Alexander & Rebecca (Royals of Valleria #1) (31 page)
Read Alexander & Rebecca (Royals of Valleria #1) Online
Authors: Marianne Knightly
Cat could not believe the words coming from her mother’s mouth. “Are you serious?”
“We are very serious, Catharine,” Genevieve said with a quick glance to Gabriel, who did not look entirely comfortable with the conversation. “You have one year, starting tomorrow. By the time we reach the end of the Royal Marriage Notification Year, you should be engaged.”
“Mama! This is ridiculous. We’re living in modern times. I don’t need to be engaged or married before my elder brother weds.”
“People are already beginning to talk, and I just want you to enjoy the wedding without having to deal with all the gossips.”
“I don’t care what the gossips say and neither do they, quite frankly.”
“I know, Catharine.”
“Shall I go and pick someone off the street, then?” Cat said as she took a long drink of ice cold water to clear her head. Perhaps this whole conversation was just a figment of her wine-induced imagination.
“Don’t be ridiculous,” Genevieve said. “You needn’t agree with the first person who comes along. Choose, but choose wisely.” She took Cat’s hand in hers and held it tight. Cat always felt comforted when her mother held her, even now when Cat was angry at her. “I just want you to be happy, more than anything, and I don’t want you to be afraid to take risks and open your heart. Alex took a risk and look how happy he is.”
Cat glanced at her twin brother. His fiancée was tucked under his arm, and both were whispering to each other as lovers were prone to do. He did look exceedingly happy.
Truthfully, Cat wanted that kind of happiness, too. She sighed and said, “I’ll do my best, Mama, but that’s all I can say at this point.”
“One year, dear,” Genevieve said and kissed her daughter’s cheek before turning to Gabriel.
“What was that all about?” Marcello asked next to her. “I couldn’t really hear with all the noise in this room.”
“You mean you tried to eavesdrop and were unsuccessful,” Cat said.
“I’m in charge of Valleria’s national security; of course I was eavesdropping.”
Cat chuckled. “Maybe I’ll tell you later.” Right now all she wanted to do was escape for a while. She knew once the engagement was announced, they’d all have to give statements to the press and such. After that was over, she was taking a week off.
“You’re planning something,” Marcello said.
“You’re far too observant for your own good.”
“Don’t change the subject.”
“I’m thinking of taking a vacation.”
Marcello crossed his arms over his chest and gave her a critical gaze. “Didn’t you just spend three weeks with Nonna during the national holiday?”
Cat winced. It wouldn’t look good if she left on vacation again so soon. “Don’t you have some business or other coming up, someplace far away where I could tag along?”
“Well, I do have to go to London soon. There’s a meeting of various European and international security heads.” Marcello knew he would be the butt of snide comments and innuendo the entire time due to the security issues that had led to Rebecca’s kidnapping. Not going, however, was not an option, either. He would need to go to assert Valleria as a strong and secure country.
“A trip to London sounds perfect,” Cat said as she grabbed his arm. Her mind was already making plans. “I still haven’t seen the new royal baby, and I’m sure we could set up some royal visits and things while I’m there. Oh, it’s perfect! I could even drop in on Grace.”
“Grace?” Marcello asked, wanting a distraction from his own worries.
“Lady Grace is a friend of mine from university. She became a widow not too long ago. I wasn’t able to go to the funeral, and I’d love to spend some time with her.”
“She’s your age?” Marcello asked, becoming curious about a woman he’d never met.
“Yes, a little younger actually. She started university early. She’s whip smart.”
Marcello wondered about Cat’s intelligent friend who’d lost her husband so young. Had he been a soldier, like him? “Do you know how he died?”
“An accident, I think. I haven’t really heard any of the details.”
A rough life for someone so young. He wondered what she looked like. “Sounds like she’s had a tough time. She must have been married young.”
“Just after we finished our graduate degrees.” Cat frowned. “We’ve stayed in touch over the years but we’re not as close as we used to be and I’d like to change that.”
“Why do you think you lost touch?”
“I’m not sure. Between the two of us, I don’t think her marriage was a very happy one so perhaps that’s why.”
Married so young, he thought, then glanced at his parents who must have been married even younger than Lady Grace. “Was her husband at university with you?”
Cat shook her head. “He was a bit older than us, as I recall. He had a title and I remember her parents were keen on the match.”
Had she been forced to marry? Marcello wondered why the widow he had never met was tugging at him.
“Anyway,” Cat said. “I think this will work out perfectly. Let me know when you plan to leave.”
“Will do, Kitty Cat,” he said, using her nickname, something he knew brought a smile to her face, and it did. Though she was his older sister, he’d always protected and taken care of her as though she were a younger one.
