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EXCERPT
ROYAL RANSOM
"The Crown Affair, Book 2"
Harlequin Intrigue #686
Mass Market Paperback
ISBN: 0373226861
Publisher: Harlequin Books
Pub. Date: November 2002
"Have you ever seen such a radiant bride?" Prince
Alexander Zared asked his sister, Princess Tashya.
With an approving smile, Tashya watched her oldest brother, the
King of Vashmira, and Ericka, his Queen, stroll down the steps of the
National Cathedral where his coronation ceremony and their marriage
had just taken place. Triumphant trumpet fanfares accompanied their
footsteps, and thousands of gardenias scented the air as television
cameras broadcast the event live to the world.
"Careful, Alexander. If Nicholas catches you so much as
sneaking a lingering look at his wife, he'll make you Ambassador to
Antarctica."
Not the least perturbed, Alexander grinned. "So you've noticed
our dear brother's a bit overprotective of his new bride?"
"He's so in love." Tashya could see the deep emotions in
Nicholas' eyes every time he looked at Ericka. She wondered if a man
would ever stare at her with such adoration, and if she'd ever respond
with the open look of love she saw on Ericka's face. Good for them,
Tashya thought. Nicholas deserved some happiness.
Ever since their father's assassination a year ago, Nicholas had
taken on much responsibility. Stepping into their father's shoes
couldn't have been easy for him. At first, he had balked at accepting
an arranged marriage to a stranger, but Vashmiran law had clearly
stated Nicholas must choose a bride before his coronation ceremony.
Nicholas and Ericka had only met this past month, yet, Tashya
suspected Nicholas couldn't have chosen better on his own. Without an
arranged marriage, he might never have found a wife at all. In fact,
before he'd met Ericka, Tashya's more serious brother had tendencies
toward being a workaholic.
However, Nicholas had lucked out and fallen in love with the
American. Tashya fully approved--not that anyone had asked her
approval. But she genuinely liked her independent sister-in-law and
realized Ericka could help the cause. Tashya intended to seek Queen
Ericka's help to establish more equality for women in their country.
But that would come later, after the honeymoon. Right now, as they
waved to crowds of wellwishers, having the Queen at his side was
bringing a gentle light of satisfaction to Nicholas' eyes.
Tashya wondered if Alex would ever look so happy. Freed from the
pressure of ruling Vashmira, Alexander seemed to drift from woman to
woman and party to party. Tall, dark and restless, her brother shifted
impatiently from foot to foot, his attention lighting on first a
pretty Muslim woman dressed in traditional clothing, then a young
Jewish lady. Eventually he locked gazes with a sophisticated woman
sending out unmistakably lustful signals.
Tashya refrained from rolling her eyes. With her luck, the
paparazzi would catch her making a face, and she would do nothing to
spoil the king's wedding day. Today was going to be perfect.
She discretely elbowed Alexander in his side. "Perhaps, if you
stayed with one woman long enough to learn her name, you, too, might
fall in love."
Alexander shrugged, his broad shoulders filling out his elegant
dress uniform in a way that was sure to increase his already enormous
popularity with the ladies. In fact, there had been such a national
uproar and wild speculation over who would accompany him to the
wedding that he'd chosen to go with his sister as he often did for
official functions.
For her part, she always welcomed her brother's company. Especially
since his presence protected her from those men who couldn't see past
her title to a living, breathing woman. Sure, she held a title, but
that didn't mean she didn't yearn for what other women wanted--a man
who loved her for her unique individuality.
Alexander winked at a set of twins, brother and sister, who
couldn't be more than four. "I'll never marry."
"Why not?" Tashya waved to the crowd as the bride and
groom climbed into a horse-drawn carriage. It took a few minutes for
Ericka's attendants to gather and tuck her long train around her feet.
With an official handshake, Nicholas thanked each of the young boys
accompanying the couple. To each of the little girls, he handed a
long-stemmed red rose.
"I like variety. Perhaps the flaw is mine." Alexander's
gaze focused on a lovely young woman in the crowd. "I'm
distracted so easily."
Tashya nudged him again. "Stop that. She's too young for
you."
"I only smiled at her," Alexander said pleasantly,
not the least bothered by his sister's tone of disapproval.
Alexander's problem was that he expected every woman to love him, and
they invariably did. It irked Tashya that while he was never alone, he
often seemed lonely. "I may be the perennial bachelor but at
least I go out. It wouldn't hurt you to be a little more open to the
possibilities," he chided.
"Oh, right. In case you haven't noticed, we still have a
double standard in this country. Our people would not accept their
Princess acting like their Prince and going to bed with every--"
"You needn't draw me a mental picture." Alexander had the
grace to wince and quickly changed the subject. "Whatever
happened between you and the Prince of Moldova?"
"The toad?" Tashya shuddered, then waved again before she
and Alex finally headed down the steps toward the carriage that
awaited. "Absolutely nothing happened between us--that was the
problem."
"The man must be blind."
"Oh, he found me attractive enough, all right. In fact, I
suspect that's all he wanted. Something pretty to hang on his arm and
his every word. Besides, he had horse breath. Actually, my horses have
breath much sweeter than his royal high--"
"Okay. Okay. Keep your voice down before you start another
international incident."
"Nicholas' secretary of state smoothed things over."
"But we almost went to war."
"Surely you don't believe I should have married a man I
thoroughly disliked, so Vashmira would make an alliance?"
"Nicholas and I hoped you'd be happy with the Moldovan Crown
Prince. I'm sorry things didn't work out."
Alexander helped her into the carriage. They would parade through
the crowds and the city until they reached the palace and the grand
reception hall where dignitaries and guests from around the world
waited. Vashmira's palace had never looked better and the aromas
wafting from the kitchens this morning had been heavenly.
Alexander pulled up his trousers slightly to avoid creasing at the
knees before he sat next to her on the leather seat. Naturally he'd
want to look good for the legions of women he'd dance with at the
ball. She, too, expected to have plenty of partners, but the evening
had no appeal for her. She couldn't help worrying over the logistical
nightmare of security.
Just last week Nicholas and Ericka had rooted out a traitor in
their midst. The American government had responded by sending over a
Secret Service team to guard the royal couple.
Along the parade route, handlers released doves from cages, and the
birds soared into the sky. A sky where dark clouds threatened to block
the sun. Tashya leaned back in the carriage seat, closed her eyes, and
tipped her face to absorb the last rays of sunlight.
A car backfired, or at least she thought the sound came from a car.
People screamed and shouted. She opened her eyes just as Alexander
shoved her to the carriage floor.
With an undignified thump, she landed on knees and elbows, her gown
riding up her legs. Alexander piled on top of her, pressing her into
the carpet.
"What's wrong?" she asked as the carriage driver whipped
the horses into a gallop and the milling crowds turned and fled.
"Someone's shooting at us."
"At us?"
Alexander had to be wrong. Neither of them held any power. Who
would want to harm them?
"Alex, is some angry husband or father after you?"
"I don't think so."
A shot pinged off the carriage, close to her head. Fear started to
wind up her throat and choke off her breath. This was no joke. Someone
wasn't just trying to scare them.
Someone was trying to kill them.
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