How to Propose to a Princess

by Rebecca Winters

Nico got up from the chair and walked around for a minute before turning to her. “Since my parents have died and are buried, I can go on with my life being a doctor here in Domodossola.”

  She lifted her head to look at him, but her sober expression gave no indication of what was going on inside her. “Or?” she prodded. “You’re being pressured to become the next king.”

  Fausta hadn’t grown up the daughter of a king for nothing. “I’ve been approached by Basil and the prime minister to consider it.”

  “That isn’t surprising. A while back at breakfast I remember Papa saying how tragic it was that there was no son to inherit the throne of La Valazzura.”

  “Your father spoke the truth. Unfortunately, it’s criminal that the only one is the bastard love child who is infinitely unqualified to be the head of the country.”

  “I don’t know.” A smile broke out on her beautiful face. “You’ve been a pig farmer. That has to count with all the farmers who need their king to understand the industry that feeds its citizens.”

  “Be serious, Fausta.”

  “I’m being very serious. You’re a doctor at a time when health care is the chief concern of every head of state on earth. No one could know more about it than you. For that matter, who could dictate immigration policies or understand the plight of war-torn orphans and refugees of this world better than a king who’d grown up in an orphanage to survive?”

  “Fausta...”

  “It’s true. The more I think about it, I can’t conceive of a man in today’s world who would suit the demands facing your country more than you do.”

  He scoffed, though he was deeply touched by her words. “You forget the faction of government that didn’t like my father’s policies. There’s a cousin of my father’s, Giuseppe Umberto, who started the war thirty years ago and is waging a campaign to be put in as king by the parliament.”

  “There’s always an opposition party with someone overly zealous and ready to take over. Does this Giuseppe know you exist?”

  “I’m afraid he does now.”

  “How does the queen feel about it?”

  “I have no idea. She hasn’t had enough time to get over the shock that I’m alive.”

  “You mean she didn’t know?”

  “She knew there’d been a child but thought I had died too. She was never told I’d been taken to safety. When Basil walked me in to the palace to meet her, she took one look at me and almost fainted. There’s a strong resemblance between me and my father. I’ll show you.”

  He pulled four photos from his breast pocket and handed them to her. Two of them were the ones Basil had given him. The other two were of his father, one when he was older, the other just before he died.

  As she studied them, she shook her head. “How utterly incredible! You don’t need a DNA test. No wonder the queen went into shock.” Fausta kept scrutinizing them. “Your mother was so lovely. There’s a look around her eyes that reminds me of you. How hard for you that you never got to know them.” She put the photos on the bed. “I don’t know what to say,” she murmured in a tearful voice.

  “I’m afraid that’s my dilemma.”

  “Of course it is—” she cried with infinite understanding.

  Nico needed to hold her more than he needed life itself. In the next instant he reached for her. They clung to each other before he found her mouth and began kissing the daylights out of her. Tonight he’d discovered she was his rock.

  “I’ve missed you so terribly, Nico.”

  “Tell me about it.” Their need for each other was off the charts. He couldn’t get enough of her. “You’ve got to stop me, Fausta. I need to go downstairs and get a room. I was assigned bodyguards before I left La Valazzura. Combined with yours, our every move is being watched.”

  She kissed his features. “Now you’re going to find out what it’s like to be royal. I’ve always hated it, Nico.”

  “Understood,” he whispered. “What an irony of ironies,” he said against her luscious mouth before devouring her all over again. His need for her was out of control and always had been since the evening they went to Prospero’s. But eventually he was forced to call on every atom of self-control to let her go.

  “In the morning I’ll come by your room and we’ll go to breakfast before driving over to the orphanage. I want to see what magic you’ve performed.”

  Fausta hugged him harder. “I don’t want you to leave.”

  “You think I do?” His voice shook. “But I know we can’t do this right now. Too much is at stake, above all your reputation.”

  She made a sound of exasperation and eased out of his arms. “I’ve told you before that I’m not concerned about what my parents want.”

  “I’m afraid I am.”

  Her expression closed up. “You’re thinking like a royal already.”

  He shook his head. “I’m thinking you and I have a lot to talk about in the next thirty days.”

  “Why thirty days?”

  Nico let out a troubled sigh. “That’s when I have to let Signor Bruno and the prime minister know if I’ve decided to return to La Valazzura and take on my father’s mantle.”

  “I see.”

  “The queen will have to be in agreement before I’m presented to the parliament for a vote. Even then Giuseppe could be the one who prevails in that fight. Until then, all options are on the table. Now I need to get out of here before I can’t!”

  * * *

  Fausta couldn’t stand it to watch him tear out of her hotel room, but she had no choice. If he only knew he’d left her so unsatisfied physically, she was in pain and clung to the back of one of the chairs for support.

  What did he mean that all options were on the table? There were only two. Either he remained a doctor in Domodossola, or he embraced his destiny in La Valazzura.

