The Rejected Princess by Katie Clark

Author:Katie Clark [Clark, Katie]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Christian fiction
ISBN: 9781522300182
Publisher: Pelican Book Group
Published: 2018-04-13T04:00:00+00:00

37

Ben

Ben forced himself to stay by the window as Roanna left the room. Every muscle in his body wanted to follow her. Stop her. Kiss her.

He closed his eyes and took slow breaths. If the Dawsons were planning an attack—if they planned to break the peace treaty—he might be able to stop Roanna’s marriage to Roland. First, though, he had to prove it. What proof did he have but Roanna’s crazy intuitions and the words of an ornery old duke?

Dr. Presnell would have more answers. Ben needed to find the doctor and press him for information.

His only regret with his entire mission was leading Lady Britta Mayne on. She thought he was coming south because he was interested in her. She was nice. Lovely, even. But he’d just as soon marry no one.

Once enough time had passed, and he wasn’t likely to be seen with Roanna in the hallway, he moved to return to his room. He had reached the library door when a sneeze erupted from inside the room.

Ben froze. Slowly, he returned to the main part of the library. It was a small room, fitting for the small manor. There were a few couches, but no one crouched behind them. Then he saw a closet. If someone had heard his and Roanna’s conversation, the peace treaty could be doomed already. He crept toward the door, his muscles tensed to attack.

In one swift motion, he jerked the door open.

Lady Britta gasped and shrank back. “I—I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to spy. I only—”

“You what?” he demanded.

Yelling at her wasn’t likely to endear her to his side. He had to get her to keep his secrets.

Ben stepped away to keep from cornering the poor girl in the closet. He took a deep breath and started again. “I’m sorry. I don’t mean to yell. It’s just that you startled me. What are you doing in the closet?”

She wrung her hands and stepped out. She looked toward the library door as if she would bolt at any moment. “I meant to retrieve the book I’d found earlier this afternoon. When I heard you coming in, it startled me. I hid. I don’t know why.” She looked down as her ears turned bright red.

“And you stayed there this whole time?”

She nodded, still looking down.

“And you heard everything I spoke of with Princess Roanna?”

She finally looked up. “You love her.”

So much for his ruse. “I’m sorry, Lady Britta. I didn’t mean to use you.”

Her throat moved as she gulped. “It’s all right. I wondered why you were even coming with us. I don’t seem like your type.” The red in her ears moved to her cheeks.

Guilt moved through him, and he ground his teeth. “I’m sorry.”

She shook her head. “It’s all right. I’ve never heard someone so in love before. It was quite romantic.”

“Lady Britta, as you can imagine, the things you heard are very sensitive matters.”

Now she looked up at him, her chin held proudly. “I heard what you said about my family, and what Grandfather said to Princess Roanna.

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.