The Prince Deceiver (The Silk & Steel Saga Book 6) Read Online Free PDF Page B

invitation served, the queen set out to
make every detail perfect.
    After much
consideration, the queen chose a crushed velvet gown of deep emerald green with
dagged sleeves lined in gold and a vee neckline that showed just enough
cleavage to be tempting, while maintaining a mysterious allure. A diamond tiara
sparkled against her raven-dark hair, while a rope of emeralds accented her
slender neck and plunging bosom. Adding a dab of rose oil for a beguiling scent,
the queen contemplated the mirror. Regal beauty bedecked in confident wealth,
her image struck the perfect tone for their first meeting.
    Liandra returned
to her solar to find the mountain of scrolls banished, safely tucked away for
another day. Carefully arranging the folds of her gown, she settled on a
throne-carved chair set before the warmth of the fireplace. A fire blazed in
the hearth, juniper and pine logs releasing a pleasing scent. The prince's
gift, the exquisite chess set carved of onyx and malachite, sat on a small
table between the two chairs. Heroic figures arrayed for an epic battle, she
looked forward to the game. Liandra reveled in the chance to test her wits
against a fresh opponent.
    "Will you
have a glass of wine, majesty?" Lady Sarah fluttered around the solar
seeing to last minute details.
    "No, we
shall wait for our guest."
    A flagon of the
royal cellar's best merlot breathed on a side table along with a platter of
cheese and dried fruits. Lady Sarah would serve the repast, another pair of
trusted eyes and ears to assess the prince, while Sir Durnheart would provide
the protection. Clad in mirror-bright armor, her knight-protector stood
statue-still just beyond the firelight’s reach, only a sword-length away.
    If only
Robert were here. Liandra missed her shadowmaster, her confidant, her
lover…but he was away in Lingard, serving the needs of the kingdom. She would
just have to remember every detail for his return.
    Satisfied with
the preparations, the queen gestured to Lady Sarah. “Admit our guest.”
    The queen
remained seated, her gaze fixed upon the oak door. The prince had come to her
castle escorted by a portly seneschal and six guards, yet he’d made it plain
the others were to wait in her antechamber. A private audience for a first meeting
with a prince from a distant land, how rare, how unexpected…how intriguing.
She found herself flush with anticipation.
    Lady Sarah
opened the door and then dropped to a deep curtsy. “Welcome, my lord.”
    He strode into
her solar, giving her barely a glance.
    Her first
impression was confidence...perhaps even arrogance. Tall, blond, and fair of face
with a neatly trimmed beard...the queen found her shadowmen’s description
accurate yet woefully inadequate. The difference lay in the way he moved.
Striding into her solar, he carried an air of command, his steps bold, his eyes
sharp, his face regal and proud, almost arrogant. But this was not the brash
arrogance of a pampered young royal, she’d seen that many times before.
Instead, he exuded a sense of self-contained power and a cloak of experience
far beyond his twenty-some years. Not a word had been spoken, yet the riddle
deepened and the queen found herself drawn into a web of questions.
    The prince
stopped before her, but he did not bow, or even nod. Instead, he gazed upon her
as if taking her measure. “So, this is the queen so many speak of.”
    Such an odd
opening... she gave him a gracious smile. “Welcome to our court. We are
pleased to host a prince from distant Ur.”
    For twenty
heartbeats he said nothing. A surprising silence, like a lull before the storm,
but then he gave her a half nod and said, “Distant in leagues but close in
trade. Commerce connects us." His smile deepened. "Trading powers
should meet, don’t you think?”
    “Trading powers, not trading partners, what an interesting turn of phrase.”
    “Nothing but the
truth.” He flashed a smile she could not read. “Lanverness dominates the trade
of Erdhe, as Ur