Free Royal Affair by Alice Gaines Page A

didn’t realize how evil that
made him appear.
    “No,” she said. That wasn’t a lie. Friedrich
hadn’t asked her to stay, although they’d discussed continuing
their affair here. Something in that direction would surely happen,
but she needn’t let Vaclav know about it.
    “Too bad,” he said. “I was hoping we could
renew our friendship while I’m here.”
    Well, the man was consistent. Consistently
lecherous and bothersome. She’d kept him at arm’s length before.
She could do it again.
    Mrs. Beaumont appeared at the top of the
stairs. “Lady Marta, have you seen Mr. Wilson? I don’t seem to be
able to find my maid.”
    Vaclav turned to glance up. “Oh, my. Another
vision.”
    “Mrs. Beaumont, this is Archduke Vaclav
Marek of Rosnia.”
    Mrs. Beaumont cocked her head and studied
Vaclav and his flamboyant clothing for a moment. “Archduke did you
say?”
    Vaclav put his hand on his chest and bowed.
“At your service.”
    “Well, bless his heart,” Mrs. Beaumont
said.
    Marta hadn’t learned a lot about people from
the American South yet, but she was fairly certain Mrs. Beaumont
hadn’t bestowed a blessing on Vaclav.
    “My heart is indeed blessed on meeting you,
Mrs. Beaumont,” Vaclav said. He leaned toward Marta. “Another
American, no?”
    “Mrs. Beaumont is Ulrich’s future
mother-in-law.”
    “I’m jealous of my cousins, I swear,” he
said.
    “Well, I don’t see my maid here, so I’ll
look elsewhere,” Mrs. Beaumont said.
    “I’ll assist.” Vaclav climbed the stairs.
Mrs. Beaumont gave Marta a beseeching look, as if asking for
rescue. Marta couldn’t do anything to stop Friedrich’s cousin in
his quest for love. Mrs. Beaumont would have to take care of that
herself. In a moment, Vaclav had joined her, gesturing grandly, as
he led her away.
    Chuckling, Marta started to go, but a
familiar voice stopped her.
    “Lady Marta, would you be of assistance in
my study?” Friedrich asked.
    She turned in his direction. “I’d be happy
to, Your Majesty.”
    One never knew when servants might overhear.
Good staff made themselves unobtrusive, and Friedrich’s were the
best. So she kept things formal, not touching him as they walked to
his study.
    Once inside and with the door safely closed,
he took her in his arms. “Now I have you right where I want
you.”
    She put the back of her hand to her forehead
as if about to swoon. They’d already had melodrama in the entry
hall. She might as well create more here for fun.
    “Do with me as you will,” she said. “I’m
powerless against you.”
    “If only that were true.” He kissed her, and
she immediately softened in the warmth of his embrace. Her prince.
Strong and tall and clean-shaven. She twined her arms around his
neck and moved her lips under his. Imagine a life of having his
kisses whenever she wanted them.
    He broke it off, but not before her breath
was coming fast and shallow. Taking his hands in hers, she stepped
back. “What was that for?”
    He smiled. He did that quite often now. “Do
I need a reason to kiss you?”
    “Of course not.”
    “I have one, in any case. Thank you for all
your help. I’m afraid the Beaumonts and Vaclav are too much to
handle at once.”
    “I think I may have pitted them against each
other.”
    He laughed. “Clever woman.”
    “One might say devious.”
    “Will you stay here until they’re both
gone?” he asked.
    It was her turn to cock her head. “Won’t
that appear odd?”
    “I think it’s prudent for the people to see
you here more. As wonderful as Felice is, she doesn’t know yet how
to run a royal household, and there’s so much to be done. You could
take her under your wing.”
    “I’ll be her tutor?” she said.
    “And Casey’s, as well. She has to be an
ambassador’s wife,” he said.
    “If you think it wise.” Another huge step,
allowing the public to see her about the palace more than
casually.
    “Not just wise, necessary,” he said.
“Please, I need you.”
    She