دانلود کتاب Twice A Princess (Silhouette Romance)

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Chapter OneChapter TwoChapter ThreeChapter FourChapter FiveChapter SixChapter SevenChapter EightChapter NineChapter TenChapter Eleven......Page 3
Hearing Alexander Rochelle's masculine voice was enough to send ashiver of feminine pleasure through her."I had hoped I wouldn't be," she said. "This pool is one of my bestplaces for matchmaking."He stepped closer. His arms were well shaped and muscular.......Page 7
(SR #1761). ThisWest Texas oilman is always all-business, until he meets his match in afeisty single mom.May this month's heroes lead you into a world of true love andhappily-ever-after.Sincerely,Mavis C. AllenAssociate Senior Editor......Page 8
Special thanks and acknowledgment are given to Susan Meier for hercontribution to the IN A FAIRY TALE WORLD… series.......Page 9
ISBN 0-373-19758-6TWICE A PRINCESSCopyright © 2005 by Harlequin Books S.A.......Page 10
#567*Texas Family Ties......Page 11
Brewster Baby Boom**Daycare Dads......Page 12
is one of eleven children, and though she has yet towrite a book about a big family, many of her books explore thedynamics of "unusual" family situations, such as large work "families,"bosses who behave like overprotective fathers, or "sister" bonds creat......Page 13
to be taught a lesson in humilityand the power of love.Her godmother cursed the princess with immediate advanced age, asevere bout of crankiness and exile from her country. The only way theprincess could break the curse was to choose twenty-one potentialc......Page 14
was the real princess on Torchere Key,though a curse had changed her from a young, beautiful royal into acrone. Even dressed in her pretty blue gown, with her gray hair sweptinto a twist and wearing the diamond earrings and neck—part of thecollection of j......Page 15
resort grounds, and he had been on La Torchere ever since, not reallywatching over her shoulder, but a hands-on owner to be sure. So, anythought she had of flirting had long ago died.Still, that didn't mean she couldn't smile. Maybe even joke a little."Bu......Page 16
matches had been darned near impossible! She didn't want to blow hersuccess because she was in lust.Of course, who was to say dancing wish Alexander would wreck hersuccess? There was no way it could affect the twenty-one matches shehad in place. Even if s......Page 17
know something I don't know."Jarred out of her thoughts. Merry said, "No." She paused to give hima reassuring smile and to remind herself that right at this moment shewas a crone whom a man like Alexander wouldn't want on a lost bet.Also, with the curse b......Page 18
. You're one of the guests ofhonor at the wedding!""The bride and groom are the guests of honor." He guided herthrough the lobby, across the shiny green floor tiles, past the fountainthat roared from a stone base to the skylight several stories above, to......Page 19
When Merry Montrose began to walk faster, almost running to hercottage, Alexander Rochelle also quickened his steps. He wonderedwhat she'd think if she realized she was being disrespectful to amonarch, then shoved that thought to the farthest corner of hi......Page 20
fine. I never pass up the opportunity to take a moonlightstroll with a beautiful woman."Merry laughed, but the sound came out as more of a cackle. Knowingshe couldn't see him, Alexander winced at the horrible sound. Theyreached the front door of her cotta......Page 21
. Sweetheart notes. Flowers. Exciting trips.......Page 22
! She was an obnoxious crone!Worse, her appearance could be changing even as they spoke. If hekissed her and realized she was young, how would she explain it?She couldn't let him kiss her! It was insane!She stepped back again, but he caught her gloved han......Page 23
. He made her long for things she'dnever felt and never would feel because Prince Alec was not a lovematch. Though she was sure she would grow to love Alec, she didn't......Page 24
. There couldn't be any other explanation. Fatedidn't torture. It didn't dangle something in front of a person to be cruel.Fate led, guided and rewarded.Alexander Rochelle was her reward.She had even wished for it the night before. When he walked herhome......Page 25
remembered forever.......Page 26
After a shower, Merry ran to La Torchere's boutique and purchasedseveral outfits, which she instructed the staff to deliver to her villa.Then she scooted to the resort salon for a haircut, manicure and newmakeup.When she returned home, she found the three......Page 27
Alexander had finalapproval. She had hoped to establish herself with the staff before she"met" Alexander, so she would have the leverage of already being inplace. Now she had nothing.Still, if there was one thing she'd learned from her years as amatchmake......Page 28
? Her agreement astounded Alexander so much healmost took a pace back. Since when did Princess Merry accept asituation she didn't like?Maybe she hadn't gotten the full message."Not only do I have the power to reject her choice, but in this caseI'm not sur......Page 29
