JUST HEARING THE name Vallefiore brought Donetta close to a faint. Since seeing her last month, had Enrico decided to write to her anyway? Why? After his cruel silence over the years, did he think she’d welcome a letter at this late date?
But her curiosity got the best of her and her hand trembled as she reached for the envelope. It took a moment before the pounding of her heart calmed down. After sitting in her swivel chair, she noticed it had been addressed to Princess Donetta Rossiano of the Domodossola National Equestrian Association. Donetta had been in charge of it since she’d stopped performing at twenty-one.
Inside was an official invitation from Prince Giovanni di Montedoro, head of the Vallefiore National Equestrian Association.
Not Enrico?
Her heart fell.
Prince Giovanni was always at the concorsos with their federation, but until last month she’d never seen Enrico with him since their competitive days. This invitation was announcing an international concorso covering the last two days of August, a month from now.
She, along with other invited royals, was to be a special guest of King Nuncio and Queen Teodora, and sit in their box for the events, followed by dinner and a spectacular fireworks presentation by the lake.
Donetta was absolutely amazed. Their country had never sponsored a concorso before. Once again her heart pounded unnaturally hard as she took in the information. Entrants from ten to twenty-one years of age would be competing in the capital city of Saracene, the location of the royal palace.
Her thoughts went back to her first competition in England at the age of ten. Donetta had won all the events in her age group on her British thoroughbred, Luna, a young mare her father had purchased for her. Luna’s pedigree dated back to Eclipse, the famous race horse from the Windsor Great Park era. How she’d loved that horse and Enrico’s!
She’d found out Enrico rode a fabulous Sanfratellano horse from his country, a breed that had existed in some form for centuries. In the Middle Ages the Arabian breed became popular among the Norman nobility, having been preferred by the Saracens who ruled Sicily and other nearby islands like Vallefiore until the eleventh century.
Enrico rode a high-spirited horse from that breed, which in past times could bear the weight of a fully armored knight. In the mountainous islands of the Ionian Sea region, he’d told her, a battle horse’s strength was often more important than a lighter horse’s speed.
Receiving this invitation from Enrico just after leaving the dining room where her parents had begged her to give Arnaud a chance to settle on an official engagement pained her terribly. Did Enrico want to apologize to her this badly? She didn’t get it.
Memories ran through her mind. That day when he’d helped her down from her horse because they’d been riding bareback, he’d pulled her into his arms and kissed her so thoroughly she’d never wanted him to stop.
It had been the thrill of her young life and his image had been burned into her heart and memory. But apparently that moment hadn’t meant the same thing to him. Kiss the lovesick girl and sow his wild oats before settling down with Valentina, was that it?
Maybe he’d fallen for someone else he’d met at the university. Or possibly some beauty he’d come across during his travels. Or maybe the answer lay in the simple fact that his youthful, heated feelings for her had abated and he hadn’t wanted to take that two-week vacation with her after all.
Donetta would always have questions that would eat her alive if she didn’t learn the truth. Maybe she’d get the answers if she attended this concorso.
“Talia? Will you please send a message to Prince Giovanni that our equestrian association plans to accept. There’s no time like today to start contacting the association staff and participants from around the country to make travel and lodging arrangements.”
“Yes, Your Highness.”
Donetta’s thoughts were running wild. While she was in Vallefiore, she would purchase a Sanfratellano horse for herself and have it shipped home. Besides the king and queen, some of the Montedoro royal family would probably be present at the events. She knew they had two married daughters. Would Enrico also be there to explain his behavior?
He was twenty-seven now. She was surprised he hadn’t married Valentina yet. Donetta had always thought he was the most attractive man in the world. No male of her acquaintance ever sat a horse as magnificently. She appreciated beauty in any form.
Before seeing him in Spain she’d lodged some unkind thoughts about him. He’d fallen off the pedestal she’d put him on. But she’d had to scratch her negative thoughts when he’d said he’d come to Spain expressly to see her and apologize.
To make things harder for her, he’d dressed in chinos and a silky brown sports shirt, leaving her breathless. How on earth was she ever going to get him out of her system?
She decided it was a good thing Arnaud would be coming to dinner tomorrow evening to help her deal with what she’d only been able to consider as Enrico’s rejection of her.
Her mom was right that Arnaud was handsome in that certain French way. It was long past time she put thoughts of Enrico away for good and accepted the inevitability of marrying Arnaud, who’d been actively pursuing her.
“Talia? I have some shopping to do, but I’ll check back with you later.” Donetta decided to buy a new dress and shoes. It had been a while.
