AROYALBABYONTHEWAY

SusanMallery

www.harlequinbooks.com.au

Prologue

Alex,Ithinkyoushouldtakealookatthis.PrincessAlexandraWyndham, the oldest ofKing Phillips four daughters, glanced up from the

computerprintout shedbeen scanning. Itwasnearly eleven in themorningand shewas, asusual,buriedinherdailyreports.ThekingdomofWynboroughmightnotbehuge,butitrequiredalargestafftokeepthingsrunningsmoothly.Despitetheefficiencyofthepalacesemployeesandloyaltyofthe senior staff, Alex insisted on overseeing many things herself. She spent her mornings in heroffice, looking for potential problems and smoothing themout before anyonenoticed theydbeenthere in the first place. Her afternoons and evenings were reserved for state functions andoccasionally,veryoccasionally,timeforherself.AlexsetdownthepapersandsmiledatLauraBishop,thesocialsecretarywhohadbeenwiththe

royalfamilyforfiveyears.AnothermarriageproposalfromanAmericanrockstar?Alexasked.WhileIdontunderstandthem,Idoconfesstobeingflattered.Afterall,Illbethirtynextyear.Notexactlytherightagetobeabimbo.Shewrinkledhernose.IsthattermstillinuseoramIbeingold-fashionedagain?Laura grinned. I think bimbo still works, although its not really appropriate when used to

describeaprincess.Hersmilefaded.Nomarriageproposalthistime.Itsalittlemoreseriousthanthat.Ididntknowwhattodowiththis.Shewavedthesinglesheetofpaper.Ithoughtaboutgoingtotheking,butheandyourmotherarebusywithplansforthecelebrationandIwasntsure.Hervoicetrailedoff.Alex gave Laura her full attention. The royal social secretary was many wonderful things,

includingefficient.Itwasntlikehertobeindecisiveaboutanything.Allright,Alexsaidslowlyandheldoutherhand.WhenLauragavehertheletter,shescannedit

quickly, then read it a second time.Her breath caught in her throat andher chest tightened. DearLord,canthisberight?Idontknow,Lauraadmitted.Was it possible?Alex shookherhead to clear it, but her confused thoughts refused tobeput in

order.Whattodo?Imgladyoudidntgotomyparents,Alexsaidslowly.Ifitstrue,thenitswonderfulnews,

butifitisnt,theycouldbedevastatedalloveragain.Idontwantthat.Lauranodded. Thatswhat I thought, too. Idontknow thewhole story,but Ive readabout the

basics.Idontthinkanyoneknowsthewholestory.Thatspartoftheproblem.Shesettheletteronher

desk. All right.Tellmy sisters that I need to see them immediately. She glanced at her slender,elegantgoldwatch.Havethemmeetmefor lunchinourprivatediningroomatnoon.Ill tell thekitchentohavesomethingsimplesentup.Shelookedatherfriend.Illwantyoutobethere,too,Laura.Laurastaredbackather.Areyousure?Isntthisafamilymatter?Yes,butIsuspectweregoingtoneedyourhelp.Ihaveacoupleofideas.Ifmysistersagreewith

myplan,thenyoullbeanimportantpartofthings.Despitehershock,Alexmanagedasmile.Asusual.Thankyou.

After Laura left, Alex turned in her chair and stared out the window. The view was nearly asfamiliarasherownreflection.Shedspentmanyhoursinthisoffice,working,planningand,duringraremoments of quiet, dreaming.WhileWyndhamCastlewas amajor tourist attraction, and evennowalargegroupofvisitorstouredthemanicuredgardensbelowherthird-storywindow,itwasalsoherhome.Shedbeenbornhere,grownup,played,laughedandcried,allwithintheconfinesoftheoldstone-and-woodstructure.Peopleshemetoftenaskedherwhatitwasliketoliveinacastle,butforAlexandraitwasallshedeverknown.Ifsheoccasionallywonderedwhatitwouldbeliketolivea normal life, she reminded herself that shed been blessed by her circumstances and her lovingfamily.Shehadwonderfulparentsandthreesisterswithwhomshewasveryclose.Withoutturningaround,shereachedbehindherandpickeduptheletterLaurahadbroughther.As

shefingeredtheinexpensivewritingpaper,sheconsideredhowshedthoughtherfuturewasset.Wasthatallabouttochange?

