Cinderella's Prince Under the Mistletoe

by Cara Colter

  In a way, it made Imogen feel a little foolish about her humble efforts to create a Christmas for the Prince.

  He came from this—beautifully decorated trees in every room, wreaths on every door, real pine and fir garlands lining mantels and staircases. Huge, exotic poinsettias had been imported and brought brightness to every forgotten corner. Priceless ornaments graced side tables and coffee tables that were hundreds of years old.

  The last place he took her was the gorgeous tree in the entrance foyer. It was behind ropes, but he opened one and invited her in.

  The aroma enveloped her. The Buschetta ornaments were beyond anything she had ever seen before.

  “Has this year’s been unveiled yet?”

  “No, tomorrow. I am hoping you will enjoy the unveiling ceremony.”

  She really needed to ask questions. How long did he think she could be here? She wasn’t going to be able to take leave from her job forever. In the real world there were little issues like needing a paycheck to survive.

  But those questions died in her throat when he looked at her with such warmth. He was truly happy to be showing her his home.

  “Are you ready to try riding?” he asked.

  She was. In fact, she was surprised to find, she felt ready for just about anything.

  CHAPTER EIGHTEEN

  IMOGEN SAT WITH Queen Maria and Gabriella on a slightly raised dais in front of that amazing Christmas tree. The unveiling of the ornament was about to begin. She marveled, a little shell-shocked, at the surprise life had given her. A week ago, two, could she have ever imagined this for herself?

  Sitting with royalty, in the lavishly decorated front foyer of a palace, waiting for the Buschetta Christmas ornament to be revealed?

  The foyer—huge—had almost become an auditorium, with a hundred seats, all of them full, in a semicircle around the dais. There seemed to be a lot of press here, and Imogen tried to look confident and as though she belonged. She had brought her best dress with her and, giggling like two schoolgirls, she and Gabriella had selected hats for this event.

  Luca wasn’t here yet, and she could feel herself waiting for him. Despite the fact he was a prince, he was her rock, her touchstone, in this gorgeous new world he had introduced her to. His smile was the anchor that kept her from feeling as if she was floating in a dream.

  But when he did come in, Imogen’s mouth fell open. Could this man really be her Luca? The Luca who had donned long underwear and roasted hot dogs over the fire and built snowmen? The Luca who had patiently showed her how to ride yesterday, and who had gotten lost in the maze with her until they were both doubled over with laughter?

  The Luca who had kissed her and held her hand? The Luca who had made her heart feel things it had never felt before?

  This man was regal in a navy blue uniform, gold braid trimming one shoulder and a peaked cap pulled low over his eyes. His flair for wearing the uniform—the way he absolutely owned it—made Imogen feel suddenly self-conscious, as if her best dress had come from the thrift bin in Crystal Lake. She fought a desire to remove the hat, feeling suddenly as if she was in costume.

  But Luca was not in costume in his imposing uniform. He was commanding, and the whole room seemed to ripple with acknowledgment when he walked in.

  He nodded at her, his eyes lingered, and for a moment, it seemed as if he was, indeed, her Luca, but then his gaze moved on, as if he was preoccupied. He sat with Cristiano, his brother—whom Imogen had only met briefly—and some other very important-looking people on the opposite end of the dais from where his mother, Gabriella and Imogen were seated.

  Suddenly, she felt as if she had been seated here by accident. She was probably supposed to have politely refused the invitation to sit with the Queen.

  As if sensing she wanted to bolt, Gabriella quietly took her hand and gave her a tiny sideways smile that reminded her of her mantra.

  Embrace the adventure.

  Imogen took a deep breath and settled more deeply in her chair.

  * * *

  Luca saw Imogen right away. She looked positively beautiful in a jade-green dress and a showstopper of a hat. She didn’t just fit in his world, she dimmed it with her radiance. But he couldn’t let himself be distracted, not right now.

  The future relations of two kingdoms rested on what he had to say today.

  He noted that television, radio, online and print journalists from both Casavalle and Aguilarez were present, as well as a few representatives from media outlets around the world. The unveiling of the ornament was a nice “feel-good” filler piece for slow nights in international news.

  Gabriella’s presence on the dais was unexplained, for now. It was not unusual for them to have extra people at the opening of the ornament, and indeed, the town mayor was here, as was a member of the Buschetta family.

  In front of them was a box, wrapped in plain brown paper. Today they would unveil this year’s Buschetta ornament creation for the Christmas tree.

  Luca dreaded it.

  For one thing, it was the first time his father was not here.

  But for another, what if the ornament commemorated the engagement that had ended so badly, or the wedding that had never happened? It could be embarrassing for him, but worse, painful for Imogen.

  Queen Maria stood and took the box. She rolled it over in her hand and then turned and motioned Gabriella to come stand beside her.

  Luca watched Gabriella and was taken again by her innate grace and her composure. But more, the woman seemed to glow a little more deeply each day, as she was welcomed into the embrace of a family she had not known she had, as she explored the wonders of her new life.