she needed to retire, he genuinely believed that once hisvery active manager got two weeks of peace and privacy she would bebored. And he had to wonder if she hadn't sent her spoiled niece, awoman with no experience at all. because she was trying to hold......Page 30
have the upper hand,so he wasn't worried."Yes. I understand."They reached the doorway to Merry's office, but rather than goinside, he stopped."You can stay.""You won't be sorry!" Merry said and just barely stifled the urge tothrow her arms around him and......Page 31
the lobby.Merry sighed. This was not working out the way she had hoped.She'd seen the flares of sexual awareness that flamed in Alexander'seyes but he'd quickly banked them as if he didn't want to be attracted toher.Stepping into her office and walking ac......Page 32
weeks!"Considering that this was all the time she'd have with Alexander tosatisfy the yearning of her soul for one great love, Merry's heart dipped.Her voice was filled with sadness when she said, "Three weeks isn'tsuch a long time."Apparently picking up......Page 33
she'd been absolutely horrid!Regret swamped her and she squeezed her eyes shut. She had a lot tomake up for when she returned home. "I love you, Dad."From her dad's quickly indrawn breath, she knew she'd surprisedhim. After a moment of silence, he whisper......Page 34
," he said, pointing at the ground beneath his feet."This is my villa and that," he said, pointing again, "is my private pool.""Private pool?" She feigned a gasp, pretending she didn't know hehad a private pool since this was her "first day" as manager, a......Page 35
of the waves lulled her into thinkingclearly, and she began to understand not just Alexander's reaction butwhy she'd had her own odd feeling about her plan right from the start.......Page 36
It wasn't the suit. The suit was merely a symptom of her biggermisjudgment. Seven long years had passed since she'd been flirtyPrincess Merry. The tricks she'd used to entice men didn't workanymore…or maybe those tricks didn't work with mature men.Alexand......Page 37
. Caught off guard as hehad been, every male instinct he possessed had burst to life.And why not? Spoiled or not, selfish or not, Princess Meredith wasone gorgeous, sexy woman. A cloistered monk would have troubleresisting her.Of course, the easy answer t......Page 38
Alexander asked, leaning back in his seat. "Fiveguests left early." He caught her gaze. "That means they were bored.""I'll tell Constance, the activities director, to step up her efforts to getthe men and women involved in games or sports together." Clear......Page 39
and Lissa was Princess Meredith's godmother. WithPrincess Meredith acting as if she were totally unaware of his realidentity and with Lissa's face currently as red as two tomatoes, it madesense to consider that Lissa—not Princess Meredith—was behind hisbe......Page 40
commitment, Mr. Rochelle," Lissa said, snagging hisattention and his gaze.From the expression in Lissa's eyes, he could see she expected himto get some kind of meaning from what Merry had said. He frowned.Merry couldn't stay because she had to return home......Page 41
to marry her.""And I can see it thrills you to pieces."He sighed. He had no intention of explaining to Lissa that only a foolwould be "thrilled" by a marriage that was at best a negotiation at worst awar. His parents' arranged marriage had shown him there......Page 42
real self.""I don't want any part of a charade.""Unless you and Merry strike some kind of deal right now, the rest ofyour life is going to be a charade. At state dinners and royal events,you're going to have to pretend to like her." Lissa paused, then smi......Page 43
to her. He found her pretty and sexy and mighteven want to sleep with her. But he wasn't going to do anything about itbecause he didn't like her—and she knew why.From a few slipped sentences in their argument before the staffmeeting that morning, she real......Page 44
best places?"She barely stopped a gasp at her own stupidity. That was a slip sheshouldn't have made. "I meant my aunt Merry's. She told me sheintroduced a lot of couples here. I was hoping to do the same, so no oneelse checked out early.""Oh," he said, st......Page 45
imagination. She swallowed and took a pace back. "Yeah. Just you andme."He gave her a curious look. "Are you afraid of me?"She laughed. "Of course I'm afraid of you. You're my boss. Youcould fire me.""But you said today that you couldn't stay for more tha......Page 46
"I think I should get going.""Why?"She gaped at him. "What part of 'you're my boss' don't youunderstand?""My being your boss didn't bother you three days ago.""Three days ago early departure numbers weren't up. Today they are.I don't want people to think......Page 47
? "Excuse me?""It's very clear to me that you worked hard to make this place asuccess." Angry with him, she absently sat on the blanket. "I'm guessingyou worked equally hard on your other ventures because you like whatyou do. Success is a source of pleasu......Page 48
