Princess in Disguise Read Online Free PDF Page B

house party at Floors Castle.”
    “We?”
    “I and my chaperone . . . Anya.”
    He noted her hesitation. She is hiding something, but what? And why? “And where is this chaperone? Not that I wish her to make an appearance.”
    That drew a grin. “My chaperone is ill, so she will not be downstairs for some time.”
    “I’m sorry to hear that.”
    She peeped up at him through her lashes, and he had to fight the urge not to lean
     over and envelop her in a heated kiss. “I’m not sorry,” she confided. “I am too old
     for a chaperone.”
    “Old? You cannot be more than nineteen.”
    “I’m almost twenty-two.” She tilted her head to one side. “How old are you, if you
     do not mind my asking?”
    “I’m twenty-eight.”
    “Hmm. I thought you—”
    The front door to the inn thumped open, and heavy footsteps tromped down the hallway.
     Mrs. Petrovna cast a wary eye on the doorway just as a huge, lumbering form filled
     it. “Ah,” she said. “It is Doya.”
    The guard was both the size and color of a large bear. With a fierce beard covering
     a stern face, his thick brows overshadowing black eyes, Mrs. Petrovna’s “Doya” would
     raise fear in almost any man.
    Except Kintore. All the earl saw was the reason why his jaw was so painful, and he
     burned to return the favor.
    The giant scowled back.
    Mrs. Petrovna placed her glass upon a side table. “Ah, Doya. Did you bring the snow
     as I asked?”
    The guard, still glaring at Kintore, held up a ball of snow and rumbled something
     in a language the earl had never heard. Mrs. Petrovna answered, her voice lilting
     over the syllables.
    Kintore caught a glance from her and decided to go stir the fire. Whatever they had
     to say to each other had nothing to do with him, but perhaps he could figure out a
     word or two of their conversation.
    Alexandra watched as the earl went to add wood to the fire. Relieved that he no longer
     seemed to be listening, she took the snowball from Doya. “It’s packed like a rock.”
    Doya’s teeth flashed in his beard. “Shall I break it over the fool’s head?”
    “He’s not a fool.” She placed the ice ball on the tray beside the Scotch. “What he
     is, is an earl.”
    Doya’s smile faded. “Are you certain?”
    “The innkeepers recognized him. His family home is near here.”
    Doya’s lip curled. “He doesn’t look like much of an earl.”
    She turned to watch Kintore lift a large armful of firewood from the rack beside the
     fireplace, his strong arm muscles visible under his coat. Ah, my Cossack. I wish to see those without your sleeves covering them. Added to his delicious form were his dark hair and gray-green eyes, and she couldn’t
     forget his wicked smile, either . Oh, he’s very much an earl. All of him. I would wager gold florins that he—
    “Princess?” Doya’s impatient tone told her that she’d missed his last comment.
    “I’m sorry. I was thinking of something else. What is it?”
    He glared at the earl. “I suggested that we call the countess from her bed to do her
     duty. You should not be here alone with the stranger.”
    “The Earl of Kintore is no longer a stranger. Besides, the door is open and Mr. and
     Mrs. MacDuffie will be coming in and out. They promised us tea.”
    Doya must have seen the determination in her gaze, for he scowled. “You will not listen
     to me, will you?”
    “No.”
    His chin jutted forward, but after a brief silence, he bowed. “As you wish, Princess.
     But I will be close.” With a final glare at the earl, the guard left.
    Alexandra turned to find the earl’s gaze on her, his expression thoughtful. “So your
     guard—that’s what you called him, isn’t it?” At her nod, he continued, “Your guard
     brought you a snowball. Is this a custom from your country?”
    “I asked him to bring it so that you might put some snow on your chin. Sadly, it is
     more ice than snow.”
    “That’s quite all right. I don’t need—”
    “ Nyet. You will