Secret Fire by Johanna Lindsey Read Free Book Online Page A

our aristos. Some of them, they don’t even speak Russian.”
    This flow of words came as a woman hurried across the room with a heavy tray and dropped it on a low, round table between two chairs. She was half a head taller than Katherine, middleaged, with brown hair in a tight bun, and kindlyblue eyes. She hadn’t knocked. One of the guards had opened the door for her and closed it as well.
    She straightened the things on the tray. A thin vase holding a single rose had fallen over. Fortunately it contained no water. The lamp she moved to the marble mantel. It was already lit, and the extra light welcome. Then she moved back to the tray and began lifting covers.
    “ Katushki ,” she explained, revealing a plate of fish balls in a white wine sauce. “I am the cook, so I know you will like it. My name is Marusia.”
    She wasn’t at all what one would expect of a cook, being slightly on the thin side, Katherine thought, as she glanced at the food. There was a little loaf of rye bread next to the katushki , a chicory and fruit salad, a piece of cake for dessert, and a bottle of wine. A very appetizing lunch. The katushki smelled delicious. And Katherine had missed breakfast. A shame she was too stubborn to eat it.
    “Thank you, Marusia, but you can take that away. I won’t accept anything in this house, including food.”
    “It’s not good that you don’t eat. You are so small.” Marusia said this with awe.
    “I am small because… I am small,” Katherine said stiffly. “It has nothing at all to do with food.”
    “But the Prince, he is so big. See?”
    She practically shoved a little picture beneath Katherine’s nose, so she couldn’t possibly avoid looking at it. The man in the miniature was…impossible. No one could really look like that.
    Katherine pushed the woman’s hand away. “Very amusing. Is this little ruse supposed tomake me change my mind? Even if that really were your Prince Alexandrov, my answer would still be no.”
    “You are married?”
    “No.”
    “You have a lover then that you love very much?”
    “Love is for idiots. I am no idiot.”
    Marusia frowned. “Then tell me, please, why you say no. This is truly my prince.” She tapped the picture. “I would not lie, since you will meet him tonight. If anything, this picture does not do him justice. He is a man full of life, energy, and charm. And for all his size, he is gentle with women—”
    “Stop it!” Katherine snapped, her control slipping. “My God, you people are incredible. First that brute who abducts me, now you! Can’t your prince find his own women? Do you realize how disgusting this is for you to pander for him, as if I were for sale? Well, I am not, and there is no amount of money that can buy my affection.”
    “If it is the money you object to, you need only consider a man and woman enjoying each other’s company. And my master does usually court his own women. There is just no time today. He is at the docks, seeing that everything is in order with the ship. You see, we sail tomorrow for Russia.”
    “I am delighted to hear it,” Katherine said dryly. “The answer is still no.”
    Vladimir was right. The wench was worse than stubborn. She was impossible. Sweet Mary, she had the disdain of a princess but the stupidity of the lowest serf. No one in their right mind would turn down a night with Dimitri Alexandrov.There were women who would pay for such a privilege.
    “You still have not said why you refuse,” Marusia pointed out.
    “You people have made a mistake, that’s all. I am not the type of woman who would even remotely consider going to bed with a perfect stranger. I am simply not interested.”
    Marusia let out a string of Russian words as she left the room, shaking her head. In the hall she met her husband, who was waiting expectantly. She hated to disappoint him, but she had no choice.
    “It is no use, Vladimir. I think she is either frightened of men or she does not like them. But she will not