Princess Meredith never would have joked. Yet this womandid. This Meredith—Merry as she had the staff call her— joked a lot.She laughed a lot. And he suddenly understood she was probably thereason the resort employees had been so cheerful lately."Come on,......Page 49
him.She wasn't simply attracted to him. She liked him.Confused, Alexander pulled back. She couldn't like him. She didn'tknow he was Prince Alec, and she had only talked to AlexanderRochelle three times. Not enough to have any kind of real feelings forhim.......Page 50
"I think it's time to leave," he said, pushing himself up and awayfrom her, just barely controlling his anger with himself. When would helearn that this woman absolutely could not be trusted?......Page 51
Merry stood staring at the closed door of her villa. After several ofthe steamiest kisses she'd experienced in her life, Alexander had quicklywalked her home and virtually dumped her at her door. But at least thistime she knew he hadn't rejected "her." Fr......Page 52
herself.""She's still a princess. Yet she hasn't once mentioned that toanybody."Lissa smiled craftily. "You've never told anyone you're a prince,either. This is America. Not Silestia. Maybe she doesn't want to be aprincess for a while, the same way you gr......Page 53
really was. She lulledhim with kindness and tempted him with her body until he wanted tobelieve everything she said and did, if only to furnish himself with an......Page 54
Lissa strolled away. Her voice was darkly confident when shesuggested, "Unless you're afraid she's not as attracted to you as you areto her…""She's attracted to me.""Prove it."The next morning Alexander meandered into Merry's office. When......Page 55
spend time together.""Not if you look at my request as an order from your superior."She slid the file into its appropriate place then slammed the doorclosed. "Isn't that sexual harassment?""No," he said, deliberately making his voice contrite and sad. Lis......Page 56
She teed up and positioned herself behind the ball. Alexander'sattention was caught by the long length of shapely legs exposed by herwhite shorts and the way her peach colored T-shirt not only hugged herbreasts but also heightened the pretty auburn color......Page 57
cover her hands with his. With his chest to her back, he leaned downand whispered in her ear. "Your hands are good. Wrists are perfect.Elbows are tight." He spoke the words with his cheek rubbing againsther soft hair, but he refused to be affected by that......Page 58
didn't look anything short of hilarious, falling to the ground to duck hershot. Chuckling himself, Alexander took the few steps to the tee and satbeside her."I'm awful.""You're rusty," he said, unable to quell the need to comfort her.She laced him and sin......Page 59
really had changed.Half seduced, half angry with himself for again believing she hadchanged, he pulled away. But not rudely as he had the day before. Beingcareful not to do something he would have to apologize for, upsettingthe balance of power again, he......Page 60
lovemaking of her life.So why was she nervous?Without a word, Alexander took the wineglass from her hand and setit on the table in front of his black leather sofa.Edgy, she glanced around at the red-and-black decor of his villa."This is really an interest......Page 61
know what's really happening here. That's why I cameto you for the story.""Ha!" he said, granting her entry only because he didn't want anyoneoverhearing this conversation. "As far as I'm concerned you could be inleague with the enemy, so if you think I'm......Page 62
?"Lissa laughed. "Yes!""The only way I'd buy that would be if she hadn't slept with anyoneelse in the past seven years.""I'd stake my life on it."Alexander fell to the sofa. "Right."Lissa smiled confidently. "I wasn't kidding. I would stake my life onthe......Page 63
. The woman to whom I am betrothed.""She's changed.""But our situation hasn't." He stopped long enough to sort through hisexplanation. If he said this right he might convince Lissa to butt out."When Merry and I marry, she won't be my wife in this relation......Page 64
one, but he didn't want one.Walking her home from Rick and Cynthia's wedding, when she wasstill Merry Montrose, he'd told her someone had hurt him. He'd said hewas cynical, though happy with his life the way it was. However, fromthe sadness in his eyes, s......Page 65
But that would only be her concern if she planned to spend her lifewith him. Since her betrothal to someone else precluded marryingAlexander, his misconception about the state of his life wasn't any of herbusiness. Her business was getting Alexander's res......Page 66
tricked her! He'd stayed silent through the entireflight and drive to the hotel so he wouldn't have to explain where theywere going."What the heck do you think you're doing?"......Page 67
"I told you. We're about to have a meeting.""In a hotel room?""It's a suite and I booked it so I could get Mr. Rodriquez off hishome turf."Merry glanced around, not even slightly convinced. "I'm notsupposed to think you brought me here for a weekend getaw......Page 68
