How to Propose to a Princess
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Rebecca Winters
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Harlequin
HarlequinCHAPTER ONE
THOUGH OFFICE HOURS for patients ended at 4:30 p.m. weekdays, and the receptionist had gone, Dr. Nico Barsotti didn’t say good-night to his last patient until five thirty Tuesday evening. Even after diagnosing her with strep throat and writing out a prescription, he still couldn’t call it a night. Before he could grab a bite in town on his way home, he needed to check on his nine-year-old patient, Tommaso Coletti.
Once he’d said good-night to his nurse who would lock up, he walked through the Hospital of the Three Crosses in the capital city of Domodossola to the pediatric floor in the other wing. The boy had suffered a ruptured appendix on Monday evening. Dr. Sala had performed the surgery, but Nico was his physician. He needed to follow up on the course of IV antibiotics he’d ordered and study the latest lab tests.
Nico nodded to the charting nurse at the station before walking into the room. He’d expected to see at least one of the boy’s parents. Instead he beheld a sight that brought him to a halt.
Sitting in a chair next to the bed reading to him was a woman probably in her midtwenties who had luminous golden hair that fell to her shoulders. She wore a light blue volunteer lab coat over a dark blue dress. He caught a glimpse of her lovely profile and moved closer to discover she was reading a book popular with children.
Adriano, il Cane di Pompei was the story of a special stray dog who saw ancient Pompei as a magical place with its archaeological sites. The smile on Tommaso’s face meant he was enjoying it. Who wouldn’t be mesmerized by the woman’s voice? She read it with all the charm and allure of a great storyteller.
He waited until she’d finished before walking over to the other side of the bed. His gaze met hers. Between her light sea glass blue eyes and golden hair, he couldn’t look anywhere else. Nico knew he’d seen that beautiful face before. But where?
The blonde knockout reminded him of a celebrity, but he couldn’t think which one. She gave him an enticing smile she probably wasn’t aware of. That’s when he remembered. Last month she’d been eating in the hospital cafeteria with Mia Giancarlo, one of the nurses. He recalled she’d been wearing a silky print blouse and skirt, her womanly figure transformed. Her image had stayed in his mind, and he’d been looking for her ever since.
“Look who’s here, Tommaso,” she said. “It’s Dr. Barsotti.”
The boy turned his head in Nico’s direction, his eyes excited. “Dottore—”
“Ehi, Tommaso. I can see you’ve been well entertained. Come stai?”
“Fausta has been reading to me!”
Fausta? The name rang a bell.
Santo cielo! Now it was all coming back to him. Princess Fausta Rossiano in the flesh.
“How do you do, Princess?” he said as he checked the IV bag and took Tommaso’s vital signs. “He’s a lucky boy to receive a visit from you.”
“I’m the lucky one, dottore.”
“Her name’s Fausta,” Tommaso corrected him.
Nico smiled to himself.
The three daughters of King Victor, ruler of the small country of Domodossola that touched on the borders of France, Switzerland and Italy, were known for their beauty. During these last few years there’d been two royal marriages, and their pictures had been on TV and in the newspaper. Nico ought to know since the magazines in his office put there for the patients were filled with royal news. There’d been constant speculation that the third stunning princess would be marrying a royal prince in the near future.
He shouldn’t be surprised that the yet unmarried daughter of the royal family would actually volunteer her time this way. They did a lot of admirable philanthropy for the country. Her friendliness had won over his patient.
“When can I go home?”
“You’re doing much better this evening, Tommaso. I’ll probably release you in the morning.” He turned to put some information into the computer.
“Not until then?” the boy muttered. “I’m fine now.”
“We must do what Dr. Barsotti says!”
Tommaso’s father had arrived. His wife followed him inside. Nico watched their interaction. Tommaso didn’t know how lucky he was to have loving parents. Nico had grown up in an orphanage run by the nuns. For years he’d been trying to find his parents and where he’d come from with no success.
After they thanked the princess for her time, she slipped quietly from the room. He gave instructions to the parents before he left to catch up with her. Strongly drawn to her by her appeal, he wanted to get acquainted, but other than staff, he saw no sign of her in the corridor.
He approached the charge nurse. “When did Princess Fausta start reading to the children?”
