Page 84 of Innocent in the Prince's Bed

‘Look…’ Dove gestured to the dance floor where her parents were laughing and smiling as they joined a set for the Roger de Coverly. ‘I think love is in the air, all around.’ She snuggled close to him and he put his about her. ‘You do that to people, Illarion. You inspire them.’

‘And you inspire me.’ He dropped a kiss on the top of her head. His eye was caught by motion at the side of the lawn. Alexei Grigoriev was talking excitedly with a messenger. Nikolay was striding over to join in. ‘Dove, come with me.’ Illarion rose from the dais, his hand tight about hers.

Nikolay was animated as they approached. ‘It’s happening at last, Illarion! We’ve done it, well mostly you have done it, with your poetry. The people are protesting the marriage laws.’ His voice dropped as he gripped Illarion’s arm. ‘Kuban is rising!’

Illarion was swamped with emotion. Hadn’t he just wished this morning that everyone could choose to marry for love? Beside him, Dove beamed. ‘It’s the most perfect wedding gift, the right to love for everyone.’ She squeezed his arm, seeing that the moment meant even more than that, if that was possible. ‘It means that some day, you can go home.’

‘We can go home,’ Illarion amended, looking down at his wife of two hours. ‘Maybe some day we will go to visit. I’d like to show you where I grew up. But as far as I’m concerned, wherever you are, golubushka, I am already home.’

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