The Secret Princess — Jessie Bennett

Can a mission to find the missing bastard children of the new prince regent lead to the destruction of the happiness enjoyed by a lowly intelligence officer and his beloved Loyalty?

Loyalty is eighteen years old and happy with her life, although a wine-colored birthmark stretches across half of her face. She has everything she could want in life, food, a roof over her head, a steady job, and the love of her life. They are not rich, waiting to marry until their finances are in better shape, but she has hope that it will not be in the distant future.

Her love has just returned home for shore leave, and is given a secret mission that threatens to change their lives forever. When he's tasked with finding the prince regent's bastard children, she never dreams that someone she knows better than anyone will be one of them. The information that could save the lives of her best friend, and could mean life eternal with her beloved, is just a breath away.

Nathan didn't want that for Loyalty. He didn't want her or their life to change. If she was a princess, really and truly, his chances of happily ever after were slipping away.

However, he had a duty before his love, and that was to the throne. His heart was breaking with every step that they took toward the king's bedchamber.

He wouldn't be able to marry her; they wouldn't have children. They wouldn't have the life they dreamed of together.

She would always be in danger. A princess with such a birthmark would always be threatened. She would never be considered beautiful; they would never see what he saw in her. They would never see her as anything but a broken princess.

He couldn't let Jerrico tell her; he couldn't.

Midshipman Nathan Rambles is on the fast track to success in His Majesty's armed forces, an honor that he's worked hard to deserve so early in life. In order to marry his beautiful lover, he must be able to provide for her, but he wonders whether she will accept his future in the military. Above all else, his duty is to the king and the royal family, though, even if it means sacrificing their plans of love and happiness.

He is given the secret mission of a lifetime, an opportunity for immediate promotion beyond his wildest dreams, but in the process he learns that Loyalty, his beautiful intended bride, is more than they'd ever believed possible. Her biological father is finally discovered, something she has long dreamed of achieving, and it is through the legwork of a King's Guard that they discover her true home. The Royal Palace awaits the Secret Princess.

Will Loyalty be able to have the man of her dreams?

Can Nathan find the missing heirs and marry the woman he loves?