The other woman’s face broke into a broad smile. “She’s been a hospital volunteer for several months in the geriatric department. This week she was assigned to Pediatrics. So far, all the patients have been delighted. She has a real way with them. We’re excited she’ll be working with us until she’s transferred to another department.”
“When will she be here again?”
“Tomorrow. For the time being she comes on the afternoon shift four times a week.”
“I see. Thank you.”
Nico left the hospital, glad he had to wait only until tomorrow when he checked on another patient. Hopefully he’d find her here.
During the drive back to the palace in the limo, Fausta relived those moments in Tommaso’s hospital room when Dr. Barsotti had come in. Over the past two months she’d seen him several times from a distance when he’d come in to the hospital cafeteria. But they hadn’t actually spoken to each other until now.
Fausta hadn’t thought it possible to be attracted to another man after her heart had been broken four years ago. Dego Spinella had been her childhood sweetheart.
Dego’s father, Tano, had been the personal chauffeur for her father over the years. He, along with his wife and two children, lived in a house on the estate. Their son Dego was Fausta’s age. Along with her sisters, they’d all played outside together over the years. As they grew older, the friendship between Fausta and Dego grew into love.
They’d planned to go to the University of Domodossola together and then get married. But her dream was shattered when one day just before college started, her father told her that Dego was leaving for Rome, Italy, to attend college there. The king had made plans to pay for his lodging and tuition as his way of thanking Tano and their family for all their years of service.
In panic, Fausta had phoned Dego. “Why didn’t you refuse my father so we could be together?” she cried in despair. “That’s all you had to do!”
“How could I turn down his kindness, Fausta? As Papa said, this is a once in a lifetime opportunity for me. Our family doesn’t have that kind of money. But you and I will phone and send letters. After graduation we’ll be together again and make plans for our future.”
What future? You’ve stabbed my heart, Dego.
Fausta’s father hadn’t forced him to go. It had all been up to Dego, but he hadn’t fought for their love.
“Cara?” he’d prodded when she hadn’t answered. “Tell me you understand. Of course I love you and am going to miss you, but he’s been so good to our family and he is the king.”
That’s right, and she’d been born the daughter of a king instead of a commoner like she’d wanted to be. “I understand more than you think.”
Fausta had never liked being royal and her parents knew it, but the years growing up around Dego had been idyllic. He wasn’t royal and they got along so perfectly, she knew a marriage between them would end in a lasting love match. Her plans for them to get a little home in the city where they could raise a family and live a normal life with children had been her dream.
But his willingness to leave her without begging her to go to Rome with him was worse than a betrayal. She’d thought their love had meant everything to him, but nothing could have been further from the truth. Fausta had been living in a fantasy world with no substance. Many times they’d come close to making love but had decided to wait until they were engaged.
His sudden departure had left her feeling heartbroken and betrayed. Her father had known she was in love with Dego and she knew he didn’t like it. But he wouldn’t have stood in the way of her marrying if Dego had loved her enough.
The fact that Dego had left for Rome without agonizing over them being torn apart said it all. The phone calls and letters from him came less and less, killing her feelings. In time she learned he’d married an Italian girl. Dego had been subtly bribed, and more than ever she hated that she’d been born a royal.
In the last four years there’d been no other man. She knew her parents were hoping she’d end up marrying one of the princes on their short list. But that would never happen! One day she’d find herself a commoner who couldn’t be bought for any reason!
Her thoughts flashed back to Dr. Barsotti.
The second she’d laid eyes on the family practice doctor with his dark fringed midnight blue eyes and black-brown hair, his image had filled her thoughts. At six foot three with a rock-solid physique and potently male, no other man could come close to him.
Just hearing about his virtues from her best friend, Mia, revealed qualities beyond his looks. Besides being twenty-eight and single, he wasn’t a baron, a count, a duke or a prince. Pure and simple, he was a nonroyal doctor, already a revered professional who she doubted could be intimidated, manipulated or bought at any price.
Once in her apartment at the palace, she phoned Mia because she’d promised.
“Fausta? I’ve been waiting to hear from you.”
“I just barely got home from the hospital after my first shift on the pediatric ward. It was so much fun.”
“I know how much you love kids.”
“I do.” Fausta adored children and looked forward to the day when she had a family of her own and an attentive husband who had no other duties than to come home at the end of the day and be with them.
