A Royal Baby For Christmas. Scarlet Wilson

his nose. ‘If I never see you again it will be too soon. Next time find someone else to train your surgeons. Preferably someone who doesn’t mind being deceived and lied to.’

      He drew himself up to his full height. On any other occasion she might have been impressed. But that day? Not a chance.

      His mouth tightened. ‘Have it your own way.’

      ‘I will,’ she’d shouted as she’d swept out of the chalet and back into the waiting car. ‘Take me back to my hotel,’ she’d growled at the driver.

      Heavens. She hoped she hadn’t got that poor man fired. He hadn’t even blinked when she’d spoken. Just put the car into gear and set off down the mountain road. Her last view of Seb had been as he’d walked to the door and watched the car take off.

      Now, it seemed all a bit melodramatic.

      She’d never admit she’d cried on the plane on the way home. Not to a single person. And especially not to a person she’d now have to tell she was carrying his baby.

      Her eyes came into focus sharply and she leaned forward.

      The tickertape stream of news changed constantly. Something had made her focus again.

      She waited a few seconds.

      Prince Sebastian Falco of Montanari has announced his engagement to his childhood friend Princess Theresa Mon Carte of Peruglea. Although the date of their wedding has not yet been announced it is expected to be in the next calendar year. The royal wedding will unite the two neighbouring kingdoms of Montanari and Peruglea.

      Every single tiny bit of breath left her body. Her stomach plummeted as a tidal wave of emotions consumed her.

      It was as if the glacier ice pool she’d imagined on the mountain of Montanari had followed her home. Nausea made her bolt to the bathroom.

      This wasn’t morning sickness.

      This was pure and utter shock.

      He was engaged. Sebastian was engaged.

      As she knelt on the bathroom floor she felt momentarily light-headed. Could this be any worse?

      She squeezed her eyes closed. Trying to banish all the memories of that weekend from her mind. Her body responded automatically, curling into a ball on the ground. If she didn’t think about him, she couldn’t hurt. She couldn’t let herself hurt like this. She had a baby. A baby to think about.

      She pressed her head against the cool tiles on the wall.

      Pregnant by a prince. An engaged prince.

      Funnily enough, no fairy tale she’d ever heard of ended like this.