The Princess's New Year Wedding. Rebecca Winters

keeping faith with a sacred pledge your brother made to Princess Lanza a year ago. She’s been groomed to become Alberto’s bride. For the past year her life has been put on hold because she wears our family betrothal ring. All this time she’s been faithful to their pledge, preparing for their wedding day.”

      Stefano shook his head. “No one could have imagined this crisis. It changes all the rules.”

      “Except for one thing your father and I have never told you about because we didn’t think we would have to.”

      Fearing what he’d hear, Stefano’s heart jolted in his chest. “What do you mean?”

      “On the morning you turned eighteen, your brother came to us in secret. He wanted to give you a gift he knew you wanted more than anything on earth.”

      His brows furrowed. “What was that?”

      “What else? Your freedom.”

      “I don’t understand, Mamà.”

      “Then let me explain. You never wanted to be a royal. You made it clear from the time you were old enough to express your feelings. Alberto adored and worshipped you. By the time you turned eighteen, he was afraid you’d never be happy. He literally begged us to let you live a life free of royal duty.

      “He loved you so much, he promised that he would fulfill all the things we would have asked of you as a royal prince who would rule one day so you could have the freedom to live life without the royal trappings. That was the bargain he made with us.”

      “A bargain? That’s why you suddenly gave in to me?”

      His father nodded solemnly. “The only reason, figlio mio. You two were so close, he put you before his own wants or desires. He convinced us you had to be able to go out in the world free to be your own person. Otherwise you’d die like an animal kept in a cage.”

      Alberto had actually told them that?

      “All he asked was that we agree. Then he would do everything and more than we expected of him as a crown prince, and…he consented to become betrothed to Princess Lanza on whatever date we chose. He knew how much we loved her growing up. She was always a delight. In truth, he wanted his elder brother’s happiness above all else, and made that request of us out of pure love.”

      Stefano stood there rigid as a piece of petrified wood. His parents had never lied to him. He had to believe them now. Because of his brother’s love and intervention—and not because of his parents’ understanding—Stefano had been able to escape the world he’d been born into all this time.

      His mother walked over to him and put her hands on his shoulders. It pained him to see the lines of grief carved in her features.

      “His only desire was that you never know how he pled for you. He worried that if you ever found out the truth, you would always feel beholden to him. That request was his unselfish gift to you.”

      Unselfish didn’t begin to describe what Alberto had done to ensure his happiness.

      In Stefano’s mind and heart, it was an unheard-of gift. He’d always loved his younger brother, his buddy in childhood. Alberto’s noble character made him beloved and elevated him above the ranks of ordinary people. Many times he’d heard people say that the good ones died young. His brother was the best of the best, and death had snatched him away prematurely.

      Overcome with emotions assailing him, Stefano wrapped his arms around his mother until he could get a grip on them, then he let her go. He was amazed his parents had so much love for their sons that they’d gone along with both his and Alberto’s wishes at the time. It was humbling and gave him new perspective.

      Her eyes clung to his. “Would you be willing to do what Alberto can’t do now? Take on the royal duty you were born to and marry Princess Lanza?”

      He inhaled sharply. “Do you think she would consent when she’d planned to marry Alberto?”

      “King Victor says his daughter will agree. You and Lanza knew each other in your youth and you have a whole year to get reacquainted.”

      “But that will be close to impossible, Papà. My schedule has been laid out with back-to-back visits of all the mines through the next eighteen months. There’s no time when so many managers are depending on me, especially with the new mining process I’ve developed.”

      His father cocked his head. “After we inform her and her parents of your official proposal of marriage, surely you could find a way to visit her once and stay in touch with her the rest of the time? Both King Victor and I have already talked to the cardinal, who has given this marriage his blessing.”

      Stefano could see the die had been cast.

      His mother eyed him through drenched eyes. “Our two countries have been looking forward to this day since you were all children. The citizens know that your business interests throughout the world have contributed to our country’s economy. Umbriano will cheer your reinstatement and honor your name for stepping into your brother’s shoes, believe me.”

      Stefano found all this difficult to fathom. There wasn’t time for him to get reacquainted with Princess Lanza. Even if parliament voted to reinstate him as a royal, he had crucial business issues around the globe.

      His father walked over to them. “I’ve never asked anything of you before, Stefano. I’ve allowed you to be your own person, free of all royal responsibilities, but fate stepped in and took Alberto away too early. Now is the time when your parents and Lanza’s are asking this for the good of both our countries.”

      “Alberto told us he hoped to have a family.” His mother stared at him with longing. “I’m sure Princess Lanza was planning on children, too. That dream is gone, but you could make a whole new dream begin. I’ve had that dream for you, too, Stefano.

      “On all your travels for business and pleasure, you’ve never brought a woman home for us to meet, let alone marry. We were prepared that you’d eventually want marriage and have a family, but it has never come to pass. If there’s a special woman, you haven’t said anything.”

      Stefano sucked in his breath. This whole conversation was unreal, including a discussion of a woman in his life he couldn’t do without. He’d met several and had enjoyed some intimate relationships, but the thought of settling down with one of them hadn’t entered his mind. As Alberto had said, he liked his freedom too much.

      “Have you even considered Princess Lanza’s feelings?” he asked them in a grating voice, struggling to make sense of this situation.

      His father nodded. “King Victor and I talked about it before the funeral. He’s as anxious as I for this to happen and has probably discussed this with her already. Victor assures me it’s in her nature to do what is good for both countries.”

      No normal woman worth her salt would agree to such a loveless marriage, but a royal princess was a different matter if she believed it was her duty. Over the phone a few months ago, Alberto had told him in private that Princess Lanza had a sweet, biddable disposition.

      Maybe she did. But the many royal princesses he’d met in his early teens were very spoiled, full of themselves, impossible to please, moody and felt entitled to the point of absurdity.

      His vague memory of Lanza was that she was nice, but that was years ago and she’d been so young. His brother was a kind, decent human being. Alberto always tried to find the best in everyone and had probably made up his mind to like her.

      After hearing what his parents had just told him about the sacrifice he’d made for Stefano, it was possible Alberto hadn’t liked Princess Lanza at all. But he would have pretended otherwise to fulfill his obligations after making the incredible bargain with their parents. It was Alberto’s way.

      Stefano shook his head. He wasn’t born with that kind of greatness in his soul. Humbled by what he’d learned, tortured by the decision his parents were asking him to make, he started for the door.