A Royal Christmas Princess

By Scarlet Wilson

After a tough year losing her mom and bills mounting, Holly Yates is in for a lonely Christmas. But when she hears a news report that the small principality of Coronia is looking for their lost princess, Holly is astounded to recognize the baby photo. It’s her!

Felix, also a Coronia royal, whisks Holly into her very own fairy-tale including a castle nestled within the quaint snow-covered Coronia capitol and her biological father, eager to meet his daughter. With Felix by her side as she meets the people of her would-be kingdom and prepares to attend a ball in her honor, Holly begins to fall in love, not just with Coronia, but also with the would-be prince.

Will the handsome prince still be at the side of this unexpected fairy-tale princess when the clock strikes midnight?

• Language: English
• Publisher: Tule Publishing
• Release date: Oct 11, 2016
• ISBN: 9781945879012

Scarlet Wilson

Scarlet Wilson wrote her first story aged eight and has never stopped.  She's worked in the health service for 20 years, trained as a nurse and a health visitor.  Scarlet now works in public health and lives on the West Coast of Scotland with her fiance and their two sons.  Writing medical romances and contemporary romances is a dream come true for her. 

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Author

Chapter One

Holly picked up the letters from the mat before she opened the door to leave her house. Bills. Her heart sank a little more than usual as she shuffled them under the rest of the mail. At least they weren’t final demands. But the truth was, they wouldn’t be far behind.

She flicked the light switch turning the Christmas tree lights off. This would be her last Christmas in this house. A house full of love. A house full of memories.

She wouldn’t let tears pool in her eyes. Her mom would hate that. Rex gave a little yap at her feet and she scooped her fluffy white Pomeranian up into her arms, giving him a tight hug. She wouldn’t be alone this Christmas. She wouldn’t.

We’ll be fine, Rex, won’t we? she said as she pulled her red knitted hat over her curls. Her phone started to sound as she pulled the door closed behind her.

Now both her mom and dad were gone the bills were just too much. The hospital bills had just about finished her. She’d been determined not to let her mom know how much they really were. Her mother’s dying wish was to be buried next to Holly’s father. They’d been true childhood sweethearts. But the funeral costs had been the icing on the cake. It was time to put the house on the market and look for something smaller. Something tiny, probably.

After Christmas, she whispered into Rex’s fur before setting him down on the snow covered sidewalk.

Her phone was still ringing. Santa Claus is Coming to Town echoed around her. Hi, Kelly? Yes, no problem. We’ve just left. I can pick up Arthur on the way.

Morning, Holly! shouted Mr. Banks from across the street.

She waved as she carried along the sidewalk. Morning!

She loved this street. Loved this neighborhood. She’d spent most of her life in this place. She knew just about every person here. From Mr. Banks who worked in a glass-making factory, to Lizzie Spence with her four kids, and old Mrs. Kingson who owned the shop on the corner of the street. Holly’s heart gave a swell, she’d miss every one of them when she had to sell up the family home.

Safe. That was how she’d always felt here. And loved.

She wiped a tear from the corner of her eye. Keep it together, girl. Who knew what kind of neighborhood she’d end up in? Would she have neighbors who would even say hello – or would she end up in one of those places where no one made eye contact with each other?

Rex gave a yap as he spotted another dog at the side of the road and stopped dead, meaning she almost tripped over the white and tan fur ball. Hey, stop it, tiny. Stop trying to trip me up. We’ll be at the park soon. Behave.

Rex gave her a look. Who said dogs couldn’t communicate? The message was clear. I’m in charge.

Ten minutes later, a dalmatian, a spaniel, and a terrier in tow, she was ready to hit the park. Come on, guys. This will be fun.

They strode across the bridge and around the edges of the frozen lake. This was her favorite route. A few kids were shaking snow from the branches of nearby trees. The snow-topped pagoda in the middle of the park looked like a Christmas cake decoration.

The park was always her first stop – even when the wind whistled and the rain was lashing. She loved the green, open space just round the corner from the built up streets. A few children were throwing stones into the lake, trying to break through the ice. Remnants of a snow man was next to them, and Holly gave a laugh as she noticed the snow stuck to the back of their jackets. Snow angels. It was years since she’d done anything like that.

Her friends – a collection of fellow dog walkers were crowded around a nearby coffee stall. Frank, the coffee stall owner, had hers ready as soon as she approached. Here you go, Holly. Gingerbread latte.

