Princess in Disguise by Karen Hawkins

Author:Karen Hawkins
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi
Publisher: Pocket Star Books

Chapter 6

When Kintore arrived at the stables to see to his horse, he discovered that Alexandra’s guards had set up an encampment.

They’d hung tents over some stalls, which effectively captured the warmth from several brass braziers. The braziers had been placed on stools to keep them well away from the straw covering the floor. By opening the adjoining doors between empty stalls, the guards had made a large room where they’d set up two barrels and some planks to form a long table.

While he saw to MacIntosh, who was comfortably ensconced in his stall with fresh hay, the guards sat around their makeshift table playing a card game, telling ribald jokes and drinking. Doya glowered at him but the others were not so cold, one of them even asking him to join the game for a hand or two. Other guards quickly joined the call, pulling up a barrel for him to sit upon.

Kintore knew they were hoping to pluck his pockets. Still, the thought of going back to the inn, where he’d have to fight his attraction for Alexandra, made him agree. Why not play a few hands and try their vodka? He wasn’t a man who turned away from either a challenge or a drink.

He took a seat and a glass, and prepared to either fleece or be fleeced. It took him an hour or so to learn the game, and he lost heavily at first. But as time passed, he began to recoup his losses. Although he’d originally planned to play for only a few hours, the growing competition—and the wonderful vodka—convinced him otherwise. Several hours passed, and then several more. Food was brought and yet still they played.

Well after the sun set, he was pleased to see that the stack of coins and notes in front him had grown larger than anyone else’s. As the hours progressed, the pile grew larger still and the good cheer at the table disappeared as Doya’s anger grew more palpable.

But Kintore didn’t care; it exactly suited his mood. Life was not fair, and it was a lesson they all needed to accept.

Finally, flush with his winnings and vodka, he stood. “I fear I must go.” He stuffed his obscenely large winnings into his pockets. “I would love to take more of your silver, but I cannot. I brought only one horse, and I fear that that any more weight in the saddlebags would harm the animal.”

This was met with a surly outcry and, tsking, Kintore bade them a good night and wove his way to the stable door. He stopped to tighten his coat collar against the cold, and had just turned the latch when a huge hand landed on his shoulder.

He turned to find Doya threateningly close. Kintore grinned. “Mr. Doya, you do seem to enjoy sneaking up on people.”

The guard glowered. “I know where you go. You will leave the princess alone.”

Hell, he was trying to do just that.

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