BLAST IT! ALANA THOUGHT. Had she really wasted so much time because she was being too cautious? Yet what other choice did she have? Poppie had warned her not to tell anyone except a highly placed official why she wanted to see the king. Alana wished this captain had shown up sooner to point out she might have hurried the process along if she had at least claimed nobility.
“I told your guard nothing more than that I wish to speak to the king,” she admitted, abashed. “I’m not going to discuss my business here with just anyone.”
“Ah, very well, mystery solved.”
“What mystery? Is there something else that accounts for my having been kept waiting?”
“If you don’t state the nature of your business, you don’t get very far,” he said simply.
“But I was told that King Frederick had an open policy of receiving his people.”
“You aren’t one of his people.”
“I am more than that.”
“Oh?”
As captain of palace security and a nobleman as well, he seemed the ideal person to help her. She wanted to trust him. She just hoped she wasn’t being influenced by her strong attraction to him. But he was an official, and that decided her.
She leaned slightly closer to him so he would hear her low-voiced entreaty. “Is there somewhere we can go so we may speak in private?”
His demeanor changed abruptly again. His golden brows rose as if she’d surprised him, and his blue eyes gazed at her warmly. When his hard mouth softened into a grin, she felt that fluttering in her stomach again, but more strongly this time. Good God, he was handsome. And as attracted to her as she was to him? Or was he just relaxing, letting down his guard? She wished she hadn’t been so sheltered in London and knew more about such matters.
“Come with me,” he said.
He grasped her hand immediately, surprising her. She didn’t like that at all. It wasn’t how an Englishman would behave upon first meeting a lady. But this wasn’t England, she reminded herself. Lubinians might think nothing of a man treating a woman this way. It might even be customary here for men to act like barbarians and drag women about. She groaned at that thought. Yet it did feel as if he were dragging her, though she allowed that it simply felt that way because his much longer stride was forcing her to quicken her step to keep up with him.
He led her out of the anteroom and deeper into the palace until they came to a side entrance that opened onto a wide courtyard. It wasn’t a private courtyard where they could talk, but the ward that lay between the palace and the old fortress walls that surrounded it. Soldiers and even a few opulently dressed courtiers were passing through. A merchant with a small cart was selling meat pies to the guards.
There was still daylight, though the sun had already dipped below the mountain ranges to the west. Alana tried to slow her step but couldn’t. Where exactly was the captain taking her?
When he stopped in front of the door to a building that resembled a fancy town house but was adjoined to the ancient fortress walls, Alana took the opportunity to pull her hand away from his, though she actually had to yank a little. He glanced at her and started to chuckle, but it was abruptly cut off when an angry woman swept through the doorway and attacked the captain, pounding on his chest with her fists.
Alana adeptly moved out of the way. The captain didn’t even try. The woman, who was young, blond, and finely dressed, pounded on him rather hard, but he gave no indication that he even felt her blows!
“How dare you have me thrown out!” she shouted.
He took her wrists, one in each hand, and thrust her away from him into the ward. Not very gentlemanly, Alana thought, but the woman had been attacking him and his annoyance was now obvious.
Yet his voice was absolutely calm when he asked the young woman curiously, “How is it you’re still here, Nadia?”
“I hid from your men,” she stated rather triumphantly.
“Who will now be disciplined because of it.” He waved at two passing guards.
Nadia glanced behind her to see the guards’ swift approach, then somewhat in a panic she yelled at Count Becker, “We haven’t finished our discussion!”
“Only a fool doesn’t know when to quit, so how much of a fool does that make you, eh?” That brought a gasp from the blond woman, but it didn’t keep him from adding, “Now, would you finally open your eyes to see that the past will no longer protect you from my contempt?” To the men who had reached him, he said, “Take Miss Braune to the gates. She is no longer to be allowed entry to the palace.”
“You can’t do that, Christoph!”
“I just did.”
Distinctly uneasy now—that had been quite a beautiful woman he’d just dismissed so cavalierly—Alana said, “Is she a former lady friend of yours?”
He took a moment to shake off his annoyance before he glanced at Alana. Once again, his long look took in more than just her face. But then he smiled at her and her breath caught in her throat, it so dazzled her.
“Not as you mean,” he answered.
Then he grasped Alana’s arm and ushered her inside the building, closing the door behind him. He was gentle with her now, not rough as he’d been with that harridan, not even as firm as he’d been when dragging her here.
She took a moment to glance around and get her bearings. This large room contained two plush, dark-colored sofas with low tables set before each, a chair, several bookcases, a fancy harpsichord, and a small dining table that would seat four. This one room seemed to serve many purposes, but she didn’t think it comprised the entire first floor of the building. And then she couldn’t think at all.
She didn’t realize the captain was still holding her arm until he turned her toward him. His other hand slipped behind her neck and drew her forward, right up against him. Then he bent his head and pressed his lips to hers.
No training she’d ever had prepared her to be overwhelmed by her first kiss.