***

Weshouldgoskiingovertheholidays,Serenasaidasshescoopedsomechickenandmangosaladontoherplate.Shepickedupapieceofmangoandpoppeditinhermouth.Impishlightsdancedinhergreeneyes. There are always somanygood-lookingmenat thechalets andgoodnessknowsyouthreeallneedtogetmarriedbeforeyoureoverthehill.Alex looked at her baby sister and tried not to take the comment personally. As the oldest, she

shouldbemarriedfirst,andnodoubtherparentswouldgetaroundtoarrangingamatchinthenearfuture.Butrightnowthatwasnothermostpressingissue.Wehavesomethingmoreimportanttodiscuss,Alexsaidassheglancedaroundthetable.Alaceantiqueclothprotectedthegleamingovalsurface.Water,icedteaandsoftdrinkshadbeen

poured into crystal goblets.Alex sat at theheadof the tablewithSerena andLaura toher left andKatherineandElizabethtoherright.Youlookserious,Katherinesaid.Issomethingwrong?Notexactly.Alexpausedasshetriedtofigureouthowbesttosharethenews.Lauraopeneda

letter thismorningand immediatelybrought it tome. Imade thedecisionnot toshare thecontentswith our parents.Theyre both busywith the business of running the kingdom, not tomention thecelebrationofFather stwentiethyearasmonarch.Weknowallthis,Serenasaidandrolledhereyes.Alex,youcouldmakearoller-coasterride

boringifyoutried.Whathasyouallinahuff?Whatsintheletter?Alex glanced at her other two sisters and saw them nod. She chose to believe they were

encouraging her to read them the message and not agreeing with Serenas assessment of herpersonality.Shepulledthesinglesheetofpaperoutofherjacketpocketandclearedherthroat.

Dear Royal Family. I saw something on the news today about your king celebrating hiskingship of your country.While I didnt find this especially interesting, I happened to see apictureofthefamilycrestisthatwhatitscalled?Thatshieldwiththethingamajigs?Anyway,seeingthatremindedmeofsomethingthathappenedalongtimeago.

Alexheardacatchofbreath.Sheglancedupandsawallthreeofhersistersstaringather.

Nearly thirty years ago I was housekeeper for a place called The Sunshine Home forChildren inHope,Arizona.Oneday I noticed a real fine piece of linen in the laundry. ItwassomekindofblanketandIdecidedtotakeitformyownuse.Iknewitbelongedtooneofthechildren,butIdidntthinktheywouldmissit.ItwasthenicestteacozyIdeverhadandnowIrealizeithadyourcrestonit.Withallthisfussaboutthecelebrationandall,therehavealsobeenstories about your lost boy, James. It got me to thinking. Three boys came to The SunshineHomethatyeararoundthetimeofthekidnapping.Theywereall therightagetobeyourboy.One of them could belong to your family. My memorys not what it used to be and I cantrememberallofthem,butIdosurerecallJohnColton.Hewasarealscrapper.ImnotsayingJohnstheone,butIllbetmylastpairofbootsthathewouldknowwheretofindtheothers.

Alexputdown the letter. Shesigns it MostSincerely,GrandmaBeulahWhitaker.Oh,andshewouldlikeapictureofthefourprincessessenttoherifwehavetime.There was amoment of silence, then everyone started talking at once. It had taken Alex a few

minutes to gather her own composure after absorbing the news, so she understood her sistersconfusionandquestions.DoyouthinkitsreallypossiblethatJamesisalive?Katherineasked.Elizabethshookherhead.Itsbeenwhat,twenty-nineyears?Couldhehavesurvivedallthattime

andweneverknew?LetsgotoAmericaandfindhim,Serenasaidwithabroadgrin.Illgo.Icanbereadytoleave

thisafternoon.Alexglaredatherbabysister.Therewasnowayshewouldtrustthatwildyoungwomanaloneina

