Regardless, there was no question that he had indeed loved her once. For a scant six glorious days he had loved her with the kind of intense emotion that strikes without warning and promises to last a lifetime. He leaned against the rough frame of the opening and watched the departing riders. Nothing but love could have hurt as much or lasted as long.

He lingered in the doorway until she and her companions disappeared down the road. And stayed staring, unseeing, long after that. It was obvious that she was involved in something beyond the writing of a family history. Regardless of her ardent defense of her academic accomplishments, she was not a scholar. Her explanation as to why she wished to retrace the steps of her aunt did not seem even remotely valid.

Accepting her proposal would allow him to finally put the past to rest, to finish that unfinished task. But this time, it would be on his terms, not hers. This time, if anyone left, it would be him. This time, his heart would play no role.

He turned from the door and unfolded the paper still in his hand. The address was in a well-to-do area of the city, not up to the standards of royalty, perhaps, but close enough. His glance slipped to the neatly penned list of women and his jaw tightened. Was this why she wanted his help? Did she realize the significance of the last name? Or was it simply some odd coincidence? Some quirk of fate designed to bring them together once again?

Whatever the answer, there was no question now as to his decision. He would indeed accompany her. He would find out precisely why she was back and exactly what she really wanted. He would pose as her husband and allow her to be introduced as Lady Matthew. Why not?

After all, for one brief handful of days inParisa scant fifteen months, three weeks and four days ago, she had earned it.

Chapter 2.

Tatiana walked toward the waiting entourage with a firm, steady step. She could feel Matthew's gaze bore into her back. She kept her shoulders straight and clasped her hands together to still their trembling. It would never do to let him know how difficult it had been to see him again. How hard it had been to act nonchalant and lighthearted, as if indeed she had nothing on her mind beyond a silly memoir of her aunt's travels.

When all she wanted to do was throw herself in his arms and beg his forgiveness. Confess her mistakes, her cowardice, her weaknesses.

He was as vibrant as she had remembered in both appearance and spirit. Tall and handsome, his brown hair kissed golden by the sun, his face and forearms tanned from his work out-of-doors. He fairly quivered with suppressed energy. There was an intensity about him, the way he spoke and walked and even simply stood and stared, that bespoke of a man who would make his mark on the world.

As he had on her.

"Well?" Captain Petrov, Dimitri, stepped forward to help her onto her horse. "Did he agree?"

"No, but he will." Tatiana allowed Dimitri to assist her into the sidesaddle and braced herself for the comments she knew would come. Katerina, Lady Kaminsky, the only other woman in the group, glanced from Tatiana to Dimitri and back, then cast the princess an encouraging smile and directed her horse to follow a few paces behind. Katerina too knew what lay ahead.

Dimitri swung himself up onto his horse and barked a brisk order to the riders. His well-trained men divided into lead positions or trailed behind, providing the illusion of privacy for their princess and their captain.

Dimitri edged his horse close to Tatiana's. "Did you tell him the truth? About the jewels?"

"Of course not." She settled herself in the saddle and ignored the censorious note in his voice. Dimitri and his cousin Katerina had grown up with Tatiana and, in spite of the differences in their stations, were still her closest-in truth, her only-confidants. He now served as a captain in the royal guard, and the widowed Katerina was her traveling companion.

"I fully agree with you on that point," Tatiana continued. "I shudder to think what the consequences would be if our enemies knew the famed Heavens of Avalonia were missing. It is best to keep my true purpose here undisclosed for the moment."

"Even from this man you claim to trust?"

"Yes."

"I still think this plan of yours is ridiculous, not to mention highly improper and possibly dangerous."

"As you have not hesitated to point out. Over and over again. Nonetheless"-she met his gaze directly-"I intend to proceed without interference from you or anyone."

Dimitri shook his head. "Your father would not approve, nor would your brother."

"My father has been ill and Alexei has been far too busy countering the efforts of our cousin to seize power to concern himself with my affairs."

