The Runaway Princess by Christina Dodd Read Free Book Online Page B

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    â€œDamn their souls.” He vibrated with outrage.
    â€œBut I thought Serephina and Baminia were safe.”
    â€œThey are safe. We have to get there.”
    For some reason, she had not even considered visiting the two countries, although she knew they weren’t far.
    For good reason, it seemed.
    â€œLook.” He turned her so she faced the rocky heights. “Serephina is just over that line of cliffs.”
    A chill ran up her spine. “So close.”
    â€œYes, but the cliffs run for miles from east to west, and we have to go around. The horses are good, trained in the mountains, and with luck we can cross the border in two days.”
    â€œOnly two days.” To escape him and go back where the world was sane.
    His hand rotated slowly, soothing the muscles on her rigid neck. “Despite my best efforts, Dominic’s band has grown active again.”
    â€œAgain.”
    â€œYes. And you remember what happened last time.”
    â€œI do?” She searched her mind. Leona had never mentioned any problems.
    â€œIt was a time of great sorrow for all of us.”
    She wasn’t sure, but she thought he dropped a kiss on the top of her head.
    â€œDominic’s gang wants the end of the monarchy, and they’ll get it any way they can—by our deaths, if necessary.” He turned her back into his arms. “That’s why we must convey you back to Plaisance and fulfill the prophecy.”
    She detected something in his voice; chagrin, perhaps, that he hadn’t been able to control the situation by himself.
    Speaking into the soft linen, she asked, “Is that why you said this bomb was my fault?”
    â€œI spoke without thinking. It is not right for me to blame you. But surely you understand now that your letter was unacceptable.”
    â€œThe letter.” He’d mentioned the letter before. “Just what did the princess say in that letter?”
    Obviously irritated, he answered, “You know very well what you said.”
    â€œBut I am not Princess Ethelinda.”
    With a great deal of satisfaction, he retorted, “As far as Dominic is concerned, you are.”

Six
    With both hands, Evangeline muffled her gasp of horror. Danior was right. Revolutionaries, men who considered bombs an art form, now thought she was a princess. “Because of you—Your Highness ,” she said. As she struggled free, she made his title an insult. Looking up at his face, she saw the stark contrasts of hollowed eyes and brows and flesh made pale by the rising half-moon. For the first time since the bomb exploded, she forgot about her money. “ You led these revolutionaries to me. They’ve been following you .”
    â€œYes. Incredible as it seems, somehow they discovered our tracks.”
    The damnable man was right. It didn’t matter whether she was Princess Ethelinda or not. If revolutionaries had indeed found them—and she had no reason to believe Danior was lying about this—then she, Evangeline Scoffield, was in danger. And this madman prince was her only savior.
    Her only current savior , she corrected herself. She’d always saved herself before, and she wouldfind a way out of this dilemma, too. She’d use him to help her flee this place. When they were well away and had lost the revolutionaries, then she’d escape back to England, and face the consequences.
    Resolved to resume control of her life, she asked, “Where are Rafaello and Victor?”
    â€œThey’ve gone to the stable to get our horses.”
    Scanning the area, she caught a glimpse of movement along the path. “There they are,” she started to say.
    Danior’s hand covered her mouth in a swift, silencing gesture. His voice spoke softly in her ear. “Quiet.”
    She could see them now, two strangers. Dressed in black, they walked just off the edge of the path. The light of the burning château showed her nothing of their