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The Expectant Princess
Stella Bagwell
Princess Dominique Stanbury's father was missing, presumed dead, and she had to be strong for the sake of her family. The only one she could turn to was Marcus Kent, her father's devastatingly handsome High Counsel–and the older man who could still make her heart race.Then, in the midst of the turmoil, Dominique revealed her closely guarded secret–the baby growing within her–and the ever-honorable Marcus proposed marriage. But was Marcus's proposal made out of devotion for his king… or love for the beautiful princess?
THE EDENBOURG TATTLER
March 2001
Word has it that with the king’s disappearance Princess Dominique Stanbury has returned to Edenbourg sporting a green complexion and enough bouts of morning sickness to draw some very serious conclusions. Not only that, but Marcus Kent, the king’s right-hand man, hasn’t left her side since she stepped off the royal jet. Could it be that Marcus is responsible for the princess’s delicate condition? And if the king is ever found, will he condone Marcus’s inclusion in the royal mix and allow his loyal employee to marry the princess he’s so obviously in love with?
The Blacksheep Prince’s Bride
(SR #1510)
by Martha Shields
Dear Reader,
You asked for more ROYALLY WED titles and you’ve got them! For the next four months we’ve brought back the Stanbury family—first introduced in a short story by Carla Cassidy on our Harlequin.com Web site. Be sure to check the archives to find Nicholas’s story! But don’t forget to pick up Stella Bagwell’s The Expectant Princess and discover the involving story of the disappearance of King Michael.
Other treats this month include Marie Ferrarella’s one hundredth title for Silhouette Books! This wonderful, charming and emotional writer shows her trademark warmth and humor in Rough Around the Edges. Luckily for all her devoted readers, Marie has at least another hundred plots bubbling in her imagination, and we’ll be seeing more from her in many of our Silhouette lines.
Then we’ve got Karen Rose Smith’s Tall, Dark & True about a strong, silent sheriff who can’t bear to keep quiet about his feelings any longer. And Donna Clayton’s heroine asks Who Will Father My Baby?—and gets a surprising answer. No Place Like Home by Robin Nicholas is a delightful read that reminds us of an all-time favorite movie—I’ll let you guess which one! And don’t forget first-time author Roxann Delaney’s debut title, Rachel’s Rescuer.
Next month be sure to return for The Blacksheep Prince’s Bride by Martha Shields, the next of the ROYALLY WED series. Also returning are popular authors Judy Christenberry and Elizabeth August.
Happy reading!
Mary-Theresa Hussey
Senior Editor
The Expectant Princess
Stella Bagwell
www.millsandboon.co.uk (http://www.millsandboon.co.uk)
To Lloyd Henry Cook, who was surely a king in a past life,
or at the very least a prince. This one is for you, dear brother.
Books by Stella Bagwell
Silhouette Romance
Golden Glory #469
Moonlight Bandit #485
A Mist on the Mountain #510
Madeline’s Song #543
The Outsider #560
The New Kid in Town #587
Cactus Rose #621
Hillbilly Heart #634
Teach Me #657
The White Night #674
No Horsing Around #699
That Southern Touch #723
Gentle as a Lamb #748
A Practical Man #789
Precious Pretender #812
Done to Perfection #836
Rodeo Rider #878
* (#litres_trial_promo)Their First Thanksgiving #903
* (#litres_trial_promo)The Best Christmas Ever #909
* (#litres_trial_promo)New Year’s Baby #915
Hero in Disguise #954
Corporate Cowgirl #991
Daniel’s Daddy #1020
A Cowboy for Christmas #1052
Daddy Lessons #1085
Wanted: Wife #1140
† (#litres_trial_promo)The Sheriff’s Son #1218
† (#litres_trial_promo)The Rancher’s Bride #1224
† (#litres_trial_promo)The Tycoon’s Tots #1228
† (#litres_trial_promo)The Rancher’s Blessed Event #1296
† (#litres_trial_promo)The Ranger and the Widow Woman #1314
† (#litres_trial_promo)The Cowboy and the Debutante #1334
† (#litres_trial_promo)Millionaire on Her Doorstep #1368
The Bridal Bargain #1414
Falling for Grace #1456
The Expectant Princess #1504
Silhouette Special Edition
Found: One Runaway Bride #1049
† (#litres_trial_promo)Penny Parker’s Pregnant! #1258
Silhouette Books
Fortunes of Texas
The Heiress and the Sheriff
Maitland Maternity
Just for Christmas
STELLA BAGWELL
sold her first book to Silhouette in 1985. More than forty novels later, she still says she isn’t completely content unless she’s writing. Recently she and her husband of thirty years moved from the hills of Oklahoma to Seadrift, Texas. Stella says the water, the tropical climate and the seabirds make it a lovely place to let her imagination soar.
