The Billionaire's Marriage Proposal (Billionaire Bachelors #4)(23)
“This is the largest Christmas Market in Vienna, Madge told me about it, so hurry, I don’t want to miss out on anything,” Jennifer said, as they made their way out of the subway. There was a huge open air market sporting all kinds of booths.
“This is the Rathus Christmas Market and it opens about a week before the others. She told me to go to a Punsch stand and I can get a special souvenir mug to take home,” she said.
“Why would I need to take one of the mugs home?”
“Because it’s something to remember the trip by,” she answered. He bought them each a hot drink, which had the kick of alcohol he desperately needed to make it through the day. He obediently kept his mug instead of turning it back in for the miniscule deposit. He’d let her have the mug so she could have a set.
When he handed over the mug, she acted as if it were a true treasure. Hell, he’d given diamonds, with far less appreciation. He couldn’t understand how something so simple could excite her so much. He found he liked her enthusiasm.
She started dragging him from place to place and surprisingly, he was enjoying himself. She was so happy it was impossible not to catch it from her. The market had a variety of foods and craft booths and she seemed determined to stop at every one.
She purchased Christmas ornaments, candles, toys, foods, and gloves. She told him she had to get a lot of souvenirs for people at home. She wasn’t spending an enormous amount of money, but he was soon carrying several large sacks. He looked over to his security men and when they approached, he handed them over. She was going to protest but he told her the items would be stowed in the car, where they were safe and that seemed to appease her.
He was getting burned out from the market and started leading her toward the exit. Of course, she had to ooh and aah over the trees lining the streets with packages hanging from their branches, along with thousands of brightly lit lights. He’d have loved to have seen her as a child on Christmas morning. Hell, he thought she most likely still got just as excited.
“I have something to show you I think you’ll like,” Trenton told her.
“Sounds great to me,” she agreed, sure he’d know more than anyone the exciting places to visit.
“Do you know anything about the famous Hapsburgs, who were the royal family of Vienna?” he asked.
“I haven’t heard anything about them,” she told him, starting to get more excited. There was nothing like a royal family.
“Well then, let me show you their palace,” he said and quickly led her there. She joined a tour group and found herself enthralled as they went from room to room.
“Normally, you need to book reservations at least a couple months in advance, but I happen to have some connections,” he told her with his cocky smile. She was, for once, grateful of his wealth, because she wouldn’t have wanted to miss out on the palace.
“This is so great, thank you,” she said, looking around in awe.
They got to watch the Lipizzaner Horses from the Spanish Riding School perform, and she was fascinated by their precision and the ease with which they handled the horses. They then sat back and listened to the Vienna Boys choir, which had originally started as a troupe of court musicians who’d been personally selected to entertain the royal family.
Jennifer felt as if she’d gone back in time, and was sitting in the royal palace, being entertained. It was remarkable and it took her back to her days as a child, wishing she were a beautiful princess about to be rescued by her prince charming. She looked at Trenton and thought he’d make a stunning prince, riding up on his steed. She couldn’t suppress the shiver running through her body. She was grateful he was fixated on the performers, because she knew her heart must’ve been in her eyes.
They walked into the National library, with its incredible architecture. She was amazed at the stunning detail as she walked around the room. The ages of the books in the room stunned her. There was so much history in such a significant place and she knew she’d be happy to camp in the library for weeks, or even months, on end.
There were floor to ceiling shelves of leather bound books, some of which dated back to the early sixteenth century. Among the priceless books were impeccable pieces of art, some huge, others understated, historical globes, statues, and priceless paintings.
The day was quickly slipping away and she felt as if she’d barely seen anything. He quickly took her to the Porcelain and Silver Museum that was filled with the royal cutlery and china. As she looked at the various pieces on display she realized the royal family had eaten from those very plates and used those forks and spoons. She couldn’t imagine how items so delicate had survived through the years.
“It’s all so remarkable,” she whispered to Trenton. He looked at everything through her eyes and had to smile. He was so used to wealth and the finer things, he had a hard time appreciating the treasures before him, but if he looked at it through her eyes, everything was different.
He found he didn’t want the day to end. Her happiness was doing something to his insides and he tried to distance himself. He was trying to convince himself he was only playing tourist guide so she’d be appreciative later that night, but he knew he was falling for her in ways that had nothing to do with sex.
She was stunning, full of life, loyal to family and had such passion. He shook his head, as he mentally listed her virtues. He was sure it was just the romantic city of Vienna and he’d be able to think clearly again once they got home.