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In Pursuit Of A Princess
Donna Clayton
FROM THE DESK OF LUC DUMONT,HEAD OF SECURITYST. MICHEL APRIL 2002 DAY30While a missing heir remains at large, Princess Ariane has offered to go undercover at the palace in Rhineland and learn more about the rumored faction hoping to control St. Michel. Her quick mind and devotion to her country–not to mention her intoxicating beauty–make Ariane the perfect person for the job. But it seems as though love has bloomed early this spring, for Ariane and the irresistible Prince Etienne have been practically inseparable. Does this mean the prince has finally found his bride? And if so, what will happen when he learns Ariane's been stripped of her royal title?
Praise for Donna Clayton
“Donna Clayton pens a cozy romance with a lot of humor, heart and passion.”
—Romantic Times
Etienne suddenly realized that he was falling hopelessly in love with this woman.
Sighing, he closed his eyes and tried to relax. But the notions eddying in his head made that next to impossible.
All of these realizations posed a huge problem for him.
He’d gone out seeking a wife. A princess. As the successor to the Rhineland throne, he knew his parents fully expected him to fulfill that goal.
Yet here he was at the top of Byron Mountain after having run away in the night with a woman who had no title, no fortune, no lands…not even a social standing to offer him and his country.
Had he totally lost his mind?
Or just his heart…
ROYALLY WED: THE MISSING HEIR series—A Princess in Waiting by Carol Grace (SR#1588).
Dear Reader,
Have you started your spring cleaning yet? If not, we have a great motivational plan: For each chore you complete, reward yourself with one Silhouette Romance title! And with the standout selection we have this month, you’ll be finished reorganizing closets, steaming carpets and cleaning behind the refrigerator in record time!
Take a much-deserved break with the exciting new ROYALLY WED: THE MISSING HEIR title, In Pursuit of a Princess, by Donna Clayton. The search for the missing St. Michel heir leads an undercover princess straight into the arms of a charming prince. Then escape with Diane Pershing’s SOULMATES addition, Cassie’s Cowboy. Could the dreamy hero from her daughter’s bedtime stories be for real?
Lugged out and wiped down the patio furniture? Then you deserve a double treat with Cara Colter’s What Child Is This? and Belinda Barnes’s Daddy’s Double Due Date. In Colter’s tender tearjerker, a tiny stranger reunites a couple torn apart by tragedy. And in Barnes’s warm romance, a bachelor who isn’t the “cootchie-coo” type discovers he’s about to have twins!
You’re almost there! Once you’ve rounded up every last dust bunny, you’re really going to need some fun. In Terry Essig’s Before You Get to Baby… and Sharon De Vita’s A Family To Be, childhood friends discover that love was always right next door. De Vita’s series, SADDLE FALLS, moves back to Special Edition next month.
Even if you skip the spring cleaning this year, we hope you don’t miss our books. We promise, this is one project you’ll love doing.
Happy reading!
Mary-Theresa Hussey
Senior Editor
In Pursuit of a Princess
Donna Clayton
www.millsandboon.co.uk (http://www.millsandboon.co.uk)
In loving memory of Doris Montgomery,
my mom, my friend
Books by Donna Clayton
Silhouette Romance
Mountain Laurel #720
Taking Love in Stride #781
Return of the Runaway Bride #999
Wife for a While #1039
Nanny and the Professor #1066
Fortune’s Bride #1118
Daddy Down the Aisle #1162
* (#litres_trial_promo)Miss Maxwell Becomes a Mom #1211
* (#litres_trial_promo)Nanny in the Nick of Time #1217
* (#litres_trial_promo)Beauty and the Bachelor Dad #1223
† (#litres_trial_promo)The Stand-By Significant Other #1284
† (#litres_trial_promo)Who’s the Father of Jenny’s Baby? #1302
The Boss and the Beauty #1342
His Ten-Year-Old Secret #1373
Her Dream Come True #1399
Adopted Dad #1417
His Wild Young Bride #1441
** (#litres_trial_promo)The Nanny Proposal #1477
** (#litres_trial_promo)The Doctor’s Medicine Woman #1483
** (#litres_trial_promo)Rachel and the M.D. #1489
Who Will Father My Baby? #1507
In Pursuit of a Princess #1582
Silhouette Books
The Coltons
Close Proximity
DONNA CLAYTON
is the recipient of the Diamond Author Award for Literary Achievement 2000, as well as two Holt Medallions. She became a writer through her love of reading. As a child, she marveled at her ability to travel the world, experience swashbuckling adventures and meet amazingly bold and daring people without ever leaving the shade of the huge oak in her very own backyard. She takes great pride in knowing that, through her work, she provides her readers the chance to indulge in some purely selfish romantic entertainment.
One of her favorite pastimes is traveling. Her other interests include walking, reading, visiting with friends, teaching Sunday school, cooking and baking, and she still collects cookbooks, too. In fact, her house is overrun with them.
Please write to Donna care of Silhouette Books. She’d love to hear from you!
Contents
Chapter One (#uaeb741f6-1ac8-5bb2-8f08-296269f9a678)
Chapter Two (#u88c30bcf-9e9f-5046-95de-346167fb54df)
Chapter Three (#uc6ef56d6-2fc2-53d5-aa1a-004940981507)
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)
Chapter One
“Let the mission begin.” Princess Ariane de Bergeron glanced around, her heart pattering like the wings of a hummingbird as she made her way through the maze-like halls of the castle. Anyone overhearing her talking to herself would dub her a simpleton. But wasn’t that just what she wanted? Let the citizens of this foreign country think she was silly. That fit her plans perfectly.
