Torn between love and royal obligation â¦
by Rebecca Winters
Vincenzo and Valentino are determined to fulfil their duty to their beloved kingdoms by taking royal wives, but they havenât counted on the revolutions taking place in their hearts caused by two captivating commoners.
When these two charming princes risk everything to win the trust of the women they love, they soon find the true meaning of commitment and honour, proving that sometimes fairytales do come trueâand in the most unexpected ways!
EXPECTING THE PRINCEâS BABY Available May 2014
and
BECOMING THE PRINCEâS WIFE Available June 2014
REBECCA WINTERS, whose family of four children has now swelled to include five beautiful grandchildren, lives in Salt Lake City, Utah, in the land of the Rocky Mountains. With canyons and high alpine meadows full of wildflowers, she never runs out of places to explore. They, plus her favourite vacation spots in Europe, often end up as backgrounds for her romance novels, because writing is her passion, along with her family and church.
Rebecca loves to hear from readers. If you wish to e-mail her, please visit her website: www.cleanromances.com.
CHAPTER ONE
AS CAROLENA BARETTI stepped out of the limousine, she could see her best friend, Abby, climbing the stairs of the royal jet. At the top she turned. âOh, good! Youâre here!â she called to her, but was struggling to keep her baby from squirming out of her arms.
At eight months of age, little black-haired Prince Maximilliano, the image of his father, Crown Prince Vincenzo Di Laurentis of Arancia, was becoming big Max, fascinated by sights and sounds. Since he was teething, Carolena had brought him various colored toys in the shape of donuts to bite on. Sheâd give them to him after theyâd boarded the jet for the flight to Gemelli.
The steward brought Carolenaâs suitcase on board while she entered the creamy interior of the jet. The babyâs carryall was strapped to one of the luxury leather chairs along the side. Max fought at leaving his motherâs arms, but she finally prevailed in getting him fastened down.
Carolena pulled a blue donut from the sack in her large straw purse. âMaybe this will help.â She leaned over the baby and handed it to him. âWhat do you think, sweetheart?â
Max grabbed for it immediately and put it in his mouth to test it, causing both women to laugh. Abby gave her a hug. âThank you for the gift. Any distraction is a blessing! The only time he doesnât move is when heâs asleep.â
Carolena chuckled.
âSo you wonât get too bored, I brought a movie for you to watch while we fly down. Remember I told you how much I loved the French actor Louis Jourdan when I was growing up?â
âHe was in Gigi, right?â
âYes, well, I found a movie of his in my motherâs collection. You know me and my love for old films. This one is called Bird of Paradise. Since weâll be passing Mount Etna, I think youâll love it.â
âIâve never heard of that movie, but thank you for being so thoughtful. Iâm sure Iâll enjoy it.â
âCarolenaâI know this is a hard time for you, but Iâm so glad you decided to come. Vincenzo and Valentino need to discuss business on this short trip. It will give you and me some time to do whatever we want while Queen Bianca dotes on her grandson.â
âWhen Max smiles, I see traces of Michelina. That must delight her.â
âI know it does. These days itâs hard to believe Bianca was ever upset over the pregnancy. Sheâs much warmer to me now.â
âThank heaven for that, Abby.â
âYouâll never know.â
No, Carolena supposed she wouldnât. Not really. Abby Loretto had offered to be a surrogate mother to carry Their Highnessesâ baby, but theyâd both been through a trial by fire when Michelina was suddenly killed.
Carolena was thrilled for the two of them who, since that time, had fallen deeply in love and weathered the storm before marrying. Now they had a beautiful baby boy to raise and she was glad to have been invited to join them for their brief holiday.
Today was June fourth, a date sheâd dreaded every June for the past seven years. It marked the death of her fiancé, Berto, and brought back horrendous guilt. She and Berto had shared a great love, but it had come to a tragic end too soon. All because of Carolena.
Sheâd been too adventurous for her own good, as her own wonderful, deceased grandmother had always told her. You go where angels fear to tread without thinking of anyone but yourself. Itâs probably because you lost your parents too soon and Iâve failed you. One day thereâll be a price to pay for being so headstrong.