work for next to nothing, but Alexander simply said he'd pick his ownpeople.The cooler Alexander was with Norman, the more agitated Normanbecame, until the hotel owner seemed to understand that he was hereonly to sell the property. He and Alexander would......Page 69
more than anything else was what had changed her, but before shecould tell Alexander that, their meal arrived. The waitstaff laid utensilsand covered dishes on the table, and stayed to continue serving.Merry and Alexander ate duck and drank wine, but he d......Page 70
out of everyone's way because she was jittery. By the time the elevatordoor closed on the hotel employees, she was absolutely positiveAlexander wouldn't open up again. He would be as silent on the tripfrom Atlanta as he had been on the plane ride from La......Page 71
were going to marry a woman who didn't love you?""I was young.""But why would you marry someone who didn't love you?"Again, not wanting to admit he was in an arranged marriage for fearthat would ring a bell of recognition for her, Alexander told only part......Page 72
anexcuse. Youth is full of folly. Lord knows. I made my share ofmistakes."An odd sensation stole Alexander's breath. Her ad-mission felt likean apology and seemed to bridge the gap between the princess he knewand the Merry who had reentered his life. It e......Page 73
to be hurt.She pulled back, "Alexander…stop."He looked as bewitched as she felt and Merry knew that she wasright. If they made love, and she was sure that was where they wereheaded, Alexander would be hurt. She stepped away. Out of his reach."What's wrong......Page 74
"In fact, I was a bit of a spoiled brat. So…" She drew a long breath.......Page 75
.Alexander, deserve true love as much as anybody does."It got to him every time she claimed to be protecting him. He knewshe was only spinning a yarn, but something about her voice stilltouched him. There was a passion, a vibrancy to it that couldn't be f......Page 76
"Love is about joy, but it's also about duty and responsibility.Respect and tradition. I will love my prince, the man to whom I ampromised, I may never love him romantically, but I will love him."At first Alexander was so stunned he couldn't reply, then a......Page 77
the onewho encouraged me to hide my identity.""Yes, but you could have told her who you were immediately uponher arrival, long before I got in the picture. Yet, you didn't. So......Page 78
if the arranged couplebecame a love match."Alexander shook his head in disgust. "You are such a dreamer."Lissa studied him for a second, then said, "You know, Alexander,you and Princess Meredith might have a bigger problem than hersupposed lie to you.""I......Page 79
was the person heshould have been worried about manipulating him. "You mean, unlessshe falls in love with me."Lissa smiled. "Precisely.""I told you, I think that would make things worse.""Yeah, well, I think you're just afraid.""You've tried this ploy bef......Page 80
. If she was awonderful person, he was in trouble because he'd been duping her. Oncehe told her he was Prince Alec, the roles of their relationship would flipand she would no longer be the spoiled princess. He would be thedeceiving prince.Yeah. He was rea......Page 81
needed this alliance. He couldn't risk loving her.Too much was at stake. At the same time, if there wasn't somethingmore than mistrust between them, she wouldn't give him the benefit ofthe doubt when he explained who he was, and as Lissa suggested, shemig......Page 82
be happy to discover the man with whom she was so compatiblesexually was also the man she was to marry.It made perfect sense.Merry was packing when the knock sounded on her villa door andshe pretended she didn't hear it. Even when her caller became morepe......Page 83
like a curse. So technically, you didn't lie."Merry laughed. "Oh, Alexander, I don't even know what to say tothat.""Then don't say anything and just hear me out. I gave you a roughtime when you first signed on as manager. Typically, when I get a newemploy......Page 84
lying."He sighed. "I'm not lying.""So you're telling me you never intend to sleep with me."Damn but the woman made him crazy! He couldn't tell her he wouldnever sleep with her. For Pete's sake, they would eventually marry. Buteven if couched, his admissio......Page 85
with her tongue. He watched the pretty pink tip as it gently glided alongthe shape of her mouth and felt the kind of stirring that it wasn't wise tofeel in a bedroom with a woman to whom he had made a promise ofpurity."I can't bring back my aunt.""Then yo......Page 86
for dinner, she refused."I'm sorry. I have to go to my office. Now that I'm not quitting thereare a million details I need to see to.""I'll walk you there."Merry almost sighed, but knew the best way to deal with Alexanderwas to give in to his demands beca......Page 87