Apparently her effort didn’t go unappreciated. At dinner the next night, Arnaud whispered, “I’ve never seen you look so incroyable. That lovely green dress matches your eyes. I can’t stop looking at you, ma belle.”
“Thank you, Arnaud. You’re quite a sight yourself.”
He did look pretty amazing in his evening clothes. They wandered out on the terrace off the large dining room after dessert and talked several hours. “You have to know why I’m here. Will you marry me, Donetta?”
She lifted her head. The time for truth had come. “Can you look me in the eye and tell me you’re in love with me? You know what I mean. The kind of heart-wrenching love that leaves you breathless and aching inside until nothing else matters in this world?”
He searched her eyes for a long moment before he said, “Why do I get the feeling you’ve known a love like that?”
She fought not to look away while her guilty heart pounded with sickening speed. “I get the feeling you haven’t known a love like that yet, or you would have married her without your parents’ consent.”
The silence convicted both of them.
“Thank you for being honest with me, Arnaud. I do love you for that. Maybe we can make a go of an arranged marriage and children based on a mutual liking and fondness for each other.”
“Donetta—”
“Let me finish. I know you like me, and I care for you. But this is the problem of being born to royal parents. They are pressuring you to marry and they’ve picked me. My parents want me to marry you and have wanted it for a long time. This has been planned and wished for on both sides for years. Though I’ve liked you better than any of the men who’ve made proposals, it isn’t love.”
Up to the point that Enrico’s letters had stopped coming, Donetta had remained resolute in her determination that the two of them had been in love. To her consternation, she feared she’d been deluding herself.
“It can grow into love,” Arnaud murmured, breaking into her painful thoughts. “I want you to come to Haute Vienne next weekend. There’s so much to show you, and we’ll talk. Hopefully you’ll fall in love with my home and like me better. Let’s find out if we can see our way clear to announce our engagement.”
Donetta had to admit she was touched. He was sincere and truly a wonderful man. If she broke her own rule and decided to marry since her desire to be queen of Domodossola was hopeless, Arnaud would be the perfect choice for a husband and father of her children. Forget Enrico.
He gripped her hand tighter. “Donetta? Will you come next weekend?”
She closed her eyes. Why not? “Yes, I’ll be happy to come. Thank you for inviting me.”
“Ma chère,” he said in an unsteady voice and pulled her into his arms to kiss her.
She responded to him, waiting for the magic she’d felt when Enrico had hungrily kissed her. But there was no comparison and never could be. She wasn’t in love with Arnaud, nor he with her.
Donetta was now a grown woman who’d become somewhat distrustful and cynical after seeing Enrico’s picture in the media with other women. She’d also heard rumors of a possible marriage with Valentina.
As for Donetta, she’d been a starry-eyed twenty-one-year-old whose heart had been full of Enrico. But she shouldn’t expect to be in that insane condition ever again.
* * *
A month later, Enrico rode out early on Friday morning to the Vallefiore National Airport in one limo, Giovanni in another. His staff from the palace were meeting the planes flying in with the contestants and their horses from Domodossola and other countries. They would take them to their lodgings so that Enrico and his cousin were free to meet the royal jet.
He hadn’t slept all night in his excitement to see Donetta again. The August concorso hadn’t come soon enough for him. After installing her at the palace, he wouldn’t leave her side during the day’s events. Tonight after dinner and fireworks for everyone along the lake’s waterfront, he would whisk her away for an overnight campout on the island in his Land Rover.
Enrico had done all the packing and preparations ahead of time. Her associates would take care of Domodossola’s participation in the competition, while he enjoyed all day today and tomorrow with her in private.
As the jet taxied to a stop, Giovanni got out of his limo and greeted the two male staff deplaning first. Donetta would be next.
In his official capacity as crown prince, Enrico exited the limo in his white royal summer suit with the blue sash from shoulder to waist. He watched at the bottom of the stairs as she started to descend. But when she saw him, she faltered for an instant before coming all the way.
Between her pale pink three-piece skirt suit and her hair, he was dazzled. Talk about a vision. His hope that she’d come had been realized.
“Donetta? May I be the first to welcome you to my country.”
“Thank you, Enrico.” She smiled. “I didn’t expect to see you again. On behalf of my country, we’re happy to be here for this concorso.”
He reached for her hand to kiss the back of it. “If you’ll come with me, we’ll drive to the palace, where you can freshen up before the first events in dressage begin at ten a.m.”
“My secretary said that my staff and I were booked at the Montedoro Lake Front Hotel.”
