. 

“Who gives this woman in holy matrimony?” the minister asked.

“I do,” Randle stated as he now turned to face Lia and removed the veil from her face and flipped it back over her head, then bent to kiss her cheek ever so tenderly as if finally saying good bye to her forever.  Then he took Lia’s hand from his arm and handed it over to Thomas and quickly took the end chair on the first row and as he sat everyone else finally sat as well.

Lia felt her hand trembling as Thomas took a firm but gentle hold of it and their eyes only met for a second before both turning to face the minister. 

The minster quickly began the ceremony.  “We are gathered here today…” he went on but Lia couldn’t seem to pay attention.  She found herself wanting so much to look at Thomas but was staring firmly at the minister instead.  All kind of thoughts were running through her head but she was less and less nervous as the man went on with his words.

Finally he told them face each other while they pledged their vowels to each other.  And naturally I have to be first she thought as she listened on and stared gallantly into Thomas’s eyes.

“Do you Lia Harton take this man...”

She listened intently now not wanting to make a mistake.  “I do,” she answered quickly wanting just to get through it already.

“Do you Thomas Bransford take this woman…” she then heard him asking.

“I do,” he responded with such certainty and held his smile throughout it all.

“Do you have the rings?” the minister then directed at Thomas.

“Yes,” he simply replied as he reached into the inside pocket of his jacket.

Lia became a little jittery now.  She hadn’t even thought about rings before now realizing they weren’t even engaged.  Thomas quickly slid his wedding band into her hand so the ceremony could continue.  She held the band firmly as she waited to be told what to do next.

“Place the ring on his finger and repeat after me,” he then ordered.

Lia nervously and slowly slid the solid gold band onto Thomas’s finger as she repeated the words wondering greedily the entire time what kind of ring he had gotten for her.  Would it be lots of diamonds or a simple solitaire?

Then it came his turn.  She eagerly held out her left hand as Thomas took it in his and much to her surprise he first slid on a wedding band encrusted with small diamonds and right behind it the most gorgeous diamond filled engagement ring she had ever seen.  The center stone was a huge marquise cut diamond that sparkled back at her immensely with numerous smaller stones all around it.  She caught herself about to gasp out loud but quickly stopped it.

Lia made a quick glimpse at Randle before it was all to end but he was staring straight ahead as if not to watch any of it on purpose.  He was stiff and sullen and it hurt her to see him this way, but now she couldn’t feel as sorry for him as she had before.  This was
his
fault in the first place she knew and she now had a new life with a new man and to much her own surprise…she was beginning to look forward to it more and more.

“Then in the eyes of God I now pronounce you husband and wife,” the minister then stated.

Oh no, I have to kiss him she suddenly thought.  Oh dear, and again she became nervous wondering how he would do it.

Then it came.  “You may now kiss your bride.”

Thomas gently placed his hands about her waist and she felt his lips ever so softly cover her own and found herself returning his sentiment.  He quickly drew back and faced her eye to eye.  Then the minster nudged them to turn and face the crowd behind them.

“I have the great pleasure to introduce to you Mr. and Mrs.  Thomas Bransford.”

Everyone stood and clapped and the organist began to play again.  Thomas placed his arm gently on the crawl of Lia’s back and began to walk forward back down the aisle with her as everyone clapped on and congratulated them.  She didn’t even think to look back and see if Randle were following them, only found herself now beginning to enjoy the festivities of the event. 

As they reached the rear of the room one of the servants approached them with a silver tray containing two crystal glasses filled with bubbling champagne.  Thomas reached out and took both the glasses handing one of them to his new bride.  The room again fell suddenly quiet watching as Thomas raised his glass toward her. 

“To my beautiful wife,” he started.  “I intend to make you the happiest woman alive.” 

She found herself raising her own glass to meet his as he raised it in the air.  The crystal clang loudly and echoed throughout the room when the glasses met.  Thomas quickly made the first move of entwining their arms and they sipped the champagne taking their first drink together as husband and wife.

Lia caught herself giggling out loud at his gesture feeling it to be rather romantic and everyone again clapped for them.  Finally the rest of the crowd began to mingle again and chat making the atmosphere in the room a little less tense for her.  No longer were they all staring at her as before and she finally began to relax.

Then the caterer approached them.  “Would you like to cut the cake now sir?” he asked Thomas.

“Absolutely,” he replied then put out his hand motioning for Lia to walk in its direction.  She took his hint and proceeded over to the huge cake with Thomas following close behind her. 

She laid her bouquet on the table next to the cake and the caterer handed them a silver knife and with hands joined around it they sliced the bottom layer.  Thomas then took it and cut them each a small piece and playfully fed his new wife the cake first.  Lia could see he was trying his best to make her as comfortable as possible.  She returned the gesture and smiled brightly as he ate his slice too.