Cat began chattering about her plans and what she and Grace may do while she was in England. Meanwhile, Marcello wondered if he would have a chance to meet the intriguing Lady Grace. With his security credentials he could easily find out more about her and her home. Yes, it was his brotherly duty, after all, as well as his responsibility to oversee royal protection to make sure the home was secure. It was for work, that was all.
THE END
###
Read ahead for a sneak peek of the next two books in the Royals of Valleria Series:
Marcello & Grace (Royals of Valleria #2)
and
Arianna & Finn (Royals of Valleria #3)
!
Dear Reader,
Thank you so much for reading Alex and Rebecca’s story! I hope you enjoyed reading it as much as I enjoyed writing it. If you did, you may want to consider:
Writing a Review
. Please consider writing a review for this book at Goodreads or the e-store where you purchased this work, as it will help others to find this book as well. It also lets me know that you’re interested in reading more from my existing series.
Signing up for my newsletter
. If you do, you’ll be notified about sales, contests, and future release dates for all my series. You’ll also receive exclusive content, including cover reveals and excerpts not available anywhere else.
Connecting with me:
Visit Marianne Knightly’s website
Best,
Marianne
Royals of Valleria #2 & #3 Sneak Peek
Marcello & Grace (Royals of Valleria #2)
When fate made Lady Grace a widow, after years of a disastrous, abusive marriage, she felt a sense of relief and escape. Now, a year after her husband’s death, she’s just beginning to feel like her old self again, though she still carries the scars, both visible and hidden, of her past. Having been separated from friends and family for too long, she’s only too happy to see her old friend, Princess Catharine, on a visit to England. What she didn’t expect was a visit from her brother, Prince Marcello. When she begins to feel the first stirrings of love within her, can she overcome the horrors of her past to make a future with him?
Prince Marcello, head of Valleria's national security and defense, is still dealing with the fallout from security breaches under his watch. After long days and nights of political maneuvering in London to reclaim Valleria’s and his reputation, he takes a needed break by joining his sister on a visit to her friend, Lady Grace. What he thought would be a relaxing week becomes anything but when he begins to fall in love with her.
In the midst of blooming love, Marcello is asked to lead a secret, dangerous mission to thwart an international threat. Marcello knows he must go, both for his country’s honor and for his own. Will he survive? And, if he does, will Grace be waiting for him upon his return?
Pre-Order now for Kindle
– Release date May 22
nd
!
Arianna & Finn (Royals of Valleria #3)
Proper Princess Arianna is the essence of style, grace, and appropriate behavior. After a disastrous love affair years ago that embarrassed both her and the royal family, she had vowed to stay on the straight and narrow, and she has. When a marriage is suggested to form an alliance with another country, she jumps at the chance for redemption. After all, she doesn’t believe in love anymore. But, if that’s true, why does she think of love whenever her fiancé’s brother, Finn, is nearby, bringing up feelings she had long since buried?
Finn de Bara cares little about strategic political alliances and, as second in line to the throne of Brazenbourg, he doesn’t have to. As the bad boy of the aristocracy, he doesn’t need to settle down; he saves that for his arrogant older brother, Henry. However, when Henry becomes engaged to Arianna for convenience and not love, he can’t help but be intrigued by a woman who would give up her future for her country. When the passionate nature she hides breaks through her prim exterior, Finn realizes he wants her, and not just in bed. He knows his brother may make a more proper match, but can he convince her, and himself, to take a chance on each other despite the international fallout?
When Henry’s true motives are revealed and Arianna is placed in danger’s path, can Finn act quickly enough to help her? Or will Arianna need to save herself?
Release date June 30
th
-
Sign-up for Marianne's newsletter
and you’ll know first when it’s available for pre-order! You might also get an exclusive sneak peek of the first chapter (or more) before release day!
Marianne Knightly is a pen name.
To learn more about sales, future installments, and upcoming releases, please:
Sign-up for Marianne's newsletter
Other Books By Marianne Knightly:
Royals of Valleria Series
Book 1
: Alexander & Rebecca
Book 2
: Marcello & Grace (
Pre-Order Now
)
Book 3: Arianna & Finn (Coming Soon)
The Italian Shipping Millionaires Series
Book 1
: Dante
Book 2
: Adrian
Book 3
: Giovanni
Book 4
: Luc
Hike to Forget Series
Book 1
: A Smokey Mountain Hike to Forget
Book 2
: A Big Bear Hike to Forget
Book 3
: A St. Michaels Wedding to Remember
Book 4
: A Bahamian Hike to Forget
Sign-up for Marianne's newsletter
for exclusive news about sales and releases!