“Leslie Ann Parker dropped a royal bomb last night with her piece onThe Rest of the Story. Recap on ourYouTube.”
–LTV-1
“Are you KIDDING!? The Queen’s Secret American Baby? The House of Blue has entered a romantic novel cliché.”
–The Lauchten LOUD!
“Queen, Privy Council, PM Discuss Succession. Can It Be Challenged?”
–The News Leader
“TheMorning Show’s Leslie Ann Parker is all guts. Wow!”
–LauchtenlandTweet
“Maddie, I never. Did you? Queen Catherine II has a love child.”
–Madeline and Hyacinth Live!
“Queen to release a statement today at 3 o’clock.”
–The Chamber Office
“Our requests for an interview have been denied so far. But we’ll keep trying. Until then, we wish the Family all the best as they walk through this together.”
–Tamma Tucker News at Noon
“Wishing Prince John and Lady Holland all the best joys of this season, especially in light of recent news. Can’t wait for the ball and the wedding!”
–Loyal Royals Blog
“Prince Gus set to host wedding ball for his brother. Will he go stag? Or has he found love again with Daffodil Caron, the girl on the quay?”
–The Talk Mag
Chapter Twenty-Nine
Catherine
She was glad to wake up in Hadsby Castle Monday morning. Perrigwynn and the surrounding city were buzzing with the news.
Queen Catherine II’s love child.
She suspected the media would swarm Hadsby and the hamlet by the end of the day.
For thirty-five years she’d believed there was no option but to keep her secret. No one must know. She was a Crown Princess. An example to young women and men. The leader of a proud country.
She had goals, plans, and dreams. An educational path to follow. Yale Law followed by a rotation of legal internships throughout Lauchtenland courts. Then a term at Haxton to study economics. Another to study agriculture.
Since she was eighteen, Dad included her in meetings with his privy council, the Prime Minister, church leaders, and business executives.
Then there were dances and dinners, parties and holidays in Switzerland and the south of France.
When Dad passed her the crown, she’d be ready. But she had years and years to be a princess. Why, she’d be a grandmother herself by the time Dad went to glory. Until then, she’d make Dad proud by honoring her royal position and duty.
Then Trent O’Shay waltzed into her life…and captured her heart, mind, soul, and strength. For all her education, no one had ever schooled her in the blinding euphoria of love.
Her twenty-first birthday was the highlight of her life. So grown and mature, so she thought, she gave herself that night to the man she loved.