“Any sightings of Dr. Barsotti?”
She gripped her cell phone tighter. “He came in to check on one of his patients while I was reading to Tommaso.”
“How did that go? I guess the doctor went into shock to see Princess Fausta Rossiano working there.”
Fausta’s breath caught. “I hope it was a good one.”
A small laugh escaped her friend’s lips. “Do you honestly know a man who wouldn’t be thrilled to get near you if he could?”
“Mia—”
“Stop pretending when you know it’s true.”
“The good doctor didn’t seem to care that I left the room. I could have been wearing a quarantine sign for his lack of interest.”
“Don’t be ridiculous. You’re the daughter of King Victor, that’s why he played it cool. He doesn’t want to presume. Felipe is the same way when it comes to you.”
“I know.” Dr. Felipe Peletti, a friend of Dr. Barsotti’s in the same medical group, had been dating Mia. The two were in love. “There are certain lines they won’t cross.”
“I’m afraid most ordinary people, men in particular, have the same problem when it comes to your royalness,” Mia teased.
Fausta’s friend had never had that hang-up. They’d met in high school with no secrets between them. She was one of the few nonroyals who’d treated them like equals and Fausta loved her for it. “You mean my untouchableness.”
“If only the masses knew what a fun, easy person you are to be with.”
“Ditto. Now I’d better let you go. I know you have to be at the hospital first thing in the morning. See you for lunch at Babbo’s.” It was a trattoria around the corner from the hospital.
“Absolutely.”
“Ciao.”
Wednesday after office hours, Nico was elated to find the princess comforting his ten-year-old patient Gina. The girl suffered from a form of childhood absence epilepsy. Each seizure lasted ten to twenty seconds and ended abruptly. Two out of three children responded to treatment and the seizures usually disappeared by midadolescence.
He’d had her brought in for tests before he ordered medication for her. She was holding on to a new stuffed animal for dear life.
The princess looked up at him when he entered the room. She was a vision in a soft orange blouse and skirt beneath her lab coat.
“Here’s Dr. Barsotti, Gina.”
The girl looked frightened. “Are you going to give me a shot?”
He shook his head. “No. I just came in to see how you are doing.”
“Her mamma will be right back,” her visitor said with an entrancing smile.
Nico nodded before checking his patient’s vital signs. “In the morning you’ll be able to go home.”
“You see?” the princess assured her, patting her other arm.
“Am I going to die?”
“Of course not,” Nico answered her. “I believe this condition is going to go away by your midteens. Don’t be frightened by things some kids say to you. They don’t know what I know.”
A small smile broke out on her cute face. “Fausta brought me this white Lagotto hunting dog.” Fausta again. “She says her father has one.” That didn’t surprise Nico. The king was known to hunt. “I love him.”
The princess’s compassion and generosity impressed him. “I’d like to be a patient so she’d bring me one just like yours, Gina.”
“I might be able to arrange something,” their royal guest drawled without looking at him. She stood up as Gina’s mother came back in the room. “I loved spending time with you, Gina. Do everything the doctor says and I know you’ll get well too.”
“Do you have to go?”
“There’s another patient I have to visit, but I’ll keep you in my prayers.”
“Thank you for the dog.”
“You’re welcome.”
“Bless you, Princess,” her mother whispered. Their visitor was winning everyone over.
Like last evening, the princess slipped out of the room before Nico could stop her. He spent a few more minutes talking to his patient, then he left to find out where the princess had gone. The charge nurse said she was seeing a patient down the hall.
Nico waited and made phone calls for twenty minutes until she appeared and walked toward him. The second their eyes met, he realized how much he’d wanted to see her again.
He’d never been so drawn to another woman. That was the hell of it. She was a princess and had to be off-limits to a man who wasn’t of royal birth. At least he assumed as much, knowing her sisters had married royalty, plus listening to the speculation in the media of a royal marriage in her future. But he didn’t see an engagement ring on her finger.
“That was a generous gift you gave my patient.”
“I brought one for all the children and was happy to do it, but you have to know that what you said to her relieved her fear. It’s obvious you have a way with children.”
“You have your own magic.” He shifted his weight. “How much longer are you on duty?”
“I’m off now. Buona sera, Dr. Barsotti.”