foreign land. Given Serenas determination to find romantic adventure, she would forget aboutlookingforJamesandsetaboutgettingherselfintroubleasquicklyaspossible.Firstthingsfirst,Alexsaidcalmly.Doyouallagreewithmydecisiontokeepthisfromour

parents?Idontwanttogettheirhopesuponlytodashthemagain,butIwouldliketohearwhatyouthreethink.Katherine leaned towardher.Hergrayeyesdarkenedwith sadness. Noneofuswasbornwhen

theylostJames,butIcanimaginetheirpain.Motherhasntspokenaboutitmuch,butwhenshedoesmentionthosedaysafterJameswaskidnapped,shealwayscries.Theyhavebothworkedveryhardtobring prosperity to Wynborough. As they prepare for the twentieth anniversary of Father scoronationnextyear,theyshouldbehappy.Tellingthemaboutthisletterwillonlydistractthem.Elizabeth,normallyacloseandlovingconfidantforAlex,lookeddistracted.Inthepastcoupleof

months,thingshadchangedforthesisterclosesttoherinage.UnfortunatelyAlexhadntfiguredoutwhat,andElizabethresistedallhergentlequestions.Elizabeth focused on the issue at hand long enough to nod her agreement. Katherines right. I

dontthinkeitherofthemwanttogothroughthatpainagain.Weshouldinvestigatethisourselves.AlexglancedatLaura.Hersocialsecretaryraisedherhands.Imjustthehiredhelp.Idprefernot

tovote.Youremore than that,Serenasaid,givingLauraaquickhug. Yourepracticallyoneof the

family.ShegrinnedatAlex.IsaywefindhimourselvesandpresenthimasagifttoMotherandFather.Theirlostsonreturnshomeaftertwenty-nineyears.Everyonewillbesothrilledthattheresfinallyanheir.Alexstiffenedslightlyat thewords, thentriednottonoticeaseveryonesattentionshiftedtoher.

Sheknewwhathersisterswerethinking.Thatastheoldest,shedtakenonmostoftheresponsibilities

ofheir.Sheworkedhardandfrequentlytraveledabroadtorepresenthercountry.ButWynboroughlaw stated that the heir must be a son. While there had been some discussion about parliamentchangingthelaw,todatenothinghadbeendone.Afterall,KingPhillipwasstillintheprimeofhislife.Therewasnoconcernabout themonarchy.But it leftAlexin theawkwardpositionofbeingapotentialheir-in-waitingwithoutknowingifthatwasgoingtohappen.Thatsnotimportant,shetoldherself,andfirmlypushedthosethoughtsaway.Rightnowsheand

hersistershadtoconcentrateontheirbrother.IfJameswasstillalive,howweretheytofindhim?ObviouslywehavetogotoAmerica,Alexsaid.Thatswherethekidnappingoccurred.I could arrange a publicity tour, Laura said. There has been talk of bringing worldwide

attentiontoKingPhillipsyearsasasuccessfulmonarch.IfallfourofyouwerewillingtotraveltotheStates,youcouldquietlyinquireaboutyourbrotherwhilepromotingWynboroughandtheking.Ofcoursewellgo,Serenasaid.AtleastIwill.Noonesindoubtaboutthat,Alexsaiddryly.SheglancedatKatherineandElizabeth.Isthisall

rightwithyoutwo?Theybothnodded.Icoulduseachangeofscenery,Elizabethsaid.AgainAlexwonderedwhathadhappened tomakehersistersoquiet thesedays.But ifElizabeth

didntwanttotalk,nothingwasgoingtomakeher.Alexopenedthefilenexttoherplate.Ithinkthebestplanwouldbetostarttheinvestigationatthe

sceneofthecrime.JameswaskidnappedfromthefamilyhomeinAspen,Colorado.Whiletheplacehasnt been used in years, I checked and it has beenmaintained by caretakers. They could have itreadyforus in twodayssothatwillbeourbaseofoperation.Laurawillput togetherapublicityschedule that leaves us plenty of time to search. In fact, I intend to go to Arizona to talk withGrandmaBeulahassoonaswearriveintheStates.Katherineleanedforward.Likeallthesisters,herhairwasavariationonthethemeofred.Shehad

