Not Fit for a King? by Jane Porter Read Free Book Online Page A

phone and let me know.”
    Hannah felt cold. His ugly, hurtful words made her sick. “What friends?” she murmured faintly, horrified that this was the kind of relationship Zale and Emmeline had. How could they marry when they mistrusted each other so? When they had so many secrets? Where was the warmth? And respect?
    “Does it matter which friends?” he answered wearily, his expression shuttered. “Because it’s the truth. You were with Alejandro every moment you could spare. I wasn’t even sure you’d get on the plane to come here.”
    Hannah laced and unlaced her fingers, heartsick.
    That’s why Emmeline had wanted Hannah to switch places with her? She’d wanted more time with her lover. No. No, couldn’t be …
    Was Emmeline that cold? That calculating?
    Hannah shook her head, confused, betrayed and wished with all her heart she’d never started this terrible charade. She’d thought it was an innocent prank, pretending to be Emmeline for a few hours, but instead there was so much more at stake.
    Countries. Kingdoms.
    A man’s self-respect.
    Hannah’s eyes burned and she had to look away to cling to her control. “I’m sorry,” she said, thinking the words didn’t mean much because they’d change nothing. Emmeline stillwasn’t here. Hannah was pretending to be someone she wasn’t. And the charade continued, making Zale Patek the fool.
    Her father would be so ashamed if he saw her now. He’d raised her to be strong, independent and true.
    True.
    But oh, she wasn’t being honest now. She was anything but. And Zale deserved better.
    At the very least, he deserved the truth.
    “But you did come,” he said after a moment, breaking the strained silence. “Do you mean to stay? Or are you just waiting for an opportunity to escape?”
    Hannah went hot then cold, lips parting—but what could she say?
    Nothing.
    So she closed her mouth and just looked at him, heart aching, wanting so badly to tell him everything but not knowing where to start.
    And then he turned, jaw hard, tight, and continued on down the stairs, his broad shoulders squared.
    Zale needed air. Badly.
    He walked through the central hall down a corridor, leaving the beautifully restored palace for his favorite wing—the original castle keep, a stone tower built nearly a thousand years ago with thick walls and a proper parapet for soldiers to patrol.
    As a boy this had been his favorite place to hide, a place neither of his brothers could find him and his parents wouldn’t dream to go.
    On top of the tower he felt free.
    He needed that freedom now. Needed freedom to think, freedom to breathe.
    Zale walked the parapet with the stunning views of the old medieval walled town nestled between the green slope of mountain and the blue Adriatic Sea.
    He’d lost it earlier in Emmeline’s room. Completely lost it. And he never did that. At least, he hadn’t, not in years.
    But oh, dear God, he felt like he was close to losing it again.
    He knew there had been issues before she’d arrived. He knew he’d have to make a decision about her, and their future, once he’d spent time with her. But spending time with her didn’t help. Spending time with her was making him mad.
    Was she crazy, or was he?
    How could one woman appear to be so many different things?
    She was just so different than he’d expected. She’d always been beautiful, but she’d never been this fierce or strong. But the Emmeline now under his roof was downright fierce. Feisty. Warm. Complex.
    He struggled now to remember the princess he’d met at the engagement party a year ago. She still looked like that Emmeline—well, a healthier, more athletic version—and she was still as intelligent and articulate, but everything else was different.
    Her expressions.
    Her mannerisms.
    Her inflection.
    Everything had changed since that evening, but he didn’t understand it. Didn’t understand her.
    This was the part that bothered him most.
    Which was the real Emmeline? The Emmeline that