  Carefully, Gabriella undid the wrapping.

  The ornament was revealed: inside a globe of glass was a baby lying in a manger of straw. It was so lifelike Luca could almost hear it chortling as it reached for the muzzle of the donkey who nuzzled it.

  The Buschetta representative came forward and touched a secret switch. The top half of the globe swung open, and he carefully manipulated the manger.

  The baby swung away to reveal these words, in tiny perfect calligraphy: Love makes all the world new again.

  He read them aloud to the audience. There was a collective sigh.

  Luca cast a glance at Imogen. She chose that moment to look at him. A brand-new world shivered in the air between them, though she looked hastily away and so did he.

  He made himself focus on the ornament, even though he wanted to look back at her and bask in the truth he had seen in her face when those words were revealed.

  Luca felt the message in his heart. He waited until the photographers had satisfied their need for pictures.

  Then he stood up, took a deep breath and held up his hand for silence and attention.

  The silence was almost immediate, people leaning toward what he had to say.

  It felt as if he was about to speak the most important words he would ever say.

  “It has been suggested to me,” he said, “that I forgive Princess Meribel. As all of you know, our engagement ended, not because of irreconcilable differences, but because my fiancée is pregnant with another man’s child.”

  A murmur of outrage went up among the assembled.

  “I will not forgive her.”

  A gasp, laced with a certain delighted sanctimoniousness, went up from the crowd.

  “Because,” Prince Luca continued, his voice quiet and firm, “there is truly nothing for me to forgive.”

  This caused muttering, and one reporter shouted, “She left you at the altar, sir.”

  Another called out, in a voice laced with outrage, “She was with another man behind your back.”

  “She’s pregnant!”

  Luca waited patiently for it all to die down. Then he spoke again, his voice strong and calm and sure.

  “In fact, I ju
st met with the Princess and I asked for her forgiveness.”

  This statement was met with stunned silence.

  “It takes a great deal of insensitivity to be unable to recognize a relationship is not fulfilling for both parties, and I am guilty of that,” he continued.

  “In fact, in our meeting, I thanked Meribel Asturias for being the bravest woman I know. I thanked her for teaching me a lesson I desperately need to learn—love is everything.

  “Not power. Not wealth. Not influence. Love. Love is the thing worth sacrificing every other thing for—including the promise of a kingdom.”

  There was complete silence. Luca could have heard a pin drop in that large room. He went on.

  “Coming into this Christmas season, that is the message I want you each to hold in your hearts, that love is everything and the only thing. It is the message this beautiful ornament gives the world this year—love makes the whole world new again.

  “Princess Meribel has brought that reminder to me this season, and I pass on her gift to each of you.

  “Do not harbor one acrimonious thought of this woman. She was true to her heart, and it required her to be courageous and determined, and that is what each of us needs to be in pursuit of what is right and what is decent. That is what each of us needs to be in the pursuit of the greatest thing of all, which is love. When her baby is born, I encourage the world to celebrate that wondrous expression of love made manifest.

  “Some of you will remember, a long time ago, before Queen Maria, my father loved another. She left my father, and left the kingdom of Casavalle. The circumstances were mysterious. I know the result of her leaving left my father suspicious of love, and maybe some of you felt that way, too.

  “And yet I am here to tell you that love always brings a gift with it, even if it takes time for that blessing to be revealed. I promise that my father’s long-ago love has left us a precious gift, and soon I hope to be able to share that with all of you.

  “Please, I beg of you, go into this Christmas season with your hearts open. Forgive hurts, real and imagined, old and new, small and large. In that forgiveness, you will find you are open to the joy of the simple pleasures of being with your families and loved ones. Build snowmen and warm your hands over fires.

  “Take pleasure in the greatest gift we, as human beings, are ever allowed to experience. Embrace love completely.”

  Luca finished speaking.

  Had his words managed to repair anything? To save Meribel from a life of shame? Had his words brought love, as he had hoped?

  The gallery was silent. And then one reporter put down her camera, rose to her feet and began to clap. And then they were all on their feet, clapping with thunderous approval.

  His intuition had served him again. He glanced at the people behind him: his brother looked like he was in a state of complete shock, but Gabriella’s eyes were shining with tears. His mother looked as pleased with him as she had ever looked. And Imogen looked at him with a pride shining from her eyes that any man would give his life to see.

  But didn’t that reaction from those women he loved require something of him? Now wasn’t there one more challenge? To practice what he had preached? To follow his intuition, his heart, back to the one place and the one person who called him? The place he had felt as free as he had ever felt and as complete as he could ever feel?

  Did Prince Luca have it in himself to be as brave as he had just called on others to be?

  CHAPTER NINETEEN

  IMOGEN WATCHED AS Luca turned and took his seat. She looked around her at the emotion his words had inspired. She had never loved him more.

  Or felt as devastated.

  She had seen him now, completely. She had seen him as a man and as a prince. She had just witnessed his ability to inspire and lead.

