Free Once a Princess by Johanna Lindsey Page A

that much trouble and there really was nothing there. In fact, there being no such mark was probably the end of the joke. But until she actually looked, they were having a high time, weren’t they? Anticipating that they were making her deliriously happy by what they were revealing, and how disappointed she was going to be when it finally dawned on her that she wouldn’t get her fairy-tale king.
    But they’d picked the one girl who wouldn’t get down and kiss the feet of the so-called king who’d deign to marry her, because she was never getting married, not to any man, not even to a king if a real one ever asked. If they hadn’t tried to carry it so far—a king , for God’s sake—it would have worked. But that was probably the whole idea, to get her to believe something that was so fantastically unbelievable.
    In fact, the joke had worked up to this point. She’d believed they actually knew who she was, that she would learn about her real family, her history, everything she’d always wanted to know. That was what was important to her, not some happy-ever-after marriage. But they didn’t know that. She’d been ridiculously gullible. But they weren’t going to know that either, not if she could help it.
    â€œA king?” she said now, forcing her eyes wide with amazement. “My oh my, will wonders never cease.” That tepid bit of excitement was the best she could do, so she changed her tone to skeptical, laced with scorn, wanting to see just how far they’d go to convince her. “Who?” she asked Stefan. “You? No, you’re not arrogant enough. It must be him.”
    She was looking at Vasili. The others were looking at Stefan for his reaction to what could be considered another rebuff.
    â€œIndeed,” Stefan said stiffly. “King Vasili of Cardinia. That should delight you, mistress.”
    â€œShould it?” she replied, but her eyes were still on Vasili, whom she asked, “So you’re a real live king?”
    Vasili came away from his slump against the wall with a look of utter disgust which he bestowed first on Stefan, then on Tanya. “So it would seem, mistress.”
    â€œAnd why would you want to marry the likes of me?”
    â€œI assure you I don’t.”
    â€œYou were betrothed at birth,” Stefan quickly told her. “Whether the king wishes to marry you or not, his duty demands that he do so—if you bear the mark. It is time to establish—”
    â€œI don’t think so,” Tanya cut in. “What it’s time for is the end of this joke, and for you to leave. You’ve wasted enough of my—”
    â€œYou don’t believe you stand before royalty?” This interruption came from Vasili, who showedsome amusement at last in the slight tilting of his lips.
    Tanya snorted. “I don’t know what gave you the idea I was stupid, but I assure you I’m not.”
    â€œThat is most definitely debatable, mistress,” Vasili shot back. To Stefan he added, “Why don’t you just lift her damn skirts and be done with it?”
    Tanya’s fingers curled immediately around the hilt of her knife. “The hand that touches me gets cut off,” she promised. “Now I want you out of here!”
    Stefan sighed, wondering how a simple matter had become so difficult. “We cannot leave here in doubt, mistress. If you would but try to understand our position—”
    â€œBut I do understand, perfectly. I’m just not believing it.”
    â€œFor what reason would we fabricate what has been revealed here?”
    â€œI can think of several reasons, none of them very nice. You could even be actors for all I know, rehearsing some stupid play that deals with royalty. In that case, you definitely need more practice—on everything but the arrogance and condescension. You’ve got those attitudes mastered very well indeed.”
    â€œThe