The Accidental Princess

209 Pages·2016·1.07 MB·English

by  Willingham Michelle

“Tell me to stop.”
But she didn’t. She had broken so many rules today.

His gaze was heated, his eyes burning with a warning she couldn’t heed.
Something about this man drew her in, tantalizing her with the promise of
physical pleasure.

“Don’t stop. I need this….” She didn’t even understand what she was asking for.

“So innocent.” His mouth moved over her skin, caressing her with his warm
breath. Like before, her body came alive, needing him to touch. To taste.

Michael pulled her against him, though he didn’t hold her tight. “This is your
last chance to run away. I’m not above taking what’s offered.”

“Show me what it’s supposed to be like,” she murmured.

The words were all the encouragement he needed, covering her breathless mouth
with his own. Instinct took over, and Hannah kissed him back, ignoring every
warning that flew into her mind. She didn’t care. Soon enough, she’d never see
him again.

And by heaven, if she was going to be ruined after today, she might as well have
a memory to show for it.

The Accidental Princess Harlequin® Historical
Author Note
I’ve always loved princess stories, ever since I was a little girl. I devoured
Grimm’s fairy tales and other classics such as A Little Princess by Frances
Hodgson Burnett and The Prince and the Pauper by Mark Twain. I wanted to
explore the idea of a soldier hero, Michael Thorpe, who looks nearly identical to
a crown prince. Throughout the book, Michael must question his past and
discover whether he was an illegitimate son or the true prince.

Lady Hannah Chesterfield, the daughter of a marquess, is drawn to Lieutenant
Thorpe, though she knows she can never wed a soldier. As Michael’s secrets
unfold, Hannah is forced into a fascinating world of intrigue and royalty.
Ultimately, she must decide whether or not to face her greatest fears,
surrendering to her hidden desires.

I hope you enjoy The Accidental Princess, and I also invite you to try its
companion book, The Accidental Countess, about Hannah’s older brother
Stephen Chesterfield, the Earl of Whitmore. You can also find behind-the-scenes
information about my books on my Web site, www.michellewillingham.com.

I love to hear from readers, and you may e-mail me at
[email protected], or write to me at P.O. Box 2242 Poquoson,
VA 23662, United States.

Warmest wishes.
The Accidental Princess
MICHELLE WILLINGHAM
Praise for Michelle Willingham
Her Warrior Slave
“Michelle Willingham writes characters that feel all too real to me. The tortured
soul that is Kieran really pulled at my heartstrings. And Iseult’s unfailing search
for her lost child made this book a truly emotional read.”
—Publishers Weekly
“Willingham skillfully combines a cast of wonderfully original characters with a
refreshingly different, meticulously detailed setting to create a vivid tale of love
and danger in medieval Ireland.”
—Chicago Tribune
Her Warrior King
“The MacEgan tales just keep getting better. With Her Warrior King, Michelle
Willingham has set a new standard of excellence. We will all be impatiently
awaiting the next novel.”
—CataRomance (4.5 stars) The Warrior’s Touch
“[A] thought-provoking tale of love in the second installment of the MacEgan
Brothers.”
—RT Book Reviews (4 stars) “I know we all wish we could have a MacEgan for
our very own, but since we cannot, be sure to pick up this not-to-be-missed tale
of the MacEgan Brothers.”
—CataRomance (4.5 stars) Her Irish Warrior
“Willingham not only delves into medieval culture, she also tells the dark side of
being a woman in that era…The bright side is that in romantic fiction, a happy
ending is expected, and it’s delivered in this excellent, plot-driven, page-turner
of a book.”
—RT Book Reviews (4 stars)
To Elizabeth, my own special princess.
Acknowledgments
I’d like to thank the library staff of the Mariner’s Museum in Newport News,
Virginia, for their invaluable help in researching the interior of a steamship. In
particular, thanks to library researcher Bill Edwards-Bodmer, who guided me in
choosing the best steamship to use as a model for my own ship. I had a great
time poring over old photographs, and I was very inspired by the luxurious
interiors of these historic vessels.
Available from Harlequin® Historical and
MICHELLE WILLINGHAM
Her Irish Warrior #850
The Warrior’s Touch #866
Her Warrior King #882
Her Warrior Slave #922
Taming Her Irish Warrior #966
The Accidental Countess #981
The Accidental Princess #985
And in eBook Harlequin Historical Undone!
The Viking’s Forbidden Love-Slave The Warrior’s Forbidden Virgin An
Accidental Seduction
Contents
Chapter One
Chapter Two
Chapter Three
Chapter Four
Chapter Five
Chapter Six
Chapter Seven
Chapter Eight
Chapter Nine
Chapter Ten
Chapter Eleven
Chapter Twelve
Chapter Thirteen
Chapter Fourteen
Chapter Fifteen
Chapter Sixteen
Chapter Seventeen
Chapter Eighteen
Chapter Nineteen
Chapter Twenty
Chapter Twenty-One
Chapter Twenty-Two
Chapter Twenty-Three
Epilogue