The Gladiator Prince Read Online Free PDF Page A

and I will show you that my ship and crew are quite skilled. We will relieve the lady of her cargo, and I will personally deliver you and your lovely daughter to Rome.”
    Abella narrowed one eye and tilted his head. “Why to Rome? Can we not have your wedding here on Britannia?”
    Gleaming white teeth sparked from his lips when he smiled. “My villa is in Rome not to mention what few friends I have. Besides, I doubt very much Phaedra will find a suitable wedding dress for the occasion in Britannia.”
    “It makes little difference to me. I am only curious.” He looked down at his hands and cleaned one nail. “Gold and silver you say?”
    “As much as you can carry. I doubt any of your other clients have suggested such a profitable opportunity. As your first installment, twenty ounces out of each one hundred will be yours to invest as you wish. However, I will expect information about my next commission before the first of the month, along with payment of the dowry for your daughter, of course.”
    Abella nodded and lifted one brow before grinning at Hasani. “I think I am going to like you as a partner… and as a son.” He bowed his head, rubbed his chin thoughtfully then brought it up sharply. “However, as to my daughter…”
    Abella moved to the center of the garden via a worn path and sat down on a cement bench.. “She is very lovely, and, of course, quite skilled since she has been married before. So I hope you take that into consideration before naming the cost of her dowry.”
    When Hasani smiled, the gleaming eyes made Phaedra bite her thumbnail. “I am certain we can come to an agreement on that. However, I must warn you.” His face turned suddenly fierce, and Phaedra’s heart skipped a beat. “The last wife I had was supposed to be skilled and she was no better than a virgin,” he said. “I slit her throat and had her father crucified for his deception. I sincerely hope this will not be the case with you.”
    Abella laughed and slapped his knees. “I knew I would like you. If she is not as skilled as I promise, I will hand you the knife then throw myself upon my own gladius . Agreed?”
    Taking Abella’s outstretched arm, Hasani grabbed up to the elbow in a sign of bargain. “Agreed.”
    Just at that moment the house slave came in and announced dinner. The two men rose and crossed to the entrance.
    “Oh, I almost forgot. A cousin of mine here in Britannia has joined my entourage and finds herself infatuated with one of your gladiators, the one they call the Prince? I would deem it a personal favor if it could be arranged for her to meet with him.”
    They disappeared under the edge of the roof, and Abella’s voice began to recede. “Certainly. I will see to it he is available tonight. I hope she is hearty. Thane is very well placed.”
    “No worries on that account. Salihah is quite experienced. Her father is dead, and she has no brothers, so it has fallen to me to keep an eye on her. If I do not marry her off soon, she may become a liability.”
    The voices faded, and the last thing Phaedra heard was her father saying. “As to that, perhaps we can come up with…” But that was all.
    Phaedra sat back on the mossy tiles trembling all over. She felt Bahar’s hand on her arm, but it seemed far away. When he urged her to climb down from the roof, she could not move. Her world had just been shattered.
    What was she going to do? She had never known a man, not like that. She touched her neck and swallowed. Would he really slit her throat if she did not perform well? Despair came crashing in, and tears welled in her eyes.
    “Phaedra, we have to go,” Bahar urged. “Father will catch us.”
    “What am I going to do, Bahar?” she said staring intently at the spot where Hasani had stood. “I… I cannot marry him unless…”
    “I know,” Bahar whispered, putting an arm around her shoulders. “We will come up with a solution, I promise. Right now, we have to get off this roof.”
    Phaedra