“I hope you don’t mind, but I had you installed at the palace. This is the first time I’ve been able to show you around. In truth I’ve wanted this opportunity since I finished my university studies, but my father’s poor health changed my world.
“I couldn’t tell you about it in my letters because I’d made a promise to my mother to keep silent. She feared word would get out about him. I’m sure it has, but there’s been no mention of it in the press yet. She has wanted him protected for as long as possible. Seeing you again, I know I can trust you not to say anything to your staff.”
They walked to the limo where the chauffeur helped both of them inside and shut the door. He sat next to her as they drove off.
“I had no idea your father was ill. What’s wrong with him?”
He glanced at her lovely profile. “He was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s right before my graduation.”
“Oh, no—”
“No one except our personal staff knew the truth at the time. Since my return, I’ve been running the country more and more. Sadly, his condition is now severe.”
A small gasp escaped her throat. “Is he bedridden?”
“No. His caregiver gets him dressed and sees that he’s fed. Mostly he sits in a wheelchair near Mamma. He has a total lack of awareness and can’t take care of his daily activities. Besides agitation, he occasionally has a hallucination and even wanders at times. His paranoia is worse and he doesn’t know the family.”
Donetta turned to him. “How horrible. I’m so sorry, Enrico.”
Her sincerity tugged on his emotions. “My mother and sisters can hardly bear it. He’s Mamma’s whole life.”
“So she’s been totally dependent on you since you came home?”
He nodded.
Donetta bowed her head. “The people in my country don’t know about my father’s heart trouble, either. Our family is worried about him, but at least he knows us and still has help from Stefano in running things. How do you handle it?”
“A day at a time. After seeing you in Madrid, I talked it over with my cousin Giovanni to host a concorso here. I’d hoped you’d come so I could explain certain things to you. I’ve needed to take a few days off for some real enjoyment.”
She smoothed her suit skirt. “I’ll admit I was surprised when my office received your invitation.”
“I, for one, am very glad you decided to accept it. When we were younger, you asked me a lot of questions about the Sanfratellano horses. I thought I’d take you to some places where they run wild and you can see them for yourself.”
“I’d love it!” She’d said it without hesitation.
“After this evening’s fireworks we’ll drive to that part of the island and camp out so you can watch them at first light.”
“In tents?” He felt her excitement, which was contagious.
“Or in sleeping bags under the stars. I’ll bring food for us. What do you think?”
“You’ve made it impossible for me to turn you down.”
That was the idea.
* * *
Donetta’s eyes widened as they came in sight of the fabulous Montedoro palace, which was reflective of the Mudejar and Renaissance décors of former times. An enchanting garden and pools lined in beautiful azulejos tiles took her breath away. The Moors and Romans had left traces of their cultures behind.
Enrico accompanied her up the steps into the south wing and walked her to her apartment on the second floor, where her luggage had been placed. He left her at the door. “There’s a tray of food for you if you’re hungry. I’ll be back for you in twenty minutes and we’ll leave for the stand at the exhibition grounds.”
“Thank you, Enrico.”
When he left, she rested against the closed door, trying to get a grip on her emotions. Hearing some of the details of his life since college had told her how wrong she’d been in her thinking about him, and it had left her shaken.
She looked up at the intricate fretwork ceiling reminiscent of those at the Alhambra in Spain, where she’d been recently. Awestruck by such beauty, she wandered over to the arched Moorish windows that overlooked a pool in the inner courtyard. This was Enrico’s home.
Seeing such a gorgeous man standing at the foot of the stairs outside her plane a little while ago, dressed in royal whites, had almost given her a heart attack. When she’d decided to come to Vallefiore, she hadn’t been sure she would even see him.
From the moment she’d caught sight of his black hair and tall, fit physique, nothing had unfolded the way she’d imagined. For one thing, she’d learned he was acting king now. All the power and authority rested on his shoulders, but if anyone could handle it, he could.
To think he’d spent the last five years supporting his father and family at a time of great sorrow for all of them had changed her thinking.
Confused and conflicted by some of her earlier negative thoughts about him not being sincere, she freshened up and then walked into the Moorish-inspired sitting room to eat. There was juice, coffee, mint tea, rolls and pastries, sugared almonds, anything you could want.
Enrico had gone all out for her. Why would he do this now and stage a concorso to see her? Did he think she was so angry that only an invitation like this could bring her here? But to go to so much trouble didn’t make sense. In truth, she didn’t understand his motives.
A knock on the outer door caused her to jump. She finished her last bite of roll, reached for her purse and hurried to let him in.
