Chapter 341

Pearl opened her eyes to a bedroom filled with roses. There were vases everywhere, standing from the floor and on every piece of furniture in the room. She saw a note laying on the pillow beside her.

"Happy birthday and anniversary, my March bride and Pisces queen. Two years you have been my wife and I have fallen deeper in love with you, everyday. We have three children, each almost exactly a year apart and my life is full of love and joy that I cannot believe I deserve."

They had married on her birthday, March first. She had almost forgotten it was her birthday but she hadn't forgotten their anniversary. She had a gift for Sebastian that he would love, she hoped. She had gotten it a couple of weeks earlier when she had convinced Jim to take her to town. He wasn't thrilled but had reluctantly agreed.

She put on a pair of jeans that she finally fit back into with a flowy floral shirt and boots and smiled. She looked like her old self again and she was happy to just be a wife for a few days. She loved her babies but this was going to be a special break for the both of them.

"Hello my love." Sebastian said as he greeted her at breakfast.

"Happy anniversary." She said, kissing him.

"The jet is ready and all is set. Have some tea and eat. We have a busy day." Sebastian said.

She nodded and poured tea. Tia brought the children in and Pearl hugged them all. "I am going to miss you so much." She said, kissing Christian's chubby cheek.

"They will be fine. Enjoy yourself. You've pumped enough milk to feed ten babies for a week. Get out of here and have a great time." Tia said. Dylan and Gail were staying at Buckingham as well to keep an eye on things and they walked in to have breakfast with them.

"So, Italy. Are you ready for that, Pearl?" Dylan asked. Gail look at him quizzically.

"Yes. I am." Pearl replied.

"Good. Because you are in for quite the amazing time, I surmise." Dylan said, smiling at Sebastian.

Pearl looked at them both. "What don't I know?" She asked.

"We are going to be late. Come on then." Sebastian said, changing the subject and whisking her away.

"Alright. Love you guys. I will call when we land." Pearl said.

"Yes yes. Go." Dylan said, smiling.

********************

The plane touched down and Pearl was confused.

"This isn't Tuscany. Or Pisa. Where are we?" She asked Sebastian.

"Cuneo." Sebastian said.

"Cuneo? Why? That's hours from the villa." Peale said.

"I know, love. I know." He said, reaching for her hand. She was trembling. All the anxiety leading up to this was at its peak when they landed and now adding something she wasn't prepared for was a lot for her to handle. "It's ok, Pearl. I promise it is ok." He said. His smile was warm and comforting.

A car was waiting for them and the driver helped Jim get the bags in the trunk as Sebastian continued to hold Pearl's hand and help her inside. They drove to the top of a hill outside of town, in a beautifully panoramic position, to pull up to a finely restored 14th-century castle. And calling it a castle is absolutely accurate. The large, grey stone structure looked like what a castle is supposed to look like. With towers and a large, wooden medieval style entrance, it was breathtaking.

"What is this?" Pearl asked in complete awe.

"This is castle Pearl. It's ours. Yours. You never have to go back to the villa if you don't want to. We can sell it or whatever you'd like to do with it. And now you can still have the country you love with new memories and new life. I know it must have been difficult for you, deciding to come back. But I want you to still have the good things and to be able to let go of the bad. And having a medieval castle to do it in doesn't hurt." Sebastian said.

Pearl began to cry. It was thoughtful and ridiculously extravagant but it was perfect. It was like he read her mind.

The castle was beautiful. Truly. The property, more than 12,000 square feet, was laid over two floors, both boasting excellent finishes and decorations. On the ground floor one can find the vaulted entrance hall with medieval decorations and an ample window overlooking the valley, an ample guest hall, a master bedroom with fireplace and coffered ceilings, a kitchen, an original 14th-century well, a bathroom, and a second sitting hall with private studio.

A monumental stone staircase lead to the upper floors where one can find a gallery (showcasing a beautiful collection of antiques dating back to the Risorgimento) and the night areas with four bedrooms and bathrooms. Particularly beautiful was the view from the terrace of the castle and the towers.

Inside, with frescoes and luxury finishes: internal walls are a triumph of colors, where original frescoes are mixed with newer ones faithfully reproduced by medieval experts. Ceilings with ribbed vaults on the ground floor, were decorated with beautiful painted coffers on the upper floor. Doors and windows were framed with stone decorations and doors had been manufactured following the original medieval look. Ghibelline crenellations were added during the restoration and quite faithfully replicated the ones found in the original castle.

"Bash, it's... I don't know what to say. It's perfect." Pearl said as he lead her around. There were fresh flowers in every room. A woman came out of the kitchen to meet them, wiping her hands on her apron. She introduced herself as Mary.

"Your majesties. I'm the housekeeper, cook, live in maid and I live here for years." She said. "The previous owners... fucking stronzos. I'm happy you have bought it and will give love to it much." She said with a thick Italian accent. Pearl nodded and smiled.

"Get settled. I have dinner arrangements for us in town." Sebastian said. Pearl smiled and hugged him. She walked into the large master bedroom and put on the black mini dress she brought. She looked in the mirror.

"Your new life is going to cost you your old one." She said out loud and smiled.