Becoming the Prince's Wife (Princes of Europe) Page 9

“Now you know how I feel.”

  “I can’t give you an answer. You’re going to be king in seven weeks!”

  “That’s the whole point of this conversation. There’ll be no coronation without a marriage. I’ll need your answer by tomorrow night after the taping here is finished. Once parliament opens its session the next morning and the date for my wedding is announced, it will be too late for us.”

  Carolena was in agony. “That’s not fair!”

  His features hardened. “Since when was love ever fair? I thought you found that out when your fiancé died. I learned it when my sister died before she could hold her own baby.”

  Tears ran down her cheeks once more. “I can’t think right now.”

  “By tomorrow evening you’re going to have to! Until then we’ll set this aside and concentrate on our mission to put Gemelli and Arancia on the world map agriculturally.”

  “How can we possibly do that? You’ve done a lot more than proposition me. I can hardly take it in.”

  “That’s why I’m giving you all night to think about it. I want a relationship with you, Carolena. I’m willing to break my long-standing engagement to Princess Alexandra in order to be with you. In the end she’ll thank me for it. Gemelli doesn’t need a king yet.”

  “You can’t mean it!”

  “Had I not told you of my engagement, we would have spent that night on the yacht together. But the fact that I did tell you proved how important you were to me. I realized I wanted much more from you than one night of passion beneath the stars. Sleeping together to slake our desire could never be the same thing as having a full relationship.”

  His logic made so much sense she was in utter turmoil.

  “However, there is one thing I need to know up front. If your love for Berto is too all consuming and he’s the one standing in the way of letting me into your life, just tell me the truth right now. If the answer is yes, then I swear that once this video is made, I’ll see you off on the jet tomorrow night and our paths will never cross again.”

  She knew Valentino meant what he said with every fiber of his being. He’d been so honest with her, it hurt. If she told him anything less she’d be a hypocrite.

  “I would never have wanted to sleep with you if I hadn’t already put Berto away in my heart.”

  “That’s what I thought,” he murmured in satisfaction.

  “But when you speak of a relationship, we’re talking long-distance. With you up on the volcano while I’m in court in a different country... How long could it last before you’re forced to give me up and find a royal bride in order to be king? Your mother would despise me. Abby would never approve, nor would Vincenzo. The pressure would build until I couldn’t stand the shame of it.”

  His eyes became slits. “Do you love me? That’s all I want to know.”

  Carolena loved him, all right. But when he ended it—and he’d be the one to do it—she’d want to die. “Love isn’t everything, Val.”

  “That’s not what I wanted to hear, Carolena.”

  “I thought you gave me until tomorrow evening for my answer.”

  “I made you a promise and I’ll keep it. Now it’s getting late. I’ll say good-night here and see you at eight in the morning in this very spot. Buona notte, Carolena.”

  * * *

  Valentino was headed for his suite in the palace when his brother came out of the shadows at the top of the stairs wearing jeans and a sport shirt instead of his uniform. “Vito? What are you doing here? I didn’t know you were coming!”

  They gave each other a hug. “I’ve been waiting for you.”

  Together they entered his apartment. “I take it you’ve been with mother.”

  “Sí. She phoned me last week and asked me to come ASAP.” Valentino had a strong hunch why she’d sent for her second son. “I arranged for my furlough early and got here this afternoon.”

  “It’s good to see you.” They sat down in the chairs placed around the coffee table. “How long will you be here?”

  “Long enough for me to find out why our mother is so worried about you. Why don’t you tell me about the woman you took up on the volcano last week before you spent part of the night dancing with her on the yacht. And all this happening after you’d set the date for your marriage to Alexandra.”

  Valentino couldn’t stay seated and got out of the chair. “Do you want a beer?”

  “Sure.”

  He went in the kitchen and pulled two bottles out of the fridge. After they’d both taken a few swallows, Vito said, “I’m waiting.”

  “I’m aware of that. My problem is finding a way to tell you something that’s going to shock the daylights out of you.”

  With a teasing smile, Vito sat back in the chair and put his feet up on the coffee table. “You mean that at the midnight hour, you suddenly came upon the woman of your dreams.”

  Valentino couldn’t laugh about this. “It was evening, actually. I’d just come from the helicopter. Carolena was in the swimming pool ready to take a dive.”

  “Aphrodite in the flesh.”

  “Better. Much better.” The vision of her in that bathing suit never left him. He finished off the rest of his beer and put the empty bottle on the table.

  “Abby’s best friend, I understand. Did I hear mother right? She’s helping you and Vincenzo with a marketing video?”

  He took a deep breath. “Correct.” Valentino explained the project to his brother.

  “I’m impressed with your idea, but you still haven’t answered my question.” Vito sat forward. “What is this woman to you? If word gets back to Alexandra about your dining and dancing with her on the yacht, you could hurt her a great deal.”

  Valentino stared hard at his brother, surprised at the extent of the caring he heard in his voice. “For the first time in my life I’m in love, Vito.”

  “You?”

  He nodded solemnly. “I mean irrevocably in love.”