Chapter Thirteen
ALANA COULD HAVE DRAWN away at any point. The captain didn’t rush her into his arms, he’d been slow about it. He was a man who savored. A man who sensually coaxed. And from the second his hand slipped behind her neck, her senses were arrested in anticipation.
Despite her quick responses, she didn’t think she could have moved just then. Or she simply didn’t want to. Lady Annette might blushingly have explained this aspect of life to her, but Alana couldn’t have imagined anything remotely close to this. . . .
With the soft touch of his lips on hers, Alana’s senses were overwhelmed. She felt her heart racing, and the pleasant fluttering in her stomach she’d earlier felt was now a powerful, exciting swirl. Both his hands were suddenly warm against her cheeks, caressing her, which meant she was leaning against him of her own accord! This was madness!
She tried to lean back to take her mouth away from his. For a brief moment she felt something close to frustration when he let her. Opening her eyes, she saw his smile. That was all she saw because she couldn’t take her eyes off his mouth, which had just stirred up so many startling, pleasurable feelings in her.
In wonder, she touched her own lips. “Why did you do that?” she asked in a breathless whisper.
She looked up at his blue eyes before he answered. That was a mistake. He was too appealing like this, with the seductive warmth in his gaze and a charming grin on his face. Did he find something humorous in her question?
He raised a brow slightly before he said, “You aren’t here looking for a protector? I’m going to be very disappointed if you say no.”
He didn’t sound disappointed. He sounded confident of himself and amused, as if he were teasing her. Of course, she was here looking for a protector. Her father was going to be her protector. Was she missing something in what he’d just said? Did he mean something else? How could she think with him this close to her?!
She began, “Yes, but—”
He was kissing her again, and this time much more passionately. Now she was thrilled to a new level, every wonderful
sensation he’d provoked earlier was back and so magnified, she had to grip his shoulders to keep from falling. He slipped his arm around her back, holding her tightly to him. His mouth slanted across hers, his tongue pushing past her innocence, thrusting deeply, deliciously into her mouth. His other hand was sliding up the side of her leg.
Her gasp was lost in his mouth. Oh, God, what was she doing?!
“Stop!” She pushed away from him, gasping for breath, grasping to keep her balance now that she was no longer holding on to him. She was shocked by what she’d just allowed him to do, what she’d allowed herself to do!
He was watching her with something akin to suspicion in his eyes. “I don’t mind a little teasing, as long as we both understand where it ends.”
She had no clue what he seemed to be accusing her of, but she’d regained enough of her wits to say stiffly, “I’m not sure what kind of mistake you’ve made, but it is a mistake.”
He leaned his back against the door, slamming it hard. “You can’t be serious.”
He glanced down at her again for an answer. She didn’t need to say anything more. Her accusing look seemed to convince him that she was serious. But instead of apologizing, he swore under his breath and moved toward her. She was instantly unnerved. He was much too big and tall to stand that close to her with such an angry visage.
“What sort of ploy is this?” he demanded. “You melt on me like sweet butter, then cry foul?”
She sucked in her breath. That didn’t even deserve a response. She pushed around him to get to the door instead. He grabbed her by the waist, stopping her, and even drew her back against his chest.
Her whole body tingled as he embraced her so intimately. “You want to talk terms first?” he asked impatiently. “Fine, I will give you whatever you want. There, we have talked terms. Now melt on me again.”
The husky tone he’d ended with made her close her eyes tightly. She was not going to be drawn back into his web again. She wiggled out of his hold, hoping to break through to the captain of the guard she’d first met, the polite if mildly flirtatious man she’d been willing to trust. He let go of her as she turned to face him instead of reaching for the door again.
“I asked to speak to you in private because no one else can hear what I was going to confide in you.” She sighed. “How could you think I meant anything other than talk?”
A number of emotions crossed his countenance—frustration, self-disgust, finally regret. He turned away, saying, “Your whisper suggested something else.”
“What?”
“Many foreign women of quality, mostly widows, come to this court to find a protector,” the captain explained, facing her again. “We are not unique in that. We are just one of many courts they visit across Europe, until they find a gentleman of power or wealth to their liking. A few even aspire to be a king’s mistress and so they request an audience to make themselves available, yet are too embarrassed to mention it to the guards—”
“I understand!” she quickly cut in. “You thought I was one of those women trying to see the king. You couldn’t be more mistaken. I’m his daughter.”
“Whose?”
“The king’s.”
A moment of silence followed. “Are you?”
He said that without inflection, making her realize her wish had come true. She was now dealing with the real captain of the guard, who would actually attend to duty, not that tempting seducer, thank God. Yet why wasn’t he more surprised by her revelation? Could he actually be that well schooled in guarding emotions when required? She’d had that training herself, though it had certainly been tested during the last month.
“I can explain,” she said, “as it was explained to me. If you aren’t surprised, I certainly was. I’ve only known about this for the last month. I—”
Alana stopped. Was she rambling? She was still in the grip of too many emotions she wasn’t familiar with.
