The Greek Billionaire's Innocent Princess (25 page)

or so, and I try to snatch some time at weekends, especially as my story develops and I want to

know what will happen next.

where do you get your inspiration for thecharacters that you write?

Inspiration for my characters is difficult to explain. They usually just come into my head and I

know exactly what they look like – hair colour etc, and usually they arrive with a name, but

sometimes I look through a name book and one will jump out that I know instinctively is right

for my character. I think about the character’s background right back to childhood and I make

loads of notes that I don’t often use in the book but help me to really know the person I am

writing about. I also spend quite a lot of time thinking and researching the character’s job,

interests and talents.

what did you like most about your heroand heroine in this continuity?

I liked my heroine, Kitty, because she seemed a very real person, and like many of us she was

insecure about her body and how she looked. Her lack of confidence made being in the public

eye an ordeal for her, but despite her shyness she forced herself to carry out her royal duties. Her gentle demeanour hid a strong will and she also had a deeply compassionate nature. My hero,

Nikos, seemed like a ruthless businessman and a playboy, but underneath his vulnerability made

me like him. He had developed a tough shell because he had been hurt by so many things in his

past. Not knowing the identity of his father troubled him and made him feel as if he was only

half a person – and later he had been devastated when he was cruelly betrayed by his first wife

who he had loved.

what would be the best – and worst –things about being part of a royal dynasty?

The best thing about being part of a royal dynasty would be the glamorous lifestyle and the

opportunities for travel. The worst would be constantly being in the public eye with your every

move scrutinised by the media (Prince William and Kate Middleton spring to mind).

Are diamonds really a girl’s best friend?

Are diamonds a girl’s best friend? Well – I have been married to my lovely husband for twenty-

six years – and I’ve never owned a diamond. When we got engaged all those years ago he

couldn’t afford an expensive engagement ring. Something sparkly would be nice – but he is

definitely my best friend, and for me love is more important than “things”.

Two crowns, two islands, one legacy

A royal family, torn apart by pride and its lustfor power, reunited by purity and passion

The islands of Adamas have been torn into two rival kingdoms:

TWO CROWNS

The Stefani diamond has been split as a symbol of their feud

TWO ISLANDS

Gorgeous Greek princes reign supreme over glamorous Aristo Smouldering sheikhs rule the

desert island of Calista

ONE LEGACY

Whoever reunites the diamonds will rule all.

Turn the page to discover more!

THE KINGDOM OF ADAMAS:

A TURBULENT HISTORY

The islands of Calista and Aristo have always been a temptation to world powers. Initially this

was because of their excellent positions for trading and the agricultural potential of Aristo’s

luscious, fertile land. The discovery of diamonds on Calista in the Middle Ages made the

kingdom a target for invaders.

The kingdom passed through the hands of many foreign powers throughout the ages. Originally

part of the Ancient Greek Empire, Adamas then came under the control of Rome from 150 BC

onwards. Following the fall of the Roman Empire approximately four hundred years later, the

islands were annexed to Byzantine control.

It was not until Richard the Lionheart seized Adamas in the twelfth century that the family of

Karedes, local island nobility, was installed on the throne. When the republic of Venice briefly

took control in the fifteenth century the Karedes dynasty continued to rule as mere figureheads.

Thereafter followed a period of struggle for the royal family. The Ottoman Empire claimed the

islands in the sixteenth century and they were forced into an exile that lasted nearly two hundred

years. When the Turks finally sold the islands to the British in 1750 the royal family was finally

reinstated but the kingdom did not gain its independence until 1921.

The death of King Christos in 1974 marked the end of the kingdom of Adamas. The islands

have functioned under separate rule ever since.

THE STEFANI DIAMOND

Diamonds have been prized since the dawn of human history for their unique qualities. The

jewels were first discovered in India in 800 BC, and brought to Europe by Alexander the Great

five hundred years later.

In 1477, Mary of Burgundy became the first known recipient of a diamond engagement ring

given to her by the Archduke Maximilian of Austria. This begins the history and tradition of

diamond engagement rings.

