Read Online You Belong to Me by Johanna Lindsey - Free Book Online Page A
Authors: Johanna Lindsey
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the right idea. Stenka’s own father, Ermak,had heard the baron repeat it more than once, and every one of the Razins seconded the opinion. Someone should have shot that Englishman a long time ago.
7
A lexandra had taken a leisurely ride home, so by the time she and Stenka approached the house, it was long past the “less than two hours” that her father had predicted for her betrothed’s arrival. Count Vasili Petroff should have been settled in her home, either in his room or already in conference with her father. In either case, she wouldn’t be likely to bump into him if she entered from the back of the house as she had planned. She had decided to let her father assess him first, then demand from him an honest opinion before she met the man herself.
That had been her plan, and a good one, she had thought—there was always the possibility that her father wouldn’t be able to tolerate the man and would send him packing, so she wouldn’t have to deal with him at all—but it didn’t take into account that her betrothed might not be in any hurry to arrive. Seeing the eight men who were now dismounting in front of her house proved that.
Alex wasn’t thrown off kilter, however, byhaving to abandon one plan for another. After all, there was a lot to be said for confrontations, and interesting things could be learned when you took someone by surprise. All in all, it might be better if she did meet him first, before her father had a chance to warn him about some of her more “outrageous” habits, as he termed them. Seeing was believing, and she was never at her best in her work clothes. Whom, after all, did she have to impress in the stables?
She hadn’t expected the Cardinian to arrive with a full entourage, though. There were eight men, but a dozen horses, the riderless ones bogged down with baggage. Obviously her betrothed didn’t travel lightly, which told her right there that he was probably one of those spoiled and pampered aristocrats, the kind who would be appalled at the idea of sleeping outdoors and always had to have servants on hand to see to his simplest needs.
Alexandra had never in her life asked someone to do something for her that she wasn’t able and willing to do herself, and, in fact, she preferred doing for herself. Nina might make sure her clothes were always neat and clean, but that was about the extent of the maid’s duties that Alexandra allowed her friend to perform.
Alexandra and Stenka rode up behind the visitors without being noticed. The Cardinians had been inconsiderate in not taking their horses around to the stables. Two of the house servants had come out to take charge of theanimals, but they weren’t having much luck. Several of the horses were thoroughbreds, not as fine as those the Rubliovs bred, and not as well trained either. In fact, they were causing quite a disturbance among the more placid animals.
One was a stallion at which Prince Mischa snorted and tossed his proud head, but a soft word from Alexandra and he stilled, allowing her to dismount and ignore him, sure that he wouldn’t embarrass her with any male theatrics. Her eyes had already settled on the man she assumed to be her betrothed, his fine clothes giving him away. She hadn’t expected him to be so handsome. Dark brown hair, baby-blue eyes, and grooves in his cheeks that promised dimples when he smiled. She was further surprised to find his expression so open, making him seem accessible—even likable.
Right now, he was about the only one of his group who had heard her arrival and who had turned in her direction. But his eyes never reached Alexandra. They lit on Prince Mischa and went no further.
It was a reaction Alexandra was quite used to, expected even, and understandably filled her with no small amount of pride. But then her two stallions, Prince Mischa and his sire, Sultan’s Pride, were both pure white thoroughbreds, with luxurious long manes and tails, deep blue eyes, and none of the usual
7
A lexandra had taken a leisurely ride home, so by the time she and Stenka approached the house, it was long past the “less than two hours” that her father had predicted for her betrothed’s arrival. Count Vasili Petroff should have been settled in her home, either in his room or already in conference with her father. In either case, she wouldn’t be likely to bump into him if she entered from the back of the house as she had planned. She had decided to let her father assess him first, then demand from him an honest opinion before she met the man herself.
That had been her plan, and a good one, she had thought—there was always the possibility that her father wouldn’t be able to tolerate the man and would send him packing, so she wouldn’t have to deal with him at all—but it didn’t take into account that her betrothed might not be in any hurry to arrive. Seeing the eight men who were now dismounting in front of her house proved that.
Alex wasn’t thrown off kilter, however, byhaving to abandon one plan for another. After all, there was a lot to be said for confrontations, and interesting things could be learned when you took someone by surprise. All in all, it might be better if she did meet him first, before her father had a chance to warn him about some of her more “outrageous” habits, as he termed them. Seeing was believing, and she was never at her best in her work clothes. Whom, after all, did she have to impress in the stables?
She hadn’t expected the Cardinian to arrive with a full entourage, though. There were eight men, but a dozen horses, the riderless ones bogged down with baggage. Obviously her betrothed didn’t travel lightly, which told her right there that he was probably one of those spoiled and pampered aristocrats, the kind who would be appalled at the idea of sleeping outdoors and always had to have servants on hand to see to his simplest needs.
Alexandra had never in her life asked someone to do something for her that she wasn’t able and willing to do herself, and, in fact, she preferred doing for herself. Nina might make sure her clothes were always neat and clean, but that was about the extent of the maid’s duties that Alexandra allowed her friend to perform.
Alexandra and Stenka rode up behind the visitors without being noticed. The Cardinians had been inconsiderate in not taking their horses around to the stables. Two of the house servants had come out to take charge of theanimals, but they weren’t having much luck. Several of the horses were thoroughbreds, not as fine as those the Rubliovs bred, and not as well trained either. In fact, they were causing quite a disturbance among the more placid animals.
One was a stallion at which Prince Mischa snorted and tossed his proud head, but a soft word from Alexandra and he stilled, allowing her to dismount and ignore him, sure that he wouldn’t embarrass her with any male theatrics. Her eyes had already settled on the man she assumed to be her betrothed, his fine clothes giving him away. She hadn’t expected him to be so handsome. Dark brown hair, baby-blue eyes, and grooves in his cheeks that promised dimples when he smiled. She was further surprised to find his expression so open, making him seem accessible—even likable.
Right now, he was about the only one of his group who had heard her arrival and who had turned in her direction. But his eyes never reached Alexandra. They lit on Prince Mischa and went no further.
It was a reaction Alexandra was quite used to, expected even, and understandably filled her with no small amount of pride. But then her two stallions, Prince Mischa and his sire, Sultan’s Pride, were both pure white thoroughbreds, with luxurious long manes and tails, deep blue eyes, and none of the usual
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