“Oh, no—that means our relationship must have upset her too.”

  “No, my love. Listen to me. Nonno explained she has a heart condition, but has kept it quiet for the last year.”

  “Are you serious?”

  “Afraid so. Tonight it acted up, but when I went over to the hospital, the doctor said the treatment was working and she’ll come home tomorrow.”

  “You’ve been to see her already?”

  “Yes, and I found out she’s keeping another secret as well.” He smiled. “This one will astound you.”

  She studied him. “You sound different. Happy. What’s this news I’m not going to believe?”

  “You’ll have to be patient. This story goes back to the first part of July a year ago when my parents announced the news I’d been dreading all my adult life.”

  “I’m afraid I know what’s coming.”

  “You guessed it, but just stay with me for a few minutes. It’s important.”

  This was a new Vincenzo. She smiled. “Go on. I’m dying of curiosity.”

  He kissed her features. “I’d just come in from a day of hiking with Luca and some females we’d met.”

  “Females, huh.”

  He grinned. “My father called me into the study. Out of the blue he said it was time for me to settle down. My spirits plunged to new depths. He announced that he and Mother had finally found the right woman for me and wanted us to meet officially.”

  Francesca swallowed hard. “You mean Valentina.”

  “Exactly. Her parents had approached mine. They said they could search the world over and not find a better husband for their daughter than Prince Vincenzo of the House of Baldasseri. According to her mother, Princess Valentina spoke more highly of me than any other eligible prince in Europe and wanted to meet me. I couldn’t imagine what had prompted Valentina to say those things.”

  “You’re not a woman, Vincenzo. I fantasized about you over those videos before I ever met you in person,” came her honest confession.

  “Francesca...”

  “It’s true. Keep talking.”

  “I concluded that her family had picked my family for underlying financial reasons.”

  A groan came out of Francesca. “That I can also believe.”

  “So our first meeting was arranged by both sets of parents, but it was through my grandmother I’ve found out why. Within a few days of their phone call, we attended a regatta held on Lake Garda where we joined with the Visconti family.

  “I already knew what Valentina looked like. She was attractive and we got along well enough. Though she acted like she was happy, I knew it couldn’t be true. But like me, she was trying to honor her parents, so I gave her the benefit of the doubt. A few days later we went through the formal engagement that sealed our fate.”

  Francesca’s heart thudded painfully during the silence that followed. “And?”

  “This is where the tale gets interesting. Once engaged, Valentina came to the palace to get to know my family. I knew mother liked her, but last night when I talked to my grandmother, I found out Nonna and Valentina had developed an attachment they kept secret from everyone including my mother.”

  “Your grandmother?”

  “Yes. It led to many future confidences. My grandfather knew all about it and kept quiet while he supported her completely.”

  “He’s a wonderful man to be that loyal to his wife.”

  “Agreed. Over the last year Valentina came to the palace many times no one knew about, especially me. Nonna asked for Elsa’s help to let Valentina in without my mother, Bella or myself knowing what was happening. Valentina told her parents she was visiting me, so she was never prevented from coming. My grandmother took her under her wing and they became the closest of friends.”

  “Friends?” Francesca cried. “And you knew nothing about it?”

  “Not a clue, but what Nonna told me a little while ago has rearranged my entire universe.”

  “Darling—” Francesca felt she would burst if he didn’t explain. “Please don’t keep me in suspense any longer.”

  “All right. The bottom line is, Valentina has been in love with one of the guards at the Visconti Palace for a year and a half.”

  “You’re kidding!” As Vincenzo continued to explain, Francesca couldn’t believe what she was hearing.

  “When Stefano saw them kissing in the garden, that’s when he contacted my parents to force a meeting and engagement. Not only that—he fired the guard and put him in jail for six months. He froze his bank account too.”

  She cringed and clung to him. “What a ghastly man. When I think how he treated my father... It’s horrifying that a royal like Stefano believes he can destroy people’s lives that way with enough money and power.”

  “Nonna said Valentina and her mother have lived in fear of him for years. Now we know why. Valentina had to make up the lie about my being uninterested in her so she could break our engagement. To her shock, Stefano forced her into trying to get engaged again by threatening to go to the media with a scandal she’d never live down.”

  “Oh, Vincenzo. More than ever, I understand what my own father had to go through to escape his brother. Now Valentina is going through the same terrifying experience.”

  “It’s tragic all right. Once released from prison, Alessandro Piero had no hope of getting a decent job with his prison record. All doors are closed to him. He’s been living with a friend. Valentina and he have been meeting in secret. Now she’s pregnant with his child.”

  Their baby—

  To think Francesca’s cousin had fled to the Baldasseri Palace, fighting for her life. It was incredible.

  Hearing Valentina’s story had touched Francesca’s heart. How terrible to be afraid of your own father. “I’m sick for her. Stefano has tried to ruin many lives. It has to stop. Those poor things.” Her voice shook.

  “I knew that would be your reaction, Francesca. Your tender heart is one of the reasons I love you so much. After I left Milano the other day, she ran away and came straight to the palace to see my grandmother. Valentina needs help. Elsa is hiding her in her own apartment until Nonna gets home from the hospital. She’s safe for now. My grandfather is making sure of it.”

