Torn between love and royal obligationâ¦
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
VINCENZO DI LAURENTIS, thirty-three-year-old crown prince of the Principality of Arancia, stood before the camera on the balcony of the royal palace overlooking the gardens to officially open the April Fifteenth Lemon and Orange Festival. This was his first public appearance since the funeral of his wife, Princess Michelina, six weeks ago. He waved to the crowds that had come out en masse.
His country was nestled between the borders of France and Italy on the coast of the Mediterranean. Eighty thousand people lived in the city of the same name. The other thirty thousand made up the population that lived in the smaller towns and villages. Besides tourism, it had depended on the lemon and orange industries for centuries.
For the next two weeks the country would celebrate the mainstay of their economy with marching bands in the streets, food fairs, floats and statuary in the parks decorated with lemons and other citrus fruit.
Vincenzo had just gotten back from a series of visits to three continents, doing business for the monarchy with other heads of state. It felt good to be with his father, King Guilio, again. On his return, heâd forgotten how beautiful Arancia could be in the spring with its orchards in full flower. He felt an air of excitement coming from the people that winter was over. As for himself, the darkness that had consumed him over the last six weeks since Michelinaâs death seemed to be dissipating.
Their marriage had never been a love match. Though betrothed at sixteen, theyâd spent very little time together before their wedding fourteen years later. When heâd walked into their apartment earlier this afternoon, more than any other emotion, he was aware of a haunting sense of guilt for not having been able to love her the way sheâd loved him.
Romantic love never grew on his part for her, only respect and admiration for her determination to keep up the image of a happily married couple. Theyâd suffered through three miscarriages hoping for a child, but it hadnât happened.
His passion had never been aroused when theyâd made love because he hadnât been in love with her, but heâd done his best to show her tenderness. Heâd known passion with other women before heâd married Michelina. But it had only been a physical response because he was never able to give his heart, knowing he was betrothed.
Vincenzo suspected Michelinaâs parents had undergone the same kind of unfulfilled marriage. He knew his own parents had struggled. It was the rare occurrence when a royal couple actually achieved marital happiness. Michelina had wanted their marriage to be different, and Vincenzo had tried. But you couldnât force love. That had to spring from a source all on its own.
However there was one thing he had been able to do that had brought them their first real happiness as man and wife. In fact it was the only thing that had gotten him through this dark period. Just a few days before sheâd died, theyâd learned they were pregnant again. Only this time theyâd taken the necessary steps to prevent another miscarriage.
Relieved that his last duty for today was over, he left the balcony anxious to visit the woman whoâd been willing to be a gestational surrogate for them. Abby Loretto, the American girl whoâd become his friend. Since twelve years of age sheâd been living on the palace grounds with her Italian father, who was chief of security.