  The news robbed his brother of speech.

  “I can’t marry Alexandra. There’ll be no wedding or coronation in August, no announcement to Parliament.”

  Color left Vito’s face before he put his bottle down and got to his feet. He was visibly shaken by the news.

  “Until I met Carolena, I deluded myself into thinking Alexandra and I could make our marriage work by having children. Now I realize our wedding will only doom us both to a life of sheer unhappiness. I don’t love her and she doesn’t love me the way Michelina loved Vincenzo.

  “Despite what our parents wanted and planned for, I don’t want that kind of marriage for either of us. Tomorrow evening I’m planning to fly to Cyprus and break our engagement. The news will set her free. Hopefully she’ll find a man she can really love, even if it causes a convulsion within our families.”

  Somehow he expected to see and hear outrage from his brother, but Vito did neither. He simply eyed him with an enigmatic expression. “You won’t have to fly there. Mother has invited her here for dinner tomorrow evening.”

  His brows lifted. “That doesn’t surprise me. Under the circumstances, I’m glad she’ll be here. After I see Carolena off on her flight back to Arancia, I’ll be able to concentrate on Alexandra.”

  “What are you planning to do with Carolena? You can’t marry her, and Mother doesn’t want to rule any longer.”

  Valentino cocked his head. “I’m not the only son. You’re second in line. All you’d have to do is resign your commission in the military and get married to Princess Regina. Mother would step down so you could rule. As long as one of us is willing, she’ll be happy.”

  “Be serious,” he snapped. “I’m not in love with Regina.”

  His quick-fire response led Valentino to believe his brother was in love with someone else. “Who is she, Vito?”

  “W
hat do you mean?”

  “The woman you do love.” His brother averted his eyes, telling Valentino he’d been right about him.

  “Falling in love has totally changed you, Val.”

  “It has awakened me to what’s really important. Carolena makes me feel truly alive for the first time in my life!”

  Vito shook his head in disbelief. “When am I going to meet her?”

  “The next time I can arrange it.”

  “When will you tell Mother you’re breaking your engagement?”

  “After I’ve talked to Alexandra and we’ve spoken to her parents. Will you meet the princes at the plane for me? Carolena and I will be finishing up the filming about that time. You’d be doing me a huge favor.”

  His brother blinked like someone in a state of shock. “If that’s what you want.” When he reached the door to leave, he glanced around. “Val? Once you’ve broken with Alexandra, you can’t go back.”

  “I never wanted the marriage and have been putting it off for years. She hasn’t pushed for it, either. We’re both aware it was the dream of both sets of parents. I’ve always liked her. She’s a lovely, charming woman who deserves to be loved by the right man. But I’m not that man.”

  After a silence, “I believe you,” he said with puzzling soberness.

  “A domani, Vito.”

  * * *

  The film crew followed behind the limo as they came to the last orange grove. Carolena looked at the script one more time as the car pulled to a stop, but the words swam before her eyes. The hourglass was emptying. Once this segment of the taping was over, Valentino expected an answer from her.

  Though he hadn’t spoken of it all day, the tension had been building until she felt at the breaking point. She couldn’t blame the hot sun for her body temperature. Since last night she’d been feverish and it was growing worse.

  After reaching for her grandmother’s sun hat, she got out of the limo and started walking down a row of orange trees where the photographer had set up this scene with the owner of the farm and his wife.

  Her braid swung with every step in her walking boots. She felt Valentino’s eyes following her. He watched as one of the crew touched up her makeup one more time before putting the hat on her head at just the right angle. She’d worn jeans and a khaki blouse with pockets. Casual yet professional.

  Once ready, the filming began. Toward the end of the final segment, she held up a fresh orange to the camera. “Eating or drinking, the blood orange with the AG stamp brings the world its benefits from nature’s hallowed spot found nowhere else on earth.” She let go with a full-bodied smile. “Salute from divine Gemelli.”

  Valentino’s intense gaze locked onto hers. “Salute,” he murmured after the tape stopped rolling and they started walking toward the limo. “The part you added at the end wasn’t in the script.”

  Her heart thudded unmercifully. “Do you want to redo it?”

  “Anything but. I’ve always considered Gemelli to be ‘nature’s hallowed spot.’ You could have been reading my mind.”

  “It’s hard not to. As I’ve told you before, you show a rare reverence for the island and its people.”

  As he opened the limo door for her, the rays of the late-afternoon sun glinted in his dark blond hair. “Your performance today was even more superb than I had hoped for. If this video doesn’t put our message across, then nothing else possibly could. I’m indebted to you, Carolena. When Vincenzo sees the tape, he’ll be elated and anxious for the filming to start in the lemon groves of Arancia.”

  “Thank you.” She looked away from him and got in the limo, taking pains not to brush against him. Once he climbed inside and sat down opposite her, she said, “If we’re through here, I need to get back to the palace.”

  “All in good time. We need dinner first. Matteo has not only lent us his boat, he has prepared a picnic for us to eat on board. We’ll talk and eat while I drive us back.” Despite having dinner plans that night, Val decided spending time with Carolena on her last night was too important to miss. He would make arrangements to see Princess Alexandra at the palace afterward.

