Her Highness, My Wife by Victoria Alexander Read Free Book Online Page A

“Still, consider for a moment what an excellent way it would be to wreak revenge on her. Get a bit of your own back. She did, after all, break your heart.”
    “It has healed and taught me a valuable lesson in the process.”
    “Oh?”
    “Princess, lady or whore—the so-called fairer sex is not to be trusted.” Matt pulled a healthy swallow of his drink and relished the slow burn of the liquor. “None of them.”
    “I could have told you that.” Ephraim sipped his whiskey and considered his friend. “At least you can give me the details.”
    “Ephraim.”
    “Oh, not for publication.” He heaved a dramatic sigh. “Although it does pain me to pass this by. But do allow me to indulge my personal, if not my professional, curiosity. How does one meet a princess posing as one of us ordinary folk?”
    “I was engaged in hawking balloon rides in a public park as a way to provide a bit of extra funds. She said she’d always wanted to fly.” For a moment, he was back to that glorious spring day and the presence of an enticing green-eyed creature with a demeanor that was at once reticent and daring. She was an enigma to him when they’d first met. A woman obviously of proper breeding, yet without so much as a groom accompanying her for protection or chaperone. She’d explained it by claiming she was
    a widow, a companion to royalty, and had felt the need to escape the confines of her position. Even on that first afternoon he was too enchanted to do more than brush off the suspicious nature of her story. In point of fact, she was a widow and had indeed slipped the bonds of her rank, but it was there that the truth of her story ended.
    “Excellent. Passion over Paris is a much better title.” Ephraim pulled on his cigar and let the smoke drift lazily upward in emphasis to the teasing note in his voice.
    “What a shame you won’t be able to use it,” Matt said pointedly.
    “And after you met,” Ephraim prodded. “Then what?”
    “Then…” Matt paused for a long moment, the memory of their interlude washing through him with a strength that was almost physical. A mere six days filled with passion and excitement and the adventure of exploring each other, body and soul. And more, the shocking tenderness of feelings he never suspected could be so intense, so overwhelming, so complete. He was a fool to have fallen so thoroughly under her spell. To have abandoned all logic and rational thought. To have surrendered his soul.
    “Then?” Ephraim prompted.
    But it was indeed all in the past and he was done with her. At least where his heart was concerned. As for the rest of her…
    Matt cast Ephraim a wicked glance. “Then, old man, we did what lovers in Paris always do.”
    Ephraim stared. “That’s it? That’s all you’re going to tell me?”
    Matt leaned back in his chair, grinned and silently puffed his cigar.
    “It’s that blasted sense of honor of yours again, isn’t it?” Ephraim scowled. “First pride, now honor. I’m bloody grateful I’m not shackled with anything so debilitating.”
    “Come, now, Ephraim,” Matt said mildly, “I’ve seen you engage in behavior that could well be described as honorable.”
    “Keep it to yourself,” the other man muttered.
    Matt laughed.
    Ephraim fell silent and the two men shared a companionable silence broken only by the subtle sounds of the sipping of whiskey or the smoking of cigars. It was late and Ephraim’s handful of employees had long since left. The steam-powered printing press in the main room was quiet, but as the week progressed it would operate late into the night printing copies of the Messenger for its weekly issue on Sunday.
    “So if you’re not doing it for your family or for the money—”
    “I’ve not decided that yet.”
    “Very well. Aside from the matter of payment, why are you doing it?” Ephraim narrowed his eyes. “I assume you are accepting her offer, aren’t you?”
    Matt nodded.
    “Then why—”
    “I have my reasons.