“I feel the same way about you. We’ll get through it.”

  “Yes, we will, my love.” He kissed her with exquisite tenderness before they went up to the apartment. Before they reached the door, she could hear Artur barking.

  “Now I know I’m home,” she whispered against his lips before the door opened.

  “Whoops.” Her mother’s small cry brought a smile to Francesca. “Come on in, you two.”

  They moved inside while the dog jumped up and down around them. Francesca picked him up and sat down on the couch, holding him on her lap.

  Vincenzo planted himself next to her and put his arm around her shoulders.

  Her mum and dad sat on the stools at the island in the kitchen drinking coffee. “Welcome back. You’re home earlier than we expected, Francie.”

  “We had an unexpected evening, Dad.”

  “What happened?”

  Vincenzo sat forward with his hands clasped between his knees. “After introducing Francesca to my grandparents and mother, she greeted us with news we hadn’t anticipated.” In the next breath he explained that Valentina had flown to the palace and told the family she was pregnant with Vincenzo’s child. “Both families want the marriage to take place as soon as possible.”

  The stunned look on her parents’ faces brought him to his feet. “I told them the baby wasn’t mine. I’m flying to Milano Monday morning to confront Valentina and her parents. My mother says she’s two months along. Thanks to modern medicine, a test can be done. Then the truth of paternity will be known for all to see.”

  Francesca’s mom slid off the stool. “I promise that her family will fight you before you can demand she get that test.”

  At this point Francesca got up from the couch and lowered the dog to the floor. “We’re ready. Do you have any advice that could help?”

  She watched her father walk over to Vincenzo with a gleam in his eyes. “Indeed, I do. I want you to inform the brother I haven’t seen for years that you and my daughter are involved. Tell him I insist on the DNA test.”

  “Thank you, Niccolo. Good night, Greta.” The two men shook hands. “I need to leave now. Francesca? Will you come out to the car with me?”

  She followed him outside. He had no words and simply crushed her in his arms. “I’ll phone you tomorrow. Sogni d’oro.”

  She would need sweet dreams.

  * * *

  Monday morning the helicopter landed behind the Visconti palazzo. Vincenzo told the pilot to stay put. He wouldn’t be here long.

  Valentina, dressed in a pink suit and pearls, came running toward him with her dark hair flouncing about her shoulders. She was taller than Francesca. He could find nothing about her that reminded him of the woman he loved. She greeted him with a kiss on his cheek. “Thank you for coming so quickly.”

  He took an extra breath. “The second my family gave me your news, you knew it would bring me as soon as I could make plans.”

  “It’s so good to see you, Vincenzo. Won’t you kiss me? Really kiss me.” Her eyes beseeched him. Why? For whose benefit?

  “We’re no longer engaged, Valentina.” He reached for her hand. “Come on. Let’s go for a walk where we can talk in private. This will only take a few minutes since I have to fly back to my office ASAP.”

  She held back. “You can’t leave! We have so much to plan. The family has arranged a special lunch for us in the small dining room upstairs. Vincenzo—” she protested in exasperation as he pulled her toward the rose garden to the east.

  When he came to a bench, he put his hands on her shoulders and set her down. “I don’t know whether it’s your family or you who has decided that our former engagement is back on, but I’ll let you know now. It will never happen.”

  “Even knowing I’m pregnant?”

  “It’s not my child, Valentina.”

  A look of terror filled her eyes. “No one else knows that.”

  Ah. She was pregnant!

  That was all he’d needed to hear. He sat down next to her. “The truth will come out when you go to the doctor for a DNA test. Mother says you’re two months along. In another few days you’ll be able to have it done and name the father.”

  “I’ll do no such thing.” She jumped to her feet. “It’s a dangerous procedure.”

  “Not true. In today’s world it’s safe for you and the baby.”

  “I absolutely refuse. You and I are going to get married.” She’d dug in her heels, confirming his suspicions that her agenda had to do with her father.

