Read Online Lois Greiman by Seducing a Princess - Free Book Online Page B

cool demeanor. “Aren’t you working the fights tonight?”
    “Soon as it gets dark.”
    The princess nodded. “The gulls don’t like to see their doves bruised. Go get some rest.”
    The girl was silent but glanced toward Will.
    “You needn’t worry on his account, Gemini. I’m not planning to strangle him.”
    “’E needs to get something in ’is stomach.”
    “Then he should eat.”
    The girl almost seemed to blush as her gaze flickered toward the floor. “’E ain’t strong enough to feed ’isself.”
    Princess glanced at him again, raising a single brow as she did so. He gave her an innocent stare.
    “Very well,” she said, turning back. “I shall feed the weakling myself then.”
    Gem skimmed her dubious gaze from Princess to Will, then, seeming to decide he was safe enough in the other’s hands, she nodded finally. “I think I’ll lie down then if it ain’t no trouble.”
    Princess made no comment as she took the bowl from the girl’s hand and made her way across the floor to take the seat abandoned by Gem.
    The room fell silent, and she let it, for she had no wish to speak with him. He didn’t belong there, and the sooner he was gone the better. For him, for herself. She kept her gaze on the bowl a moment longer, then glanced up, making certain her expression was superior. Dismissive. “Are you certain you wouldn’t rather have a drink?”
    He almost seemed to shiver at the thought. So he was a drunkard. But what else was he? Wounded, certainly. He was pierced and battered and abused. And yet that abuse hadn’t caused the pain she saw in his eyes. It was something deeper, darker, worse. And so she would not look. Could not afford to.
    “Perhaps just the broth this day,” he said. His voice was deep, quiet, melodious.
    She tightened her hand on the spoon and shrugged as she dipped it into the soup. He opened his mouth obligingly. She could feel his gaze on her face, but refused to glance up, for there were secrets in his eyes. Secrets and pain she had no wish to see.
    “I thought you wanted me gone,” he said.
    And she did. Immediately. Before it was too late. But she merely raised a brow and forced herself to meet his eyes, to see the pain and not care. “Surely a quick recovery will hasten your exodus,” she said. “And even aclever fellow like you might find it difficult to heal if you starve to death first.”
    “Gem was about to feed me.”
    And perhaps she should have allowed that. But Gemini seemed so fragile these days, and the bruises on her cheek…She forced her mind away and shrugged dismissively.
    “I saw Oxford leave,” she said, keeping her tone steady, her eyes the same.
    He watched her. Perhaps he was a killer. Perhaps he was a thief. But in the depths of his eyes, beneath the cynicism, beneath the cleverness, she saw the wounded child. “And?”
    She dropped her gaze, though she knew she was a fool. “Gem has enough troubles without defending you.”
    He said nothing for a moment, then, “My apologies.”
    She snapped her gaze back to his. Perhaps she had expected anger, or wounded male ego, but there was neither. Sincerity and regret shone like candlelight in the depths of his amber eyes.
    She jerked hers away. She should mock him, sneer. “He’s dangerous,” she said, and wished to hell she hadn’t spoken, hadn’t walked in, hadn’t realized he’d risked his life for a thieving street waif he’d met only days before.
    “Truly?”
    She glanced up, stunned. “You don’t think so?”
    He smiled. Though she couldn’t seem to pull her gaze from his, she was sure of it, for there was something barely remembered in the deep recesses of his eyes. Was it humor? Was he laughing at her?
    “I think I wet my breeches,” he said.
    Surprise shook her. It was as dangerous as caring. “You were scared?” she asked, and kept her voice steady as she dipped the spoon back into the broth.
    “I’m not daft,” he said. “Not completely anyway.”
    “Then why did