His black eyes played over her in the same way they’d done before, when they’d stayed in the rental car, wanting to hold on to each other the night before having to say goodbye. It had sent heat through her body then, too. “Are you ready, or do you need more time?”
Donetta couldn’t get over how devastatingly attractive he was. It was hard to breathe. “I’d like to go so we won’t be late for the entrants in the ten-year-olds’ division. I’ll never forget my first performance and how nervous I was.”
“I watched your outstanding performance and would never have guessed you had a nervous bone in your body.”
“A lot you know.” His flattery was getting to her.
He helped her down the magnificent staircase to the doors of the south entrance. The bright sun was warming the air by the second as they walked to the limo and climbed in. After a short ride they came to a huge park.
A canopied stand filled with invited spectators from the royal family had been erected midway to another canopy where tables with tablecloths and flower centerpieces had been set up for lunch.
Once the limo stopped, Enrico escorted her up the few steps to the dais reserved for the royal family. In one glance Donetta saw that he had a stunning brunette mother and brunette sisters who sat with their husbands. Naturally, his father was missing.
Enrico cupped her elbow. “Donetta? May I present my mother, Queen Teodora?”
“Your Majesty.” Donetta curtsied to her.
“Mamma. Please meet Princess Donetta Rossiano of Domodossola.”
His mother put out a hand to shake Donetta’s. “I’m pleased to meet you, my dear. I’ve heard you’re a great equestrian and a beauty. Now at least I can see you live up to your reputation for the latter.”
But there was frost in her voice. Something was definitely wrong. Was she incensed that Donetta, from an enemy country, had been invited and had come to the concorso when the queen was expecting her son to marry Valentina?
Donetta smiled into his mother’s dark brown eyes, but the queen didn’t smile back. With that last comment, Donetta had got the feeling his mother was in shock. It went beyond the natural aversion from the queen over the feud that had separated their two countries for so many years.
“Thank you. I want you to know I’m the one who’s honored to meet you, Your Majesty. My parents have asked me to convey their greetings to you and King Nuncio. I’m sorry to hear he isn’t feeling well today.”
The queen ignored Donetta’s comment. “We hope to host the first of many concorsos in the future.”
“Mamma?” Enrico interjected. Obviously he’d noticed his mother’s deliberate snub. “If you’ll excuse us, I want Donetta to meet Lia and Catarina and their husbands.”
“The performance is about to start, Enrico.”
Donetta got the impression he’d infuriated his mother.
“There’s still time.”
He cupped Donetta’s elbow and introduced her to his sisters, one of whom was pregnant, and their husbands. The four of them were gracious and smiled, making her feel better. Then he helped her take her place next to him while he sat by the queen.
His cousin Prince Giovanni took over the microphone to announce the opening of the concorso, and the competition began.
Watching the young entrants for the next two hours took Donetta back in time. But as each age division performed, she realized no participant displayed Enrico’s outstanding horsemanship. Year after year, he’d been the master she’d hero-worshipped.
But leaving for university had prevented him from entering any more horse competitions for his country. Once Donetta had finished college, her father had asked her to run their country’s horse federation.
When there was a break in events, Enrico leaned closer. “Your country’s participants are exceptional, but no one rides the way you did,” he said in a low voice.
“I was thinking the same thing about you.”
“That’s nice to hear. Walk with me to the other canopy, where we’ll be served lunch before the jumping competitions start. If you need to freshen up, there are restrooms behind the canopy.”
“That’s good to know, but I’m fine right now, thank you.”
Everyone in the stand followed them to the tables. Donetta expected Enrico to help his mother, but she noticed one of her sons-in-law had already started to escort the queen. Donetta was being given special treatment and knew his mother had to be close to apoplectic that she’d dared come to Vallefiore.
Once Enrico had helped her to sit at an individual table and took a chair opposite her, she couldn’t stay silent any longer. “Enrico? When there are officials from other countries represented here, why are you showing me this exceptional kind of interest? Your attention to me is like a slap in the face to your mother.”
She had to wait for his answer because the palace staff had already started to serve them lunch and iced tea before they could have privacy. There was only a certain amount of time to eat in order to stay with the day’s agenda.
“Because years ago you and I were attracted to each other and planned to take a vacation together. Unfortunately that didn’t work out. But you have to know I’ve always wanted you to be my guest. To my chagrin, life happened when I had other plans. Up to now, problems have been the story of my life.” His frank speaking melted her heart.