She and her husband have one son, Jason, who lives and teaches high school math in nearby Port Lavaca.
Contents
Prologue (#u8b1e53bf-4951-54a4-a481-9629ebbe8b7b)
Chapter One (#u9a59c75b-05c0-5cc9-81b4-7d33d545f9ee)
Chapter Two (#u9e590822-60af-5a36-9cd5-b52d81c3b997)
Chapter Three (#u86657d28-9252-5bcd-aabd-b016ea75bb81)
Chapter Four (#litres_trial_promo)
Chapter Five (#litres_trial_promo)
Chapter Six (#litres_trial_promo)
Chapter Seven (#litres_trial_promo)
Chapter Eight (#litres_trial_promo)
Chapter Nine (#litres_trial_promo)
Chapter Ten (#litres_trial_promo)
Epilogue (#litres_trial_promo)
Prologue
March, 2001
“She’s going to be a beautiful princess.”
Queen Josephine of Edenbourg’s announcement was accompanied with a tender smile for the three-month-old baby cradled in the arms of her doting father.
“LeAnn already is a beautiful princess,” Prince Nicholas proudly corrected his mother. “She’s going to grow up to be the spitting image of Rebecca.”
The prince’s comment produced a blush on the face of his young American-born wife and happy laughter among the group crowded around the baby and her proud parents.
Outside, a cool rain was falling on the majestic towers of Edenbourg Abbey, but inside the ancient cathedral the mood was warm and festive. Family, friends and dignitaries from several countries had gathered to attend the christening of baby LeAnn, first grandchild of the king and queen of Edenbourg, one of the most beautiful countries in Eastern Europe, and daughter to the heir to the throne.
“Well put, my son. LeAnn is already quite beautiful,” Josephine agreed. The slender woman with a sleek brown chignon and regal stature touched a gentle finger to the baby’s rosy cheek. “And so far she’s behaved like a little angel.”
“Yes, so far,” Rebecca spoke up in worried motherly fashion. “But I fear once the bishop takes hold of her she’s going to start wailing at the top of her lungs.”
Once more chuckles abounded throughout the group. As if on cue, the baby looked around with wide innocent eyes, then not caring one whit that her audience was made up of royal bloodlines dating back to medieval times, she gave them a toothless grin.
Standing at the prince’s right elbow, golden-haired Princess Dominique Stanbury, the youngest of the Stan-bury siblings, smiled affectionately as she reached for her new niece.
“Let me hold her, dear brother. You’re positively too greedy where your daughter is concerned. You’re going to have her spoiled rotten before she’s old enough to sit upright.”
With a groan of feigned reluctance, the tall young prince with black hair handed the baby to his younger sister. “That’s what princesses are for, aren’t they? To be spoiled. Father certainly pampered you,” he teased.
A spate of laughter followed his words. Dominique wrinkled her nose at him and glanced at her older sister, Isabel, who was standing a few steps away from their brother. “Isabel, you’re not going to let him get away with that, are you?”
Princess Isabel laughed as her gaze seesawed back and forth between her two siblings. Like Dominique, she possessed a tall, slender build and light green eyes. But where Dominique’s thick mane was golden brown and fell to the middle of her back, Isabel’s was dark brown and just brushed the top of her shoulders. An impish smile appeared on her face as she spoke. “Don’t worry, sister, LeAnn will give our brother a special lesson in spoiling princesses. And I can’t wait to see how well he holds up under the strain.”
The whole family chuckled, except for little LeAnn. The baby began to fuss and Dominique instinctively rocked her with a gentle swaying motion. At the same time, she noticed her mother’s attention was once again riveted to her wristwatch. The gesture was out of character for Josephine, who approached every social event with smooth and steady confidence.
Bending her head toward her mother’s ear, she asked, “What’s wrong, Mother? You’ve been checking the time after every minute.”
