Free Secret Fire by Johanna Lindsey Page B

And then too, he simply hadn’t wanted to share this treasure.
    It was incredible, but he had actually been disappointed when she had finally succumbed to sleep. He still wasn’t tired, was in fact feeling quite vigorous.
    “Did you know she was a virgin, Vladimir?”
    “No, my lord. Did it matter?”
    “I think to her it did. How much were you going to pay her?”
    Considering this new information, Vladimir doubled the figure he had in mind. “A hundred English pounds.”
    Dimitri looked sideways at him. “Make it a thousand—no, two thousand. I want her to be able to splurge on some pretty clothes. That rag she was wearing was atrocious. In fact, have we nothing more suitable she can wear when she wakes?”
    Vladimir shouldn’t really have been surprised. The Prince’s generosity was renowned. And yet this woman was no more than a simple English peasant.
    “Most of the servants’ belongings were taken to the ship yesterday, my lord.”
    “And I don’t suppose Anastasia would agree to give up one of her dresses? No, of course she wouldn’t. She was in a pout all evening because I wouldn’t let her carouse in London last night. I think right now she would relish any reason to spite me.”
    Vladimir hesitated, but if it was Dimitri’s wish to clothe the wench in finery…no, he couldn’t bring himself to mention that Countess Rothkovna’s clothes had sailed from Russia with them even if she hadn’t. Dimitri might appreciate the subtle revenge of giving away all of the Countess’s things, since he was undoubtedly through with her after the way she had disappointed him, but Vladimir just couldn’t bring himself to gift this thoroughly disagreeable peasant with such an expensive wardrobe. A more becoming dress was one thing, an exceedingly costly one quite another.
    “I will send one of the women to obtain something suitable once the shops open,” Vladimir suggested, but added, “if you think she will be here that long.”
    “No, don’t bother. It was just a thought, and the pleasure of ordering that rag thrown away.” Dimitri waved his hand in dismissal. “I’ll call you when she is ready to leave.”
    So he was staying in this room with her? His interest was still that piqued? Vladimir hesitated again. He had never put his wishes before the master’s, as he had just done. Yet he did not have to appease the Prince. Dimitri was still in an excellent mood. But Vladimir disliked the woman too much after all the frustration and anxiety she had caused with her stubbornness, even if she had pleased Dimitri in the end. She was being given much too much, in his opinion, as it was. She wouldn’t get any extras thrown in if he could help it.
    “As you wish, my lord.”
    Vladimir left, closing the door softly, and went down to tell Marusia about this latest quirk of the Prince’s. But she would probably be amused and remind him that Dimitri’s father had also been fascinated by an Englishwoman, enough to marry her. Thank God this English wench was not royalty, as the Lady Anne had been.
    In the room, Dimitri turned off the lamps that had burned all night, then stretched out on the bed he had left only a few hours ago. Katherine lay on her stomach, her face turned toward him. He brushed the hair back from her cheek for a better view. She didn’t stir.
    In sleep, the severe lines of her face were softened, just as they had been in her passion. Dimitri couldn’t forget that passion. Of course it was the drug that had produced it, not him—which was why he wanted her one more time, without the drug controlling her. In part he felt a challenge, a desire to see if he could stimulate the same heights of feeling in her. But perversely, he also felt a need to prove that in reality she could not possibly be as sexy and incredibly sensual as she had been under the influence of the cantharides.
    At the moment, however, she needed a few more hours’ sleep to replenish her strength. Having to wait was inconvenient.