  Carolena had this fluttery feeling in her chest all the way to the shore, where they got out and walked along the dock to a small cruiser tied up outside the restaurant. There would be no crew spying on them here. His security people would be watching them from other boats so they could be strictly alone.

  Throughout the night Carolena had gone back and forth fighting the battle waging inside her. By morning she knew what her answer would be. But right now she was scared to death because he had a power over her that made her mindless and witless.

  While Valentino helped her on board and handed her a life jacket to put on, Matteo appeared and greeted them. The two men chatted for a minute before Val’s friend untied the ropes and gave them a push off. Carolena sat on a bench while Valentino stood at the wheel in cargo pants and a pale green sport shirt.

  After they idled out beyond the buoys, he headed into open calm water. Having grown up on an island, he handled the boat with the same expertise he exhibited in anything he did.

  She saw a dozen sailboats and a ferry in the far distance. High summer in the Mediterranean brought the tourists in droves. Closer to them she glimpsed a few small fishing boats. Most likely they were manned by Valentino’s security people.

  When they’d traveled a few miles, he turned to her. “If you’ll open that cooler, I’ll stop the engine while we eat.”

  Carolena did his bidding. “Your friend has made us a fabulous meal!” Sandwiches, salad, fruit and drinks. Everything they needed had been provided. Because of nerves, she hadn’t been hungrier earlier, but now she was starving. By the way his food disappeared, Valentino was famished, too.

  When they couldn’t eat another bite, she cleaned things up and closed the lid. “Please tell Matteo the food was wonderful!” She planned to send him a letter and thank him.

  Valentino took his seat at the wheel, but he didn’t start the engine or acknowledge what she’d said. “Before we get back, I want an answer. Do I call off the engagement so you and I can be together without hurting anyone else? I haven’t touched you on purpose because once I do, I won’t be able to stop.”

  The blood pounded in her ears. She jumped to her feet and clung to the side of the boat. The sun had dropped below the horizon, yet it was still light enough to see the smoke from Etna. Everywhere she looked, the very air she breathed reminded her of Valentino. He’d changed her life and she would never be the same again.

  But her fear of being responsible for someone else wasn’t the only thing preventing her being able to answer him the way he wanted. Already she recognized that if she got too close to him, the loss she would feel when she had to give him up would be unbearable. To be intimate with him would mean letting him into her heart. She couldn’t risk that kind of pain when their affair ended. An affair was all there could ever be for them.

  If she left Gemelli first thing in the morning and never saw him again, she’d never forget him, but she’d convinced herself that by not making love with him, she could go on living.

  “It’s apparent the answer is no.”

  His voice sounded wooden, devoid of life. It cut her to the quick because she knew that by her silence she’d just written her own death sentence.

  Slowly she turned around to face him. His features looked chiseled in the semidarkness. “I saw the light in every farmer’s eyes when they talked with you. They were seeing their future king. Putting off your wedding and coronation to be with me won’t change your ultimate destiny.

  “But you were right about us. What we felt at the pool was like a pyroclastic eruption. They don’t come along very often. I read that there are about five hundred active volcanoes on earth, and fifteen hundred over the last ten thousand years. That’s not very many when
you consider the span of time and the size of our planet. You and I experienced a rare phenomenon and it was wonderful while it lasted, but thank heaven it blew itself out before we were consumed by its fire. No one has been hurt.”

  “No one?” The grating question fell from the white line of his lips. She watched his chest rise and fall visibly before he made a move to start the engine.

  In agony, Carolena turned and clung to the side of the boat until he pulled into a dock on palatial property some time later.

  A few of his staff were there to tie it up. After she removed her life jacket, Valentino helped her off the boat and walked her across the grounds to her apartment. By the time they reached her door, her heart was stuck in her throat, making her feel faint.

  “I’m indebted to you for your service, Carolena. Tomorrow my assistant will accompany you to the helicopter at seven-thirty. He’ll bring your grandmother’s hat with him. Your jet will leave at eight-fifteen from the airport.”

  Talk about pain...

  “Thank you for everything.” She could hardly get the words out.

  His hooded blue eyes traveled over her, but he didn’t touch her. “Buon viaggio, bellissima.”

  When he strode away on those long, powerful legs, she wanted to run after him and tell him she’d do anything to be with him for as long as time allowed them. But it was already too late. He’d disappeared around a corner and could be anywhere in the palace by now.

  You had your chance, Carolena. Now it’s gone forever.

  CHAPTER SIX

  “ABBY?”

  “Carolena—thank heaven you called! Where are you?”

  “I’m back at the office.”

  “You’re kidding—”

  “No.” Carolena frowned in puzzlement.

  “I thought you’d be in Gemelli longer.”

  “There was no need. I finished up the video taping last evening. I’m pleased to say it went very well. This morning I left the country at eight-fifteen. When the jet landed in Arancia, I took a taxi to my apartment and changed clothes before coming to the firm. It’s amazing how much work can pile up in a—”