Princess from the Shadows Maisey Yates Page 17
“And you gave me freedom. I’m not afraid of myself. Of passion. You accept me as who I am. And you’ve helped me do the same.”
“That’s love, Carlotta,” he said, as though he was suddenly the expert. “Love has no conditions. No bounds. I didn’t realize that until I met you. Thank you,” he said, his voice rough. “Thank you for finding me. I was buried underneath a facade I hated. You found me.”
Tears slid down her face, matching his. “I have loved every piece of you, Rodriguez. The man you showed the world, the father you are to our son, the man you are just for me. And I always will.”
Rodriguez didn’t bother to fight the emotion that was rushing through him, emotion he had kept shut off for so long. Emotion unlocked by Carlotta. By her love.
“I believe you.”
“Good, because I’ll always tell you the truth,” she said.
“I know.”
“I love you. And I want to marry you. Not to atone for anything, but because with you I’m free. With you I finally know who I am.”
“That’s good, Carlotta,” he said, taking her face in his hands, wiping her tears away. “Because you are exactly who I needed.”
EPILOGUE
“WE’RE outnumbered.” Rodriguez surveyed the lawn, crowded with toys and climbing structures, and children. Four of them, running everywhere.
Luca was chasing the three smaller children and they were shrieking with glee.
“Yes, we are,” Carlotta said, a smile lighting up her beautiful face. Seven years on and Rodriguez didn’t think he would ever get used to her beauty. He was struck by it every time he looked at her.
Elizabetta, their youngest daughter, ran over to the slide and took two stuffed owls from the end.
“Those owls have seen better days,” he said wryly.
“It’s true, but they’ve been well loved by all.”
Rodriguez turned to his wife, his heart, his soul. “Have I told you today that I love you?”
Her lips curved up into a smile. “You told me pretty emphatically this morning right after you …”
“I mean, have I told you since we got out of bed?”
“Once at breakfast. Then again during lunch. I think again when you passed me in the hall.”
“Then I should tell you again. I love you, Carlotta Anguiano.”
“And I love you too, more today than yesterday.”
Rodriguez pulled her close, holding her against his chest as they watched their children play. For a man who had worked so hard, for so long, chasing happiness, it was a wonderful thing to simply rest in it.
All the characters in this book have no existence outside the imagination of the author, and have no relation whatsoever to anyone bearing the same name or names. They are not even distantly inspired by any individual known or unknown to the author, and all the incidents are pure invention.
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First published in Great Britain 2012
by Mills & Boon, an imprint of Harlequin (UK) Limited,
Eton House, 18-24 Paradise Road, Richmond, Surrey TW9 1SR
PRINCESS FROM THE SHADOWS © Harlequin Books S.A. 2012
Special thanks and acknowledgement are given to Maisey Yates for her contribution to The Santina Crown series.
ISBN: 978-1-408-98197-9
53-0712
Harlequin (UK) policy is to use papers that are natural, renewable and recyclable products and made from wood grown in sustainable forests. The logging and manufacturing processes conform to the legal environmental regulations of the country of origin.
Table of Contents
CHAPTER ONE
CHAPTER TWO
CHAPTER THREE
CHAPTER FOUR
CHAPTER FIVE
CHAPTER SIX
CHAPTER SEVEN
CHAPTER EIGHT
CHAPTER NINE
CHAPTER TEN
CHAPTER ELEVEN
CHAPTER TWELVE
CHAPTER THIRTEEN