His own smile flickered only a little. He loved her, yes, and had no doubts at all that she loved him. That hardly meant he had fully expected her to relish the thought of sitting on the throne as queen again--after her time holding the position in England with the king she had.

But she had said yes. She had wanted to give him her hand for the rest of their lives.

He squeezed her fingers gently, pulling one of her hands up to press a kiss against her knuckles. "I'll tell them. Will you think on what you'd like to say to the kingdom while I do?"