  Vincenzo got to his feet. “A year ago we entered into an arranged engagement. A few weeks ago, you called it off. Neither of us was in love. Proof of it is the baby you’re carrying. I don’t want to be unkind, but you need to marry the father of your child.”

  “I can’t.” He heard pain.

  “That’s between the two of you. He deserves to know you’re expecting his baby. There’s nothing else to discuss and I have to leave.”

  She cocked her head, gazing at him through narrowed lids. “I have no intention of getting that test. You and I will be married soon.”

  “Says your father? Afraid not, Valentina.”

  “Don’t be too sure.”

  Vincenzo felt sorry for her, but he’d had enough. “Arrivederci, Principessa.”

  He wheeled around and walked in swift strides to the helicopter. Once strapped in the copilot’s seat, he watched Valentina run toward the palazzo before she was out of sight. This morning’s short visit was the last one he would ever make to the Visconti palazzo.

  Once he reached the timber office, he phoned his mother and told her to expect him and Francesca that evening. Since his visit with Valentina, he had news. The three of them needed to talk.

  At ten to three he was going over the latest reports at work when his assistant Fadri buzzed him. “You have a visitor, Your Highness. He doesn’t have an appointment.”

  “Who is it?”

  “Prince Stefano Visconti of Milano.”

  Vincenzo had wondered how long it would take Valentina’s father to intervene. He’d never cared for Stefano, but at the time of the engagement, Vincenzo had been prepared to try to get along with him. The fact that he’d come in person to surprise him rather than phone him first indicated the depth of his desperation.

  “Show him in, Fadri.”

  In a minute Valentina’s father stormed in and shut the door. Vincenzo stood up. “Stefano? Come all the way in and sit down. I’ll have coffee brought in for you.”

  “I won’t be here long enough,” came the wintry response. “You can’t duck your responsibilities, Vincenzo. You may no longer be the Crown Prince, but we’ll overlook that setback and arrange the wedding for two weeks from today.”

  Stefano didn’t even try to hide the reason for the engagement being called off.

  “I hope you mean with the man who impregnated your daughter. I wish her and your family the very best.”

  Anger brought red patches to the other man’s cheeks. “We both know the name of that man.”

  “I’m afraid I don’t. But as I told Valentina—whom I’ve learned is two months along—she can have a test done to prove paternity. That should still give you time to plan a wedding for her and the man she loves.”

  Stefano’s body stiffened. “Your insolence is unconscionable. I’ve already given the news to the media about the wedding date for you and Valentina. By tomorrow morning it will be all over Europe.”

  Vincenzo sat back in his chair. “Then the Visconti family will have another sensational story on its hands you’ll have to live down.”

  “Another?” he asked in an acid tone.

  “Have you forgotten the incident with your brother? If you recall, he left Milano and got married. You have a niece, Francesca Giordano Visconti, who happens to be Valentina’s first cousin, albeit they’ve never met. Francesca and I met at the veterinary clinic in Zernez where she introduced herself as Dr. Linard to avoid name recognition. We’ve fallen in love and are seeing each other exclusively.”

  “I believe you’ve lost your mind.”

  “No. Talk to the owner. Dr. Zoller will verify what I’ve just told you. The news about me and Francesca will give the media endless joy as they exploit the ongoing saga from the illustrious Houses of Visconti and Baldasseri.”

  Stefano’s eyes darkened in fury. “What piece of fiction is this?” he hissed.

  “Ask my mother. She knows all about it. If that doesn’t satisfy you, ask your brother and his wife. They’ll answer any of your questions.”

  “I don’t believe one word coming out of your mouth.”

  “You will if you give a false story to the newspapers about your daughter and me. It will cause another media frenzy that will rebound on you. If I were in your place, I’d go home and insist Valentina get that test done before you announce your daughter’s intended marriage to the wrong man.”

