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Prince Henry's Secret
by Esmerelda Bishop
Category: Romance/Fantasy
Description: Prince Henry's world is in chaos. First, a witch has cursed him with a wicked spell that prevents him from marrying or being king. Second, his parents are relentless in their pursuit to see him married. Third, Princess Madeline has set her sights on him and refuses to take no for an answer. Worse yet, he longs to give in, but knows he cannot. Princess Madeline arrives in Flatasmere with a warning from her parents not to return until the prince is snared into holy matrimony. Not an easy feat, since he's been in hiding ever since her arrival. When they finally meet, Madeline believes she is making headway, until the prince claims he wants to be the dreaded word "friends". Refusing to accept such a cruel label, she increases her pursuit. But dark secrets lurk in the background. Will the reveal of Prince Henry's secret convince Madeline not every fairy tale ends in happily ever after?
eBook Publisher: Freya's Bower/Freya's Bower, 2008 2008
eBookwise Release Date: September 2009
 
2 Reader Ratings:
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Available eBook Formats: OEBFF Format (IMP) [30 KB]
Words: 5283
Reading time: 15-21 min.
All Other formats: Printing DISABLED, Read-aloud DISABLED
"A lovely short tale, highly enjoyable..." ~ 4 Flutes from Lovely Butterfly, Cocktail Reviews; "a cute, short, and simple story with an interesting idea... A quick but fun read..." ~ 3.5 Books by Stacey, Manic Readers
From his bedchamber window, Prince Henry watched the fair princess walk along the water's edge. Longing tightened his chest.
Princess Madeline.
His Princess Madeline.
A mere sennight ago she'd arrived in the kingdom--the guest of the king and queen. He knew his parents' agenda: for him to fall in love. They had succeeded in that. Princess Madeline had stolen his heart the moment she had graced her first smile upon him.
He'd been in hiding ever since.
Unable to view the future that was outside his grasp, Henry turned away from the window. He understood his parents' pressure, understood that he would one day be king. That one day, he would have to produce an heir. The latter was impossible. No one knew his secret, a dark, deadly secret that he'd carried deep within him for the last five years. One moment of arrogance had cost him his life.
In hindsight, he deserved the punishment, but until meeting Princess Madeline, he had not completely understood the repercussions. He peered through the window. Hair, the color of wheat, cascaded around her tiny waist, the wind gently whipping the blonde strands into the air. Her cerulean gown was made of the finest silk and caressed her body in ways his hands wished to do. She was a vision, a siren who stirred his most primitive instincts. As each day passed, he found it increasingly difficult to stay away. Today being the hardest.
She bent down and trailed her fingers in the sand, leaving winding grooves in the wet earth. His longing intensified. What would it hurt to speak with her?
He could not act on his feelings, but that did not mean a conversation was out of the question. If he stayed aware of his actions, kept an iron-handed control over his emotions, he could get to know the beautiful maiden.
The notion of speaking to the princess lifted the heaviness from his heart.
His decision made, he hurried from the room and down the spiral stone staircase. He burst from the castle; warm, salty air greeted him, and he rushed across the lush green lawn. Yet, the closer he came to the sound of crashing waves, the more nerves churned his stomach.
What was he doing? This was thoughtless.
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