Read Online Her Highness, My Wife by Victoria Alexander - Free Book Online

design to greater increase control aloft and during ascensions?”
    “No.” His strong, tanned fingers captured the apple, enveloped its vivid flesh in an all-consuming caress.
    “I can scarce afford to fund this project as well as a proper residence, so at the moment I am living in the cottage beside the stables you visited yesterday.”
    Without effort she remembered how those fingers had felt on her flesh.
    “In truth, it’s barely more than a roof and four walls, but it was included in the lease of the stables and serves my needs.”
    How his caresses had captured her body and seared her soul.
    “Nonetheless, right now it is my place of residence. Where I live and where I expect…”
    How all-consuming the passion had been between them.
    “… my wife to live as well.” He caught the apple and held it still. My wife to live ?
    The words jerked her to attention. Matthew grinned expectantly.
    “You expect me to live in a… a”—she could barely choke out the word—“cottage?”
    He shrugged. “If truth were told, it’s not substantially better than a shack.”
    “A shack?” She rose to her feet. This was not at all what she had in mind. “You expect me to live in a shack?”
    “The rooms we shared in Paris were not especially grand. They were rather shabby, if I recall.”
    “Another consideration?” She crossed her arms over her chest.
    “I have only one horse, and he is better suited to pull—”
    “A carriage?” she said hopefully.
    “It’s really a wagon.” He shook his head in a regretful manner she didn’t believe for a moment. “In truth, more of a cart.”
    “To go along with the shack, no doubt.” She would put up with his living conditions, castle or cottage scarcely mattered, as long as she was with him. But she had absolutely no intention of traveling in a cart or a wagon. Still, it was not necessary for him to know that. “Very well.”
    “And there will be no servants,” he warned.
    “Of course not, given your modest income,” she said brightly. “Is that it, then? Your conditions?”
    “Not entirely.” He studied the apple in his hand casually.
    “Really? Whatever is left?” She ticked the items off on her fingers. “Thus far you have eliminated servants and any possibility of civilized living either during our travels or when we are in the proximity of London. It seems to me your requirements ensure I will indeed act as your wife in the fullest, as well as the most frugal, sense of the word.”
    He raised his gaze to hers and wicked triumph glittered in his eyes. “Not entirely.”
    She drew her brows together. “I don’t see—” At once she did see, and all too well. The man was an annoying beast, but at least he still wanted her, and that was a start. And he had played right into her hands.
    “You do not mean…” She widened her eyes in stunned disbelief. “You cannot possibly believe…” She wrung her hands together and paced to the right. “Surely, you do not expect that I…” She swiveled and
    paced to the left. “That you… that we…” She stopped and turned toward him. “That you think I would… Oh, Matthew, how could you?” She let out a wrenching sob, buried her face in her hands and wept in the manner of any virtuous women presented with such an edict.
    “Good Lord! Your Highness. Tatiana.” Concern sounded in his voice and she heard him step closer. “I didn’t mean—”
    “I know what you meant.” She sobbed.
    “I didn’t realize you’d— That is to say, I didn’t want—”
    “You most certainly did.” She dropped her hands and glared at him. “This is exactly what you wanted. Exactly the response you hoped for.” She advanced toward him. “Are you happy now? Was my reaction dramatic enough for you? Was I as aghast, as offended, as hurt as you’d wished?”
    “I never—”
    “And was it satisfying, Matthew?” She stepped to within a few inches of him and planted her hands on her hips. “Or was there a moment