The Rancher’s Royal Bride (BBW Romance - Billionaire Brothers 4) by Jenn Roseton
Authors: Jenn Roseton
Ads: Link
tale.
“We had a whirlwind romance. Love at first sight.” Katerina sighed. “And I became pregnant. We’d been careful.” She glanced up at Ellie and Logan, “But obviously not careful enough. Luckily, my wedding wasn’t for another fourteen months.” She caught their looks of surprise and smiled. “Things are usually done with decorum in my country. And it can take many months to plan a royal wedding. But for once, this worked in my favor. It meant I could hide away in the country, in one of our small summer manors, with only a couple of trusted retainers and my private secretary knowing the truth. Once I gave birth there, with a royal doctor sworn to secrecy, I gave you to your father.”
She reached out for Ellie’s hand, and as if in a dream, Ellie gave it to her. “Holding you in my arms was one of the happiest moments of my life.” A shadow flickered across her face. “And giving you up was the hardest thing I’ve ever done. But I trusted your father to look after you, and I can see he did a wonderful job.”
Tears pricked Ellie’s eyes. Was all this true? Was this woman her mother? Was she really royalty? And what did that make her, Ellie? A princess? A love child?
“Logan?” Ellie’s voice faltered.
“I’m here.” He sat down beside her and reached for her hand. His presence soothed her, comforted her.
So many questions flew through her mind. The moment seemed surreal. Taking strength from Logan’s hand in hers, Ellie said, “I haven’t heard of your country.”
“Not many people have,” Katerina replied. “It’s a tiny principality near Germany, bordered by Lintovia. It’s easily forgotten, except by the various state departments.”
Ellie racked her brains, wishing she’d paid more attention in her high school geography class. A faint memory of the words Mulzonia and Lintonia surfaced.
She frowned. “Then why are you here? Won’t you be missed at court if you’re the Queen?”
“Not any more.” The woman smiled wryly. “I’ve just abdicated the throne.”
“But … how? Why?” Ellie was barely aware she’d clutched Logan’s hand a little tighter.
“My husband died five years ago in a car crash. I continued to rule, but as time went on, I realized exactly what I had lost by doing my duty all those years ago. Not just you, but your father as well.” She gazed at Ellie. “You see, although your father was the love of my life, I tried to make the best of my marriage. Jorge and I became good friends and tried for children,” she chuckled humorlessly , “as was expected of us, to continue the royal line. Unfortunately, it didn’t happen. That meant there would be no direct royal line to inherit the throne. And then Jorge died, and I continued to rule. Until now.”
“But why did you decide to abdicate now ?” Despite being wary of this elegant stranger who claimed to be her mother, Ellie was intrigued by her story.
Katerina sighed. “Both countries wanted the throne. Now that I ruled alone and was past child-bearing age, the politicians who wanted to obtain power by placing their own hand-picked royal candidate on the throne made it clear that I should gracefully abdicate.” She gazed at the sparkling jewels on her fingers. “I resisted at first. How could I give up the continued peace of our two countries when I had sacrificed so much for it?” She looked directly at Ellie. “But …” she hesitated.
“But what?” Ellie urged.
She reached out for her daughter’s left hand, and before she realized what she was doing, Ellie gave it to her. “I heard whispers that one of the parties was considering using you as a pawn to gain the throne.”
“What?”
“What?”
Ellie and Logan spoke at once.
“Until now, I knew your father had kept you safe. He sent me photos and progress reports through secure channels.” She delved in her quilted leather designer handbag and pulled out a photo, showing it to Ellie and Logan.
“That’s when I graduated
“We had a whirlwind romance. Love at first sight.” Katerina sighed. “And I became pregnant. We’d been careful.” She glanced up at Ellie and Logan, “But obviously not careful enough. Luckily, my wedding wasn’t for another fourteen months.” She caught their looks of surprise and smiled. “Things are usually done with decorum in my country. And it can take many months to plan a royal wedding. But for once, this worked in my favor. It meant I could hide away in the country, in one of our small summer manors, with only a couple of trusted retainers and my private secretary knowing the truth. Once I gave birth there, with a royal doctor sworn to secrecy, I gave you to your father.”
She reached out for Ellie’s hand, and as if in a dream, Ellie gave it to her. “Holding you in my arms was one of the happiest moments of my life.” A shadow flickered across her face. “And giving you up was the hardest thing I’ve ever done. But I trusted your father to look after you, and I can see he did a wonderful job.”
Tears pricked Ellie’s eyes. Was all this true? Was this woman her mother? Was she really royalty? And what did that make her, Ellie? A princess? A love child?
“Logan?” Ellie’s voice faltered.
“I’m here.” He sat down beside her and reached for her hand. His presence soothed her, comforted her.
So many questions flew through her mind. The moment seemed surreal. Taking strength from Logan’s hand in hers, Ellie said, “I haven’t heard of your country.”
“Not many people have,” Katerina replied. “It’s a tiny principality near Germany, bordered by Lintovia. It’s easily forgotten, except by the various state departments.”
Ellie racked her brains, wishing she’d paid more attention in her high school geography class. A faint memory of the words Mulzonia and Lintonia surfaced.
She frowned. “Then why are you here? Won’t you be missed at court if you’re the Queen?”
“Not any more.” The woman smiled wryly. “I’ve just abdicated the throne.”
“But … how? Why?” Ellie was barely aware she’d clutched Logan’s hand a little tighter.
“My husband died five years ago in a car crash. I continued to rule, but as time went on, I realized exactly what I had lost by doing my duty all those years ago. Not just you, but your father as well.” She gazed at Ellie. “You see, although your father was the love of my life, I tried to make the best of my marriage. Jorge and I became good friends and tried for children,” she chuckled humorlessly , “as was expected of us, to continue the royal line. Unfortunately, it didn’t happen. That meant there would be no direct royal line to inherit the throne. And then Jorge died, and I continued to rule. Until now.”
“But why did you decide to abdicate now ?” Despite being wary of this elegant stranger who claimed to be her mother, Ellie was intrigued by her story.
Katerina sighed. “Both countries wanted the throne. Now that I ruled alone and was past child-bearing age, the politicians who wanted to obtain power by placing their own hand-picked royal candidate on the throne made it clear that I should gracefully abdicate.” She gazed at the sparkling jewels on her fingers. “I resisted at first. How could I give up the continued peace of our two countries when I had sacrificed so much for it?” She looked directly at Ellie. “But …” she hesitated.
“But what?” Ellie urged.
She reached out for her daughter’s left hand, and before she realized what she was doing, Ellie gave it to her. “I heard whispers that one of the parties was considering using you as a pawn to gain the throne.”
“What?”
“What?”
Ellie and Logan spoke at once.
“Until now, I knew your father had kept you safe. He sent me photos and progress reports through secure channels.” She delved in her quilted leather designer handbag and pulled out a photo, showing it to Ellie and Logan.
“That’s when I graduated
Similar Books
