Free Her Highness, My Wife by Victoria Alexander Page A

from his desire to protect his family, his only real reason in agreeing to her proposal was to rid himself of her continuing presence in his dreams. In his blood. To regain that part of his soul he’d given freely and never reclaimed. He cared no more for her than for any woman whose bed he wished to share.
    Still, it was odd to note how much her quick agreement to his last condition dwelled in his mind. He knew full well, aside from her first husband, there had been no other man in her life before him. Had there been others since then? Had she discovered the kind of passion she’d shared with him with another man?
    More than one? Fifteen months, three weeks and four days—no, six days now—was a very long time. Certainly he had been with other women since he’d last seen her. Nameless and for the most part faceless, they had been one way he’d struggled to fill the emptiness Tatiana had left him with. Had she felt the same void?
    Hardly. His jaw tightened at the thought. She had been the one to leave. The one to decide their marriage could not continue. He had had no choice in the matter. And no choice in her return. The sounds of an approaching carriage caught his attention. He stalked to the door and stepped outside. But he damn well had choices now.
    A curricle, rather too shiny to be anything but new, pulled to a halt on the road in front of the cottage. A horse tethered to the vehicle trailed behind. The gentleman, or more likely officer, he’d seen help Tatiana onto her horse after her last visit held the reins. Tatiana perched on the seat by his side, entirely too close. Matthew raised a brow. Surely that was not proper behavior for a princess or any other respectable woman.
    The officer accompanying her leapt out of the carriage and hurried to help Tatiana to the ground with a familiarity that struck Matthew as far too intimate and extremely irritating.
    “Good day, Lord Matthew.” She cast him a brilliant smile.
    “Is it? I hadn’t noticed.” He directed his words toward her, but his gaze focused on her companion. The man was not unattractive—some might even say handsome, in a stern sort of way. Indeed, foolish women might well appreciate his dark hair and disapproving eyes. Matt wondered how foolish Tatiana was.
    She laughed. “That is scarcely the way to start such a lovely day. I do think something a bit more
    welcoming is in order, although a sincere good day is always appropriate.”
    “Good day,” Matt said, feeling not the least bit sincere.
    The officer’s eyes narrowed slightly as if he didn’t appreciate Matt’s tone. Tatiana ignored the palpable tension between the men. “My lord, I should like to introduce you to Captain Petrov. Captain, this is the Lord Matthew Weston.”
    “My lord.” Petrov nodded coolly.
    “Captain.” Matt’s voice was every bit as cold. For whatever reason, he didn’t like this man, and it was obvious the enmity was mutual.
    Petrov was of a similar height and breadth as Matt, with a distinctly military bearing. Nonetheless, Matt was confident he could defeat him in a fair fight if need be. The idea was surprisingly inviting.
    “I thought you understood that if this ruse is to be effective, you shall have to abide by my terms.” Matt met the other man’s gaze. “I believe I specifically mentioned that does not include servants.”
    The officer’s eyes darkened with anger and he took a step forward. Good. Matt’s fists clenched. He would quite enjoy thrashing Tatiana’s escort.
    She held out a hand to restrain the officer. “Nonsense, my lord, any fool can see Captain Petrov is not a servant.”
    “Perhaps, Your Highness,” Petrov said coolly, “his lordship is not just any fool, but a fool of astonishing proportions.”
    “Perhaps he is,” she said brightly. “Perhaps only such a fool would agree to help me in my endeavor, and for that we can be most grateful.”
    “You shall quite turn my head with your compliments, Your Highness,” Matt