 Lia sipped at the champagne again and finally scanned the room for any sight of Randle.  She finally spotted him at a distance across the room speaking to one of the guests.  He was purposely keeping his distance she knew and she was glad now.  Had he kept close by she would’ve been more uncomfortable and was trying her best now to enjoy whatever it was her new life held for her.

Thomas saw her staring his direction and slid his arm around her waist causing her to look back at him.

“I’m sorry,” she told him looking a bit embarrassed.

“It’s quite alright, really,” he assured her.  “I can only imagine how overwhelmed you must be.”

Her eyes met his again and she could see he was sincere.  “Thank you.  I
am
quite puzzled,” she admitted.

“Let’s take a walk outside,” he then suggested.  “Some fresh air might do us both some good.”

“I agree,” she answered.  They placed their glasses on the table next to the cake then turned and made their way out the patio doors.

Lia was relieved at last to be away from the rumbling guests inside.  Thomas followed close behind her as she made her way around the pool to the gardens.  She wanted to get as far away from the house as she could wanting to make sure Randle wouldn’t be spying on them from inside.

Finally Thomas came side to side with her and took her hand again as they walked along the tree lined pathway. 

“I bet your mind is really messed up right now isn’t it?” he finally asked with a chuckle.

She stopped and faced him.  “You wouldn’t believe,” she admitted.  “What were you thinking?” she then asked.

“What do you mean?”

“Weren’t you afraid Randle was gonna shoot you right there and then when you were demanding me as your payment?”

“Now how do you even know about that?” he asked a little confused.

“I was sitting right behind you,” she informed him.

Thomas looked a little stunned.  “Really?  I didn’t see you there.”

“I know you didn’t.  But I was there the entire time.  I just knew it was the end of you.”  She almost laughed about it now.

Thomas chuckled.  “Well…if we don’t take chances in this life we’ll never get anywhere now will we?  And I have you now,” he then stated rather proudly. 

“I suppose you do,” she answered feeling her eyes slightly flutter up at him.  Almost catching herself flirting with him.

“But we had dinner only once and you wanted to marry me?” she then asked curiously.

“The moment I laid eyes on you I knew I had finally met the most beautiful woman in the world and I had no intentions of losing you.”

Lia was humbled by his answer.  “But did you already know who I was?”

“Yes, I had seen you a couple of times right here in this house but at a distance.  When I finally saw you close up at the bar that first night in Vegas I was totally taken in,” he admitted.

“Was it you that told Randle I was there?”

“No, not until they took you hostage.  Then I had no choice but to call for his help.  I knew Randle would come and get you out of there.  It was Arthur that called Randle the moment you arrived at the Malia.”

Lia believed his story because Randle had already told her this.  She just had to be sure she could trust him though and was feeling now that she could.

“Where do you live?” she then asked.

“New York City,” he answered with pride.

“New York?” she echoed back.  “I’m moving all the way to New York?”

Thomas grinned at her surprise.  “You will love it there.  I have a penthouse apartment on Fifth Avenue.  It’s a woman’s shopping fantasy come true.”

“Just exactly what do you do for a living?” she asked at last fearing the answer to this one.

“I deal in real estate,” he began.  “I’m not as rich as Randle but I do really well.  I promise I can easily spoil my wife.”

Lia grinned again at him now.  He just seemed so pleased to have her as his wife.  And she too was becoming more at ease with him being her husband.

  Then Thomas just stared at her with such a serious look.

“What?” she asked bewildered.

“Do you mind if I finally kiss my wife the way I really want to?” he asked a little shyly.

Lia grinned like a shy little girl herself but couldn’t turn him down.  “Of course you may,” she answered.

Thomas took her in his arms at last and she unconsciously wrapped her arms around his neck and he kissed her so passionately she felt weak.  His tongue gently played with hers before he finally stopped and faced her again.  Lia thought she was going to faint feeling heat fill her body with desire as she stared back.

“I promise you won’t regret any of this,” he then stated as he firmly held her gaze.

“I’m beginning to believe you,” she answered softly.

“And I have one last surprise for you,” he then stated eagerly.

“A surprise?  I don’t think I can handle any more,” she insisted.

Thomas laughed.  “About the honeymoon,” he began.  Now he had her attention.  “We are flying out this evening to Venice.”

“Venice?” she asked unbelieving.  “As in Venice in Italy?”  Her face was beginning to blush and this was the biggest smile Thomas had seen her have since he had met her.

“Yes,” he answered proudly.  “I tried for days to come up with the perfect destination to get us away from everything so we could be completely alone together.”

“You did well,” she replied still stunned.

He gently kissed her lips again.  “I just want you to be get comfortable around me and the only way that’s ever gonna happen is to be thousands and thousands of miles away from here so you can finally be yourself for once.”