"I never noticed before just how much of a woman's touch they could use," Isplourrdacartha says, laughing as she turns back to him. She is luminous tonight, as she has been all day, smiling and laughing and carrying on, and if she had a moment or two of doubt that she was marrying a man who didn't love her -- such doubts were kept to herself, in private moments.

Now they are married, Prince Rial Pernon is her husband, and she is still laughing as she teases, "You must have something to drink around here somewhere, don't you?"