Free The Disgraced Princess by Robyn Donald Page B

called out, ‘Come in.’
    It was Gerd, tall and stern and aloof. ‘Come with me.’
    Chilled, she ac companied him into the room she’d been in the previous night. A glance at the big sofa brought a swift bloom of heat to her skin, but that soon vanished when he spoke.
    â€˜I’ve can celled your flight home.’

CHAPTER FIVE
    S HEER astonishment silenced Rosie—but only for a second. ‘You had no right,’ she flashed.
    Face impassive, Gerd shrugged. ‘Did you want to go back to New Zealand?’
    The one question she didn’t want to answer. After a deep breath she stated emphatically, ‘That was my decision to make, not yours. I’m not one of your subjects, to be told what to do.’
    He shrugged as though her protest meant nothing. ‘It’s done now. Last night you spoke of seeing a doctor about contraception. She’ll be here in half an hour.’ He paused, then said, ‘But if you want to return to New Zealand I’ll organise a flight for you—a much more comfortable one than riding cattle class in a jumbo jet.’
    He smiled, and her heart twisted, anger draining away under the sensuous impact. Defying its effect, she repeated, ‘But the decision was mine to make, not yours.’
    â€˜Was it the wrong decision?’
    â€˜I…’ She took a deep breath and admitted, ‘No.’
    His brows shot up, then his expression relaxed. ‘Kelt has called me an arrogant bastard fairly frequently—perhaps he’s right. What do you want to do?’
    Uncertainly she said, ‘I don’t know.’ Her lips trembled;startled, she blinked at the hot sting of tears and swallowed hard. ‘Oh, damn!’
    She stiffened when Gerd covered the two paces between them, but when he took her in his arms she melted, resting her forehead against his disarmingly broad shoulder.
    â€˜I’m not used to anything like this,’ she admitted into his shirt. ‘And you are.’
    â€˜I’ve told you before, don’t believe the gossip columnists,’ he said crisply.
    â€˜Even if only half of what’s been written is true it means you’re a whole lot more experienced than I am,’ she pointed out miserably.
    He held her away from him, his face closed against her. ‘I have had lovers, yes. Not very many, and none of them have been casual.’
    That hurt too; she didn’t dare let him see how much. ‘Go on.’
    â€˜I shall not tell you about them—it would be a betrayal of trust. Last night you laid down conditions—conditions I accepted. As long as we are together you do not need to worry about any other women.’
    When she said nothing he held her a little further away and scanned her face with astute, penetrating eyes. ‘Do you believe me?’
    â€˜I—yes.’ She hesitated, then went on, ‘Yes, of course I believe you. It’s just that I don’t know anything about being together .’
    He smiled, and drew her against him again, holding her with wonderful gentleness. ‘Perhaps I should have expected some uncertainty, but it surprises me that the Rosemary who has always been so out spoken and confident should show such wariness. So, am I forgiven for assuming that you would prefer to stay here than fly to New Zealand?’
    Rosemary suspected that she’d forgive him anything. The thought shocked her; she had a feeling he might ride rough shod over her if she didn’t lay down boundaries.
    What really alarmed her was that she didn’t want to.
    â€˜Rosemary?’
    She admitted, ‘Yes, provided it doesn’t happen again. And I promise that you won’t have to worry about any other men, either.’
    His face hardened. ‘So, we understand each other.’
    And he kissed her, a fleeting kiss on her forehead that somehow appeased her more than a passionate one would have, and drew her arm through his as he walked her