  “Your lies won’t get you out of this. Valentina foolishly broke the engagement because you neglected her, but she has since regretted that action due to her pregnancy.”

  “You mean due to the timber shares you’ve been praying to get your hands on no matter the cost? I never neglected her and I have my pilot’s logs to prove I flew to Milano for every single date made. Don’t keep trying to turn this around, Stefano.”

  He wheeled around and opened the door. Before leaving, he yelled, “You’re lying!”

  “Then I suggest you phone Niccolo. What’s it been? Close to thirty years without contact? He’ll put you straight before it’s too late.”

  “It’s over for you! I’ll take you to court and sue you for breach of contract to marry.”

  “I don’t think so. Valentina broke our engagement.”

  “You broke her heart,” Stefano raged.

  Vincenzo shook his head. “I think you’ve been doing a good job of that yourself.”

  Stefano shook his fist at him. “You’ll be sorry when I get you in court.”

  “It will never happen.”

  Valentina’s father had a reputation for a white-hot temper, but he was in such a hurry to leave, he disappeared without slamming the door behind him. It would be no surprise to Vincenzo if word of his forthcoming marriage to Valentina made the evening news. By tomorrow anything could happen. He sent a text to the woman he adored.

  * * *

  Francesca was in the middle of an operation when she heard the ding on her phone. Half an hour later she read his text.

  Bellissima? Stefano just left my office. He’s on the warpath. Warn your father. I’ll meet you at your apartment after work. We’ll take Artur and drive to the palace to talk to my mother. I have the best news that will change everything for her and us.

  Francesca jumped for joy and texted him back.

  I’ll let Dad know about the visit and be home by five fifteen waiting for you.

  Vincenzo arrived five minutes after she got home. The second she opened the door, he swept her in his arms. Artur’s barking went ignored while they kissed as if it were their last. She pressed her forehead against his. “Your news made it impossible for me to get any more work done today. I thought I would die until I was in your arms like this.”

  “When I got your text, I wanted to drive straight to your office,” he cried, covering her with kisses, unable to stop.

  “I love you so much, Vincenzo. You have no idea. We’d better go inside before everyone sees us.”

  “Do we really care?” One more kiss before he let her go so they could be private. She settled the dog. “Now tell me everything that happened with Valentina,” she begged as he pulled her down on the couch.

  “When I told her we both knew it wasn’t my child, she admitted it, but she refused to get a DNA test and insists we marry. At that point I realized Stefano is driving all this. I knew there was nothing else to talk about and left. Later in the day he burst in my office.”

  She kissed his chin. “Valentina’s father is scary. He just charged in?”

  “That’s his way. He said an announcement of my wedding plans to Valentina will be in the news by morning. I warned him not to do it because I wasn’t the father of Valentina’s child. He called me a liar. I told him to call your father for the facts. In his rage, he charged right out again.”

  She straightened and gazed into his incredibly blue eyes. “I doubt he’s ever been challenged like this in his whole life. Poor Valentina.”

  “She’s terrified, but after Stefano confronts your father, things will change.”

  “Maybe. Years ago, Dad told me Stefano was more impossible than their father and that’s saying a lot.”

  “Let’s not worry about it right now. We need to leave for the palace. I told my mother to expect us this evening. When I tell her that Valentina lied to her, it will turn things around. She’ll realize I’ve been speaking the truth all along. It won’t be long before she’s crazy about you and Artur.”

  He started kissing her. Like déjà vu her phone rang, interrupting them. The ringing stopped, then began again. “I’d better let you get it.” He stood up and helped her to her feet.

  She reached for the phone on the counter. Her eyes flew to his. “It’s my father.” Francesca put her phone on Speaker so he could hear their conversation and greeted him. “I take it you heard from Stefano.”