The Koh-i-Noor and the Hope diamonds were brought to Europe in 1631. In 1792, the Hope

Diamond was stolen from the French crown jewels during the French Revolution. In 1851, The

Koh-i-Noor diamond was re-cut to one hundred and five carats for Queen Victoria (Empress of

India). This famous diamond is part of the British Crown jewels.

In the medieval period, a beautiful pink diamond was discovered on Calista, and used in the

Karedes crown to symbolise the power of the Karedes’s rule. The jewel became known as the

Stefani (meaning: Crown) diamond. It quickly took on a deeply symbolic role in the kingdom of

Adamas. Believing that their power resided in the stone, the Karedes family vowed that it would

never leave their hands. If the jewel was lost, their kingdom would fall. The existence of this

diamond fuelled treasure-hunters’ dreams for centuries, but no other diamond of any size was

found on Calista until the 1940s.

In 1972, faced with increasing tension from his kingdom, the islands of Aristo and Calista and

with family pressure, King Christos announced that after his death the two islands would split. In

the presence of his children Anya and Aegeus, witnessed by the court, Christos declared:

“
You will rule each island for the good of the people,and bring out the best in your kingdom, but
my wish isthat eventually these two jewels, like the islands, will bereunited. Aristo and Calista
are more successful, morebeautiful and more powerful as one nation, Adamas
.”

After King Christos died in 1974, the one Stefani diamond was split into two, to form two stones

for the coronation crowns of Aristo and Calista and fulfil the ancient charter.

THE TOURIST’S GUIDE TO

ARISTO AND CALISTA

The island of Aristo

The island’s name itself means best – and it certainly lives up to that as a holiday destination!

The sunny climate and beautiful coastline have made it a favourite destination for jet-set

holidaymakers. It is an incredibly rich principality, a world-renowned financial centre and

provides tranquil luxury and a decadent party scene, complete with fabulous restaurants and

nightclubs, a golf course, a marina and a casino.

Things to see

Don’t miss the impressive Royal Palace in the centre of the island, just inland from the bay of

Apollonia. The beautiful old quarter and port of Messaria are well worth a visit – especially to

spend your casino winnings in fabulous boutiques! Long white sandy beaches on the north-east

coast are banked by fertile plains. A number of fabulous tourist resorts are dotted along the

north-east coast where the rich and famous can relax in five-star hotels and spas, or in gated

mansions with infinity pools, private tennis courts and landscaped gardens. If your taste is more

for city life, enjoy the ultra-modern city, Ellos, where high-rise corporations reach for the sky.

Things to do

Ellos is packed with exclusive bars, restaurants and spas and is famous for its glittering nightlife.

The Grand Hotel is the centre of Ellos’s nightlife – don’t miss your chance to spot celebrities in

its fabulous restaurant!

The island of calista

Calista (meaning: beautiful one) is the destination of choice for more laid-back tourism. The

sleepy island is an unspoiled paradise with an understated tourism industry. In contrast to

neighbouring island Aristo, Calista has a hot, dry climate and arid terrain. The central portion of

the island is entirely desert and inhabitants reside on the more hospitable north-facing coast. As

its agricultural prospects have never been great, the island has retained its stunning natural

beauty. Famous for the wealth of diamonds below the surface of the rock, the main river Kordela

is also source of glittering diamond deposits.

Things to see

Modern Calista has an intact historical centre called Serapolis which is still the beating heart of

the city. It retains a strong middle-eastern influence both culturally and architecturally and noisy, colourful markets fill the labyrinth of winding streets. Don’t miss the beautiful Royal Palace.

Things to do

You’ll pick up bargains and enjoy some delicious street food in the marketplace of Serapolis.

Explore the Azahar desert – on the back of a camel for the intrepid – and spend a night in an

oasis. Walk the diamond fields and try to find your own glittering stone as a souvenir of your

stay in this peaceful place. For an injection of glamour and luxury, visit the new town and resort

of Jaladhar.

LETTERS FROM

THE HOUSE OF KAREDES

A hastily scribbled note to Andonis, grounds keeper at the Royal Palace, from Princess Anya: