The Princess in His Bed by Lila DiPasqua Read Free Book Online Page B

Comtesse de Gremont and break your ‘fascination’ with her.”
    True enough. The moment his morning meeting with His Majesty was over, he planned to return to his rooms, refresh himself, and seek Aimee out.
    She didn’t know about his change of plans and thought he’d be occupied most of the afternoon with the King.
    He couldn’t wait to surprise her.

    Aimee’s heart pounded as she approached the doors to Adam’s apartments. She couldn’t believe she was doing something like this. For the last three years her life had been a staid, quiet existence. Stealing into a man’s rooms was much more adventure than she’d ever known.
    Or ever wanted to know.
    In truth, her entire visit to the palace had been one unprecedented experience after another.
    There were so many apartments at the palace—housed in the various outbuildings—that it had been quite the chore simply learning where Adam’s rooms were located. She’d been forced to make careful, discreet inquiries.
    Fearing she’d be seen in the corridor by someone she knew, Aimee picked up her pace and rushed to the door. The last thing she wanted was to be questioned about being in an outbuilding that was not where her apartments were located. Or even close to it.
    Standing before Adam’s door, she paused, her left hand clutching his justacorps in a white-knuckle grip. If caught by a servant, she’d simply say she was returning the Marquis’s overcoat that she’d borrowed the other day—because she was cold.
    In the middle of a hot summer’s day.
    Most definitely a weak and sorry excuse, Aimee .
    Sadly, it was the best she could come up with.
    Taking a deep breath, she exhaled slowly. She was doing this alone. Louise was so nervous, she’d trembled and babbled uncontrollably, leaving no doubt in Aimee’s mind that her cousin would have foiled the plan.
    Get on with it . You can’t stand here staring at the door all afternoon .
    Aimee raised a shaky hand and lightly rapped at the door.
    Silence. An excellent sign!
    Placing a hand on the door handle, she turned it and opened the portal, her heart galloping wildly. A quick peek told her no one was in the antechamber. She slipped inside and closed the door softly.
    Aimee looked around the elegant room. White and gilded walls. Tall windows overlooking the gardens, and two doors. One ajar. The other closed. Approaching the open door, she could see it led to the bedchambers, the floral-patterned carpets on the floor muting her footsteps.
    However, nothing quieted the thundering of her heart. It was so loud in her ears next to the stillness surrounding her.
    Entering Adam’s bedchamber, she couldn’t miss the massive four-poster bed with its blue counterpane and matching bed curtains. Seeing it made her insides dance and conjured up heated images of last night in her mind. This was not the time to think about that .
    Pulling her gaze away from Adam’s bed, she glanced to the right and spotted exactly what she was looking for.
    Two large ornately carved armoires.
    This would be so much easier if the man hadn’t had the amount of clothing that required a second armoire.
    She walked to the closest one and opened its doors. Numerous suits of clothing, in various colors, were folded and stacked high in neat piles. Throwing open the doors to the second armoire, she found it just as overflowing with clothing. My God. It was going to take hours to unfold, search, and refold each justacorps and return it to its spot.
    Frustrated, Aimee cast a glance heavenward, needing a miracle. Why couldn’t it be as simple as reaching in —she shoved a hand in to one of the piles— and pulling out the ring ? As she was sliding her hand back out, her fingers stroked over something small and hard inside a pocket.
    The ring!
    “May I help you?” A male voice made her jump, tear her hand out of the pile, and spin around.
    Her knees almost buckled when she saw Adam leaning against the doorframe wearing nothing but a bath linen