thickchestnuthairandwidegrayeyes.Sensibleasalways,sheasked,Howoneartharewegoingtogetourparentstoagreetothis?TheyveneverwantedustovisitAmericabefore.Doyoureallythinktheyllletallfourofusgothere?Letmehandlethat,Alexsaid.LauraandIwillcomeupwithsomething.Youjustgetreadyto

leave.Serenabouncedtoherfeet.ImgoingtoDisneyland.Notifanyofuscanhelpit,Elizabethmurmuredunderherbreathasshestoodup.Okay,thenNewYorkorCaliforniaorLasVegas.Alex drew in a deep breath and told herself to remain calm. Serenawas a handful and shewas

going to require around-the-clockwatching. Make a note, she told Laura as they left the smalldiningroom.PutextrasecurityonSerena.GabrielMorgansourman,Laurasaid.Plus,hesAmerican,sohellbemostathome.Good.Thelastthingweneedisawildprincessontheloose.WhataboutElizabethandKatherine?Orforthatmatter,you?Alex laughed. As if anythingwould ever happen to us. I promise you that except for possibly

findingourlong-lostbrother,nothingexcitingisgoingtohappenwhilewereinAmerica.

ChapterOne

MitchColtoncould smell trouble amile awayor right inhisowndriveway.Especiallywhen itcamepackagedinasleek,midnight-blueJaguar.Hedbeenonhiswayintothehouseafterspendingthemorninginthebarnwithasickcowwhenthesoundofacarenginehadcaughthisattention.Andnotjustanycarengine,butonebelongingtoanelegantlybeautifulsportscar.Hestaredasthevehiclecametoastopinfrontofthewideporchthatencircledthelow,one-story

ranchhouse.Whilehecouldadmirethesleeklinesofthecar,hedidntgetthepoint.Sure,hecouldbuyone,orevenadozenifhewassoinclined,buthelivedonaworkingranch,andacarlikethatwasntpractical.Neitherwastheleggyredheadsteppingoutfrombehindthewheel.Mitchblinked.Redhead?Asinawoman?Helookedcloser.Yup,andtoquotehisfather,shewasa

looker.Welldressedina toast-coloredsweaterdress, thehemofwhichflirtedwithhercalves.Shewasslender,withplentyontoptocaptureanymansinterest.Sunglasseshidhereyes,butenoughofher face showed to convince him that she was somewhere between very pretty and knock-outgorgeous.Long,auburncurlsfelldownherback.NotbadforaSundayafternoon,hethought.Goodafternoon,thewomansaidassheapproachedtheporch.AreyouMitchColton?Hefrowned.Shesoundedfunny.AlmostEnglish,butnotquite.Shesureashellwasntfromaround

here. He pushed his hat farther back on his head, propped one foot on the porch railing, leanedforwardandrestedhisforearmsonhisraisedthigh.Thatdependsonwhosdoingtheasking.Hedhalfexpectedhertogetannoyed,butshesurprisedhimbysmiling.Dontyousoundlikethe

local sheriff in aWesternmovie. All right, cowboy, well do this your way. She pulled off hersunglasses, extended her hand and approached the porch. Im AlexWyndham. If you are MitchColton,Imverypleasedtomakeyouracquaintance.Hedbeenholdinghis own, right upuntil she smiled and removedher sunglasses.Theone-two

punchoffulllipscurvingindelightandbaby-blueeyeshithimlikewhiskyonanemptystomach.Hestraightened,sworesilently, thenleaneddowntotakeherfingersinhis.Eventhoughhebracedforthe impact, thenot-so-unexpected joltofawarenesscrackleddowntohis toes.On thereturn trip, itsettled somewhere a tadmore interesting.Geez.All thisoverone little smile. Imaginewhatwouldhappentohisbodyifshelaughed,orGodforbid,madethatthroatypurringsoundwomenweresogoodatwhentheywantedaman.Hestraightenedandclearedhisthroat.Maam.Hersmilebroadened.Maam.Imsureyoureusingthatmodeofaddressfordifferentreasons

thanisnormallythecase.ButIlikeit.Okay,nowhewasofficiallylost.Whatareyoutalkingabout?Nothing.Imjustsavoringthemoment.HereIamhavingarealconversationwitharealcowboy.

