Page 86 of You Belong to Me
“Yes, upstairs, and you might as well know, Vasili, he confessed that there never was a…”
Alexandra didn’t hear any more. She’d started backing up the moment Vasili’s mother had mentioned her father, and soon she was out the door, heading for the stable. How could her father show up here after what he’d done to her? How could he pretend to care what—
“Alex, where do you think you’re going?”
Vasili had halted her with a gentle hand on her arm, but she kept her face averted from him until she could swipe at her eyes. She didn’t want him to see the tears she’d been unable to hold back.
“I don’t know,” she admitted. “I just know I don’t want to see my father—ever again.”
Was that relief she heard in his sigh? “Then you won’t have to. I’ll take you to the queen. She’ll keep you secluded until the wedding; then afterward, we’ll retire to one of my country estates. But…might I ask why you don’t want to see him?”
She was too upset to appreciate how helpful he was being, or to consider how he might take her answer. “Because he could have ended the betrothal before we even met, but he didn’t. The hell we’ve put each other through is his fault, and I’m not forgiving him for that.”
A few moments passed before he asked, “Alex, if he broke the betrothal now, would your word still stand?”
“Since I promised to marry you unlessyoucried off, I suppose it would.”
“Even if there was no betrothal contract?”
She frowned up at him. “What kind of question is that?”
“A silly one, I suppose, but actually, it’s related to something I’ve been meaning to do. I want to officially ask you to marry me.”
The thrill of pleasure she experienced felt strange next to her pain, and was no more welcome. “You know that isn’t necessary.”
“Humor me, Alex, please. Will you marry me?”
“Yes.”
“Will you give me your word?”
“You’re pushing it, Petroff—”
“Please.”
“All right, you have it, though it’s the last time I’m promising anyone—”
He was kissing her before she’d finished, and Alexandra forgot what she’d gotten huffy about. When he let her go, she was breathless and not a little confused.
“What was that for?”
He grinned at her. “To thank you, because Iwaspushing it.”
Her eyes narrowed. “Next time, just say the words, Petroff.”
39
Vasili was waiting in the antechamber of the palace chapel for his bride to arrive, his friends keeping him company and ribbing him because he was there so early. He didn’t say so, but he would have had the wedding yesterday if he didn’t think Alexandra would question such haste. But it still couldn’t happen soon enough for him, and he wasn’t going to stop worrying until it was over.
He had managed to avoid Alexandra’s father thus far. With any luck…
Instead of Tanya entering to say Alexandra was on her way, Constantin Rubliov appeared in the doorway, his expression thunderous, his voice nearly as thunderous. “Where have you hidden my daughter?”
Vasili sighed. Luck just hadn’t been on his side, ever since he’d met the man’s daughter. But he was determined to change that.
He glanced at Stefan pointedly. “Would you mind leaving us alone?”
Stefan looked from the angry father, whoseidentity was pretty obvious, back to Vasili, and he raised a black brow. “Must I?”