love you. Then I will not onlyshortchange my husband, I'll spend the rest of my life pining for you."Angry that he could be so thickheaded, Merry ran the rest of the wayto the hotel lobby. At the front desk, she asked for and received hermessages. As she......Page 88
your thirtieth birthday."Finally understanding what Lissa was saying, Merry quickly lookeddown at her hand and actually saw the knuckles wrinkle. The curse wasback. She was becoming a crone!"Oh, my God." Her eyes filled with tears and she pressed her fing......Page 89
was theproblem with the Phipps-Stovers."Lissa's brow wrinkled. "You do?""Yes! It worked so well that I think it overshadowed reality, and twounsuited people got married."Lissa sighed her understanding. "That's why you asked for the guestlist. You're not g......Page 90
"Without magic, they didn't last. It wouldn't be fair to put them backtogether again.""Starting over with two new people doesn't panic you?" Lissa asked,a hint of confusion in her voice.Merry sighed, wondering what the heck had her godmother sobaffled. Pu......Page 91
discuss changes for the upcoming ball, she agreed.But not happily; she was becoming a crone! The only obviousalterations to her physical appearance might be a few streaks of grayhair, a few wrinkles around her eyes and sagging, ugly hands, but Merryworrie......Page 92
seduce her. Then therewas a high probability he would see her as a crone, and she would livewith his look of repulsion forever.She drew a long breath. "Alexander, you didn't believe me when Itold you the story of my curse. So you're not going to like it w......Page 93
slowly, there's no denying that I am turning back into a crone."Alexander nearly sighed with frustration. It was true her knuckleslooked aged and there was a brown spot on the back of her wrist, but asa former handyman, he knew a harsh cleanser could make......Page 94
words sound familiar? Like they had come from themouth of a certain godmother/concierge. "And maybe yours is tooflighty. You accept love and curses and happily-ever-after as if they'renormal. It's a wonder you've survived!"Merry smiled sadly, as if disapp......Page 95
.Oh, dear God! She loved him.And the curse wasn't the only thing keeping them apart. Even if shebroke the curse by finding a couple to match, she couldn't spend her lifewith him because she belonged to someone else.But as quickly as Merry thought that, sh......Page 96
He twirled them around the floor and nuzzled her closer. Her heartthudded in her chest, her body tingled with need and tears filled hereyes. She couldn't imagine spending her life with anybody butAlexander, and that meant she couldn't marry Prince Alec.Sh......Page 97
adult. Her godmother had cursed her to teach her valuablelessons about love, but she'd learned the most important lesson byfalling in love with Alexander Rochelle.......Page 98
"So she can change things about the curse?"......Page 99
"Right." With that she dialed her father's private number. WhenCharles answered she said, "Good morning, Charles. How are youtoday?"He cleared his throat, still uncomfortable with the new Merry, butever polite. "I'm fine, Mum.""Could I please speak with m......Page 100
to find happiness. She would never get to marry anyone,......Page 101
.He matched through the lobby and down the corridor to Merry'soffice and knocked on the closed door."I'm very busy. Whatever it is that you need handled. send me avoice mail and I will handle it.""No."Alexander's one-word reply was greeted by silence. He......Page 102
you andyou can't love anybody. Even if things weren't changing in my life, Iwouldn't pound my head up against a brick wall by being with you whenyou can't love me…""Merry, stop. I'm…"She walked toward him. "I don't want to hear anything you have tosay!" S......Page 103
problem could be solved. It wouldbe very easy to explain that he was Prince Alec after he told her heloved her. She would probably be overjoyed.Was it such a big lie? He could straighten everything out just bygiving her what she wanted.But that wasn't rea......Page 104
Merry's encounter with Alexander proved she couldn't bear thetension of not knowing when she would zap into a crone, and the nextmorning she ran to Lissa's villa and asked her godmother to explain theextension. But Lissa couldn't tell Merry what parts of......Page 105
Her cell phone again worked magic. Incantations came to her as easilyas breathing. She'd even caused an unexpected wave to wash up on thedock, forcing Amelia Giffin to jump back, away from the rush of waterand fall into the arms of Kyle Martinez. But when......Page 106
Merry's heart sank. She might look the same to everyone else, butsomething about her curse blocked her father from recognizing her and,as she'd already suspected, talking to her dad was not somethingnecessary to making her twenty-first match.She refused t......Page 107
loved withsomeone else, Merry decided this curse was hateful. If she didn't matchAlexander, she would lose her life and her father forever. But if shematched Alexander, there would be no point to getting her life back.She would have handed the only man sh......Page 108
