The Prince's Scandalous Wedding Vow

She saved the merciless prince...

Now she must meet him at the altar!

When sweet scientist Josephine rescues a drowning stranger, she’s captivated by his devastating good looks and charm. Alexander doesn’t remember who he is, but the desire in his eyes sweeps innocent Josephine on an intensely passionate journey! Until it’s revealed he’s Prince Alexander, heir to the throne of Aargau... Now the threat of scandal means this shy Cinderella must become a royal bride!

Indulge in this deeply emotional royal romance!

Alexander glanced around the room, understanding where he was. Not in Aargau but in Greece, on this island with Josephine, who’d rescued him.

He looked over and there she was, still sleeping in the bed. Her bed. Her cottage. Her island, not his.

Her long honey hair spilled across her bare shoulder. She was stunning even in her sleep. His very own mermaid.

She’d saved him. He would have died—drowned—if not for her, and when he was still weak, she’d taken care of him. And then last night she’d told him she loved him, and he hadn’t answered her with words, but he’d shown her how much her faith in him mattered to him by making love to her for hours, worshipping her body since something inside him kept him from giving her his heart.

He’d thought that maybe he couldn’t give himself to her fully because he didn’t know who he was. But now he knew why he couldn’t love her. Because she wasn’t his, and he wasn’t free.

He was Prince Alexander Julius Alberici of Aargau, and he was betrothed to another.

New York Times and USA TODAY bestselling author Jane Porter has written forty romances and eleven women’s fiction novels since her first sale to Harlequin in 2000. A five-time RITA® Award finalist, Jane is known for her passionate, emotional and sensual novels, and loves nothing more than alpha heroes, exotic locations and happily-ever-afters. Today Jane lives in sunny San Clemente, California, with her surfer husband and three sons. Visit janeporter.com.

Books by Jane Porter

Harlequin Presents

Bought to Carry His Heir

A Dark Sicilian Secret

Duty, Desire and the Desert King

Conveniently Wed!

His Merciless Marriage Bargain

The Disgraced Copelands

The Fallen Greek Bride

His Defiant Desert Queen

Her Sinful Secret

A Royal Scandal

Not Fit for a King?

His Majesty’s Mistake

The Desert Kings

The Sheikh’s Chosen Queen

King of the Desert, Captive Bride

Stolen Brides

Kidnapped for His Royal Duty

Visit the Author Profile page at Harlequin.com for more titles.

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Jane Porter

The Prince’s Scandalous Wedding Vow

For Lee Hyat.

Thank you for being my first reader, my friend and my cheerleader.

This one is for you!

Contents

PROLOGUE

CHAPTER ONE

CHAPTER TWO

CHAPTER THREE

CHAPTER FOUR

CHAPTER FIVE

CHAPTER SIX

CHAPTER SEVEN

CHAPTER EIGHT

CHAPTER NINE

CHAPTER TEN

CHAPTER ELEVEN

EXCERPT FROM UNTOUCHED QUEEN BY ROYAL COMMAND BY KELLY HUNTER

PROLOGUE

PRINCE ALEXANDER JULIUS ALBERICI had known change was coming. His June 27 wedding to Princess Danielle would require a return to his Mediterranean island kingdom, Aargau, for prewedding festivities. After the ceremony and reception, a two-week honeymoon had been planned, and then he’d finally be free to return to Paris with his bride, where he oversaw an international environmentalist group focused on improving sustainability in fragile ecosystems.

His work was his passion, and Danielle had expressed support for his work—a positive in an arranged marriage. She’d also agreed at the time of their betrothal to live wherever he chose, understanding that ultimately they’d end up in Aargau as soon as Alexander needed to step into his father’s shoes and ascend the throne.

But that day—replacing his father—was supposed to have been years away, decades away, as his father was a strong, athletic man and a vigorous, powerful king. Or he had been, until his winter cold lingered into early spring, a nagging cough that wouldn’t clear even with antibiotics. And then in mid-April came the diagnosis of lung cancer and now King Bruno Titus Alberici had been given months to live. Months.

It was unthinkable, unfathomable. Alexander had never been close to his father—King Bruno might be beloved by the people, but he was cold and unforgiving behind closed doors—yet Alexander couldn’t imagine the world without his fierce, unapologetic father. Now his father was determined to manage his death, just as he’d managed his life—without emotion or weakness. To that end, there would be no changes in palace life or protocol. Alexander’s late-June wedding would not be moved forward. Bruno’s illness would not be made public. There would be no changes in wedding date or venue. There would be no acknowledgment of ill health.