She switched the leads into one hand, grabbing some dollars from her pocket. Thanks Frank. She inhaled deeply.

Coffee was her only vice. She’d cut costs everywhere else but here. Her computer had died recently and couldn’t be fixed. Her internet connection had been sacrificed a few months ago. Thank goodness she had some shifts reshelving books at the local library at night. Free wifi and free computers.

Shannon, a fellow dog walker with a pixie cut and a hat pulled down to almost her nose, nudged her. Any news on the job front?

Holly shook her head. Carey’s have already hired their Christmas staff. Shaw’s can only give me afternoon shifts when I’m working at the library in the evening. I might have to think about some night shifts at the bakery.

Wouldn’t you be better asking for evening shifts at Shaw’s?

But then I’d need to give up the library. She shook her head as she knelt down next to the dogs to give them a rub. There are a few agency shifts, too. But they’re only sporadic. Not enough to give up my boys. Anyway, I love this. Who wants to be stuck inside all day?

Me, Jack muttered. It’s freezing all day.

Holly leaned over and gave him a hug. Jack had been paid off from an IT job in the city a few months ago. He’d started dog walking when all other job applications had failed. The two golden retrievers he walked in the mornings had boundless energy. The way they were watching him earnestly – wondering when they’d start walking again – brought a smile to her face.

She looked back to Shannon. I still have the Sunday shift at the football stadium. It pays better than anything else.

But Shannon had stopped listening. The rest of the dog walkers’ eyes were on the small screen on the coffee cart. Holly straightened up and nudged forward to view the screen.

People flocked today to Baltimore’s exclusive Memorial Hotel claiming to be the Lost Princess of Coronia. Cassie Carmen, the national entertainment reporter, flicked her hair and gave her usual condescending glance at the camera.

Holly sighed. She tried not to watch any of the entertainment news. Cassie Carmen seemed to thrive on scandal and broken hearts. At the merest hint of a story she would climb on the first flight and swoop in for the kill. The woman practically had ambition tattooed on her forehead. There was a rumor that the anchor of the rival – and more widely watched – entertainment show was about to retire. Chances were that Ms. Carmen would do anything for that job. But for some reason, today, Cassie Carmen didn’t look quite as composed as she normally did. She tugged at the collar of her dress as if it were irritating her.

The camera panned to an enormous queue of women outside the hotel only five minutes from where they were currently standing.

The story then cut to someone else. Now she understood why Cassie Carmen was excited. The flush around her collar was creeping up around her neck.

A guy with tanned skin, blue eyes, and short blond hair. He was a mix between two of the latest characters from the superhero team movie Holly had just watched. One guy with bows and arrows and one with a big hammer. We are still searching for the girl in the photograph. Holly sucked in a breath at his voice. His accent sent shivers to places that seriously needed awakening. It is vital that we find her. We don’t even have a name. Only that she was thought to have been taken to the Baltimore area many years ago.

Shannon threw her hands in the air nearly knocking Holly’s coffee cup. I’m right here, honey!

Hey, Holly nudged Shannon back out of the way. Who is that?

Jack narrowed his gaze. What do you mean – who is that? Haven’t you been watching the news?

Holly drew her eyes away for a second. What news? Some of us have three jobs, Jack.

Lynn rolled her eyes. All you need to know is he’s my future husband. She flicked her hair. He just doesn’t know it yet. I’m going to get myself down to the Memorial and join that line.

Holly frowned. I still don’t get it. What are they talking about?

Jack laughed. Well you must be the only girl in Baltimore. They’re looking for a lost princess. He waved his hand as he juggled his coffee, an apple, and three dog leashes.

Holly’s eyes were focused back on the screen. He was talking again. She wanted to listen but everyone was chattering around about her. He ran his hand through his hair as he spoke; there was frustration on his face, little lines around his pale blue eyes. He was wearing a pale blue shirt that was open at the collar and a navy suit jacket. Even though he was sitting she could sense the cut of the jacket and shirt. It probably cost more than she currently earned in a year.

But there was something about him that was mesmerizing. She glanced at the faces around her. They were all fixated on the screen. It seemed it wasn’t just her that was affected.

Cassie Carmen shifted in her seat, leaning forward and holding the microphone closer to the guy. She licked her red lips while her other hand gave her shirt a little tug.

To the uninitiated in the ways of love, it might look like a simple straightening. To a woman who could recognize a fellow predator at fifty paces, Holly realized the reporter was just making her cleavage more visible. She almost laughed out loud. It was like the move of a teenage cheerleader around her favorite player.

