Free The Princess and the Duke by Allison Leigh Page A

were around ten years ago,” she said. “What do you remember about my uncle’s death?”
    Pierce studied Meredith’s lovely face. The morning sun shining through the windows of her office ought to have illuminated any imperfections.
    There were none. Only the clear deep green of her eyes as she watched him. There was nothing casual in her gaze, though her relaxed position behind her desk would have said there should be. He wasn’t sure if he preferred that close look of hers or the other look. The one where she sort of focused somewhere around his ear or his chin. Looking at him without really looking at him.
    If she looked too close, he was afraid she’d see straight through him.
    Pierce was a strong man. With strong values, strong beliefs. But he wasn’t sure he was strong enough for Meredith to see the truth inside him. At least when he held her at bay, he could be assured that she’dnever know the worst. Never know him for exactly what he was.
    “Colonel?”
    The last time she’d used his given name, she’d been seventeen. Eleven years of wanting to see her soft lips form his name. Eleven years of wanting to hear it.
    God. If this was what he got like after a sleepless night, maybe he was getting old.
    He straightened from the desk. “There was an incident on Majorco. Edwin got caught in the crossfire.”
    “The wrong place at the wrong time.”
    “Basically.”
    She rubbed her fingertip against the bridge of her nose. “And the perpetrators? The people who killed my uncle. They were never found.”
    Pierce looked out the window, staring at the thick trees surrounding the building without really seeing them. The Royal Intelligence Institute was a jewel in the crown of Penwyck. It was world-renowned for its leading-edge research in fields from medicine to economics to music.
    All of which had nothing to do with Meredith’s comment.
    “No.” He turned to face her. “Edwin’s killer was never found.”

Chapter Six
    M eredith sat back in her chair, folding her hands. He has that look again, she thought. What is it that bothers you about my uncle? She wanted to ask him. Would have asked him, if they’d had some semblance of comfort between them.
    Instead, she dropped her hand on the computer printout for the children’s center event. “It looks as if we’ll be bursting at the seams at the opening of Horizons next weekend.” She flipped the printout around so he could see the lengthy list. “Would you like to see it?”
    He picked it up, glancing over it. “Valdosta’s name is on here.”
    “He’s a benefactor of the hospital, and the hospital is partnering with us to establish the center. Of course he’ll be there.”
    “He’ll be there because you’re there,” Pierce said flatly, and slid the report to her over the slick surface of the desk. “Watch out for him.”
    “George?” Meredith’s eyebrows shot up. “Please. He’s thoroughly harmless.”
    “Yes, if he isn’t liquored like he was last night. Or perhaps I should say this morning. What would you have done if I hadn’t come by when I did?”
    “Kicked him in the shin as I was considering doing when you appeared. I haven’t reached the age of twenty-eight without learning how to take care of myself, Colonel.”
    “Yes, Your Royal Highness,” he said blandly. “I could see that last night.”
    Irritation tickled at her spine. “Last night, I was darling. ”
    “Excuse me?”
    She had a headache. A mountain of work awaited her attention. The smart thing would be to end the conversation immediately and get to her duties. So why was she rising? Circling her desk and going to stand by him?
    “Darling,” she said softly. “You called me darling last night when you got rid of George. As if you were staking your claim.”
    “Purely for George’s benefit.”
    She knew it. And it pained her immensely. “Do you have any sort of personal life, Pierce?”
    She’d surprised him. More by using his given name than the intrusive