Lorenzo stiffened. Nora and Giulia exchanged concerned glances. Several moments of silence passed.
Nora spoke first. “Sabrina. This doesn’t change anything between us. Yes, I may be a princess with a few added responsibilities here and there, but I am still the same Austen-crazed BennetGal06 you’ve been in contact with over the last four of years.”
Sabrina’s hands trembled. She grew anxious. “But you’re the future queen, and I’m an unemployed nobody.”
Nora placed her hands on Sabrina’s shoulders. “Sabrina. That isn’t at all an accurate representation of who you are. Not only are you extremely knowledgeable about all aspects pertaining to the Regency period, but you are also one of the sweetest, most genuine people I have ever encountered.”
Sabrina took a few deep breaths. Her stomach was still tied in knots.
“Listen to Leonora,” Giulia emphasized, yet Sabrina’s attention was focused on Lorenzo. His face was drained of color. His shoulders sagged. He appeared defeated. In a deadly quiet voice, he whispered, “How long have you known?”
“Since the day I checked into Castillo Roccia.”
Quickly, Giulia added, “I told her. The fault is mine.”
Nora rolled her eyes. “In the three seasons I’ve held the chair of first violinist, I can count on one hand the number of times you or Lucia have made an active effort to visit. You two are bored to tears by classical music.”
He deflated. “Touché, Your Serene Highness.”
Sabrina’s stomach clenched. Up until this moment, she’d forgotten about the royal roots of the two Toscani siblings.
Nora is Leonora?.?.?. the Crown Princess of Isola Nostrum.
The shock of the news was catching up to her. Hearing it from Giulia had lessened the boom, but standing three feet apart from a prince and a princess suddenly brought everything into perspective.
Her vision suddenly grew fuzzy. Her chest tightened. “You two are royals,” she sputtered.
Lorenzo stiffened. Nora and Giulia exchanged concerned glances. Several moments of silence passed.
Nora spoke first. “Sabrina. This doesn’t change anything between us. Yes, I may be a princess with a few added responsibilities here and there, but I am still the same Austen-crazed BennetGal06 you’ve been in contact with over the last four of years.”
Sabrina’s hands trembled. She grew anxious. “But you’re the future queen, and I’m an unemployed nobody.”
Nora placed her hands on Sabrina’s shoulders. “Sabrina. That isn’t at all an accurate representation of who you are. Not only are you extremely knowledgeable about all aspects pertaining to the Regency period, but you are also one of the sweetest, most genuine people I have ever encountered.”
Sabrina took a few deep breaths. Her stomach was still tied in knots.
“Listen to Leonora,” Giulia emphasized, yet Sabrina’s attention was focused on Lorenzo. His face was drained of color. His shoulders sagged. He appeared defeated. In a deadly quiet voice, he whispered, “How long have you known?”
“Since the day I checked into Castillo Roccia.”
Quickly, Giulia added, “I told her. The fault is mine.”
“It doesn’t matter.” He clenched his fists. “History is repeating itself. I’m only a man as good as my birthright. Just once I’d like to meet a woman as a normal person.”
All of the air was leaving her body.
Nora whipped her head around. “Lorenzo Vincenzo Michael Toscani, what are you talking about?” Her hands maintained a firm grip upon Sabrina’s shoulders.
Lorenzo’s eyes flashed. “I was a fool to think Sabrina might be a woman I could find myself growing to love.”
Sabrina’s ears burned. “All because I knew you were a member of the royal family? But I didn’t know until after we’d met.” She saw stars.
What about the special moments we shared yesterday? Over the week?
“While that may be true, after my last relationship, I promised myself that I would only fall for a woman who had no inkling I was a prince. It would be the only sure-fire way to know that that person wantsmeandnotthe prince.” He rubbed his hair, the static electricity causing its ends to stick out like a lion’s mane. “You disappoint me, Sabrina. Was it always about my money?”
Sabrina swayed. Those three words, “you disappoint me,” made her feel as if Lorenzo was personally plunging an icy dagger into her body. She heard the raised voices of her parents blending with the sound of Lorenzo’s monotone voice. Flashes of her past threatened to envelop her.