  “But this is so awful for her, Vincenzo. I would help any woman in this kind of jeopardy, but she’s my cousin who has been kept from our family because of Stefano. We have to do what we can for her. It’s important to me.”

  “And me,” Vincenzo emphasized. “She tried to do the decent thing and get out of our engagement the only way she knew how. I admire her for that more than I can tell you. It’s criminal that she and Alessandro have nothing to fall back on. Stefano has seen to that and smeared all our names in his desire for revenge, but starting tonight the fight is on and he won’t win.”

  “Mio amore? Let’s drive Valentina to your chalet where she can be totally private and work things out with Alessandro.”

  “We could do that, but I have an even better idea. Do you think your parents would be willing to let Valentina stay with them for a short time? They’re family and I wouldn’t be at all surprised if your father hired Alessandro to work in his packaging business in Bern. For that matter I’d be happy to hire him to work for the timber company.”

  “I know they’d come to Valentina’s rescue. That’s the kind of people they are, wonderful like you. I’m the luckiest woman alive.”

  “Now you know how I feel since meeting you.”

  A wave of heat poured through her.

  “The point is, we know Stefano will cut off all money to her. Valentina and Alessandro will be destitute. But what no one knows is, when the engagement was broken, I held back some timber money our family would have given Stefano once we were married as part of the marital agreement.

  “That money can now go to the two of them for a wedding present. I assured my grandmother it’s all going to work out. Alessandro and Valentina can buy a villa anywhere they want and have enough to raise the child they’re expecting. Stefano won’t be able to touch either of them or their money.”

  Tears gushed from her eyes. “You’re a man so much greater than other men, I’m speechless.”

  “Say that to me when we’re old and maybe I’ll half believe you.”

  “When are you going to tell your mother?”

  “As soon as possible. When she sees Valentina with Alessandro, all will become clear and she’ll learn to love you.”

  Francesca looked away. “Of course she’ll understand everything, but that doesn’t mean she’ll want me to be with you.”

  “She will in time. Listen to me.”

  CHAPTER ELEVEN

  VINCENZO HAD KNOWN Francesca would put up this kind of resistance, but he had news for her and would speak what was in his heart. He let go of her long enough to get down on one knee and grasped her left hand.

  “I’ve been wanting to do this since the moment we met. I hope you realize your apartment is our home now. No more hypotheticals. Francesca Giordano Visconti? I’m asking you to marry me right this minute, and I won’t take no for an answer.” He pulled a gold ring with a solitaire diamond out of his shirt pocket and slid it on her ring finger.

  “I never dreamed of being able to do what ordinary men do. I never had hope of loving the woman I would have to marry. When I took Karl into the clinic, I was in a very dark place for many reasons, unable to imagine happiness. To make matters worse, Daniel wasn’t available to take care of my best friend.

  “I looked up to see who had spoken and my eyes fell on you, Francesca, the most adorable female imaginable, shining like a star. You seemed to have come straight from heaven to delight poor earthly men like myself. My heart actually quaked.”

  She slid down and put her arms around his neck. “Mine leaped to see the Prince I’d fantasized over suddenly appear in front of me. It’s leaping now. I want to be your wife more than anything in this world.”

  “Francesca—” He rolled her to him and kissed the daylights out of her. “Swear to me nothing will change for you.”

  “Nothing will, il mio cuore. Your mother has to be a wonderful woman to have raised a prince of a man like you. I believe it will all work out.”

  “When Nonna comes home tomorrow and tells Mamma everything she’ll welcome you with open arms, Francesca.”

  “I pray that will happen. My parents already adore you. They’re as crazy about you as I am.”

  “Why don’t we call them and let them know our news.”

  “I bet when we tell them about Valentina and Alessandro, they’ll come up with a solution. Being that she’s their niece, I know they’ll want to help. But first things first.” She covered his handsome features with kisses. They were so engrossed, it took a long time before they came up for air and made the call.

  The whole conversation was like music to Vincenzo’s ears. By the time they’d talked everything through, it was decided he was marrying Francesca at the church of Saint Peter and Saint Paul in Bern. It was the church where her parents had been married. All they had to do was wait for his mother’s blessing before they put their plans into action.

  They hung up and Vincenzo pulled her into his arms. “I’m going to leave so you can get a little sleep before you have to be at the clinic in the morning.” He kissed her once more. “I’ll phone you with any news tomorrow. Stay safe and well for me. You’re the most precious person in my existence.”

  A feeling of elation over the plans for their coming marriage filled his being so completely, he didn’t remember the drive back to the palace. He sent a text for Fadri that he wouldn’t be going into work. Instead, he would stay home with his family. He wanted to be there for all of them.

  Just as Vincenzo expected, the morning news announced the imminent marriage of him and Valentina. Bella rolled her eyes and shut off the TV. By noon, his grandmother had come back from the hospital. The whole family sat around her in his grandparents’ suite.

  “You need to rest,” his mother cautioned her.