He watched her walk away on those long slender legs. Unable to help himself, he followed her. “Princess?”
She turned around. Her exquisite blue eyes lit up. “Yes?”
“I’m headed for the cafeteria for a bite to eat. Would you care to join me before you leave the hospital? Or is there someone waiting for you?” Might as well find out right now.
“There’s no one. In fact, I’m headed to the cafeteria myself to get some work done. But first I need to get my laptop from my locker in the cloakroom off the cafeteria. If it’s all right with you, I’ll meet you there in five minutes.”
“That sounds perfect.”
Curious to know the nature of her work, he headed for the cafeteria. After going through the line, he found them a table. When she came in minus her lab coat, everyone stared at her. Whether she was a princess or not, her beauty drew attention, especially his.
She acted oblivious as she made her way to the table and put her computer on another chair. “I’ll be right back after I go through the line.” Upon her return he noticed she’d chosen coffee and a sandwich too. The second she sat down, she started eating. “Forgive me. I’m starving.”
“I can relate.”
Her gaze met his. “This afternoon I dropped in to see Tommaso and bring him a stuffed dog like the one in the story, but he wasn’t there. Obviously you released him this morning.”
Nico nodded as he drank his coffee. “If you’ll give it to me, I’ll pass it on to him when he comes in the office for a checkup. That’ll make his day.”
“He made mine. Thank you for offering. I’ll give it to you before you leave this evening. It’s in my locker.”
“I have a better idea. Why don’t you bring it to the pediatric floor tomorrow and leave it at the nursing station? I’ll meet you there after your shift has ended and take it with me. If you’re free, we could eat here in the cafeteria again.”
Her lips curved into another of those smiles he felt reach inside him. “I don’t normally have plans after work and would enjoy that very much.”
She radiated a warmth that crept under his skin, causing his pulse to race. How could it be that she wanted to be with him when she could have any man she desired?
“Bene.” He needed to focus before he got lost in those blue orbs. “Are you liking your volunteer assignment?”
She lit up. “I love it. If I’m blessed enough to be a mother one day, I plan to have a lot of children.”
Nico found himself envying the prince who would turn out to be her fortunate husband and father those babies. “What kind of work do you do that requires your laptop after volunteering here half the day?”
“I help fund-raise for my younger sister, Lanza. She’s in charge of setting up low income housing for veterans and others and setting up soup kitchens for the homeless. I spend my mornings calling on potential donors like CEOs who believe in helping with a financial contribution. In the evening I send them information and set up more appointments. That’s what I’m going to do right now.”
Nico finished the last of his sandwich. “I can’t think of a worthier cause.” He actually couldn’t and found her remarkable for caring so much. The male CEOs she met probably fell madly in love with her and would grant her what she asked for without thinking about it.
If he weren’t paying off a debt while he hired people to search for his parents, he would make a donation. “I suspect you’re anxious to get busy, so I’ll leave you to your work and see you tomorrow at the end of the day.”
“I’ll look forward to it, dottore.”
He hoped she meant that because the last thing he wanted to do was put distance between them. “Buona sera, Princess.”
Thursday evening Fausta’s pulse was racing as she left her last patient and walked down the corridor toward the nursing station. But the doctor wasn’t there waiting for her and her heart plummeted to her feet. She couldn’t believe how disappointed she was as she approached the charge nurse. How could she care about him this fast? What was wrong with her?
“Do you still have the stuffed dog I left here when I came on duty?”
“No. Dr. Barsotti took it and said he would meet you in the cafeteria.”
After struggling to recover, she thanked the nurse and left for the cloakroom. Once she’d hung up her lab coat and pulled out the laptop from her locker, she was so eager to see him, she could hardly catch her breath.
A chuckle escaped her lips when she saw him seated in a stone colored summer suit at the same table as yesterday drinking coffee. What a gorgeous man! He’d propped the dog on its backside in the chair next to him, like he was a diner too. Her eyes met the deep blue of the doctor’s and they both laughed. He had an imp inside him that played havoc with her emotions.
“You were amazing to find this terrier for Tommaso, Princess. He looks like the dog painted on the book cover.”
“I think he does too.” She left her computer on the other chair. “I’ll be right back. What are they serving tonight?”
