“Don’t mention anybody’s cock today, all right, Sorcha?” As always, Amy had a hint of mischief about her, but marriage and a child had calmed her more than Queen Claudia had ever hoped. With her black hair and green eyes, she had grown into a striking woman.
“I only do it to tease Rainger.” Sorcha lifted her arms to allow her maid to drop her gown over her. When her head peeked out, she added, “Since we got married, he’s so stodgy. He’ll hardly ever let me sneak down to the—” She broke off and sent a guilty glance toward her grandmother.
Queen Claudia sighed. “Down to the tavern, where you drink heaven knows what kind of wine and sing vulgar songs?”
“Yes. He doesn’t want me to do that anymore.” Sorcha’s gown was white satin, trimmed with gold braid and covered with every decoration her family ever earned. She wore a huge rope of pearls and pearl earrings. With her red hair swirled high on her head, diamond hairpins sparkling in every curl, and her blue eyes calm and clear, she was the epitome of royal dignity.
Which was why it pained Queen Claudia to hear her talk about taverns.
“Men are like old tomcats,” Clarice observed. “When they get married, they stop roaming and spend all their time curled up before the fire.”
With naughty amusement, Amy said, “Yes, and every once in a while, they look at you as if to say, Isn’t there something we’re supposed to do?”
The girls were laughing again, laughing so hard no one heard the knock at the doors.
With a hand over his eyes, Rainger stuck his head in. “Is everyone dressed? We need to go to the cathedral now.”
“You can look. Everyone is dressed. And they’re not going to start the ceremony without us,” Sorcha said tartly.
“True, but if we’re too late getting back, Cook will ruin dinner.” Rainger grinned. “I’ve known you princesses your whole lives, and you love a good dinner.”
“He’s right, we’ve got to go.” Sorcha clapped her hands and organized the family. “Rainger, you take Grandmamma. Clarice, give the baby a kiss and give her to her nursemaid. Amy, somebody’s got to help me with this monstrous train.”
Rainger came and helped Queen Claudia to her feet and toward the door. There, against all the rules, he turned to look at the girls. His gaze swept Clarice, Amy, and at last lingered on Sorcha. In a soft tone, he said, “Look, Grandmamma. The Lost Princesses. They’re found, they’re together, they’re happy, and they’re wonderful.”
Queen Claudia turned, too, and there they were—her granddaughters. They had their arms around each other, their heads together, and they were smiling at each other. Blond, brunette, and redhead, they were a dynasty of which she could be proud.
Rainger squeezed her arm. “You did a good job, old girl. You did a good job.”
“Yes,” Queen Claudia said with satisfaction. “Yes, I did.”
And they would all, by God, live happily ever after—or they’d answer to her.
About the Author
CHRISTINA DODD’s novels have been translated into ten languages, have won Romance Writers of America’s prestigious Golden Heart and RITA® Awards, and have been called the year’s best by Library Journal. Dodd is a regular on the USA Today, Publishers Weekly, and New York Times bestseller lists. The Prince Kidnaps a Bride is the third book in her classic new series, The Lost Princesses, following her enormously popular novels Some Enchanted Evening and The Barefoot Princess. Christina loves to hear from fans. Visit her website at www.christinadodd.com.
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MAJESTIC PRAISE FOR ROMANCE FICTION ROYALTY, NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLING AUTHOR
CHRISTINA DODD
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Lisa Kleypas
By Christina Dodd
THE PRINCE KIDNAPS A BRIDE
THE BAREFOOT PRINCESS
MY FAIR TEMPTRESS
HERO, COME BACK
SOME ENCHANTED EVENING
ONE KISS FROM YOU
SCANDALOUS AGAIN
MY FAVORITE BRIDE
LOST IN YOUR ARMS
IN MY WILDEST DREAMS
RULES OF ATTRACTION
RULES OF ENGAGEMENT
RULES OF SURRENDER
SOMEDAY MY PRINCE
SCOTTISH BRIDES
THE RUNAWAY PRINCESS
THAT SCANDALOUS EVENING
A WELL FAVORED GENTLEMAN
A WELL PLEASURED LADY
A KNIGHT TO REMEMBER
ONCE A KNIGHT
MOVE HEAVEN AND EARTH
THE GREATEST LOVER IN ALL ENGLAND
OUTRAGEOUS
CASTLES IN THE AIR
PRICELESS
TREASURE OF THE SUN
CANDLE IN THE WINDOW
This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents are products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously and are not to be construed as real. Any resemblance to actual events, locales, organizations, or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental.
THE PRINCE KIDNAPS A BRIDE
Copyright © 2006 by Christina Dodd.
The Prince Kidnaps a Bride Page 28