Youareacowboy,arentyou?Yeah. He drew the single syllable out a couple of beats, then sighed. He didnt like the new

directionof their conversation. Yourenot somebucklebunnyout looking fora ride, areyou? IdidntdothatkindofthingwhenIwasakid,andImsureashellnotgoingtodoitnow.Herdelicate eyebrowspulled together in a frown.Shehad themost perfect skinhed ever seen.

Exceptmaybeonababysbutt.Faintcolorstainedhercheeks,buthewouldhavebetaprimesteeror

twothatitwasnatural,notoutofacompact.Hereyeswerelarge,herlashesdark.Highcheekbonesandapointedchinfocusedattentiononherfullmouth.Dressherupinsomeleatherandlaceandshewouldlooklikethepostergirlforsin.Bucklebunny?Hisguestshookherhead.Areyoutalkingaboutarabbit?Dontyouhavecattle

onthisranch?IdidntknowanyonebredrabbitsoutWest.Isthereamarketforthem?Whatareyoutalkingabout?heasked.Rabbits?Wasshecrazy?Rabbits.Youmentionedthem.Well,youactuallysaidbunnies,butarenttheythesamething?Are

wehavingtroublecommunicating?Oneofusis.Hefoldedhisarmsoverhischestandglareddownather.Wasshebeingdumbon

purpose?Whydontyoutellmewhyyourehere,lady.Sheflashedhimanothersmile.Actually,Imlookingforyourbrother.JohnColton.Couldyou

tellmewhereheis?While her conversation about rabbits had done awhole bunch to dilute his desire, her question

squashedthelast,lingeringflickerofinterest.Overtheyearshedcometotermswithhisrelationshipwithhisbrother,butherefusedtobeattractedtooneofJohnsoldlovers.Herakedhisgazeoverher,startingatherexpensivebootsandendingattheriotofcurlsonthetop

ofherhead.Firstofall,Idontgiveoutpersonalinformationtostrangers.Second,youdontlooklikehistype.Type?Thewomanstaredathimblankly.Sherepeatedthewordagain,silently,asiftryingtofigureout

whathemeant.Hersurprisewassogenuine,hehadtoreassesshisopinionofher.Youthinkwewereinvolved?sheasked,faintlybewildered.Oh,my.No,itsnotthatatall.Butbefore she could explain exactlywhat their relationshipwas,orhe could ask, ablack sedan

pulledintohisyardandparkedbehindtheJag.Mustbehisdayforcompany,hethoughtastwomenindarksuitssteppedoutofthecar.Mitch might have spent most of his life either on the ranch or the rodeo circuit, but he knew

security people when he saw them. The not-so-subtle bulges under their left arms came fromhandguns,notmuscles.Youvegotmyattentionnow,lady,hesaid.Alex,shemurmuredassheturnedtolookatthetwostrangers.JustplainAlex.Heignoredherstatement,mostlybecauseitdidntmakesense.Interestinglyenough,thetwothugs

wereignoringhim,too.Whatwasgoingon?Whydontyoutellmewhoyouareandwhatthehellyouredoinghere?Mitchasked.One of the security men looked up and nodded politely, then spoke to the woman. Princess

Alexandra,youknowyourenot allowed togooffunescorted.Youveonlybeen in this countryashorttimeandyourenotfamiliarwiththedrivinglaws,norwillyouknowhowtocommunicatewiththelocalcitizens.Theyrejustpeople,Rowan.Ivebeencommunicatingjustfine.Thewomanlaughed.Hownice thatshewasamused,Mitch thought.Thenhe replayed themansstatementacoupleof

dozentimesinhisbrain.PrincessAlexandra?HadhereallysaidPrincess?Noway,hemuttered,mostlytohimself.Notarealprincess.Alex,orPrincessAlexandraorwhomevershewas,turnedtofacehimandshrugged.Sorry,yes.

