Hand-Me-Down Princess by Carol Moncado Read Free Book Online Page A

wood stacked in the opening of the fireplace. “It’s lovely.” If only the new apartment was more like this. He said they could decorate it however they wanted.
    “There’s a kitchenette where we can make our own food or at least keep drinks and reheat something.” He walked around turning a couple of lights on. “Are you hungry? I don’t think either of us ate much at the luncheon.”
    Jessabelle’s stomach chose that moment to rumble. Not that she could eat much in the stupid girdle.
    Prince Malachi chuckled. “I’ll take that as a ‘yes, I’m hungry’ response.” He pulled open French doors, turned, and bowed slightly her direction. “Your dinner, Princess Jessabelle.”
    * * *
    Malachi stood to the side to allow Jessabelle to enter the room ahead of him. Yes, it was the master bedroom, but a table for two was set up next to one of the large windows overlooking the ski slopes in the distance. Closer to the residence was snowed over gardens with shoveled paths and frosted trees. The staff had been informed a few hours earlier but assumed the two of them would want to be alone together.
    Two plates of salad had been left out. The chef would have known when Malachi and his bride would be there. The plates were probably set out as he and Jessabelle walked through the building. They ate in silence, though Malachi noticed something perplexing. “Do you not like the salad?”
    Jessabelle shook her head. “It’s wonderful.”
    “You haven’t eaten much.”
    She shifted in her chair. “I wanted to save room for the main course.”
    “You don’t even know what it is yet.”
    She set her fork down and patted her mouth with her napkin. After a deep breath in through her nose and out through her mouth, she spoke. “It’s embarrassing.”
    “Okay.” Something told him he’d get more information with patience than pestering.
    Sure enough a minute later, she spoke in a rush. “I couldn’t get out of the corset they put me in for the wedding. It’s too tight to eat much.”
    Whatever he expected, that wasn’t it. “You need help?”
    Jessabelle nodded but didn’t look at him.
    A corset? Wasn’t that a bra like thing? “And you’d rather it not be me?”
    She nodded again.
    Malachi wiped his mouth on his napkin and stood up, holding his hand out to her. She cautiously took it and stood. “I understand why you would be uncomfortable asking for my help, but for reasons I’d rather not get into now, it is best that you do. For the most part, we’ll be left alone, so we won’t need to pretend much. But it does mean that we need to sleep in the same bed as long as we are in the same place and that I help you with this. I will do my best to preserve your modesty and promise to be a gentleman.”
    Jessabelle closed her eyes and gave the slightest of nods. “All right.” She turned her back to him. “Um, it’s probably easiest if I take my shirt off. The corset covers me almost like a swimsuit, but it fastens all the way up the back and I knew I couldn’t reach all of them.”
    All right then. “Whatever you think is best.” He reached out and rested his hands on her shoulders. “Once we get this taken care of, why don’t you change into your pajamas? I will, too, and we’ll both be much more comfortable.”
    He could feel her muscles trembling under his hands as she undid the buttons on the front of the shirt. His breath caught in his throat as she let it slip off. She was right, though. There were straps over her shoulders, and the fasteners started below her shoulder blades.
    “If you could just get the top half done, I think I can manage from about here.” She twisted an arm around to show him how far she could reach.
    Malachi swallowed hard and stepped closer so he could see what he was doing. His big fingers fumbled with the first couple but as it loosened, and he had more space to work with, it got easier. Each fastener revealed a bit more creamy skin, soft against his fingers as he