Read Online King's Ransom by Amelia Autin - Free Book Online Page B

Juliana’s gaze was drawn to Andre’s hands and the slight genetic defect that marked many of the Marianescus, including the original Andre Alexei and his son Raoul. “He was willing to take any risk to ensure they were not separated in death.”
    Andre took a deep breath. “But the risk was not as much as you might think. Raoul was only twenty when his parents died, but he reigned for over forty years, and history tells us he was a very wise king from the moment he ascended the throne—a fitting heir for Andre Alexei the First. I am sure he knew that with all the other defections to Protestantism the Roman Catholic Church was desperate to keep Zakhar in the fold.”
    â€œHow did he manage it?”
    â€œThe church found ‘mitigating circumstances.’” She raised her eyebrows in a question, and he added, “In essence, they ruled Eleonora was not in her right mind when she committed suicide. Ergo, it was not a cardinal sin.” He smiled his faint smile. “No cardinal sin, no reason to refuse the sacrament of a church burial. And so they were buried together in hallowed ground.”
    Juliana considered this for a long time. “I don’t think—” she began, then stopped short.
    â€œYou don’t think...?” prompted Andre.
    â€œI don’t think she was out of her mind,” Juliana whispered, staring at the tomb, feeling as if Eleonora were speaking to her. “And I don’t think she gave a damn about whether or not suicide was a sin. I think she just couldn’t bear to live without him. Not even if it meant leaving her children behind. This wasn’t like the endless years of captivity. This was life forever without him...or joining him in eternal death.”
    Silence greeted her words. Then Andre said in his deep voice, “So you believe she loved him that much?”
    â€œYes.”
    â€œTo death...and beyond?”
    â€œYes.” Her throat closed after that one word, and she refused to look at Andre, knowing her emotions were too close to the surface.
    â€œBut you don’t believe he loved her the same way?”
    Juliana fought the resurgent tears and shook her head. Those emotions she didn’t want to feel choked her and she couldn’t have spoken even if she’d wanted to.
    After a tense silence Andre sighed. When Juliana darted a glance at him she saw an ineffable sadness in his face, and a weariness that had nothing to do with the physical. “You used to believe,” he said.
    She swallowed hard and forced coldness into her voice. “I used to believe in Santa Claus and the tooth fairy, too.”
    â€œDamn you,” he ground out, grabbing her arm and pulling her so close she could feel waves of anger emanating from him. Then he was kissing her, his mouth plundering hers, his arms holding her prisoner while he took what he wanted. She fought him with everything in her, struggling to free herself, knowing she didn’t stand a chance against his overwhelming strength but refusing to surrender. He held her easily, her attempts to free herself futile, and rained kisses over her face. But when she sobbed against his lips finally, unable to stop herself, his arms gentled and he drew his mouth away from hers.
    Then he was cradling her in his arms, soft words of apology in English and Zakharan flowing out of him in a steady stream until her tears ceased. But he didn’t let her go. “Shhh,” he whispered, his voice harsh, his breathing ragged. “Forgive me. I never meant... Shhh, do not cry. God, Juliana, please...please forgive me.”
    She shook her head. Forgive him? How could she ever forgive him? She wasn’t thinking about the way he’d kissed her just now—that was nothing, and he wasn’t the first man to try to force a response from her. If that were all, she could easily forgive him as she’d forgiven other men who’d tried and failed to rouse her to