The Rancher’s Royal Bride (BBW Romance - Billionaire Brothers 4) by Jenn Roseton Page A
Authors: Jenn Roseton
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college,” Ellie murmured.
“Your father was so proud of you - we both were.” The woman gazed at her daughter and then looked down at the photo. “You have no idea how much I treasured everything he sent me about you.”
Logan squeezed Ellie’s right hand. “Is this the threat her father was concerned about?”
“Yes. As soon as I heard of it, I contacted him secretly. I didn’t want anything to happen to you, Ellie.” She smiled tenderly at her daughter.
“So that’s why Dad insisted I come here instead of going on vacation to Hawaii.” However strange it seemed, at least now she knew the truth about the situation.
“I’m sorry, darling,” her mother said. “But it hasn’t been that bad here, has it?”
Ellie glanced at Logan, still holding her hand. “No,” she replied softly. Was it her imagination, or did Logan’s grasp suddenly seem a fraction tighter?
“Is that why you abdicated? So nothing would happen to Ellie?” Logan asked.
“Yes. I had already thought of abdicating one day in the future before the two royal parties started vying for the throne. But when I heard there was a possible threat against my daughter, I made up my mind in an instant.” The woman squeezed Ellie’s hand. “I couldn’t live with myself if anything happened to you.”
Ellie blinked back moisture from the corners of her eyes. “Does Dad know you’re here?”
Distress crossed the woman‘s face. “No. When I arrived in Virginia, I discovered he suffered a heart attack. How is he, Ellie?”
“I spoke to him this morning. He said he would be well enough to go home soon.”
“Good.” The woman smiled. “Your father’s a strong man.”
“When I talk to him tomorrow I could tell him you’re here.” Ellie tightened her grip on her mother’s hand.
“I don’t think that’s a good idea. The news may distress him.” Katerina looked somber.
“Or it could be exactly what he needs to hear,” Logan said. “If the stress of this situation contributed to his heart attack, then knowing there isn’t a threat against Ellie any longer could speed his recovery.” His gaze speared Katerina. “Ellie’s not in danger any more, is she?”
“I don’t think so,” Katerina replied. “Prince Gregor is now ruling, and he was the person I heard was thinking of using Ellie to gain power.” Her mouth pursed. “I can‘t believe the politicians would want him in power. Jorge and I managed to keep relations steady between the two countries since we married. And now, with Gregor on the throne …” Her eyes flashed with disbelief.
The room was silent for a moment. Ellie tried to absorb Katerina’s words, but felt numb.
“I can only hope that Gregor rules wisely.” Katerina continued. “Unfortunately, that is none of my concern now.” She looked distressed for a moment, then squeezed Ellie’s hand and gazed into her eyes. “But you are, Ellie.”
Was this woman telling the truth? What if none of this was real?
Ellie shoved back her chair. “Excuse me.” She ran into her bedroom, rifling through her purse. She flipped through her wallet, pulling out her most treasured memento. A faded photograph of her mother.
She stared at it, willing it to tell her the truth. The young woman in the photo bore a great likeness to herself. And to the stranger in the kitchen.
Ellie walked slowly back to the kitchen. Lifting her gaze from the photo to the woman sitting at the table, she could see Katerina’s features hadn’t changed, only aged gracefully.
“It is you,” she whispered. “You’re my mother.”
The phone rang. Logan flicked a concerned glance at her before answering. “Yeah. Thanks, Cole. Got it.” He ended the call, then turned to face them. “Katerina checks out. She is who she says she is, Ellie.”
Ellie sank in a chair. There was so much to take in. Conscious of her mother’s gaze, she studied her features. It was almost like looking into a mirror. How had Dad felt, knowing she
“Your father was so proud of you - we both were.” The woman gazed at her daughter and then looked down at the photo. “You have no idea how much I treasured everything he sent me about you.”
Logan squeezed Ellie’s right hand. “Is this the threat her father was concerned about?”
“Yes. As soon as I heard of it, I contacted him secretly. I didn’t want anything to happen to you, Ellie.” She smiled tenderly at her daughter.
“So that’s why Dad insisted I come here instead of going on vacation to Hawaii.” However strange it seemed, at least now she knew the truth about the situation.
“I’m sorry, darling,” her mother said. “But it hasn’t been that bad here, has it?”
Ellie glanced at Logan, still holding her hand. “No,” she replied softly. Was it her imagination, or did Logan’s grasp suddenly seem a fraction tighter?
“Is that why you abdicated? So nothing would happen to Ellie?” Logan asked.
“Yes. I had already thought of abdicating one day in the future before the two royal parties started vying for the throne. But when I heard there was a possible threat against my daughter, I made up my mind in an instant.” The woman squeezed Ellie’s hand. “I couldn’t live with myself if anything happened to you.”
Ellie blinked back moisture from the corners of her eyes. “Does Dad know you’re here?”
Distress crossed the woman‘s face. “No. When I arrived in Virginia, I discovered he suffered a heart attack. How is he, Ellie?”
“I spoke to him this morning. He said he would be well enough to go home soon.”
“Good.” The woman smiled. “Your father’s a strong man.”
“When I talk to him tomorrow I could tell him you’re here.” Ellie tightened her grip on her mother’s hand.
“I don’t think that’s a good idea. The news may distress him.” Katerina looked somber.
“Or it could be exactly what he needs to hear,” Logan said. “If the stress of this situation contributed to his heart attack, then knowing there isn’t a threat against Ellie any longer could speed his recovery.” His gaze speared Katerina. “Ellie’s not in danger any more, is she?”
“I don’t think so,” Katerina replied. “Prince Gregor is now ruling, and he was the person I heard was thinking of using Ellie to gain power.” Her mouth pursed. “I can‘t believe the politicians would want him in power. Jorge and I managed to keep relations steady between the two countries since we married. And now, with Gregor on the throne …” Her eyes flashed with disbelief.
The room was silent for a moment. Ellie tried to absorb Katerina’s words, but felt numb.
“I can only hope that Gregor rules wisely.” Katerina continued. “Unfortunately, that is none of my concern now.” She looked distressed for a moment, then squeezed Ellie’s hand and gazed into her eyes. “But you are, Ellie.”
Was this woman telling the truth? What if none of this was real?
Ellie shoved back her chair. “Excuse me.” She ran into her bedroom, rifling through her purse. She flipped through her wallet, pulling out her most treasured memento. A faded photograph of her mother.
She stared at it, willing it to tell her the truth. The young woman in the photo bore a great likeness to herself. And to the stranger in the kitchen.
Ellie walked slowly back to the kitchen. Lifting her gaze from the photo to the woman sitting at the table, she could see Katerina’s features hadn’t changed, only aged gracefully.
“It is you,” she whispered. “You’re my mother.”
The phone rang. Logan flicked a concerned glance at her before answering. “Yeah. Thanks, Cole. Got it.” He ended the call, then turned to face them. “Katerina checks out. She is who she says she is, Ellie.”
Ellie sank in a chair. There was so much to take in. Conscious of her mother’s gaze, she studied her features. It was almost like looking into a mirror. How had Dad felt, knowing she
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