Page 70 of You Belong to Me
Considering what had just passed betweenthem, he found her reasoning amusing. “You don’t think we’re going to be married, do you? You’ve never really thought so.”
That might have been true a few weeks back, but the hopelessness Alexandra had carried with her into town today had destroyed that confidence. She wasn’t going to admit that to him, though.
“I know what kind of man you are, Petroff,” she told him plainly. “A lecher like you married? You’ll panic at the last minute and do what you should have done before you took me from my home.”
“It’s interesting that you should think so,” he replied, his fingers brushing softly against her cheek before he stepped back even farther. “I rather think we’re going to be married—or not. But the decision won’t be made at the altar, I can promise you that.”
He left her with those cryptic words. He could have told her what his mother intended. He could have told her that if she didn’t cooperate and learn some proper behavior, she’d get her wish, that there would be no marriage. But he didn’t tell her. He left it to fate, and he was damned if he knew why.
31
The next morning, Vasili found himself in his mother’s stable again, but with Stefan this time. “You were right,” Stefan was saying as he moved to another stall down the aisle. “I’ve never seen finer blooded whites. Are you sure she wouldn’t sell me one for Tanya?”
“I know my Alex,” Vasili replied. “She’s as stubborn as a mule. I’d love to have one for myself, but I knew from the beginning that I didn’t dare ask. She doesn’t even know how much I admire her babies, and I certainly wouldn’t let her know how much I want Prince Micha.”
“But you, cousin, are a mere count, while I happen to be a king. With all the headaches the title gives me, it ought to afford me a few benefits to go with it.”
Stefan might be teasing, but Vasili took the subject seriously. “Don’t count on it. It she wasn’t impressed by my being related to royalty, what makes you think she’ll be impressed by you? And I’d really hate to see you ask, Stefan,and get told no.”
Stefan chuckled. “Don’t make it sound as if it never happens. I’ll have you know Tanya has no qualms about telling me no quite frequently.”
“Ah, but Tanya has special privileges. I never heard the rest of us daring to so offend you, Your Majesty.”
For that, Vasili got a punch that produced only a half-joking wince. “And who are you trying to impress with that bull? Shall I name you times and dates whenyouhave refused to do what I ordered?”
“Only in your best interest.”
Stefan snorted. Vasili grinned and rubbed his shoulder. They had spent the morning together, catching up. But Lazar had gotten to Stefan last night, and he’d filled him in on a number of things Vasili would rather not have had repeated. As a result, he’d been suffering quite a bit of ribbing this morning, and Stefan had decided he had to meet this “little barbarian” who thought one of his elite personal guards was no more than a court dandy.
But arriving at the house, Vasili had found that although Alexandra had sat through several hours of his mother’s lecturing this morning, she’d finally escaped to the stable. And at the stable, he had been told she and the Razin brothers were exercising some of her horses at the nearby park.
“I suppose I can wait until you marry the girl,” Stefan said now, “then buy one of the mares from you.”
“Not a chance.IfI end up marrying her, the horses will remain solely hers.”
“That’s not the way Lazar tells it.”
“Lazar knows damn well I didn’t mean what I told her about selling them, andyouknow me better than that, Stefan. Besides, my life would be in danger if I made any claim to those horses, and don’t think I’m joking. I’m not.”
“She can’t be that—well, never mind.” Stefan shrugged. “I suppose if I want one, I can buy one from her father, as Lazar did.”
“Hers are better,” Vasili said with an unmistakable note of pride.
“Don’t rub it in, when you’ve assured me I can’t have one. Now, if I’m going to meet the lady, I suppose we should take a ride through that park on the way back to the—Jesus, is that her?”
Vasili swung around, and he had to wonder just how long Alexandra had been standing behind them. Considering some of the things he’d said to Stefan, he had color mounting his cheeks. Yet her expression was completely bland. She couldn’t have heard anything, or she’d be showing some definite signs of anger.
Stefan’s surprise was for obvious reasons. He’d been told she wore nothing but breeches, but seeing a woman of her attributes so abundantly displayed would give any man pause. She had removed her coat and was holding it over one shoulder with a finger. Her other hand was thrust in a pocket.Her cheeks were rosy from the cold outside. And as usual, long strands of her ash-blond hair had escaped from under her hat. She looked adorably disreputable—for a baroness.
“Come here, Alex, and meet my illustrious cousin,” Vasili said.
She stepped closer, though she did so rather slowly. “Do I call you Your Majesty, or, since we’re apparently going to be related through marriage, do I call you Stefan?”
“I would prefer Stefan.”
“What about curtsying?”
Vasili answered. “Without a skirt? Perhaps a bow would suit you better.”
