The Princess by Lori Wick Read Free Book Online Page B

himself a part of, he welcomed the excuse to put it from his mind for a little longer.

    “The king said he had a picture,” Shelby said in the quiet of her room. “I assumed he’d shown it to his son.”
    Shelby sat down on the sofa in the small sitting area in one corner of her bedroom, her gaze on the window. As had become her routine, she was scheduled to meet with Kris, a man the palace referred to as her companion, just before lunch, but right now she wondered if she had time to go home for a little while. She didn’t want to talk about the scene in the kitchen, but she thought it might do her some good to see her mother.
    She bit her lip as she tried to remember if she was to call ahead to the garage or not. She was on the verge of going to the phone when someone knocked on her door. Shelby opened the door to find Murdock waiting in the hall.
    “Oh, Murdock, I was just wondering whether I should call ahead to get my car or just walk down to the garage?”
    “It’s up to you. If you do call, they can have it started and waiting for you or even delivered to the door. Or if you like, one of the limos can take you wherever you wish.”
    Shelby nodded.
    “Are you ready to go over your schedule, Princess Shelby, or should I come back?”
    In truth, Shelby had forgotten all about reviewing her schedule, but she covered nicely and told the house minister to come in. By the time the two of them had gone over everything, it was too late to go to Henley. She went down to the garage before lunch to meet with Kris, telling herself the worst was over and hoping it was true.

    The prince was glad to be done with his meeting and headed back to the palace. He had a good deal of paperwork staring at himand some phone calls to make. He still hadn’t decided how to handle his encounter with Shelby.
    Ivan sat competently behind the wheel while they were at a stoplight, and although Nikolai’s mind was busy, his gaze began to roam. What he saw at the corner caused his brows to rise.
    “Is that Kris sitting on a bicycle, Ivan?”
    “I believe it is, sir.”
    “What is he doing?”
    Ivan had summed up the situation in a heartbeat. “He’s watching over the princess, sir.”
    Nikolai’s eyes began to scan the street before he realized he was staring right at her. Clad in long bike shorts, a baggy T-shirt, helmet, knee guards, elbow guards, wrist protection, sunglasses, and in-line skates, stood his wife. While he watched, the light changed and she took off in a smooth glide, Kris just ten feet behind her on a bike. Nikolai knew his mouth was open but was too amazed to care. Gawking until they were out of sight, he tried to find her when the car pulled forward into traffic. He caught a glimpse of her as she maneuvered down the street, but she was clearly not headed back to the palace. Nikolai was only glad that he was. He still had paperwork and phone calls, but they were going to have to wait. He needed to see Murdock first.

    “Not only does she enjoy skating, sir, she has a bike. She’s been out a few days on that.”
    “And Kris goes with her?” Nikolai asked for the second time, needing to make sure.
    “Always, sir.”
    “Does he keep a close watch on her? Faraday is much busier than Henley.”
    “I believe they are both very careful, sir.”
    Nikolai leaned back in his desk chair, his eyes on the ceiling, his brow lowered in thought.
    “Does she always eat breakfast in the kitchen?”
    “Yes. I can tell she’s quite comfortable there.”
    “What about lunch and dinner?”
    “When she’s here, we serve those in the dining room and she eats there.”
    Nikolai didn’t need to ask if she ate alone; he’d eaten plenty of meals alone in the dining room. It wasn’t at all unusual for him to ask for a meal in his sitting room just to avoid the loneliness of the spacious room.
    “Is she home tonight?”
    “No, sir. She’s been invited to dine with some of the Council members and their wives.”
    “I was asked to