“I hear it’s chicken and rice, but I think we should give it a miss.” He took a deep breath. “If I asked if you’d consider having dinner with me elsewhere, what would you say?”
She cocked her head, causing that golden mesh to swish against her shoulders. “Are you?”
“Am I what?”
“Asking me out to dinner?”
His adrenaline surged. “Yes.” Why not. This would probably be the only chance in his whole life to spend an evening away from the hospital with this stunning princess. Naturally she would have to be free of any commitments in order to accept.
“I’d love it” came the response, which astonished him again. She really wasn’t involved with someone? Earlier she’d told him there was no one, but he had to be sure.
“Are you honestly telling me there’s no prince in your future?”
“Nico—it’s true I’m under constant pressure to marry a prince on my parents’ short list, especially now that both of my sisters are married.” He knew it! “And of course, there’s continual speculation about my marrying a prince in the media. There will always be gossip. But in all honesty, I swear to you there’s no prince in my life and there never will be!” she said with such emotion, he knew she’d meant it.
Before he could say anything else, she blurted, “What about a woman in yours? How come you’re not going home to someone important this evening?”
“I date on occasion, but so far there’s been no one special.”
She smiled. “I’m going to take you at your word. Thank you for being truthful with me. Now that we have that settled, where shall we go? I don’t know about you, but I’m hungry.”
“How about Babbo’s?”
Her heart leaped. He’d just invited her on a date. “I’d love it.”
“Then let’s go.”
As she reached for her laptop, he picked up the dog and they left the hospital.
Fausta couldn’t believe he’d asked her out and was literally floating as they walked the short distance to the trattoria. For a while she could be the commoner she’d always wanted to be, going out to dinner with a fabulous man who wanted to be with her.
This was the normal life she’d always wanted! The way the women stared at him during their walk, she knew they’d give anything to be in her place.
When they reached Babbo’s, Nico found them a booth and they both ordered lasagna. After they began eating, she asked, “How was your day?”
“Busy. A fifty-year-old male patient of mine had his gall bladder removed this morning. His surgeon didn’t want to release him until tomorrow. Though he should do well, I need to know if there are any complications before I go home.”
“Where would our world be without doctors like you? I know my father relies on his. We’re all indebted to him.”
Nico blinked. “What’s wrong with him?”
“A bad heart. These days my brother-in-law Prince Stefano is helping him more and more with the load.”
“I’m sorry he’s not well.”
She sighed. “I am too and shouldn’t have said anything. No one outside the family knows.”
“Don’t worry. Your secret is safe with me.”
Fausta finished her coffee. “I believe you.” She’d lost her trust in men four years ago, but somehow she felt she could trust this doctor who took her breath away and had a bedside manner that instilled confidence in his patients.
One dark brow lifted. “Did you find any new benefactors this morning?”
She welcomed the change of subject. “Not today. Maybe tomorrow. Fund-raising takes time, but I had such a wonderful afternoon with the children, I can’t complain about anything.”
“Nor I.”
Suddenly his phone rang and he answered. When he hung up, he said, “I was afraid of this and need to check on my patient now. Tell me something. How do you get home at night?”
“Don’t worry about me. I call for the limo. The driver will pick me up here.”
“I’m sorry I have to go.” He got to his feet and picked up the dog. “Do you work tomorrow?”
Her pulse picked up speed. “Yes. Tuesday through Friday.”
“Unfortunately I have a two day seminar that will prevent me from meeting you. If you’re free Sunday evening, I’d like to see you again.”
“I want that too.” Her swift response thrilled him. “When you come to the palace, drive around to the left entrance and I’ll be there waiting for you. Just name the time.”
“Six thirty?”
“That sounds perfect. Thank you for dinner this evening.”
“I’m the one wanting to thank you for coming with me.” After reaching for the dog, he glanced at her. “I don’t want to leave, but work calls.”
“Don’t apologize. I bet your patient can’t wait to see you walk in his room. I know that’s how I would feel.”
If she didn’t miss her guess, she sensed he would rather stay with her. Heaven help her but she hated that the evening had to end so fast. Sunday sounded so far away.
“I’ll see you soon, Princess. And I’ll make certain Tommaso receives his gift when he comes in for his checkup.”
“Grazie. A presto, dottore.”