  “After talking to my brother, it’s clear he’s not about to let this go and has already gone to the newspapers to spread another lie. We both know he wants to get his hands on Vincenzo’s timber assets. It’s clear he doesn’t care whose baby it is as long as Vincenzo’s mother is convinced it’s his. I fear it will be a fight to the finish. I’m afraid this is up to the two of you, Francie. Be assured your mother and I will back you in anything.”

  “You’re wonderful! But Dad—I don’t want you hurt.”

  “Our good friends will always be our good friends no matter what happens. Need I say more?”

  Francesca had broken out in tears. “I don’t deserve you.”

  “Nonsense. If I have a concern, it’s for Vincenzo’s mother. Does she know the truth?”

  She glanced at Vincenzo. “Yes, but she doesn’t believe it yet. He and I are visiting her in a little while and will explain everything. We’re committed. Vincenzo isn’t anxious, Dad.”

  “Then all should be well in the end. Let us know what we can do to help.”

  “You already have. I’ll call you later.”

  She hung up and whirled around. “What are we going to do?”

  “I’m not worried.”

  “My concern is your mother.”

  He hugged her. “When she learns that Valentina told me the truth herself, she’ll realize Valentina lied to her. Everything will be all right.”

  “I hope so. I’ll take a quick shower and get dressed.”

  Francesca was glad she’d bought a new small-print sundress with a jacket the other day. The aqua-and-blue flowers on white had caught her eye. On impulse she bought a pair of heeled sandals in aqua.

  “While you do that, I’ll get Artur ready to go with us and bring his crate.”

  “Mamma will love him.”

  She smiled to herself. Maybe her dog would be the miraculous clay that won over Vincenzo’s mother.

  “We’ll stop for some pasta in Scuol before we reach the palace.”

  “Perfect.”

  Francesca hurried to her bedroom. Once she was dressed, she brushed out her freshly shampooed hair and put on some mascara and frosted coral lipstick. As a final touch, she replaced the gold stud earrings with aqua-colored starbursts. Now she was ready to go.

  When she entered the living room, Vincenzo took one look at her and let out a whistle that sent the dog scrambling around. “Sorry, Artur. Your mistress is so dazzling, I forgot where I was and what I was doing.”

  “Thank you. Though I don’t believe a word of it, you’re very good for my ego.”

  His eyes danced. “Remember the board meeting? The men were so smitten, they would have kept you there half the night if I hadn’t been around to claim you.”

  “Do you hear all this nonsense, Artur?” She reached down to pick him up. “Come on. You’re coming to the royal palace with us and need to be on your best behavior, especially around Vincenzo’s mother. She’s the one we have to win over. Mothers are important. I love mine. Vincenzo loves his. The trick is for her to love all three of us.”

  CHAPTER TEN

  A FEELING OF RELIEF washed over Vincenzo when they reached the palace. For the first time as an adult male, he knew joy. The woman he loved heart and soul clung to his arm as they climbed the stairs to the second floor. The palace guards stared in wonder.

  Using his other hand, he carried the crate with Artur inside it, loving this experience like no other. His euphoria was so deep, he didn’t realize Bella was already hurrying toward them.

  “You have to be the famous Dr. Linard.”

  Francesca smiled. “You’re Bella who along with your brother used to catch fish in the stream with nets.”

  His sister chuckled. “We had to be resourceful so no one knew what we were up to.” She knelt down to look at the dog. “Artur! You’re adorable.” She looked up at Francesca. “He reminds me so much of Karl, it hurts.” She got to her feet. “I’m so happy to meet you.”

  “I’ve been excited to meet Vincenzo’s young partner in crime.”

  “Hey, you two,” Vincenzo muttered. “I’m here too.”

  Both women burst into laughter. It thrilled him they were already acting like friends with secrets.

  “I’ve been in Chur all day doing a fundraiser and just flew back. Mother has been trying to reach me and asked me to come to the drawing room. I didn’t know you would be here, brother dear. This is exciting.”

  “Let’s hope it stays that way. I told Mother that Francesca and I were coming to talk to her again.”