  She spent the rest of the night in absolute turmoil. When he’d driven here to see her, she’d thought he’d come to tell her he was in love with her and wanted to marry her. If he never found his parents it didn’t matter, because he didn’t want to continue his journey without her. And if one day he did get the information he’d been looking for, Fausta would be with him and the future would take care of itself.

  Together they’d fight any opposition from her parents and settle down in an adorable house with a picket fence and children. They’d be a married couple with a whole life ahead of them until circumstances changed for them. Fausta had gone crazy waiting for him to show up at the hotel so she could tell him she loved him more than life itself.

  Nothing in a million years could have prepared her for his astounding news after he arrived. It was one thing to learn he’d found his parents. But to be told he was the undeclared, beloved son and heir of King Carlo Umberto of La Valazzura had turned her inside out.

  The noble part of the orphaned boy engrained inside Nico would be overjoyed and want to honor his father by following in his footsteps. Everything that had happened to him in his life until the arrival of Signor Bruno had been a preparation. Fausta believed it and had pointed those things out to him because she knew he’d already made the decision in his heart.

  But her heart wasn’t in it. How could it be when she’d wished she hadn’t been born a royal? The restrictive life had brought her little pleasure. At Enrico’s coronation, Fausta had told Donetta she planned to marry a commoner and nothing would ever change her mind. Her sister had replied, “Be careful what you wish for.”

  A shiver racked her body now.

  In making that wish, the commoner she’d fallen head over heels in love with had turned out to be the son of a king. She couldn’t be happy about it, not for him or for herself.

  With this knowledge, Fausta’s world had forever changed because Nico would always be the love of her life. But sadness had enveloped her because he wasn’t who she thought he was. It changed everything.
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  Fausta tried to shake off her sadness as they drove over to the orphanage after eating at a trattoria. She had to keep reminding herself that this entire situation was about him, not her. It was beyond selfish of her to feel this torn up.

  He’d achieved the goal in his life to find out who he was and where he came from. But when she’d fallen madly in love with him, little did she realize what rivers of sorrow she would have to cross as a result.

  When they arrived at the orphanage, the children were out in the back courtyard playing. Nico followed Fausta inside.

  “What do you think?” She was anxious to know his reaction.

  He walked into the common room with her, dressed in a linen shirt and khaki trousers. She found him so handsome, it hurt.

  After looking at all the equipment and their placement, he whistled. “The room has been transformed.” One of the nuns had set up a mobile bulletin board on wheels with a lot of pictures the children had run off on the printers. They’d signed their names. Fausta watched him study each one.

  “Ehi! Here’s a robot designed by my namesake.”

  Fausta smiled. “Nicolo is a cute little seven-year-old redhead who is crazy about everything related to the computer and doesn’t want to do anything else. Maybe he’ll be a big tech genius one day.”

  Nico raised his eyes to her, enveloping her with heat. “You’ll be the reason why. I can’t tell you how impressed I am. You’re a wonder.”

  Her pulse raced. “It has been so much fun to teach the children. They’re smart and have learned fast. I should have become an elementary school teacher.”

  He moved toward her. “Why didn’t you?”

  “That’s not the kind of thing one of my father’s daughters is allowed to do.”

  A frown marred his striking features. “How much longer are you planning to stay here?”

  “Today’s my last day.”

  “The place will fall apart without you.”

  She chuckled. “Oh, no. The nuns have been learning too, and they help the children.”

  “It won’t be the same.”

  “You’re right. I’ll miss them terribly, but not for long.”

  “What do you mean?”

  “As soon as I get back to Domodossola, I’m going to make visits to the various orphanages. I have no idea how many exist. When I’ve done my homework, I’m going to set up new fund-raisers and use the proceeds to buy more computers and printers. It’s going to be my project from here on out. All children are hungry to learn.”

  Suddenly a whole group of children came running in the room and hurried to the computers.

  “Children? Before you get started, I’d like you to meet Dr. Barsotti. He used to live here at the orphanage too.”

  “For how long?” asked Teresa.

  “Ten years,” Nico answered.

  “Did you get adopted?”

  The unexpected question touched her to the core. She could only imagine how Nico felt at this point.

  “No. Still, I had several good friends who watched out for me. But we never had computers or a teacher like Signorina Rossiano.”

  “She’s not a nun,” Sergio blurted.

  Nico grinned. “Is that good or bad?”

  “Good. She’s fun!”

  “You’re right.” Nico’s eyes wandered over her. “Your teacher is not only fun, she has the sweetest nature of anyone I’ve ever known.”

  Heat swept into her cheeks. “Children? Dr. Barsotti is a good friend,” Fausta interjected. “We’re here to help you learn how to cut and paste.” She darted him an impish glance. “Shall we get started?”

  He got right into it with her and was too wonderful. After two hours had passed, she made the announcement to this first group that today would be her last day with them. “But I’ll be back to check on you in another month.”

  She hadn’t forgotten what Nico had told her about orphan institutions where the staff had large turnovers. She was already starting to feel a bond with these children. Fausta would love to adopt all of them.

  “How come you have to go?”

  “So I can help at other orphanages, Maria.”