  “Stop worrying about me,” she insisted. “I feel fine and there’s something of vital importance Alfredo and I have to tell all of you. In a way it’s a confession.”

  “Confession?” Vincenzo’s mother frowned. He could tell she hadn’t slept well.

  She gripped her husband’s hand. “It’s about Valentina.”

  Vincenzo had never loved his nonna more than he did at this moment while she told her amazing story. His grandfather added more information. When they’d finished, his mother got up from the chair and clung to the backing. Tears streamed down her cheeks.

  “Thank you for this. I wish Valentina had felt she could confide in me, but I understand her fear of Stefano. To think he gave that false news story to the media...” Her eyes fastened on Vincenzo. “My poor dear son. He not only abused his daughter to get hold of our family money, he abused you relentlessly. Can you ever forgive me for not believing you?”

  He walked over and reached for her hands. “There’s nothing to forgive, Mamma. I love you with all my heart, and we’re going to help Valentina and the father of her baby. Do you know Francesca wanted to drive back to the palace last night and take her cousin to safety at the chalet?”

  She shook her head. “Francesca sounds wonderful. I’ve been so heartless where your true feelings have been concerned.”

  “Only because of Valentina. I promise you’re going to love Francesca just as much. I also have news on that score. Francesca’s parents are going to let Valentina and Alessandro live with them and give him a job. I’m giving them the money I held back from Stefano.” He smiled. “You’re going to end up with three daughters to love as soon as you give Francesca and me your blessing so we can marry ASAP.”

  “Oh, Vincenzo—” She threw her arms around him. “You have it with all my heart. I know if Marcello were here, he’d be overjoyed too.”

  Bella’s tear-filled eyes met his. So did the watery eyes of his grandparents. Miracles did happen.

  He hugged his mother for a long time before letting her go. Now it was time to phone the love of his life with the glorious news. With another hug to his grandparents, he left their bedroom and hurried to his own suite to make the call.

  “Francesca? How are things going at work?”

  “I called in sick. Poor Daniel. Artur is keeping me busy, but it doesn’t stop me from thinking about your mother and her affection for Valentina. Even when the truth comes out, that doesn’t mean she’ll be able to let go of her feelings.”

  “Guess what? My grandmother got home from the hospital this morning. While we were all gathered round her, she and Nonno told us their secret. My mother stood there with tears dripping down her face and begged my forgiveness for not believing me. She wants to love you. Everything has been settled, and she has given us her blessing.”

  Francesca’s cry of joy was so startling, the dog started to bark. Laughing, Vincenzo held the cell away from his ear. “Amen, my darling. I’m leaving for your apartment right now and we’ll phone your parents to make detailed plans. Let’s plan the ceremony for next Saturday. I’ll tell the family before I leave here.”

  “That’s only three days away.”

  “It’s not soon enough for me.”

  “I need to tell Daniel and make arrangements for kenneling Artur.”

  “There’s a lot to do. We need the name of the bishop at the church in Bern. The ceremony needs to be arranged.”

  “What about a special dispensation?”

  “It won’t be a problem. I’ll phone Rini. He and Luna will want to see us married.”

  “So will my brother and his girlfriend, Gina.”

  Two hours later their plans were made. Tomorrow morning they’d fly in the Baldasseri jet to Bern from Innsbruck and stay with Francesca’s family. Her mom would take her shopping for a wedding dress.

  Their marriage ceremony had been arranged for ten in the morning. After a reception at the Visconti villa, they’d fly back to Zernez and enjoy a two-day honeymoon. A longer one would come later.

  They moved to the door. “As soon as I get back to the palace, I’ll ask my friend Luca to be a witness.”

  “Call me tonight, no matter how late.”

  He cupped her face in his hands. “I promise. Take care of yourself, tesoro mio. I couldn’t live without you now.”

  In three days’ time he’d be Francesca’s husband. They’d raise a family. Over time more Karls and Arturs would come along too. No man could be this happy.

  Three days later

  “Honey? Are you awake?”

  Francesca sat up in bed. “I’ve been up for hours, too excited to sleep.”

  “I don’t blame you. It is your wedding day.”

  “Oh, Mom, I love Vincenzo so much, I can’t believe I’m going to be marrying my heart’s desire.”

  Her mother swept in the room. “I can relate.”

  She got out of bed. “I know. Vincenzo makes me happy the way Dad makes you.”

  “All four of us are very, very lucky. Now come on. You need some breakfast and we’ve got to get you dressed so you’re not late for your own nuptials.”

  “Never.” Francesca grinned and hurried into the bathroom to start her day.

  Rain had descended on Bern this amazing Wednesday morning of late August, but the inclement weather didn’t bother Francesca. Nothing mattered because she was getting married to the man who’d haunted her dreams from that first day he’d brought Karl into the vet clinic. She wanted to look gorgeous for him and had bought a white Alençon lace and silk gown that both mothers and Bella said looked made for her.

  The four of them had enjoyed each other immensely while out shopping. When morning came, they helped her get dressed. The lace hem of the graceful slender A-line gown swept the floor. Her mother placed an Alençon shoulder-length mantilla over her hair.