He was unusually attentive and much more approachable.
Perhaps, she mused silently, he'd finally deduced that the baby must be his.
What other explanation was there for his sudden change of attitude?
"And now you need to fulfil your first duty as royal princess." He smiled down at her. "Smile and wave at the crowd. They're expecting it."
Finding it hard to believe that anyone would care whether she waved at them or not, Holly tentatively raised her hand, and the immediate roar of approval from the crowd made her blink in amazement. "But I'm just someone ordinary," she muttered, and the prince's eyes gleamed with wry amusement.
"That's why they love you. You're living proof that fairy-tale endings can happen to ordinary people."
The last of her insecurities faded and Holly gave a bubble of laughter, her mood lifting still further as she saw the smiles of genuine delight on the faces of the people pressing against the barriers.