Read Online Princess Annie by Linda Lael Miller - Free Book Online

of his mouth rose in a slight smile. “I think we’ve known each other long enough for you to call me by my Christian name, Annie.”
    The sound of her name on his lips did something dangerous and profound to her, altering her universe in some subtle yet fundamental way, just as his kiss had done the day before.
    “All right then,” she said, mortified because her voice had suddenly turned hoarse. “Rafael . I must speak with you on a matter of the gravest importance.”
    There was a wry light in his gray eyes, or so it seemed to Annie, and in spite of the spell he’d cast over her, she felt her temper rise. “And what matter is that?” he inquired.
    She looked around, seeing only a few servants and soldiers moving about in the courtyard. Still, she was uncomfortable, discussing Phaedra’s most personal feelings in public.
    Rafael must have read her hesitation correctly, for he took her arm and started across the courtyard, handing off his rapier to a passing groom. “We’ll talk in the chapel,” he explained, belatedly, as he pulled open the door of the tranquil chamber.
    They sat together in a pew at the rear of the sanctuary, Annie looking down at her knotted hands, Rafael relaxed beside her, one arm resting on the back of the bench.
    “Well?” he urged, when she’d been silent for some time.
    Actually, she’d been asking God for help, asking for a persuasive and diplomatic tongue. At last, Annie forced herself to meet Rafael’s gaze.
    “It’s about Phaedra. She’s very unhappy.”
    Annie was heartened by the concern that was immediately visible in his face. “What is it? Is she ill?”
    Quickly, Annie shook her head. “No, not exactly. It’s just that—well, she’s having second thoughts about the marriage contract between the St. James family and Mr. Haslett’s.”
    Rafael’s wonderful pewter-colored eyes were narrow now, and Annie wondered what mistake she’d made. She’d taken such care to speak gently and reasonably, but she’d failed somewhere.
    “Every bride has doubts. So does every groom, for that matter. It’s entirely natural,” Rafael said. His tone was clipped, dismissive.
    Annie bit her lower lip. She had practiced her speech so carefully, but now the words had scattered and flown out of her brain like a flock of startled birds. There was nothing for it but to brave things through. “This is something different,” she countered softly, at long last. “Phaedra wishes to marry for love.”
    Rafael made a low, contemptuous sound, startling Annie out of her maidenly fascination and into a state of rising anger. “Love,” he muttered.
    Although the conversation had nothing to do with her, Annie nonetheless felt as though he’d stabbed her, speaking of a sacred sentiment with such disdain. “But you cared for Georgiana,” she protested, before she could stop herself. “Everyone knew it.”
    Rafael had not moved, but a distance had been established between them all the same. His expression was no longer indulgent; a muscle twitched in his cheek, and Annie could plainly see that his right temple was throbbing. She was reminded of Lucian’s insinuation, the day before, that his brother had not been a faithful husband.
    She wanted desperately for that to be a lie, for infidelity was something she could not forgive.
    “Yes,” he said, in a ragged voice. “I loved Georgiana and she loved me. But that was merely good fortune. We had been pledged to each other as children—we always knew we would marry one day.” Rafael’s eyes darkened to the color of charcoal, and he rose abruptly from the pew. “Phaedra will marry Chandler Haslett,” he said, “and there will be no nonsense in the meantime.”
    Annie was flabbergasted, even though Phaedra had warned her that Rafael would react in just this way. She simply could not fathom such a rigid custom; her own father would never have forced her to marry against her will.
    “Your Highness—”
    “Our interview is over, Miss