Over the years Enrico had watched the beautiful princess from Domodossola with the long, flowing silvery gold hair compete in dozens of concorsos just as he had. By the age of twenty-one she was all grown up, with a keen intellect and opinions on subjects that kept him riveted. On top of everything else she was the best jumper and by far the most stunning young woman he’d ever seen or known.
There was no woman like her and he had to see her again. Although she no longer competed in concorsos, she now ran the equestrian organization for her country’s entrants.
A month ago Giovanni had suggested Enrico travel with him to Madrid, Spain, to watch their country’s participants and horses perform in the day’s events. Though Donetta might not be there, Enrico made the decision to go anyway.
It was late in the day when he finally caught sight of her near the stable. At least he thought it was Donetta, but wasn’t sure until she turned around to talk to someone. To his shock she’d cut her long, diaphanous hair. It had been styled to form a feather cut that framed her beautiful face.
One look and he knew his attraction for the five-foot-seven blonde beauty had only intensified over the years. His pulse rate accelerated. When she saw him, her fabulous green eyes darkened with emotion.
“Enrico—”
“It’s been five years, Donetta.” Thank heaven there was no ring on her finger.
She smiled, but the element of excitement was missing in her eyes. “Now we’re all grown up.”
Yes, they were. Her womanly figure took his breath away.
“Your Sanfratellano horses are still making winners out of your riders.”
He cocked his dark head. “It appears your country is celebrating another champion, too, but she didn’t ride like you did at the concorso in Aix. I’ll never forget our time together.” Nor the way she’d filled his arms during those two days in France. “How long are you going to be in Madrid?”
“I should have left five minutes ago. The limo is waiting to take me to the airport as we speak.”
Her answer came as a huge disappointment. “You have to leave right now? When I saw your country’s name on the list for this competition, I came specifically to see you.”
By the way she held herself taut, he knew this meeting had shaken her as much as it had him. “Knowing how busy you’ve been helping your father run the country, I’m surprised you could get away.”
He sucked in his breath. “I deserved that, Donetta. If we could go out to dinner and have some private time together, I need to apologize to you for so many things.”
She shook her head. “I didn’t say that to be mean-spirited. You don’t owe me anything, Enrico. We were young, we had our fling behind our parents’ backs. Those years were magical for me, but we both knew our real destiny was still out there waiting for us. But I have to admit I was shocked when you stopped writing. It hurt more than you know to realize that day had come for you.”
“There were reasons,” he whispered.
“You think I don’t know that?” She let out an audible sigh. “I’m glad to see you again. It’s such a surprise. You look wonderful.”
“So do you, bellissima. I’d give anything if you didn’t have to go yet.”
“I’m sorry, but my staff is waiting for me and we’re on a tight schedule. I’m grateful you came. Seeing you has given me closure. Addio per sempre, Enrico.”
Goodbye for good? If she thought that, she had another think coming.
He watched her walk away on those long, slender legs until he couldn’t see her anymore. Damn if she wasn’t more gorgeous than any woman had a right to be.
Enrico had admired Donetta through a boy’s eyes, but now he was a twenty-seven-year-old man and recognized those feelings for her had taken root at an early age. They’d never gone away.
No matter how bad his father’s Alzheimer’s had become, it was time to do something about the way he still felt about Donetta. But Madrid hadn’t been the place to reconnect. She’d dropped an impenetrable shield around herself, with good reason.
He needed time and privacy so she couldn’t dismiss him, because that was exactly what she’d done. It was his fault. By ending the letter writing at the time, he’d left her to believe he’d gone on to follow the path his parents had outlined for him. Enrico couldn’t blame her for anything and needed to start over again with her.
On the flight back to Vallefiore with Giovanni, Enrico broke his silence over coffee and confided his long-held secret to his cousin. “I fell for Donetta when she was only ten years old. I would have married her after college if Papà hadn’t already been so ill and needed me.”
His cousin nodded. “I suspected that was the reason for all the letter writing. But the queen would never allow such a marriage. As if the bitter enmity between our two countries weren’t reason enough, I’m afraid she’s going to have a coronary when you don’t marry Valentina.”
“It’s my life. I want Donetta. Always have. Seeing her again has let me know she’s the one for me.”
“Have you said as much to her?”
“Not in so many words.”
Giovanni sat forward. “Why not?”
“I intend to the next time I see her.”
“Next time? Did she ever admit she was in love with you?”
“No. If she had, I would have run away with her.” He’d hoped to hear those words when they’d been in Spain, but they hadn’t come, probably because Donetta was wary of him. Deep down it had bothered him. “Why are you asking me all these questions?”
“Because I’m afraid I have bad news for you about her.”
“What do you mean? I’ve kept track of her and I know she’s not married yet.” Enrico had always followed news about her and her family. Today he had the proof she wasn’t attached to any man. Not yet…
“That’s true, but you’re still out of luck.”
“Stop speaking in riddles.”
Giovanni’s eyes were as black as Enrico’s. “You could never have married her.”
“What are you saying?”
“I hate to tell you this, but I have it on the best authority that Princess Donetta has turned down every proposal ever received because she never plans to marry!”
Enrico shook his head. “Come on, Giovanni. It’s me you’re talking to.”
“Don’t I know it, so you have to take me seriously. Get this—she’s living for the day when Domodossola’s laws of succession change to allow women to rule. She wants to be queen.”
“That could never happen.”
“You and I know that. Nevertheless, up to this point in time she has wanted to reign and reign alone. No husband. That’s why she’s our age and still single!”
With that explanation, Enrico burst into laughter. That didn’t sound like the Donetta who’d shared her feelings with him on paper. What he’d just heard was ridiculous, and yet it wasn’t beyond possible that she did want to change her country’s rules established over centuries. Besides her brains and beauty, she was the most unique woman he’d ever known.
The woman did have strong opinions that excited him, but he had no idea she was so ambitious.
“Tell me, Giovanni. How do you know all this?”
“Because I have a secret, too. As you know, your father put me in charge of the