A Royal Wedding - By Trish Morey Page 0,136
to be this time. Here she was, watching the driveway for Andre again, just as she’d been doing for the last three years every time there was a gathering of the clan. It gave her a very sick feeling in the pit of her stomach.
“It’s time, Your Highness.”
It was time. She was standing in the prep room in a beautiful satin and lace gown, with flowers and seed pearls and everything else one would expect—and the groom hadn’t shown up. But it was time.
A wedding march began to swell through the ancient halls. She walked out into the foyer where King Harold was waiting, stepping very carefully. The King smiled at her and said, “Quite a situation, quite a day. I’m sure you’ll both be very happy.” She smiled back at him, assuming he was just talking pleasantries.
Meanwhile, she was shaking like a leaf and afraid she might faint. Her only hope was that there would be no one waiting for her at the end of the aisle. Then she could turn to the crowd and shrug and say, Oh, well! I guess we can’t have a wedding today.
But what would she do if Alphonso was waiting there? She needed an escape plan and she needed it fast.
There were too many people standing and waving and oohing as they passed. She couldn’t see clearly toward the altar. If he was there, she would run for it. What would all these people think when they saw the bride racing for the exit? Would anyone try to stop her?
She had Popov waiting at the side entrance, just in case. He didn’t know that she would be asking him to drive her all the way to the border. He no doubt thought it would be back to the convent. Would he rebel when she told him? She would have to deal with that when she came to it. Right now, her only goal was to make sure she and Alphonso never actually exchanged vows.
The crowd seemed awfully noisy. Weddings were usually quieter affairs, with the music and the minister making all the noise that needed to be made. But right now people were laughing and calling out to each other as though it were a sports event. She looked around, puzzled. What was going on?
There was someone waiting at the bottom of the long walk, waiting to marry her, but she couldn’t see clearly. Was it Alphonso? Or someone who was going to call the whole thing off? Her mind was abuzz with too much sound and color. She couldn’t think straight.
And then she came around the last bend and there was her groom, standing there for all the world to see. And now she saw why the room was in chaos and commotion.
She gasped, broke away from King Harold, and dashed forward, reaching out and throwing her arms around her husband to be—Prince Andre.
“What—? How—?” she babbled as she held him close, half laughing, half crying with relief.
He leaned down, smiling with all the love in the world in his eyes. The crowd was laughing and applauding, giving him cover to whisper in her ear.
“I’ve fixed everything,” he told her. “I’ve announced that your engagement to Alphonso was a ruse to pave the way for your wedding to me. Alphonso is happily ensconced at the casino, taking my place there. My father and all the other princes have signed off on the changes. We’re free to have a life together.”
Free.
That was all she’d ever wanted.
Well, that and the most handsome prince in the land. Just those two things.
Electric with happiness, she joined him at the altar and waited for the ceremony to begin.
“I do,” she said at the appropriate time, loud and clear. “Oh, yes, I do!”
All the characters in this book have no existence outside the imagination of the author, and have no relation whatsoever to anyone bearing the same name or names. They are not even distantly inspired by any individual known or unknown to the author, and all the incidents are pure invention.
All Rights Reserved including the right of reproduction in whole or in part in any form. This edition is published by arrangement with Harlequin Enterprises II B.V./S.à.r.l. The text of this publication or any part thereof may not be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, storage in an information retrieval system, or otherwise, without the written permission of the publisher.
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Mills & Boon, an imprint of Harlequin (UK) Limited, Eton House, 18-24 Paradise Road, Richmond, Surrey TW9 1SR
A ROYAL WEDDING © Harlequin Enterprises II B.V./S.à.r.l 2011
The Storm Within © Trish Morey 2011
The Reluctant Queen © Caitlin Crews 2011
The Ordinary King © Nina Harrington 2011
The Prince’s Forbidden Love © Helen Conrad 2011
ISBN: 978-1-408-93603-0
Table of Contents
Title Page
The Strom Within
About the Author
Chapter One
Chapter Two
Chapter Three
Chapter Four
Chapter Five
Chapter Six
Chapter Seven
Chapter Eight
Chapter Nine
Chapter Ten
Epilogue
The Reluctant Queen
About the Author
Chapter One
Chapter Two
Chapter Three
Chapter Four
Chapter Five
Chapter Six
Chapter Seven
Chapter Eight
Chapter Nine
The Ordinary King
Praise
About the Author
Chapter One
Chapter Two
Chapter Three
Chapter Four
Chapter Five
Chapter Six
Chapter Seven
Chapter Eight
Chapter Nine
Chapter Ten
Epilogue
The Prince’s Forbidden Love
About the Author
Dedication
Chapter One
Chapter Two
Chapter Three
Chapter Four
Chapter Five
Chapter Six
Chapter Seven
Copyright
Table of Contents
Title Page
The Strom Within
About the Author
Chapter One
Chapter Two
Chapter Three
Chapter Four
Chapter Five
Chapter Six
Chapter Seven
Chapter Eight
Chapter Nine
Chapter Ten
Epilogue
The Reluctant Queen
About the Author
Chapter One
Chapter Two
Chapter Three
Chapter Four
Chapter Five
Chapter Six
Chapter Seven
Chapter Eight
Chapter Nine
The Ordinary King
Praise
About the Author
Chapter One
Chapter Two
Chapter Three
Chapter Four
Chapter Five
Chapter Six
Chapter Seven
Chapter Eight
Chapter Nine
Chapter Ten
Epilogue
The Prince’s Forbidden Love
About the Author
Dedication
Chapter One
Chapter Two
Chapter Three
Chapter Four
Chapter Five
Chapter Six
Chapter Seven
Copyright
Table of Contents
Title Page
The Strom Within About the Author
Chapter One
Chapter Two
Chapter Three
Chapter Four
Chapter Five
Chapter Six
Chapter Seven
Chapter Eight
Chapter Nine
Chapter Ten
Epilogue
The Reluctant Queen About the Author
Chapter One
Chapter Two
Chapter Three
Chapter Four
Chapter Five
Chapter Six
Chapter Seven
Chapter Eight
Chapter Nine
The Ordinary King Praise
About the Author
Chapter One
Chapter Two
Chapter Three
Chapter Four
Chapter Five
Chapter Six
Chapter Seven
Chapter Eight
Chapter Nine
Chapter Ten
Epilogue
The Prince’s Forbidden Love About the Author
Dedication
Chapter One
Chapter Two
Chapter Three
Chapter Four
Chapter Five
Chapter Six
Chapter Seven
Copyright