Reclaiming the Prince's Heart

by Rebecca Winters

  The Baldasseri Royals

  Destined to rule...and live happily ever after?

  Welcome to San Vantino...home to siblings Prince Rini, Prince Vincenzo and Princess Bella Baldasseri. The family may appear to live a charmed life—they’re royalty, after all!—but that doesn’t mean that every day is smooth sailing.

  Now they must face their greatest challenge. Can they devote themselves to their kingdom and let themselves find true love? Well...we’re about to find out!

  Step inside the palace with...

  Rini and Luna’s story

  Reclaiming the Prince’s Heart

  Available now!

  Vincenzo and Francesca’s story

  Bella and Luca’s story

  Coming soon!

  Dear Reader,

  Amnesia is a condition that most of us will never experience. I love the book Random Harvest by James Hilton. It deals with a man who loses his memory. I don’t want to ruin the story by telling you what happened, but it lived with me for years. This last year I decided I would write an amnesia story, though I know nothing about it. My research didn’t help me know what it was like, only that it gave me the true story of a man from Ontario, Canada, who experienced it. I’ve never known anyone who had it, and I couldn’t find anyone who had it, so I couldn’t interview them. Therefore, this latest book of mine, Reclaiming the Prince’s Heart, is my version of what could happen.

  Enjoy!

  Rebecca Winters

  Reclaiming the Prince’s Heart

  Rebecca Winters

  Rebecca Winters lives in Salt Lake City, Utah. With canyons and high alpine meadows full of wildflowers, she never runs out of places to explore. They, plus her favorite vacation spots in Europe, often end up as backgrounds for her romance novels—because writing is her passion, along with her family and church. Rebecca loves to hear from readers. If you wish to email her, please visit her website at rebeccawinters.net.

  Books by Rebecca Winters

  Harlequin Romance

  Secrets of a Billionaire

  The Greek’s Secret Heir

  Unmasking the Secret Prince

  Escape to Provence

  Falling for Her French Tycoon

  Falling for His Unlikely Cinderella

  The Princess Brides

  The Princess’s New Year Wedding

  The Prince’s Forbidden Bride

  How to Propose to a Princess

  Holiday with a Billionaire

  Captivated by the Brooding Billionaire

  Falling for the Venetian Billionaire

  Wedding the Greek Billionaire

  The Magnate’s Holiday Proposal

  Visit the Author Profile page at Harlequin.com for more titles.

  To my dear friend Rachel, whom I believe is an angel on earth, for giving me her undying devotion over the years. Her expertise, her brilliance, her pure heart, her goodness make her exceptional. How blessed are her three children and husband. She listened to my ideas, supported my thoughts and helped with some of the twists and turns of this novel. Everyone loves her as I do.

  Praise for

  Rebecca Winters

  “This is the first book that I have read by this author but definitely not the last as it is an amazing story. I definitely recommend this book as it is so well written and definitely worth reading.”

  —Goodreads on How to Propose to a Princess

  Contents

  Chapter One

  Chapter Two

  Chapter Three

  Chapter Four

  Chapter Five

  Chapter Six

  Chapter Seven

  Chapter Eight

  Chapter Nine

  Chapter Ten

  Epilogue

  Excerpt from From Wedding Fling to Baby Surprise by Nina Singh

  CHAPTER ONE

  San Vitano, an Italian-speaking country

  bordering eastern Switzerland and

  northern Italy. June 2. 6 a.m.

  AS RINI EASED himself away from his sleeping, delectable wife, she caught him around the shoulders.

  “Not so fast, mi amore. Tell me again why you have to go today of all days?”

  He kissed her mouth hungrily. “This inspection tour can’t be put off any longer. I’m implementing some new safety rules with the chief mining engineer, Gustavo, and his assistants.”

  “I realize it’s important, but this will be the first time we’ve been apart since our wedding. I already miss you so much, I haven’t been able to sleep.”

  “Why do you think I made love to you half the night?” he murmured against her lips. He was so in love with Luna, he could stay in bed with her forever. “Just remember, I’ll be home at the end of the day.”

  “You’d better keep your promise. I have something special planned for our six-month wedding anniversary tonight.”

  He hugged her lovingly. “I wouldn’t miss it. As it happens, I have a surprise for you, too. Now, go back to sleep.”

  After kissing her breathless, he slid out of bed to shower. Once ready in jeans, a work shirt and boots, he walked out the back of the palazzo to his waiting helicopter.

  The half-hour trip to the King Midas gold-mining site on the Italian, Austrian and Slovenian border didn’t take long. The men were there to greet him in the front office. Together they went down into the mine to get busy. By three in the afternoon, Rini’s work was done and the men left.

  Alone with Gustavo, they walked through the inclined shaft while they talked. “Is there anything else you want to discuss with me, Your Highness?”

  “Gustavo, how many times have we had this conversation in the past? I’m the Crown Prince, not the King. Call me Rini.”

  He shook his head. “It’s impossible to forget. Your new safety rules are going to make a big difference around here.”