Imarealprincess.Ihaveakingandqueenforparents,threeprincessesforsisters.Theresevenapalace.Hismindwent blank.All he could dowas stand there and repeat the same thing over and over

again.Aprincess?Arealprincess?Shedidntlooklikeaprincess,hethought,staringatherdressand then her face. There wasnt any crown or whatever it was princesses wore. This is a joke,right?Imafraidnot.Hergazemovedtothetwosecuritymenstandingnexttoher.Hedoesntseem

tobeunderstandingme.Maybeyoureright.MaybeIwillhavesometroublecommunicating.ThatcommentgotthroughtoMitch.Italsoannoyedhim.Imnotstupid,hesaid.Iheardwhat

yousaid,Ijustdontbelieveit.Thewomannoddedslightly.IsupposeinyourpositionIwouldfeelthesameway.Shemotioned

tothehouse.Woulditbepossibletogoinsideandtalkaboutthis?He looked at the two armedmen.To think themost excitement hedbeen expecting in his quiet

Sundayafternoonhadbeentocatchacoupleoffootballgamesontelevision.Sure.Willtherent-a-copsletyoudothat?Neither securityperson responded tohismild insult.The taller of the two turned to thewoman.

Weregoingtohavetosearchthehouse.Doyoumind?AlexaskedMitch.Itsreallyaformality.Imsureyoureverysafe.Thanks for thevoteofconfidence.Hehad the strangest feeling thathedbeendropped intoa

moviesomewhereinthemiddle.Hehadnocluewhatwasgoingonandhewasntsurehewantedtoknow.Ifyoullgivemeaminute, the tallermansaid, thenwalkedup the three stairsandacross the

porch.Hepausedatthefrontdoor.Yourekidding,right?Mitchasked.Notreally.Thebodyguardslippedathinwalletoutofhisjacketpockettheoneontheoppositesidefromthe

gun.HeopeneditandhandedittoMitch.Mitchstudiedtheofficialbadges.Thetoponeshowedaroyalcoatofarms,whilethebottomcame

fromtheU.S.StateDepartment.TheresaphotoIDaswell,themanofferedhelpfully.Mitch flipped to the picture and noted the card below, then handed the wallet back to Reginald

Rowan,securityexpertandamanlicensedtocarryahandguninatleasttwocountries.Door sopen,Mitchsaid.Idontbothermuchwithlocks.Therearentmanystrangersouthere.

Atleastnotuntiltoday.Hownice,Alexsaidassheglancedaround.Itsveryprivate.Youmustlikethat.Iguess.Hisgazemovedfromherbacktotheremainingsecurityagent,tothebulgeofthemansgun,tothe

sleekJagparkedinfrontofthehouse.Ifitwasajoke,someonehadgonetoalotoftroubletomakeitlookreal.Heshrugged.Whatdiditmatter?Hewouldplayalongforawhile,justtofigureoutwhateveryonewanted.

***

TwentyminuteslaterheandAlex,asshedinsistedhecallherdespitefrownsofannoyancefromthesecuritymen,satacrossfromeachotherattheoldoaktableinthekitchen.Mitchtriedtoconcentrateonwhathisguestwassaying,butallhecouldthinkwashowtickedoffBetty,hishousekeeper,wasgoingtobeifAlexturnedouttobetherealthingandshedmissedherchancetomeetroyalty.SothelasttimemyparentswereinAmericawastwenty-nineyearsago,Alexsaid,continuing

herstory.Theybroughttheirchild,James,withthem.Hewasbarelyayearold.Andthatswhenhewaskidnapped?Mitchasked.Right.TheydbeenstayingatthefamilyhomeinAspen,Colorado.Idontknowallthedetails,of

course.Iwasntevenborn.FromwhatIvelearned,amassivesearchwasinstigated,butitwasasifthebabyhadjustdisappeared.Aransomnotehadbeenreceived,confirmingeveryonesbeliefthatthekidnappingwasformonetarygainandnotpoliticalpurposes.Butyourfamilydidntpayintime?Alexleanedforwardandrestedherforearmsonthescarredtable.Thatpartisalittlehazy.Ithink

the ransom was collected, but before it could be delivered, the authorities found the kidnapper shideout. Through some freak accident, the small cabin burned to the ground during the rescueattempt.Thekidnapper sbodywasfoundandidentified,andafewbitsofmybrother sclothingwerediscovered.Hewaspresumeddead.OnlyrecentlydidIreceivethisletter.She pulled a single sheet of paper from her handbag and passed it to him.Mitch read it once,