  “Oh.”

  One of the nuns escorted the children from the room. Then another group came running in and the whole routine began again. By five in the afternoon she’d said goodbye to the last session. The second they disappeared out the door, she buried her face in her hands, overcome with emotion.

  Nico’s arms came around her from behind. He buried his face in her hair. “I wouldn’t have missed this day for the world. You’ve touched their lives and they’ll never forget you.”

  “They’ve touched mine.” She wiped her eyes and turned around. “Thank you for helping. To see you working with the children when you were once a resident here...”

  She couldn’t finish what she was going to say because his mouth covered hers. He kissed her with so much hunger, she forgot where they were and wanted it to go on forever.

  “Signorina Rossiano?”

  Fausta pulled away from him, embarrassed to be caught in his arms.

  Maria, the eight-year-old with the long dark hair, had come in the room. “I wish you didn’t have to go.” She ran over to hug her around the waist.

  “I don’t want to, but I’ll see you again before summer is over.”

  “Do you promise?”

  “I promise.” She kissed her forehead before the girl left the room.

  “Oh, Nico—”

  He put his arm around her shoulders. “Come on. Let’s leave for the hotel and freshen up. Then we’ll go out for dinner in Biella. Afterward we’ll go back to the hotel. It will give us time to talk before we return to Domodossola in the morning.”

  CHAPTER EIGHT

  NICO SAT BACK in the chair to drink his wine while he feasted his eyes on Fausta in the candlelight. Could any woman be more gorgeous?

  “I remember passing this ristorante when I explored Biella for the first time at the age of fourteen. So many finely dressed people sat out on this patio eating foods I’d never dreamed of. They didn’t seem to have a care in the world. I couldn’t comprehend living their lives.”

  She flashed him a sad smile. “And soon, other teenage boys in La Valazzura will see their new king riding through the city in a carriage after his coronation. They won’t be able to comprehend your world.”

  Her words disturbed him. He put his half-empty glass on the table. “You think I’ve made my decision already?”

  “Haven’t you?” Fausta was always direct. That was one of the many qualities he loved about her. “Your parents may no longer be alive, but your legacy is there waiting for you.”

  “I’m not at all sure about that.”

  Those blue eyes studied him intently. “I remember your telling me that if you found out your parents were from Domodossola, you would stay. But if you found them elsewhere, their country would be your country and you would put down roots. I happen to know you meant those words with all your heart.”

  Nico groaned softly. “I didn’t count on another woman being tormented that I’m alive.”

  She cocked her head. “In all honesty, the queen did know about the affair. At this point you must have some idea how she feels about you deep inside.”

  “It doesn’t help that I look so much like my father. Try to put yourself in her place.”

  He could hear her mind working. “Were they in love in the beginning, or was it a marriage of convenience?”

  “Their marriage was arranged, but in time they fell in love. Basil confirmed it was a happy marriage until they realized there would be no children.”

  After a prolonged silence she said, “If that’s true, and then he had an affair...” She shook her head. “If that had happened to me, it would have killed me and any love I’d had for him. I would hav
e gone away and asked for a divorce. I’m afraid I know myself too well. It would destroy me to see the child of their love ascend the throne when I couldn’t have a baby with him.”

  “That’s what I thought you’d say.”

  She leaned forward and grasped his hand. “I’m sorry, Nico. I didn’t mean to hurt you.”

  “You’ve only spoken the truth, Fausta, and that’s what I want. In order to counteract my pain, both Basil and the prime minister have told me what a great man he was. But to do that to his wife... Far be it from me to judge any man, but—”

  “But he was your father,” she broke in with heartfelt emotion. “You wanted to love who he was, whatever his faults. He was the man you’d idolized somewhere in your psyche without knowing anything about him.”

  “Your understanding is a revelation to me, Fausta. It isn’t just my father I’d ascribed with numberless virtues. How could my own mother have brought herself to get involved with a married man?”

  “Then you believe she knew he was the king?”

  He nodded. “Liliane told me all about it. They’d been fighting because she wanted to adopt and he was adamant that he didn’t want to raise someone else’s child. During that difficult period, he left to make visits to several military cemeteries across the country and honor fallen heroes. It was in winter and he came down with the flu that caused him to collapse.”

  “Oh, no.”

  “My father was taken to the hospital in Mesecino and had to stay down for close to a week. A young nurse took care of him. As soon as she could, Liliane rushed to his side. But the moment she entered his hospital room, she knew something had happened. My father was more distant, and it became clear he and the nurse had become involved.”

  “That story is too painful,” Fausta whispered.

  Nico agreed. “Liliane said the clandestine affair lasted for about a year before he came to her and confessed to everything, including the fact that they’d had a baby son. By then full war had broken out.”

  A moan came out of the woman seated across from him.

  “He begged Liliane’s forgiveness for his weakness, insisting that he loved her and always would. He also promised he would never see my mother or the baby again and kept that promise, although he made provisions for them to be taken care of through Basil. My father did keep his promise to Liliane, but nothing was ever the same between them.”