It was the truth as far as it went. Alexei, crown prince and heir to the throne of Avalonia, had indeed been forced of late to occupy his every waking moment with quelling the seeds of unrest sown by their cousin, the Princess Valentina. It still rankled that Tatiana had been allowed no part in that. Indeed, she had been sent away for her own safety, even though her father was still ill and she would much preferred to have stayed.

Alexei's latest letter, along with dispatches and official correspondence for Dimitri, had reached her in France and told of his success in thwarting Valentina, thanks to the unexpected help of their English cousin, Viscount Beaumont. The king's health was much improved and all was again well at home. As for her brother Nikolai, he would probably applaud her efforts, but he was traveling the continent and she had no idea where he was. Besides, this was her quest, and hers alone.

Although Alexei's recent trip toEnglandthis past spring had been successful in reuniting the English branch of the House of Pruzinsky, he had not located the missing jewels. Tatiana was determined to succeed where he had failed.

"Regardless-"

"There is nothing more to be said on the matter." Her tone was hard and unyielding.

"There is a great deal more to be said," Dimitri muttered, then sighed. "At least you have chosen someone to assist you who appears to be an honorable sort. From what I have learned of this Matthew Weston, he was considered an excellent officer, his naval career was distinguished and his family's reputation is impeccable, even if he does not acknowledge his heritage."

Tatiana vaguely remembered Matthew mentioning a rift with his family but until recently she had had no idea he was the youngest son of a marquess. It had simply not come up in the bare week-in truth, a mere six days-they had spent together.

"He is also considered quite clever, at least among those other idiots-"

Tatiana slanted him a sharp glance.

"Forgive me, Your Highness." Dimitri's lips tightened. "I meant to sayinventors orentrepreneurs or... isdreamers acceptable?"

As annoying as the sarcasm in his voice was, she could not suppress a slight smile. "The path to the future has always been led by dreamers, and I daresay always shall be."

"So be it. As I was saying, he is thought of highly among his fellowdreamers who are possessed by the idea of sailing the skies. They are a competitive lot, yet they acknowledge Weston as a man with a great deal of promise."

"Thorough, as always, Dimitri," she said mildly. "Even if your investigation went beyond the limits of my request."

His brows pulled together. "You cannot think I would allow you to undertake this ridiculous quest of yours without-"

"You do notallow me-"

"I do not even know how you are acquainted with this man, or why you see fit to involve him, or the circumstances-"

"That is quite enough, Captain." Her voice was sharp, imperious and startling even to her.

Surprise washed across Dimitri's face. She never called himCaptain .

"I have made my decision. You may accept it or not, but you have neither the power nor the authority to deter me." She studied him coolly. "I will, however, give you the choice of remaining inLondonas a precaution should I require your assistance or returning to Avalonia."

His eyes narrowed. "If I return home, you can rest assured I will be back in six weeks or less with orders from your father to stop you from this foolishness."

She lifted her chin slightly and met his gaze with a direct and steady stare. "Perhaps. But I am an adult of five and twenty years and fully capable of making my own choices in life."

"You are also a subject of the king, and if your father-"

"I am a hereditary princess of Avalonia." She emphasized each word in a deliberate manner he could not fail to understand. "I am third in line to rule. And here and now, in this place and time, I am your sovereign." She met his gaze and held her breath, knowing full well if he challenged her, the courage it had taken her so long to develop might well fail. "So what is it to be, Captain? Will you stay inEnglandor run home to tell tales about the misadventures of your princess?"

He stared for a long moment. At last he blew a resigned breath. "You have changed, Princess. There is a sense of resolve about you I have not seen before."

"I have a purpose in my life now, Dimitri. I know what I want and I am determined to get it."

"It is more than that." He studied her carefully. "You have always been somewhat quiet, never given to demands or orders, but your manner is different now. You no longer hesitate to take matters into your own hands. It is as if you have at last grown into your position."

"Have I?" She raised a brow. Only this childhood friend would dare to be so presumptuous. "And is that good or dreadful?"