quickly,thenasecondtime.Hewashavingtroublekeepingtrackofeverythinggoingon.Oneminutehedbeenadmiringapairofprettylegsandthenexthewasreadingaboutalostroyalheir.Heglancedupfromthesheet.Thiscouldbeahoax.Iknow,butwehavetoassumeitsnot.Whatifmybrotherreallyisstillalive?SothatswhyyouwanttotalktoJohn.Shenodded. Wehavenowayofknowing ifhesJamesornot.According toGrandmaBeulah,

whomIspokewithyesterday,shethinksitsoneoftheothertwo.Alexpressedherfulllipstogether.Idontknowwhat to tellyouabouther information.Shes a lovelywoman,buthermemoryhasfadedandIwasntcompletelyconvincedsheevenknewwhyIwasvisitingher.FromwhatIcanpiecetogether, three boys around the same age came to The SunshineHomewithin a short time of thekidnapping.Thatinformation,combinedwiththefactthatababysbodywasneverrecoveredatthefireandGrandmaBeulahspossessionofJamessbabyblanketmeanstheresapossibilitymybrotheris still alive. Her blue eyes darkened. I dont suppose you remember anything that might behelpful.I was four when my family adopted John. Sorry, but I dont remember much except being

annoyedathavingtosharemytoys.Shesighed.Iunderstand.ImnotsurewhyImsurprisedthatthisisprovingdifficult.IsupposeI

hadhopedmysistersandIwouldflyoverhereandjustfigureoutwhathadhappened.Anunrealisticexpectationonmypart.Thetrailisyearsold,andtheoddsofJamesbeingalivehavetobeslim.Butweredeterminedtolearnasmuchaswecan.Whydidyourparentssendyouinsteadofhiringaprivateinvestigator?Alexflushedslightly.Thekingandqueendontknowabouttheletter.Therehavebeensomany

falseleadsovertheyears.Noneofuswantedtoupsetthemagain,especiallywiththempreparingforthecelebration.Everytimehe thoughthedfiguredoutwhatwasgoingon,she threwhimanothercurve.What

celebration?My fatherwillhavebeenking for twentyyearsnextyear.Theentire countrywillbehonoring

him.Itsatimeofgreatjoy,andmysistersandIdidntwanttodistractmyparentsfromthat.Ifwedofind James, then their happiness will be complete. If not, they wont have to deal with any moredisappointment.She folded her hands primly together.Mitch noticed she hadnt touched themug of coffee hed

offeredher.Wasnt itup to royal standards?Uh-oh. Ifhewasworryingabout royal standards, that

meanthebelievedherstory.Whichmeanthebelievedthatshewasaprincess.Maybehedbeenkickedintheheadearlierthatdayandhadntnoticed.As far as our parents are concerned, Alex continued, were on a tour of your country,

publicizingtheupcomingcelebration.Weremakingseveralpublicappearances.Theinvestigationisbeingkeptquiet.Mitch half glanced over his shoulder.Was there going to bemore of an invasion? Where are

yoursistersnow?InAspen.ImheretotalktoJohnandtogothroughrecordsatTheSunshineHome.Laura,our

socialsecretary,issettingthatupwiththepresentadministration.If Alexwasnt a real princess, she sure had her act together. She spoke formally enough to be

royalty.Heraccentintriguedhim.Asdidherperfectpostureandthefainttiltofherhead.HethoughtaboutaskingifshehadanyIDwithhermaybeabusinesscardwithalittlecrownonitorsomething.Heheldbackagrin.Thiswasntreallyhappening,hethought.Womenlikeherdidntstrollintothe

lives ofmen like him.Hewas a decent guywith a successful ranch.Hedbeen told hewasgood-looking,andforwhatitwasworthhebelievedit.Butaprincess?Noway.Whenishecomingback?Alexasked,interruptinghistrainofthought.Mitchlookedather.Who?John?Shenodded.Willhebehomethisevening?Mitchtookalongswallowofcoffee.IdontknowwhenJohnwillcomehome.Hesnotgonefor

theday,hes justgone.Hedoes thatkindof thing.He takesoffwithoutsayinganythingandcomesbackwhenhesdonewithwhateverhedbeendoing.Alexstiffened.Whatareyousaying?Wheredoeshego?HellifIknow.Hedoesnttalkaboutit.Itsjusthisway.Hesbeendoingitsincehewasateenager.

