The Prince's Forbidden Bride (The Princess Brides Book 2) Page 6

  She chuckled. “What fun! Luckily for your sisters, you were there to protect them, so your parents probably weren’t alarmed. But Papà worried about us and wouldn’t let us stay outside at night. If I could have, I would have built my own secret hideout deep in the forest by the lake and slept in it every night. I should have been born a boy.”

  Laughter burst out of Enrico. Everything she said enamored him. “I can’t picture it.”

  “Boys have a lot more fun and can do everything.”

  “So can girls.”

  “Not when you’re royal and born in my country.”

  Their conversation had taken a sudden turn that brought veracity to Giovanni’s inside information about her ambition to rule on her own. Translating what she’d said, he understood that Donetta couldn’t grow up to be queen.

  Enrico got to his feet to start the cleanup. He’d let the fire die down until it was time to go to sleep. “Your father let you become one of the finest equestrians in your country. As I recall, he bought you your first horse that came from a champion.”

  She nodded. “You’re right about that and I love him for it.”

  “Just think. Without him, we would never have met.”

  They stared at each other for an overly long moment. “I’m sure that’s true.” In the next breath Donetta did her part to help him. After he suggested she go behind one of the trees for privacy, he laid out their sleeping bags with pillows side by side, adding an extra blanket for her if she wanted it.

  Once he’d locked up the food and cooler in the car, he doused the embers and waited in his bag for her return. He would sleep in his clothes and put on a fresh outfit in the morning.

  It looked like she’d decided to do the same thing as she walked toward him. The three-quarter moon had just come up over the mountain and the light illuminated her hair.

  “Your bed is waiting for you.”

  Donetta laughed gently and climbed inside. “This has been a magical day, Enrico.”

  “It should have happened after I got back from England. A lot of life has gone on in the meantime.” He turned toward her, rising up on one elbow. “Donetta—what’s happened to your understanding with Arnaud? I’m asking because if it is still on and I were he, I’d be ripped apart with jealousy.”

  She lay on her back, staring up into the heavens. “We were together recently. He’s asked me to marry him, but I haven’t given him an answer yet.”

  “Does he know about our past?”

  “No.”

  “Are you going to tell him?”

  “I’ll have to if I decide to accept his proposal.”

  Such stark honesty caused Enrico to suck in his breath. “Why did you agree to come camping with me?”

  She turned on her side toward him. “Why do you think? Though your invitation here has come years too late for my liking, I couldn’t resist accepting, if only to find out if I’d been harboring a false memory.”

  “In what way false?”

  He heard a troubled sigh escape. “Had I been foolish to think you’d cared for me all those years?”

  The high-pitched sound of a jackdaw rent the air. “You know I cared.”

  “But we didn’t go away on that vacation. I understand why, but it has been a long time. Too long,” she whispered.

  Her mournful response resonated in his heart. Suddenly she rolled on her side away from him before he could reach out to kiss her. She needed convincing.

  “Tomorrow I’ll waken you early to see a sight you’ll never forget. Buona notte, Donetta.”

  “Dormi bene, Enrico.”

  Sleep well? Between his desire for her and the need to protect her even with the security hidden beyond the trees, he doubted he’d sleep at all. But to his surprise he did succumb at last and didn’t stir until his watch alarm went off at six thirty.

  He looked over at Donetta, who was still sound asleep. Taking care to be quiet, he got out of his bag and freshened up before preparing coffee for them. In the cooler were ham-filled rolls and plums to serve for breakfast. For snacks he’d brought his favorite sugared almonds.

  With everything ready, he walked over to her sleeping bag and hunkered down. The sun was just coming up over the mountains. “Donetta?” He gave her a little nudge and she rolled over. When she opened those fabulous green eyes of hers, he got lost in them. “Good morning. It’s time to get up.”

  “Buon giorno. I can’t believe I slept so well. I hope you did.”

  He nodded. “It has to be this air.”

  “I agree. It’s heavenly here. Excuse me for a minute while I freshen up.”

  She got out of her bag and slid on her sandals, then hurried behind the trees for privacy. When she reappeared, she looked good enough to eat with that glorious hair slightly disheveled and no makeup, which she didn’t need anyway. He motioned her over to the camp table, where he handed her a mug of coffee.

  “Umm. You’ve even fixed breakfast for us. You’ll make someone a marvelous wife one day,” she teased before sitting down to eat.

  Amused, Enrico walked over to the car and brought back a pair of binoculars that he put on the table. “These are extra powerful and will come in handy for you.”

  “Thanks. You’ve thought of everything. I’ll never be able to repay you for all you’ve done.”

  He was pleased to see she was hungry and ate everything. “I’ve been waiting for this a long time. Your being here is payment enough. When the invitation for the competition went out, I’d hoped your country would accept, but I wasn’t at all sure that you would come as well.”

  “I told the queen it was an honor for us. I wouldn’t have missed it.”

  As he bit into another roll, they felt vibrations beneath their feet. “The horses are coming. Quick, Donetta. Follow me to the blanket I spread out. We’ll lie on it to watch.”

