Becoming the Prince's Wife

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She’d never seen Vincenzo so preoccupied. Being a new father wasn’t easy, but she sensed something else was on his mind, as well.

“What went on just now?” she asked as soon as he left the terrace.

Valentino had been watching her through narrowed eyes. “I’m afraid he thinks my idea of a good time could backfire.” Carolena believed there was more to it than that, but she let it go for now.

“You mean it might be one of those surprises that’s the wrong kind for me?”

“Possibly.”

“Well, if you don’t tell me pretty soon, I might expire on the spot from curiosity.”

She thought he’d laugh, but for once he didn’t. “I’d like to take you sailing to Taormina. It’s an island Goethe called ‘a part of paradise.’ The medieval streets have tiny passages with secrets I can guarantee you’ll love.”

“It sounds wonderful, but that wasn’t the place you had in mind when you were talking with Vincenzo.”

“I’ve had time to think the better of it.”

A rare flare of temper brought blood to her cheeks. “Vincenzo is Abby’s husband, not mine.”

“And he enjoys her confidence.”

“In other words, he’s trying to protect me from something he thinks wouldn’t be good for me.”

“Maybe.”

Carolena’s grandmother used to try to protect her the same way. But if she got into it with the prince, she’d be acting like the willful child her grandparent used to accuse her of being. Averting her eyes, she forced herself to calm down and said, “It’s possible Max will be better, but in case he isn’t, I’d love a chance to go sailing. It’s very kind of you.”

She heard his sharp intake of breath. “Now you’re patronizing me.”

“What do you expect me to do? Have a tantrum?” The question was out of her mouth before she could stop it. She was mortified to realize she was out of control. Something had gotten into her. She didn’t feel at all herself.

“At least it would be better than your pretense to mollify me,” came the benign response.

What? “If you weren’t the prince—”

“I asked you to forget my title.”

“That’s kind of hard to do.”

“Why don’t you finish what you were about to say. If I weren’t the prince...”

“Bene.” She sucked in her breath. “If neither of you were princes, I’d tell you I’ve been taking care of myself for twenty-seven years and don’t need a couple of guys I hardly know to decide what’s best for me. If that sounds ungracious, I didn’t mean for it to offend you, but you did ask.”

A look of satisfaction entered his eyes. “I was hoping you would say that. How would you like to fly up on Etna with me in a helicopter? We’ll put down in one spot and I’ll show you some sights no visitor gets to see otherwise.”

Gulp. She clung to the edge of the table from sheer unadulterated excitement. Valentino intended to show her that ten-thousand-foot volcano up close? After seeing that movie, what person in the world wouldn’t want the opportunity? She couldn’t understand why Vincenzo thought it might not be a good experience for her.

“You love your work so much you’d go up there on your day off?”

“You can ask that after what I revealed to you today? Didn’t you tell me you thought it sounded thrilling?”

“Yes.” She stood up and gazed into those intelligent, dark blue eyes. Ignoring the warning flags telling her to be prudent, she said, “I’d absolutely love it.”

A stillness surrounded them. “Never let it be said I didn’t give you an out.”

“I don’t want one, even if Vincenzo thought I did.”

A tiny nerve throbbed at the side of his hard jaw. “If Max is still sick in the morning, we’ll leave around eight-thirty. You’ll need to wear jeans and a T-shirt if you brought one. If not, you can wear one of mine.”

“I have one.”

“Good, but you can’t go in sandals.”

“I brought my walking boots.”

“Perfect.”

“I’ll see you in the morning then.”

As she started to leave, he said, “Don’t go yet.”

Valentino—I can’t spend any more time with you tonight. I just can’t! “Your mother is waiting for you and I have things to do. I know the way back to my room.”

“Carolena?”

With a pounding heart, she paused at the entrance. “Yes?”

“I enjoyed today more than you know.”

Oh, but I do, her heart cried.

“The horseback ride was wonderful. Thank you again.” In the next breath she took off for the other wing of the palace. Her efforts to stay away from him weren’t working. To see where he spent his time and share it with him was too great a temptation to turn down, but she recognized that the thing she’d prayed would never happen was happening!

She was starting to care about him, way too much. Forget the guilt over Berto’s death that had prevented her from getting close to another man. Her feelings were way too strong for Valentino. Already she was terrified at the thought of handling another loss when she had to fly back to Arancia with Abby and Vincenzo.

But if she said she wasn’t feeling well now and begged off going with him tomorrow, he’d never believe her. Though she knew she was walking into emotional danger by getting more involved, she didn’t have the strength to say no to him. Help.

CHAPTER THREE

LETTING CAROLENA GO when it was the last thing he wanted, Valentino walked through the palace to his mother’s suite. The second he entered her sitting room he was met with the news he’d been dreading all his adult life.

While he’d been riding horses with Carolena, his mother had worked out the details of his coming marriage to Princess Alexandra of Cyprus. Both royal families had wanted a June wedding, but he’d asked for more time, hoping for another year of freedom. Unfortunately they’d forced him to settle on August tenth and now there was no possibility of him changing his mind.

Tonight his mother had pinned him down, gaining his promise there’d be no more women. By giving his word, it was as good as writing it in cement.

Ages ago he and Michelina had talked about their arranged marriages. Valentino had intended to be true to Alexandra once their marriage date was set, but he’d told Michelina he planned to live a full life with other women until his time came.

She, on the other hand, never did have the same problem because she’d fallen in love with Vincenzo long before they were married and would never have been unfaithful to him. Vincenzo was a good man who’d kept his marriage vows despite the fact that he didn’t feel the same way about her. Valentino admired him more than any man he knew for being the best husband he could under the circumstances.