Forawhilemyfolks tried tokeephimon theranch,butherefused.Hewas toobig tosend tohisroom,sotheylethimgo.Whathewasntgoingtotellherwasthatforalongtimehedbeenhappytoseehisbrotherleave.Inthepastcoupleofyears,though,hedcometotermswithmanythingsandnowhemissedJohnwhenhewasgone.Butwhatifyouhavetogetintouchwithhim?Hemustphone.Sometimes.Notalways.Hisgazenarrowed. Idontknowwhat the rulesare likewhereyou

comefrom,buthereinthiscountry,noonehastocheckinifhedoesntwantto.Herfulllipspursedinobviousannoyance.IassureyouthatWynboroughisnotadictatorship.My

pointwassimplythatfamilymembersoftenprefertostayintouch.Whatiftherewasanemergencywithyourparents?Idonthaveananswertothat.IguessJohnwouldjusthavetolivewithwhathappened.Hershouldersslumpedalittle,thefirstslipofotherwiseperfectposture.ButIhavetotalkwith

him.Youreallythinkhemightbeyourbrother?Mitchaskeddoubtfully.John,thelostroyalprince?

Mitchturnedtheideaoverinhismind.No,itwasntpossible,wasit?Idontknowwhattothink,Alexadmitted.IjustknowthatImustspeakwithhim.Theybothheardfootstepsfromthehallway.Thesecuritymenwalkedintothekitchen.Princess

Alexandra,howlongareyouplanningtostaythisafternoon?thetallerofthetwoasked.Wehavealongdriveaheadofus.AlexlookedatMitch.Coulditreallybeweeksuntilhecomesback?Mitchnodded.She drew in a breath. Mr.Colton has informedme that his brother is away for an unspecified

periodoftimethatcouldturnintoseveralweeks.Iintendtostayintheareauntilhereturns.Thatsnotpossible,thesecurityagenttoldher.Wecantsparethemanpowertokeepyousafe

hereandtowatchyoursisters.Thenhiremorepeople.Andalertyourparents?Youreright,Alexsaidslowly.Theywouldquestionadditionalsecuritypersonnel,andIdont

wantthemworrying.ReturntoAspen.YoucanaskMr.Coltontophoneyouwhenhisbrotherreturns.Alex rose to her feet. Shewas tall, five-nine or five-ten. There was something regal about her

bearing,andwhensheturnedherfullattentiononthesecurityagent,Mitchalmostfeltsorryfortheman.Im going to assume that was a suggestion and not an order, Rowan, she said, her voice

cracklingwithice.Themaninclinedhisheadbriefly.Yes,YourHighness.However,itismyresponsibilitytokeep

youandyoursisterssafe.Thatmeanskeepingyoutogether.We have plans to go to different parts of the country as part of our tour.Well be attending

varioussocialfunctions.Agreed, and we have security set up for all those venues. What we dont have is enough

manpowertosetupaseparatehomebasehereinahotel.Youwouldbeatrisk,andIwillnotallowthat,maam.Itwasabattleofwills,Mitchthoughtasheleanedback,bracinghischairontwolegs.Giventhe

odds,hewouldputallhismoneyontheprincess.Shedidntlooklikethekindofwomanwhogaveineasily.Imnotleaving,shesaidevenly.IwanttobeclosesothatIcanspeaktoJohnColtonassoonas

he returns. Ialsoneed tospendsome timegoing throughrecordsatTheSunshineHome. Icandoneitherof those thingsfromAspen.Sheraisedherhand tosilence theothermanbeforehecouldinterrupt.Ifyouwantmetolivesomewheresecure,Iwill.Iknowaplacethatisrelativelyisolatedandhas alreadypasseda security check.She turned toMitch. Would it be toomuch trouble if Istayedherewithyouuntilyourbrotherreturned?

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