“Because I have a secret, too. As you know, your father put me in charge of the Sanfratellano Horses Federation when I was only twenty. He wanted our country to have a presence at all the international concorsos.”
Enrico nodded. “I told him you should be the head since you knew the most about them. It made me very happy when you accepted the position.”
Giovanni had been the right person to head their lucrative horse breeding business unique to the island. The Montedoro family had been renowned for over a thousand years for their fabulous Sanfratellano horses, which boasted a distinguished pedigree. They brought buyers to their stable from all over the world.
“I was happy about it, too. Once college was behind us, I got busy planning the schedule for our country’s participation in more competitions when I wasn’t helping you. As you know, I traveled to the various concorsos on the list and met Princess Fausta Rossiano in Paris last fall at a competition.”
“Donetta’s sister was there?”
“Yes. She came with their aunt and Donetta, who was in charge of her country’s entrants. From what I’ve been told, the two sisters are thick as thieves. They look a lot alike. I guess our Montedoro g
enes are tuned into a certain type of woman. Fausta is a knockout, too.”
“I agree,” Enrico said.
“Naturally I wanted to get to know her better. But her best friend, Mia Giancarlo, whose father is an international banker I’ve worked with, gave me some private info about the two sisters that was fascinating.”
“Go on.”
“Mia told me that Fausta won’t date any royals and would refuse to go out with me. It seems she has turned down many royal proposals because—get this—she plans to marry a commoner!”
“Are you putting me on?” Enrico demanded.
“I swear not. That’s when Mia told me that Donetta has refused to marry for the reasons I just explained. It seems the only normal sister is the youngest one, Princess Lanza. She’s now married to Prince Stefano of Umbriano,”
“That’s right.” A whistle escaped Enrico’s lips.
But Enrico wouldn’t allow this gossip to thwart him. In his gut he knew Donetta had loved him. He was determined to pursue her at any cost. Giovanni had given him enough information to offer her something she wouldn’t be able to turn down.
“I’m going to create a situation where we can be legitimately together so I can propose. The truth is, I can’t get her out of my head. I’ve been a fool to pretend to be doing my duty when all these years she’s been the one.”
“I guess if anyone can try to persuade her, it’s you. But you’re forgetting your mother. She’ll forbid it.”
“I’ll remind Mamma that she had her opportunity to reject or accept my father’s proposal when the time came. Now it’s my turn.”
“Good luck with that.”
It was evening when they arrived at the palace grounds and parked outside the west wing. Their bodyguards followed in another car. He and Giovanni shared a suite of offices where he could get busy plotting before they went to their own apartments to sleep.
“I’ve come up with a solution to get her here, Giovanni. Don’t go to bed yet. Our country has never hosted a concorso. What do you say we plan the most spectacular event ever put on in any country? I realize it will take time and effort, but it will be worth it.”
A long silence ensued while his cousin eyed him through narrowed lids. “You crafty devil.”
* * *
“How are you feeling on this beautiful July day, Papà?” Twenty-seven-year-old Donetta had served herself breakfast at the huntboard in the small dining room of the palace and sat down at the table with her parents and sister Fausta.
“I’m fine.”
“Are you?” She flashed her mother a glance for verification. Her father had a heart condition he’d finally admitted to after their youngest sister Lanza had gotten married to Prince Stefano of Umbriano on New Year’s Day.
“He’s upset that Stefano had to fly to Argentina over mining business yesterday,” Fausta explained. “Papà doesn’t know how long he’ll be gone, and this time Lanza went with him.”
Lanza had been their father’s pet forever, but since marrying Stefano, she went everywhere she could with her husband. Lanza’s childhood crush on Stefano had turned into a love he reciprocated. They were crazy about each other, but their father missed her and didn’t seem as happy these days.
“He had to go,” Donetta reasoned. “What’s really troubling you?”
Her father, King Victor of the country of Domodossola, looked down and frowned. “Since their wedding, Stefano has been much busier running his mining interests than I thought he’d be.”