  “I’m glad you approve, and I’m impressed over the excellent job you’re doing. Keep me posted on your progress. Now I’ve got to fly back to Asteria. My wife and I are celebrating our anniversary tonight.”

  The head mining engineer flashed him a knowing smile. “I don’t blame you for being eager. You’re still in the honeymoon stage. May it last forever.”

  Rini chuckled. “Agreed.” He couldn’t wait to get back home.

  They left the winze, which was a connecting shaft at the lower level, and headed for the mine portal above. Suddenly, Rini heard an earsplitting crack that sounded like a runaway train. The earth shook under their feet. It must have gone on for a minute or more. He felt dizzy.

  “Earthquake.”

  “It won’t last,” Rini muttered. They’d both felt them in this region over the years. The tremors continued. “Let’s keep moving until we reach the surface.” But the words had barely left his lips when there was another explosive sound like a bomb had gone off and they were both knocked to the ground with force.

  Gustavo let out a groan. “This isn’t any normal quake, Your Highness.”

  “You’re right. Just keep crawling toward the next shaft. I’m right behind you.”

  “The ground keeps shifting—I’m terrified!”

  “Hang on!” Rini tried to reach him when a wall of rocks came crashing down. Claustrophobic dust filled the interior. Rini could hardly breathe. All had gone completely dark. “Gustavo?” He called to him again. “Gustavo?”

  There was no answer. The ground kept shaking and there were boulder-like rocks in front of him, impeding any progress. He kept crying out Gustavo’s name. Rini
’s heart sank to realize the manager had to be partially buried beneath the debris.

  “I hope you can hear me, Gustavo. I’m going for help and will be back.”

  Rini, a top mining engineer graduate from the school of mines in Colorado in the US, knew the layout of this mine like the back of his hand. It was one of the financial backbones of the Baldasseri royal family of San Vitano dating back three centuries. Rini was in charge.

  He knew of another shaft leading out of the winze to an intersecting shaft. From there he could keep going until the opening of the shaft came out on the side of the mountain. Once free, he could get help. It was imperative in order to save Gustavo. Heaven knew how many other miners might have been buried in the horrendous quake.

  The tremors continued, creating the rolling swell of the ground. More rocks fell. He kept going on his stomach as he clawed his way up through a winding labyrinth that led to another shaft. A little more progress and the unused shaft would lead to an opening he could see in his mind.

  “You’ve got to keep going,” Rini muttered to himself. Gustavo’s life depended on it.

  Another few feet and large portions of rock started falling on him. One hit his head, sending excruciating pain through his body. “Luna—” he cried her name in desperation before he knew nothing more.

  * * *

  Luna set the dining room table. Rini would be home from the mine soon. She couldn’t wait and wanted everything to be just right. After gift wrapping the positive result of her home pregnancy test, she put it at his place. They’d wanted to start a family. Today she’d found out the joyous news. Luna hadn’t had time to see her OB, but she’d call him tomorrow. Tonight she and her husband would celebrate!

  Delicious smells of a pork roast filled the palazzo. She hurried into the kitchen to check on the potatoes in a half shell. Rini would be eating a meal he’d never had before that included roasted asparagus and stuffed apples. Luna had been born and raised in Scuol, Switzerland. She’d prepared some of her late grandmother’s recipes. It would be exciting to serve him something she loved in honor of their becoming parents.

  While she arranged the apples in a deep dish, their housekeeper, Viola, came into the kitchen. Her normal ruddy complexion had lost color. “Luna—you’d better come in the salon. The King and Queen are here.”

  Rini’s grandparents had come to the palazzo? They’d only made an appearance once before at her and Rini’s dinner invitation. What on earth would have caused them to do something this unprecedented with no advanced warning?

  She rushed through the palazzo to the salon and found them both seated on the couch. What could have brought them here? Luna sat down in a chair opposite them. “I know you’re here because something is seriously wrong. Tell me.”

  The look of devastation on their faces caused Luna’s heart to plunge to her feet. Leonardo leaned forward. “There was an earthquake. It affected the mine.”

  Luna started to feel sick. “Were some of the miners injured?”

  “I’m afraid eight were killed.”

  Killed? Aghast, she cried, “Did Rini tell you that?”

  He shook his head as Antonia gripped her husband’s arm. “It pains us to the core to tell you this, but...he was killed, too.”

  * * *

  Rini was dead?

  “No—” Luna jumped to her feet. “That isn’t possible! I don’t believe it.”

  Antonia got up and walked over to put her arm around her. “We don’t want to believe it either, but we’ve had positive confirmation and came over here immediately to tell you.”

  She turned to her desolate grandmother-in-law. “This couldn’t be. Not Rini—” Tears gushed down her cheeks. “He’s the love of my life. There’s no purpose without him. I can’t live without him. Surely, there’s been a mistake.”

  At this point Leonardo walked over and put his arms around both of them. “We know how you feel, darling.”

  She stared at them both through a blur. “You really believe he was killed?”

  “He went down in the mine with the other seven. None of them ever came up again.”

