Conveniently Wed To The Prince. Nina Milne

       PROLOGUE

       Eighteen months ago, Il Boschetto di Sole —a lemon grove situated in the mountains of Lycander

      HOLLY ROMANO STARED at her reflection. The dress was ivory perfection, a bridal confection of froth and lace, beauty and elegance, and she loved it. Happiness bubbled inside her—this was the fairy tale she’d dreamed of, the happy-ever-after she’d vowed would be hers. She and Graham were about to embark on a marriage as unlike her parents’ as possible—a partnership of mutual love.

      Not for Holly the bitterness and constant recrimination—a union based on the drear of duty on her father’s part and the daily misery of unrequited love on her mother’s. Their marriage had eventually shattered, and in the final confetti shards of acrimony her mother had walked away and never come back. Leaving eight-year-old Holly behind without so much as a backward glance.

      Holly pushed the images from her mind—she only wanted happy thoughts today, so she reminded herself of her father’s love. A love she valued with all her heart because, although he never spoke of it, she knew of his disappointment that Holly had not been the longed-for son. And yet he had never shown her anything but love. Unlike her mother, who had never got over the bitter let-down of her daughter’s gender and had never shown Holly even an iota of affection, let alone love.

       Enough. Happy thoughts, remember?

      Such as her additional joy that her father wholeheartedly approved of his soon-to-be son-in-law. Graham Salani was the perfect addition to the Romano family—a man who worked the land and would be an asset to Il Boschetto di Sole, the lemon grove the Romano family had worked on for generations. For over a century the job of overseer had passed from father to son, until Holly had broken the chain. But now Graham would be the son her father had always wanted.

      It was all perfect.

      Holly smiled at her reflection and half turned as the door opened and her best friend Rosa came in. It took her a second to register that Rosa wasn’t in her bridesmaid dress—which didn’t make sense as the horse-drawn carriage was at the door, ready to convey them to the chapel.

      ‘Rosa...?’

      ‘Holly, I’m sorry. I can’t go through with this. You need to know.’ Rosa’s face held compassion as she stepped forward.

      ‘I don’t understand.’

      She didn’t want to understand as impending knowledge threatened to make her implode. Suddenly the dress felt weighted, each pearl bead filled with lead, and the smile on her face froze into a rictus.

      ‘What do I need to know?’

      ‘Graham is having an affair.’ Rosa stepped towards her, hand outstretched. ‘He has been for the past year.’

      ‘That’s not true.’

      It couldn’t be. But why would Rosa lie? She was Graham’s sister—Holly’s best friend.

      ‘Ask your father.’

      The door opened and Thomas Romano entered. Holly forced herself to meet her father’s eyes, saw the truth there and felt pain lance her.

      ‘Holly, it is true. I am sorry.’

      ‘Are you sure?’

      ‘Yes. I have spoken with Graham myself. He claims it meant nothing, that he still loves you, still wants you to marry him.’

      Holly tried to think, tried to cling to the crumbling, fading fairy tale.

      ‘I can’t do that.’

      How could she possibly marry a man who had cheated on her? When she had spent years watching the ruins of a marriage brought down by infidelity? In thought and intent if not in deed. Holly closed her eyes. She had been such a fool—she hadn’t had an inkling, not a clue. Humiliation flushed her skin, seeped into her very soul.

      Her father stepped towards her, placed an arm around her. ‘I am so sorry.’

      She could hear the pain in his voice, the guilt.

      ‘I had no idea.’

      ‘I know you didn’t.’

      Graham didn’t love her. The bleak thought spread through her system and she closed her eyes, braced herself. An image of the chapel, the carefully chosen flowers, the rows of people, family and friends happy in anticipation, flashed across her mind.

      ‘We need to cancel the wedding.’