Yes, she was in a foreign land. And although the lush and hilly terrain of Rhineland was nearly as beautiful as her own neighboring country, she had to remember there were enemies here. Enemies who were plotting to seize her beloved St. Michel.
Ariane was so concerned for her countrymen, in fact, that she was here under the guise of responding to the interest of Prince Etienne Kroninberg. Just a little over six months ago, the prince had traveled to St. Michel to present her with a formal invitation to the opera. Everyone realized the significance of this visit. Etienne had clear intentions on Princess Ariane. And her father, King Philippe, had been in full agreement that the two royal families should unite.
Royal protocol had forced Ariane to accept the date, but if the truth were to be known, she found the opera to be the most boring pastime ever invented. And if the prince of Rhineland enjoyed opera, then he must be boring, as well. In order to entertain herself, she’d invited plenty of attendants and friends along for the evening. So many, in fact, that she’d spent little time alone with the prince. And if the complete truth were known regarding her conduct that evening, the crown prince would not only have been insulted, but downright outraged.
She grinned even now as she thought about her wicked behavior. The poor man. He’d obviously had no idea what he’d been up against. Now, had he invited her to go rock climbing or parasailing, maybe then she’d have wanted to get to know him. As it turned out, she returned to the opera house before the performance had ended…with Prince Etienne none the wiser, thank heavens.
However, it had been pure luck for her—and the whole of her country—that Etienne had shown an interest in her. Under the pretense of responding to his attention, she planned to keep her eyes and ears open, to collect all the information possible about who was plotting against her country.
As she descended the curved staircase, she glanced at the massive grandfather clock standing on the landing. Twelve minutes past the hour. Perfect. Ariane’s grandmother, Dowager Queen Simone de Bergeron, had advised that when one was attending a party given in one’s honor it was polite to arrive fashionably late, allowing time for the other guests to have assembled themselves.
Her name was announced and she paused inside the doorway of the ballroom as she’d been taught to do since she was a child. All eyes turned to her.
She was confident that her attire befitted her position. The soft silk of her strapless, form-fitting gown was the same midnight blue of her eyes. Her hair was swept off her shoulders with the perfect amount of wispy tendrils framing her face. The jewels in her tiara glittered, as did the diamonds gracing her earlobes and throat. Her father would have been proud….
Grief rushed over her, but she quelled the tears that so suddenly scalded the backs of her eyelids. Now was not the time to succumb to emotion, not with a room full of nobility scrutinizing her every move. Forcing her mouth to spread into a gracious smile, she made her way toward her host and hostess.
“Your Highness.” Ariane greeted the king of Rhineland, offering the man a curtsy. But it was the queen who reached out to her.
“Oh, Ariane,” the woman said, “we’ll have none of that formal behavior from you. This is Giraud.” She indicated her husband. “And I insist that you call me Laurette.”
The king chuckled jovially. “You’ll have to do as she says,” he told Ariane. “I may wear the bigger crown, but Laurette runs the place.”
They laughed, and Ariane was keenly aware of the fondness this couple obviously shared. All her instincts told her that she was going to like these people. She hoped she didn’t discover they were involved in the conspiracy.
Laurette’s expression turned somber. “I was so sorry to hear about the passing of your father. King Philippe was a wonderful man.”
Sorrow welled up in Ariane. She had yet to come to grips with her grief. She smiled through the pain. “Thank you. No one knew Father was having heart problems.”
“If there is anything we can do for you while you’re here with us…”
The king’s kind offer touched Ariane’s heart.
Suddenly, Queen Laurette looked pained. “I’ll have to apologize for my son. I don’t know what could be keeping him. He’s always in some meeting or other.”
“I’ve sent out a search party.” Giraud patted Ariane’s arm. “Don’t worry. He’ll turn up soon enough.”
“I’m sure he will.” But even as Ariane stood there with her back to the crowd, she became cognizant of the low murmur rushing through the room. Surely the guests were discussing the prince’s faux pas.
As she made her way across the polished marble floor, Ariane’s smile didn’t wilt in the least; however, she could feel annoyance spark inside her like the striking of a match. Of all the pompous, egotistical things for the prince to do! Arriving after her at a party given in her honor was not only arrogant, it was downright rude.
Like the loyal and trusted friend she was, Francie, Ariane’s lady-in-waiting, stood nearby, the frown on her brow blatant proof of the aggravation she felt.
“He’s an oaf to have done this to you,” Francie said in a rush.
Ariane sighed, knowing exactly about whom Francie was speaking. “It’s all right. I’m not concerned with the prince, anyway. You know that.”
The words rolled off her tongue easily enough—and they should have been nothing but true. So why, she wondered, was she feeling so perturbed?
“Yes, but no one else here does,” her friend reminded her. “And now everyone’s talking. They’ll all be thinking—”
“Keep your voice down.” Ariane picked up a flute of champagne from a tray and nodded her appreciation to the servant who offered it. Once the man was out of earshot, she said to Francie, “I know what they’ll be thinking—and saying. That I’m a desperate woman who is hankering after their prince.”
Maybe that was the cause of her irritation. She didn’t like being thought of as desperate.