  In another half minute they lay side by side on their stomachs. He handed her the binoculars. The thundering grew louder, and suddenly, the plain below was filled with black, brown and bay horses galloping for what Enrico believed was the sheer joy of being alive.

  “Oh—” Donetta cried out in awe. “Look how gorgeous they are! It’s unbelievable.”

  He knew exactly how she felt to see such majesty loose and free in the wilds. “I marvel every time.”

  The herd followed their leader, a magnificent black stallion. “Look how he changes directions and they all keep up with him. They’re having their own kind of fun, aren’t they?”

  “They do it for hours.”

  “Who says horses don’t enjoy themselves.”

  “I think they probably have more fun than some people do,” he concurred. Donetta had his same kind of love for horses and saw what he saw, bonding them in a unique way.

  She studied them through the binoculars for a long time. “The leader looks like Rajah!”

  “They’re all from the same bloodline.”

  Another hour passed while they shared the binoculars and she let out sigh after sigh. “They’re all so beautiful.”

  “Have you decided you have a favorite color?”

  “Yes. The ones with satin coats that look like melted dark chocolate in the sun. They’re sleek and breathtaking, don’t you think?” She suddenly turned to look at him. Their faces were only inches apart.

  “Almost as breathtaking as you.” Without worrying about the bodyguards, he put his arm around her shoulders and pulled her to him. Her mouth was even more luscious than he’d remembered. He wanted her more than any woman he’d ever been with in his life.

  “Enrico—”

  The way she said his name and kissed him back told him she’d been hungering for this, too. Unable to stop, he crushed her to him and began to devour her in earnest.

  No longer aware of their surroundings, they were on fire for each other. They lost trac
k of time, trying to assuage their needs. He was on the verge of telling her he was in love with her when the ringing of her phone penetrated the silence.

  “Oh, no—”

  Donetta groaned and pulled out of his arms. “I forgot to phone Arnaud and let him know when I’d be back.” She struggled to her feet and hurried over to her sleeping bag to get it.

  Enrico stayed put to give her privacy while he looked out over the plain. By now the horses had disappeared for the day, along with a moment he would treasure forever. But that moment wouldn’t be the last because more than ever Enrico was determined to marry her and intended to carry out his original plan before she left Vallefiore.

  * * *

  Donetta grabbed her phone. Seeing Arnaud’s name on the caller ID filled her with fresh guilt. She was shaking so much she sank down on her sleeping bag so she wouldn’t fall. She’d promised to phone him but had forgotten.

  Watching the wild horses running in the early morning had been a breathtaking moment with Enrico that she would never forget. Right now, she was so confused that she couldn’t face talking to Arnaud. She would have to call him later.

  The second she made that decision, she phoned the pilot and the plan was made for her and her group to fly home at four thirty. With that done, she clicked off and noticed Enrico had packed everything in the Land Rover but her sleeping bag.

  She got to her feet and carried it and the pillow to the car. He put it in the back while she climbed in the front seat. Her watch said twelve thirty—too late to make other plans for the day.

  “Are you ready for a swim in the pool beneath the waterfall?”

  Donetta shook her head. “I’d love to, but after talking to the pilot, I don’t think we have the time.” She didn’t dare be alone with Enrico or she’d never want to go home. “When we get back to the palace, I need to contact my staff and make certain everyone is on the other plane by four thirty.”

  “I’ll admit I’m disappointed, but I understand.” He started the car and they left for the city. “Because of time constraints, we’ll stop at the village we passed at the base of the mountains and eat lunch. There’s a café with the best crocchè and involtini di pesca spada you’ve ever tasted. But if you don’t care for swordfish, they serve stuffed sardines with pine nuts that are delicious.”

  “It all sounds wonderful. This whole outing has been out of this world.”

  Before coming to Vallefiore, Donetta had planned on buying a horse from Enrico’s country. That was impossible now. To get any more involved with Enrico would be a grave mistake on every level. He hadn’t told her he loved her, let alone asked her to marry him. She’d hoped, prayed it would happen. But since those words had never passed his lips, this had to be the last time she would ever see him.

  “Donetta? Why did you honestly come to Vallefiore?”

  “Because you were my teenage crush I never got over. Our relationship has been like reading a book I never finished and never knew how it ended until this morning when you kissed me and I kissed you back.

  “I’m not sorry for sleeping out with you and kissing you. I wanted it. But we both know that book is now closed, never to be opened again.”

  She now knew why he’d gotten her to fly here. He’d wanted to explain why their relationship hadn’t been able to work out. Now it was her turn to explain something to him. “I plan to be Arnaud’s wife soon and he has to know I will always be faithful to him.”

  “You’ll marry him even though you’re not in love with him?”

  His honesty took her aback. “I never said that.”

  “You didn’t have to.”

  Enrico didn’t mince words. He’d apologized for what had gone wrong years ago, but he wasn’t in love with her.

  Donetta cleared her throat. “I’m hoping love will come and hopefully children.”

