Her Highness, My Wife Read Online Free PDF Page A

her thoughtfully. She had known him her entire life and knew enough to brace herself now. “Then tell me, Princess.” He leaned closer, his voice low, confidential, accusing. “Is it the Heavens you want, or”—his gaze searched hers—“the man?”
    Her hand itched to slap his face. She summoned all her restraint and forced a cold smile. “You forget yourself, Captain. Do not let our friendship blind you to the fact that I can have you reduced in rank, imprisoned or even, if I so wish, shot.”
    “Forgive me, Your Highness.” Shock colored Dimitri’s voice. “I did indeed overstep my bounds.”
    “Yes, you did.” She leaned toward him and lowered her voice. “I would, of course, never do such a thing, but you would be wise to realize that I could.”
    “Indeed I would.” He paused.
    “Yes?”
    “May I speak frankly?”
    Guilt washed away her brief sense of triumph and she sighed. “You always have.”
    “Perhaps, but you have never threatened to have me shot before.”
    “Never?” She smiled to lighten the moment.
    “Never.” He shook his head. “You wield your power now with a firm hand. You have not done so in the past. It is somewhat disquieting.”
    “I imagine it is. Like discovering a puppy has learned to bite.” She reached out and laid her gloved hand over his. “You and Katerina are now, and always have been, my dearest—my only—real friends. But Dimitri, is it not past time that I use the power that is my birthright to take my life, my destiny, into my own hands?”
    He stared at her as if she were speaking a language unknown to him. “You have responsibilities—”
    “And have I not lived up to them? Have I not always, always done exactly what was expected of me?
    Without question or protest or hesitation? From my public demeanor to my most private relationships,
    have I not always been”—she searched for the right words—“for the most part perfect?”
    “Princess, I—”
    “Consider my life for a moment. Was I not betrothed as a child to the son of an ally of my father’s for the purposes of politics? And even though Phillipe’s country was no longer independent and the alliance between our families no longer necessary, did I not wed him anyway because my father, my king, had given his word?”
    And did I not give him my heart as well? Tatiana removed her hand from Dimitri’s and straightened.
    “And was I not a good and faithful wife even as he had no understanding of such qualities himself?”
    Anger too long restrained surged through her. “Did I not pretend I was unaware of the indiscretions he took no pains to hide? Did I not ignore that I was the subject of gossip and pity and humiliation?” She tried and failed to keep a bitter note from her voice. “You knew, did you not?”
    Dimitri’s jaw clenched. His gaze met hers and he drew a deep breath. “I—”
    “No.” She waved away his response. “It is unfair of me to expect an answer. Your loyalty and desire for my protection would never have allowed you to be the bearer of such news. But I am well aware that you and everyone in the court, perhaps everyone in the country, knew of Phillipe’s dalliances.”
    “He has been dead for nearly three years now, Princess,” Dimitri said quietly.
    “Yes. A tragic accident.” But she, and no doubt most of the world, knew Phillipe’s horse would not have thrown him had the creature not been panicked by the gunshots fired by an angry husband encountering Phillipe bidding his latest, and his last, conquest farewell. “And I did exactly what was expected, mourning the official, and so very proper, length of time. Yet even as such pretense ends, the anger lingers.”
    “Perhaps it is time to put the past behind you. To forgive or least forget.”
    “You misunderstand. My anger is not directed at Phillipe but at myself. Phillipe, was… I do not know.”
    She shrugged. She had long ago accepted the truth of her husband’s character. “Perhaps he could have