  It made her realize how hopeless her feelings for him really were. He was, quite simply, amazing. Everyone in his world knew it, and when this speech got out, the whole world would know it.

  Women would be throwing themselves at his feet. Women who came from that same world and would fit easily into it. Women who understood wealth and power. Women who were sophisticated and glamorous.

  Imogen understood Gabriella’s mother, Sophia Ross. Completely.

  As soon as she was able, she slipped away. She went to her room and began hastily putting things in her worn travel bag. Even the bag seemed to mock her; well used and a little frayed, it was exactly the type of thing that would embarrass him about her.

  But to be embarrassed by her, he would have to be involved with her. Obviously, he had been kind while she was here. He had shown her the sights and made her laugh and made her love him even more. He had seemed to enjoy spending time with her. She was sure that was genuine.

  And yet that man, who had just given that speech...

  Imogen felt a shiver run up and down her spine. He was from a different world. In a different league, entirely.

  She had to get out of here before she made a total fool of herself. She sank down on the bed. How did one get out of Casavalle? Every single thing about getting here had been organized for her.

  There was a tap on the door.

  It was more of the same: staff here to tell her something, that dinner was served, or it was time for tea. Or here to deliver freshly laundered items she hadn’t asked to be laundered, or new lotions and potions for the bath.

  She decided to ignore the knock, but it came again louder. And then, yet again.

  She went to the door and opened it.

  Luca stood there, resplendent in his uniform, looking tall and strong and sure of himself. Looking like exactly what he was: royalty.

  He scanned her face, and she scanned his, wanting to memorize it, memorize what was there: happiness in seeing her.

  His smile faded. “What’s wrong?”

  “Wrong?” she said with forced brightness. “Nothing. It’s time for me to go home. I’ve outstayed my welcome. I know it was Gabriella’s idea for me to come and you were a good sport—”

  “It wasn’t Gabriella’s idea,” he said softly.

  “It wasn’t?”

  “Will you come outside with me? I have something I want to give you.”

  She knew she should refuse him. She knew she should pack her bag and get out of here with one shred of her heart intact. But she could not refuse him anything. And that line—It wasn’t Gabriella’s idea—was making something happen to her heart.

  She should refuse any more gifts from him, but instead, she let her hand take the one he outstretched to her. One more moment with him, one more memory.

  He led her through a labyrinth of passages in the castle and out a side door.

  “This is my garden,” he said, and his hand tightened on hers. It was a lovely walled space, with vines covering the stones and flowering shrubs giving off a perfumed aroma. The night was beautiful and dark, clear and crisp.

  She looked into his face and saw it was just her beloved Luca under all these trappings: the royal uniform, the beautiful spaces. He was still the same Luca who had chased her through the snow, who had kissed her, who had showed her Casavalle with such pleasure.

  He was beloved to her. She loved him.

  “Look,” he said, pointing.

  She looked in that direction. It looked for all the world like a huge pile of dirty laundry was sitting in the middle of his pristine garden!

  “What is this?” she asked cautiously.

  “That’s my gift,” he said happily.

  “Um, what is it?”

  “Go down there and stand right in front of it,” he instructed her.

  She looked at him. He was so light, so filled with mischief, so playful.

  So easy to love. So himself, somehow.

  She did as he asked her.

  “Ready?” he called.

  She w
as. She leaped back when the pile of what looked to be fabric in front of her began to hiss and writhe and unfold.

  She watched, fascinated, as air rushed into it and it began to inflate. An inflatable snow family took shape before her very eyes. A mama, a papa and two children.

  It lit from within. The family’s arms began to wave merrily.

  Imogen began to laugh. And then he was at her side and they were both laughing until they hurt from it.

  She had to lie down on the ground, and he lay down beside her.

  “That is just about the cheesiest thing I’ve ever seen,” she said.

  “I know. Isn’t it great? For me to be cheesy instead of classy is a wonderful feeling.”

  “Part of being free.”

  “Yes.”

  They lay there, side by side, silent, watching the stars dance in the inky skies above them.

  Love makes all the world new again, Imogen thought, the message hidden in the ornament today.

  It was such a simple message, and yet so profound. And so true. Wasn’t she looking at the world in a brand-new way since her days with Luca?

  Since her heart could not deny her love for him?

  “I let you believe that,” Luca confessed softly. “I let you believe it was Gabriella who needed you to come here.

  “I was afraid you might not come if you knew the truth. I mean, Gabriella told me she felt bad that she was having all the excitement and that you had been left out. But it was me who couldn’t stand the thought of you being left out. It was me who wanted you to see my home.”

  “You?”

  “Imogen, I have missed you so much there are days when it felt as if the air was not enough to fill me anymore. As if I would be left empty and aching for the rest of my life. I missed you.

  “And I missed what you can do to ordinary moments like this one. You transform them. You show me what I have been missing my entire life.

  “Now that I’ve had it, I don’t feel life would be worth living without it.”

  “What have you been missing your entire life?”