to be Alexander. She could find two suitable peopleon an island full of singles!Not wanting her father to think she was avoiding him, she phonedhim even before she got out of bed. He didn't recognize her voice, butshe told him she had a cold, then told hi......Page 109
the person she needed to match to break hercurse.The sudden surety she felt stopped her cold. With him standing infront of her, and her intuition running as high as she had ever felt it,there was no denying destiny. Alexander was the man she was to match.......Page 110
, shedecided, was why the curse had let her keep her appearance. MerryMontrose had spoken with Alexander, but as young Merry, she andAlexander had a close, personal relationship. That was her ticket togetting him to take her advice when she introduced him......Page 111
am? Your parents had a crappy marriage.Some little brat hurt you by publicly humiliating you. For the pastseveral years. women have pursued you only for your money. You'rejaded. Alexander. You don't believe in love and I do.""Of course you do!" Alexander......Page 112
willing to match him to another woman."I suppose I am." Saying that aloud, Merry felt her courage returnand her spirits lift. He was the man she had to match and it was time tobegin that process. "But Alexander, the curse is real." She stepped out ofthe s......Page 113
Alexander was gone when Merry returned to her kitchen, but it didn'tmatter. She knew what she had to do and now he knew, too. So whenMerry not too subtly introduced Madeline Grasselle to Alexander,Alexander might have fumed, but he didn't embarrass himsel......Page 114
had failed him. She was the one who could have broken his curse bybreaking her own, but she'd failed her assignment.The ringing of her phone jarred her out of her thoughts. She grabbedthe receiver. "Hello.""I need you in my office."Hearing Alexander's voi......Page 115
only confuse people.Instead, she headed for the docks and took one of the boats. She'dfailed in her mission and she'd hurt a lot of people. If nothing else, shewanted the one small indulgence of an afternoon of tears.Because when she returned to La Torche......Page 116
Merry Montrose."As if unable to believe what he was seeing, Alexander fell to thesand mound. "I need to sit."......Page 117
be your fate," he snapped, so angry he couldn't believe hecould feel such intense emotion. "Curses are antiquated and wrong!""They're a normal part of the system where I live.""Then I curse where you live!"She ran to him and caught his hands, pulling him......Page 118
can be close to you.......Page 119
never catch her.He cursed roundly, then fell to the sand in misery. All along he'dconsidered his duties to his country in his marriage to Merry, but henever considered he also had a duty toward her until right now. But hecouldn't discount the obvious. Her......Page 120
was responsible.It was just before ten when he rose from his chair, left his villa andwalked to the lobby. He turned down the corridor that led to the backentrance of the ballroom where he could enter quietly, privately. He'd......Page 121
missed dinner. He'd missed the opportunity for a toast or words of anykind. He'd missed dancing with the women who were at the bail lookingfor a prince. He didn't feel much like a prince tonight.Lissa awaited him when he reached the entrance to the ballro......Page 122
are," He pulled open the ballroom door. "I can't think of a betterpunishment for you."As he stepped inside the ballroom, soft music hit him like a swell ofthe ocean. He wished with all his heart he didn't have to be here, that hecould actually go to the G......Page 123
in trouble.The band switched tunes and a slow, romantic melody began. TheKing said, "Ah, one of my favorite songs. Will you excuse us,Alexander?"Alexander bowed. "Certainly, Your Majesty."King Karl walked away and Alexander searched the crowd for Merryunt......Page 124
princess. As he thought that, herface seemed to morph from crone to princess. The wrinkles disappeared.Her gray hair became auburn. Her violet eyes smiled at him.He thought he might be seeing her as a princess because he knew herreal identity, but suddenl......Page 125
. That means I will always see......Page 126
are Merry's twenty-first love match. When you marryher, the curse is broken."Merry looked at Alexander and Alexander glanced down at Merry."You mean she won't be a crone?"The clock chimed again. "She will if you don't stop asking questionslong enough to s......Page 127
I do.""And do you, Prince Alec Montclair…"Merry's mouth fell open. She faced Alexander. "Prince Alec?"He caught her other hand and drew her closer. "Yes, I, Prince AlecMontclair take this woman to be my lawfully wedded wife. To have andto hold, from this......Page 128
ago." He paused, then smiled. "Those were two different people."She nodded. "Yes. They were.""I love you," he said, then kissed her, as his wife, knowing that theywould sleep together that night and every night for the rest of their lives.They would have......Page 129