The man started speaking again. Prince Alfred is very sick. He has no official heirs. He has revealed that he once had a daughter. A daughter he has never met or was introduced to. The last part was added on quickly, as if to make some kind of excuse for the big reveal. It’s vital we find her. Coronia needs a new heir.

But aren’t you the new heir? Cassie batted her obviously false eyelashes at him.

He shifted uncomfortably in his chair as she leaned a little closer. Not really. I’m a distant relative. A way, way distant relative.

But you’re still the heir of the Coronia throne?

Unless they find Prince Alfred’s daughter. She is the true heir to the throne. He moved his position towards the camera, pointedly ignoring the reporter. "Can you show the picture again please? If anyone recognizes the toddler in the photo, can you get in touch with me please? She’d be around twenty-five now. We know her birth name but we’re sure her name was changed. We have no idea what her name is now. Get in touch with the press office at Coronia. Please."

Holly jerked back a little at the intensity of his gaze, the emphasis on his words. This guy really did want to find this missing princess.

But why? Didn’t he want to be prince?

A red manicured hand tugged at his sleeve. But you’ve already had hundreds of women get in touch, Cassie gave a little laugh, Haven’t any of them met your requirements?

Did she actually just say that? Did she? Shelley shook her head in disgust and turned away.

Holly pulled her gaze away and took a sip of her coffee. I’ve missed all this. How could I miss all this? The screen shot back to the line of women. Are all those women pretending to be the missing baby? She burst out laughing. Some of them look at least sixty? How can they pretend to be twenty-five?

Jack nudged her. Give me another day and I’ll be joining the queue. How bad can Coronia be? How do you think I’d look in a dress? I could pretend to be a girl – I’m the right age at least.

The rest of the dog walkers laughed.

Holly took another sip of her coffee as the dogs tugged at their leashes. I have to go, these guys are getting fed up with my loitering. A few flakes of snow started to fall around them.

Shannon pulled up her hood. Uh oh, blizzard time.

Holly flung her coffee cup in the trash can and went to tug up her hood too but something caught her eye.

The screen was filled with a picture of a baby. A baby with a mass of dark curls and a cheeky grin. She was sitting on the floor and wearing a white lace dress.

She froze as every single breath of air left her body.

Jack and Shannon had started talking next to her. But their voices had muted to just a buzzing noise. The picture wasn’t ancient – it wasn’t black and white. But you could tell it was older. The color had faded. The quality wasn’t as sharp as digital cameras these days.

Every single hair on her body stood on end.

She recognized that picture. It had stood on the dresser in the sitting room for years in a silver frame.

She squeezed her eyes closed for a second and then opened them again. This must all be in her head. Everyone that was her age must have a picture like that. That had been the trend. The sit-on-the-floor with a big dress photo. That was all it was. It must be.

She opened them again. The photo was still there.

It was the dress. The dress. It wasn’t the usual fluffy styled dress of white cotton, trimmed with something, and a few layers of sticky-out net underneath.

This dress was made of lace. Heavy duty intricate lace. One didn’t really notice unless they looked closely. Most of the lace had a fine white lining under it. But the fair skin of the baby’s arms could be seen through the unlined cap sleeves.

Her arms.

She was going to be sick – right now, all over her winter boots.

Jack looked over his shoulder. Holly, you okay?

Frank from the coffee cart leaned towards her. You’ve gone kinda pale. Do you need to sit down?

She shook her head and spoke automatically. I’m fine, Frank.

Her legs started walking in the most familiar direction. Through the trees, and along the other side of the lake. She normally enjoyed the walk – no matter what the weather – but today was different. She was hardly conscious of the large flakes of snow landing on her skin, or the bite of the air around her.

There were too many thoughts swirling around in her brain. Her stomach kept lurching, threatening to reintroduce her gingerbread latte to the world. All of a sudden the morning coffee didn’t seem like such a good idea.

She pulled out her phone from her pocket and cursed when she realized she had no internet. The library – her second home – she could use the internet there.

Her steps lengthened, the dogs yapping happily at her heels. How, how could some complete stranger have a picture of her?

Or maybe it wasn’t her. Maybe it was just a weird coincidence of another little girl with dark, curly hair, green eyes, and a dress that she’d always thought was a one off.

Her feet stopped dead in the snow. The pull from the dogs on the leashes nearly catapulted her forward. But her body was a dead weight.

What if that little girl really was her? Her