She moved to one of the sofas in the room, but not to sit down. She just wanted to put more distance between herself and the captain. And have an excuse to take her eyes off him. After placing her cloak and her purse on the end of the sofa, her heartbeat still hadn’t returned to normal. The effect he’d had on her was amazing.
“Would you like some refreshments?” he inquired behind her.
Alana was taken aback by his question, but she quickly seized on his gesture of hospitality. “Yes, thank you. I’m actually quite hungry.”
He shouted, “Boris!”—which produced a servant after a few moments. “Tell Franz to serve dinner early, and bring some food immediately for the lady.”
He had his own cook, too? “These are your quarters?” Alana questioned as she turned to give him her full attention again. “A bit fancy for a captain, isn’t it?”
“I had permission from the king to build this addition. It will be given some other use when I leave.”
“Your job is only temporary?”
“It’s mine for however long I want it, and in fact I may never leave. It is highly important to me that the king and his family be well protected.”
She found those words reassuring, since she was a member of that family. And he didn’t seem to mind her questions. His expression hadn’t changed at all since his manner had turned professional again. He had to be curious about her revelation, yet he hid it well. Unless he simply didn’t believe her . . .
She dismissed that thought. He didn’t dare not take her claim seriously. He could just be waiting for her to explain herself. She was hoping she wouldn’t have to, at least not until her father was present to hear her tale. The less she said about Poppie to others, the better.
The tall captain moved over to the lit fireplace and stood with his back to it, his hands held behind him. The fire was close to dying. It could definitely use another log, but he didn’t take his eyes off her long enough to see to it. He’d even kept his eyes on her as he’d walked over there, his stride and his posture military-erect. She couldn’t help but notice he was in prime shape. In fact, she couldn’t recall ever before seeing a male physique this superlative. Surely she had, she just hadn’t been impressed enough to take note of it. Until now. Because he was so handsome?
The large room felt a little chilly. Of course, she could share that meager fire with Becker, though it might appear a bit too bold for her to close the distance between them. She didn’t want him thinking about those kisses again.
“Why was I really kept waiting today?” she asked. “I saw at least one man who arrived after me summoned into the inner chamber.”
“Bureaucracy,” Becker said simply. “If you don’t state your business, you are placed at the end of the line.”
“So I should have told a mere guard who I am? When my life has been in jeopardy since I was an infant? I was warned not to do that.”
He shrugged. “It is of no matter. You would have gone no further in either case. We would merely have had this conversation sooner, since you would have been brought to my attention, not the king’s.”
She sighed. Such a waste of time. Had she really thought it would be easy to gain an audience with the king? She had hoped foolishly, it now seemed. But at least the captain seemed cordial enough now in his official capacity. And way too cordial when he’d thought she was a widow looking for a lover. But he hadn’t had her escorted to the gate as he’d done with his lady friend. And he hadn’t dismissed her claim as ludicrous, as he could have done. So apparently he was going to hear her out.
He confirmed her assessment of the situation when he said, “Sit down. Make yourself comfortable. I suspect you will be here for quite a while.”
“Not unless my father is scheduled to leave the palace today and I have to wait for his return,” she disagreed.
“The king isn’t leaving.”
“Then can you at least take me to him, so I don’t have to repeat myself? The story I have to tell is not exactly a brief one.”
“When you aren’t the first princess to show up with th
is claim? I think not.”
Chapter Fourteen
THE FOOD ARRIVED BEFORE Alana could say anything, which was fortunate, because she didn’t think she could utter a single word, she was so stunned. Someone else had tried to impersonate her?
Poppie hadn’t warned her about this, so it must have been kept secret, so secret that not even his paid informant had discovered it. Yet it should have occurred to him, even to her, as a possibility. So much wealth, power, and privilege was involved, of course, some unscrupulous person would try to claim all that. When you were seven, there was another tidbit, that with so much time passed, it was now presumed you were dead. She remembered Poppie’s words clearly now. There had even been a ceremonial funeral! And that news had opened the door for an imposter to take her place. Who would have dared try something like that before then, when she’d only been “missing” and could have been returned to her family at any time?
“It’s appalling and so cruel that someone tried to impersonate me. But I suppose it’s not surprising considering what’s at stake,” Alana said with disgust in her voice. She sat back on the sofa and took a deep breath before she added, “You think I’m going to withdraw my claim now, don’t you? I would if lives weren’t at stake. I might have been born here, but—”
“What lives?” the captain barked.
His tone disconcerted her again. She sat forward and put her hands on the edge of the sofa in preparation to flee. This man was just too big to yell at her like that.
She told him so. “If you can’t keep a civil tone, take me to someone with the patience to hear me out.”
He actually laughed, though she didn’t hear much humor in it. “You come here to impersonate royalty, but you’re not in prison yet, are you? That’s how patient I am, wench. Now what lives are at stake?”
His tone was back to normal, but she still closed her eyes briefly against the new fear he’d just stirred. Had that been deliberate on his part? She hoped that’s all it was. There had been danger outside the palace, but Poppie had assured her she’d be safe inside these walls—no, safe once she was with her father. And this man was standing between her and that safety.
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