"I noticed it first perhaps a year ago." He continued as if he had not heard, as if he were trying to work out a puzzle. "At the time, I wondered if you had at last started anew and laid the past to rest."

"Along with my late husband," she said dryly.

"But in recent days, since you have made me aware of your plans, I have come to realize the change in your manner dated more precisely to the week inPariswhen you disappeared. When we did not know where you were. If you had been abducted or killed or-"

"Dimitri." Her voice carried a warning he ignored.

His brow furrowed and he spoke more to himself than to her. "And you adamantly refused to discuss

your absence. It was the first time I can recall you ever issuing a royal command. Of course, we were simply grateful you were unharmed, and it scarcely mattered where you had been. Whom you had-"

Realization lit his eyes. "I have been a fool. That is when you met this man, is it not?"

Denial was pointless. "Yes."

"I see." Dimitri considered her thoughtfully. She had known him her entire life and knew enough to brace

herself now. "Then tell me, Princess." He leaned closer, his voice low, confidential, accusing. "Is it the

Heavens you want, or"-his gaze searched hers-"the man?"

Her hand itched to slap his face. She summoned all her restraint and forced a cold smile. "You forget yourself, Captain. Do not let our friendship blind you to the fact that I can have you reduced in rank, imprisoned or even, if I so wish, shot."

"Forgive me, Your Highness." Shock colored Dimitri's voice. "I did indeed overstep my bounds."

"Yes, you did." She leaned toward him and lowered her voice. "I would, of course, never do such a

thing, but you would be wise to realize that I could."

"Indeed I would." He paused.

"Yes?"

"May I speak frankly?"

Guilt washed away her brief sense of triumph and she sighed. "You always have."

"Perhaps, but you have never threatened to have me shot before."

"Never?" She smiled to lighten the moment.

"Never." He shook his head. "You wield your power now with a firm hand. You have not done so in the

past. It is somewhat disquieting."

"I imagine it is. Like discovering a puppy has learned to bite." She reached out and laid her gloved hand over his. "You and Katerina are now, and always have been, my dearest-my only-real friends. But

Dimitri, is it not past time that I use the power that is my birthright to take my life, my destiny, into my own hands?"

He stared at her as if she were speaking a language unknown to him. "You have responsibilities-"

"And have I not lived up to them? Have I not always, always done exactly what was expected of me?

Without question or protest or hesitation? From my public demeanor to my most private relationships,

have I not always been"-she searched for the right words-"for the most part perfect?"

"Princess, I-"

"Consider my life for a moment. Was I not betrothed as a child to the son of an ally of my father's for the purposes of politics? And even though Phillipe's country was no longer independent and the alliance between our families no longer necessary, did I not wed him anyway because my father, my king, had given his word?"

And did I not give him my heart as well? Tatiana removed her hand from Dimitri's and straightened.

"And was I not a good and faithful wife even as he had no understanding of such qualities himself?" Anger too long restrained surged through her. "Did I not pretend I was unaware of the indiscretions he took no pains to hide? Did I not ignore that I was the subject of gossip and pity and humiliation?" She tried and failed to keep a bitter note from her voice. "You knew, did you not?"

Dimitri's jaw clenched. His gaze met hers and he drew a deep breath. "I-"

"No." She waved away his response. "It is unfair of me to expect an answer. Your loyalty and desire for my protection would never have allowed you to be the bearer of such news. But I am well aware that you and everyone in the court, perhaps everyone in the country, knew of Phillipe's dalliances."

"He has been dead for nearly three years now, Princess," Dimitri said quietly.

"Yes. A tragic accident." But she, and no doubt most of the world, knew Phillipe's horse would not have thrown him had the creature not been panicked by the gunshots fired by an angry husband encountering Phillipe bidding his latest, and his last, conquest farewell. "And I did exactly what was expected, mourning the official, and so very proper, length of time. Yet even as such pretense ends, the anger lingers."

"Perhaps it is time to put the past behind you. To forgive or least forget."