No one knew that better than Donetta, whose royal responsibilities were forcing her to consider marriage to Arnaud. Her last visit to Haute Vienne hadn’t helped her make up her mind. She still hadn’t been able to tell him she’d marry him. But she’d promised that after this trip to Vallefiore, she would give him an answer one way or the other.
Enrico’s dark eyes bored into hers, sending a thrill through her body. “The damn fraud case that caused our two countries to cease all business was never proven and should have ended years ago. Under my reign I intend to have it investigated and solve the mystery so I can reopen negotiations with your father.”
Was the feud the reason he’d cut off relations with her? “That would be so wonderful, Enrico.”
“I agree. Even more important, it’s a miracle you’re here at all. I couldn’t have been more excited when Giovanni told me you had accepted our invitation.”
Everything he was saying to her now had resurrected her old feelings of desire for him while she enjoyed the exquisite seafood salad. “I have to admit I was excited to come to the country that produced your magnificent horse Rajah and hopefully see you again in your own surroundings. We used to talk a lot about each other’s lives.”
“Being with you was always the highlight of my trips to those competitions,” he confessed.
She had to suppress a moan. “I felt the same way.” Clearly, they’d both been crazy about each other despite knowing it was wrong, but destiny had kept them apart.
“Donetta?” His voice broke in on her tumultuous thoughts. “It’s time to go back to the stand. Are you ready?”
“I am. The lunch was delicious. Thank you.” She stood up and followed him over to their seats behind Giovanni, who was ready to announce the afternoon’s activities. All the while she felt the queen’s hostile brown gaze on her.
The jumping trials were her favorite discipline to watch, but her mind was so full of Enrico and their conversation she had a hard time concentrating. At the end of the day Giovanni made the announcement that the crown prince himself would give out the awards.
Donetta’s gaze stayed glued on the gorgeous acting king as he stood before the awestruck winners and honored each of them with their cups. One young man from Domodossola won a first place in the sixteen-year-olds’ division. Though she was excited for him, it was Enrico who filled her vision.
Her heart thudded when she realized she wouldn’t be flying back home until tomorrow evening. For once she didn’t have to say goodbye to Enrico. He’d planned for them to spend the night and next day together.
In the past she’d always walked to the stables to talk to her country’s participants and see their horses firsthand, but not today. Enrico wanted to get going and not waste time.
Luckily, Donetta always brought several changes of casual outfits. Since Enrico was taking her camping, she had a choice of pants and blouses to wear and decided on her tan pants and hunter green blouse.
After talking to Giovanni and congratulating him on supervising such an outstanding concorso, Donetta climbed into the limo with Enrico and they were driven back to the palace, where she could change out of her suit.
He walked her to the door of her suite. “I’ll come by for you in an hour. Does that give you enough time?”
“An hour is perfect. Enrico?”
“Yes?”
“Before you go, I just wanted to say that because you’re the crown prince, you gave all of today’s winners a great thrill presenting them with their cups. That one young girl from Spain looked so excited to meet you she reminded me of myself when Queen Anne handed me my trophy. This day will stand out in all their minds.”
His black eyes gleamed, leaving her breathless. “As long as it has been memorable for you, that’s all I ask.”
The second he left, she closed the door and removed her pink suit, but her body was trembling. She took a shower and washed her hair. It didn’t take long to dry and style.
Ten minutes later Donetta heard the knock on the door. She gathered her suitcase and purse and hurried to open it, coming face-to-face with Enrico. He had to be the most dashing male on the planet. She swallowed hard as she took in his rock-solid physique.
No longer in his whites, he wore khaki pants and a matching short-sleeved khaki shirt open at the neck. His black eyes and hair, combined with such a burnished complexion, made her joints go weak.
She felt his eyes wander over her, causing her pulse to race. “You should always wear green,” he said in his deep voice. “Have you forgotten anything? We won’t be coming back until tomorrow. I hope you won’t mind that we miss dinner and the fireworks. I have other plans for us.” Her pulse flew off the charts. “Does your pilot know you won’t be flying home until late in the day?”
“I’ll let him know. Enrico? What about your mother? Is she aware you’re with me tonight? I didn’t come to Vallefiore to cause more discord between our two countries.”
“I have no doubts she knows what we’re doing. She has her spies. If I’m not wrong, she’s supervising the help putting my father to bed and complaining to him about any number of things she can’t change. She believes he understands, even if he doesn’t talk. Sadly, I don’t think he does, but it helps her to let off steam.”
Donetta moaned. “She must be upset that you’re entertaining a Rossiano.”
“Could be, but I don’t care.”
Neither did she. Being with him like this tonight was all she could think about.