Not Fit for a King

EPILOGUE

IT WAS late. It had been a long day, and Zale was only now heading for Tinny’s rooms to say good-night to his brother.

But reaching Tinny’s living room, Zale’s tension and exhaustion eased, his shoulders relaxing as he spotted Hannah already there, sitting on the couch with Tinny reading him his favorite bedtime story.

Zale stood in the doorway a moment, content to just look at them and listen.

Hannah, his beloved princess, pregnant with his first child. And sweet, innocent Tinny who absolutely adored Hannah with all his heart.

What could be better? What more could a man want?

What more could a king need?

And for a moment his chest squeezed so tight Zale couldn’t breathe.

To think that the randomness of life could take Stephen and his parents, but save Tinny, and then give him Hannah?

To think that an impostor princess could turn out to be the real thing?

Impossible that Hannah was Princess Jacqueline’s other daughter, Emmeline’s missing twin and the keeper of his heart.

Zale felt hot emotion sweep through him, constricting his chest.

If Hannah and Emmeline hadn’t met in Palm Beach … If Emmeline hadn’t asked Hannah to switch places …

If Hannah hadn’t come to Raguva …

If Mrs. Sivka hadn’t broken her vow …

He gave his head a faint shake, overwhelmed all over again by fate. So many things could have gone wrong. So many things could have kept him from Hannah.

But they hadn’t.

Suddenly Hannah looked up, brow furrowed and then seeing him, she smiled. “You’re just in time for the last chapter.”

Her smile made him ache and it was almost too much, almost too strong, this fierce love he felt for her.

“Good,” he said, moving into the room and sitting down on the couch next to Hannah and Tinny. “This is my favorite part.”

“Because you love happy endings,” she said, smiling at him, her love for him so transparent, warming her beautiful blue eyes and curving her generous mouth.

“I do,” he answered, taking her hand and carrying it to his mouth. “Are you tired? Is the baby kicking too much?”

She touched her round belly. “He was, but now I think he’s listening. He knows his daddy is here.”

“Shall I read the last chapter then? Would you like that, Tinny?” Zale offered.

“Yes, Zale,” Tinny said, taking the book from Hannah’s hands and pressing it into his brother’s. “Yes, read it. Read it right now.”

Hannah laughed softly as the baby inside her kicked hard just then, a vigorous one-two. “I think your future footballer agrees,” she said, running her fingers across her ribs where the kick had been.

Zale’s eyes gleamed. “He does have a good kick, doesn’t he?”

“Most definitely.” She leaned back, resting her head on his shoulder. “Now read, please. I’m anxious to get to the part where the prince marries the princess and they all live happily ever after.”

“And they did, didn’t they?” he said, opening to the first page of the last chapter.

Her voice grew husky. “Yes. Yes, Your Majesty, they did. Very happily.”