  “No—no—This is a nightmare. Please tell me this is a nightmare and I’m going to wake up.” Her tears had become a river.

  “Come and sit down,” he murmured, but she couldn’t move. She felt numb. The room started to spin.

  “Call our doctor and tell him to come here at once,” she heard Antonia tell her husband. But the ringing in Luna’s ears had grown so loud, everything went black.

  In another few minutes she had cognizance of her surroundings again and found herself lying on the couch. There were voices in the room and the palace doctor, Dr. Norelli, came over to her.

  “I’m so sorry, Principessa. Stay still while I examine you.” He took her vital signs. “You seem to be all right, but you’ve just undergone a severe shock. You need rest. I’m going to give you a sedative to help you get through the next few days.” He left a bottle of pills on the coffee table.

  She struggled to sit up. “Doctor—I’m pregnant even though I haven’t seen my OB yet.” She heard gasps of surprise come from Rini’s grandparents. “I don’t want to take anything that would hurt my baby.”

  “Don’t worry. What I’ve got there will do no harm to you or your child.”

  By now Viola and her husband, Mateo, had come into the salon. The doctor motioned to him. “Come and help me take her upstairs to the bedroom.”

  Luna slowly got to her feet. “I’m okay and can make it on my own.”

  “I’m going to stay the night with you,” Antonia murmured.

  “We’ll both stay,” the King added.

  “No, Leo,” his wife implored. “You go back to the palace in case there’s more news. I’ll stay in touch with you.”

  Tears fell down his cheeks. “You’re sure?”

  “Yes.”

  “Our hearts are with you.” The King pressed a kiss to Luna’s cheek and left the room with the doctor.

  Antonia reached for the pills and looped her arm through Luna’s. They walked slowly to the staircase in the foyer.

  Luna buried her face against the older woman’s shoulder. “Thank you for staying with me tonight. If it weren’t for Rini’s baby I’m carrying, I’d want to die.”

  “But for my great-grandchild you’re carrying, I’d want to die, too.”

  They reached the master suite and Antonia helped Luna get ready for bed. After swallowing two pills, she climbed under the covers and rested her head against the pillows. Antonia sat on the side of the bed and held her hand.

  “There are no words, are there?”

  “No,” Luna whispered, “but your presence means the world to me. I loved Rini the first moment I met him. It was like magic. He’s the great love of my life. To think he died in a mine collapse. How terrifying those moments must have been for him! Oh, Tonia... I can’t bear that I’ve lost him.”

  Luna broke down in heaving sobs. Loving arms reached over to hug her. They stayed that way for a long time. Eventually, she said, “I’ll go to the guest room down the hall and we’ll talk in the morning. If you need me during the night, call me on my phone. Now, let the sedative help you sleep.” She kissed her forehead and left the bedroom.

  The next morning Luna awakened in so much pain, she didn’t know why she was alive. She turned to reach for her husband, then realized he wouldn’t be coming home and was hit with another unbearable wave of grief.

  “Luna?”

  Antonia had come into the room with a tray. “I’ve brought us some coffee and rolls. You need to eat something since you didn’t eat dinner last night.”

  She sat up with tears dripping off her face. “I couldn’t. Is there any more news?”

  “Leo said search parties worked all night, hoping to bring out the bodies, but they couldn’t penetrate the blockage. There’s n
o way to recover them.”

  Luna slid her legs over the side of the bed. “I’m a terrible person, Antonia. I’ve been thinking of myself without giving thought to you or the families of the miners.” She looked up at her. “If Rini were alive, he’d be the first one to visit them and try to bring some comfort. As his wife, that’s what I need to do.”

  “That would be a wonderful tribute to them, but not today. You need to take it easy.”

  “I can’t just lie here, Antonia. I’ll get dressed and go back to the palace with you. With Leonardo’s help, I can gather the names and addresses of the families involved and make plans to visit them during the week. Rini would want this.”

  “He’d be so proud of you for thinking of them. But I insist you eat and drink a little to keep up your strength.”

  “I will, but I’m ashamed that I haven’t thought of you and Leo or your needs. I should be waiting on you. Rini’s your darling grandson. After losing your two sons and another grandson, I don’t know how you’re handling this. You’re the strongest people I’ve ever known.”

  She hurried over to the Queen, who had sat down next to a table with the tray. Luna threw her arms around her and they both wept again.

  “With lots of love and faith, we got through. You will, too.”

  “I want to do everything I can so Rini will be proud of me.”

  “He adored you. After he met you, he told me his life was complete.”

  “He said that?” she cried through the tears. “Oh—I can’t believe he’s gone. I just can’t believe it, but I have to.”

  They both drank coffee and bit into Viola’s wonderful rolls. “I’ll hurry to shower and get ready. Leonardo needs us.”

  Antonia nodded with fresh tears in her eyes.

  “He has already called Rini’s cousin Vincenzo with the news.”

  Luna could understand that. “Vincenzo and Rini are best friends.”

  “Yes. Leo says he’s devastated. With Rini gone, Vincenzo is the next in line to be the Crown Prince.”