  “What about pleasing yourself?” Donetta didn’t expect that question and started to feel uncomfortable. “If you could have your heart’s desire, what would it be?”

  She stifled a moan. “I’ve given up on that dream.”

  “You had a dream?”

  “Don’t ask. It no longer matters.”

  Donetta had made two fatal mistakes. Both were the result of losing sight of her goal to be queen in her own right and never taking a husband. But that logic had been fatally flawed from the beginning since it had ruled out children. Just now, when she’d mentioned them in the context of having a family, she knew she wanted children more than anything.

  Looking back, she saw that her reason for coming to Vallefiore had been wrong because she’d been hurt by her perception of Enrico’s rejection and had wanted answers as to why he didn’t love her. Though he’d told her he’d been busy taking on the burdens of his father, if he’d truly loved her, she was convinced he would have found a way to see her long before now.

  He’d always taken first place in every international competition from ten to eighteen. After lying in his arms this morning as his kisses brought her rapture, she realized he still held that place in her heart. But he couldn’t tell her he was in love with her. It just wasn’t meant to be.

  If she didn’t marry Arnaud, she knew she’d stay single for the rest of her life. That meant she’d never have children. One thing she did know was this: if nothing else, children would bring both her and Arnaud happiness.

  The time would come when Arnaud would be king of Haute Vienne, with Donetta at his side. By tomorrow night, both sets of parents would be overjoyed to find out she and Arnaud had made official plans to marry, particularly when her father was ill. He wanted to see her settled.

  You’re going to get your wish, Papà.

  CHAPTER FOUR

  DONETTA WAS SO deep in thought she didn’t realize that Enrico had turned into the parking area of a charming café.

  “You’ve been so quiet. I hope everything’s all right,” he said as he helped her out of the car.

  “I’m fine, thank you.”

  They ate lunch on the terrace with its many flowering pots and trees. Clients and waiters alike recognized the crown prince, but they kept their distance with his security men keeping watch. That didn’t prevent every woman in sight from staring at him with longing in their eyes, wishing they were with him instead of Donetta.

  Once they’d finished their delicious meal, he helped her back into the Land Rover and they continued on to the palace in Saracene. He drove them to the entrance and helped her to the suite with her suitcase.

  “I have to go, but I’ll be back in fifteen minutes to take you to the airport.” He was out the door in an instant.

  This was goodbye. Somehow she had to pull herself together and get ready for the flight. After a quick shower, she dressed in her pink suit and did her makeup in record time.

  Too soon she heard the knock on the door. She grabbed her purse and suitcase before answering it. Enrico had also changed and stood there in a tan summer suit with a white shirt open at the neck. No man in this world looked as marvelous as he did.

  “Let’s go.” He reached for her suitcase and they left the palace for the limo parked outside the steps. They sat opposite each other en route to the airport.

  “While we’re alone, there’s something I’d like to talk to you about.”

  “Of course.” She dreaded leaving him and couldn’t imagine what was on his mind.

  “This is just between us. The fact is, I too am hoping to get married in the near future.”

  She’d never been so shocked in her life, or in so much pain. So there had been another woman! But Donetta couldn’t be upset with him for kissing her when she’d willingly succumbed to him.

  Donetta kneaded her hands, not able to look at him. “Only hoping?”

  “This princess isn’t free to marry me.”

  Her head reared. “Why not?”

  “Because she’s su
pposed to marry another man. But I happen to know she’s not in love with him.”

  What? “Does she know you want to marry her?”

  “No.”

  “Why not?”

  “What I have to ask of her will demand a lot since our marriage will be in name only.”

  Donetta was aghast. “That’s no marriage, Enrico. You’re not making sense.”

  He leaned forward. “I need a queen who’ll be willing to rule while I do my own work. I believe the princess I want will feel the same way I do and is capable of fulfilling that role.”

  She was so stunned by his remark she had trouble forming words. “But being the ruler is your work. I don’t understand what you mean.”

  “I want a companion who can handle being queen.”

  “But she will be when you marry her. My mother has been a great help to my father and I’m sure yours has been there for your father, too.”

  Enrico shook his head. “It’s not the same thing. I expect her to reign equally with me so I can be left to do my work getting rid of the corruption while she runs the ordinary business of the kingdom.”

  Donetta stirred restlessly because her heart was thudding too hard for her to remain still. “Will the laws of your country allow such a thing?”

  “They will if I’m the king. On my wedding day I’ll be crowned and my word will be law.”

  She was astounded. “Have you discussed this with your mother? How does she feel about this?”

  “You already know the answer to that. Valentina and I were promised to each other years ago by our families. But I’m not in love with her, and for all her sweetness, Valentina isn’t up to the job of managing the kingdom at this delicate time. Since I know she has feelings for me, I don’t want to hurt her.”

  “Your mother will be crushed, Enrico.”

  “You’re right. Fortunately, the woman I want to marry would be able to deal with the grief my mother will give her. I’m afraid Mamma has very strict attitudes about everything and won’t approve. She believes the place of the king’s bride is at his side, in a wifely capacity.”