"I wouldn't say that."

"You wouldn'tadmit that. However, it seems to me a man who is willing to go to such lengths to protect his family is lying to himself about something," Ephraim mused. "Either how he really feels about said family-"

"Hardly," Matt lied.

"Or about the money."

"I'm not entirely certain I'll take her money."

"That"-Ephraim pointed his cigar and squinted through the smoke-"is perhaps one of the most asinine things I have ever heard you say. Why, in the name of all that's holy, not?"

Matt bit back a grin at the printer's indignation. "Pride, I suppose. I dislike the idea of allowing her, or any woman, to purchase me like a sack of grain."

"Well, she can purchase me. I'd take her money without so much as a moment of hesitation. In fact, if you're not interested, I'd be more than willing to volunteer my services. At those prices she can buy me and my pride. Do feel free to pass on my name." Ephraim paused. "She's not one of those horse-faced princesses, is she? The ones whose portraits can't quite hide the truth of their appearance? Knowing you, I assume she's attractive."

"Quite."

"Then you're doing it for the woman."

"Don't be absurd."

Ephraim studied his friend curiously. "There's a great deal you haven't told me, isn't there?"

"Not a great deal." Matt shifted in his seat, well aware of just how much he'd kept from Ephraim. They

had been friends for nearly a decade and had met when they'd served on the same ship. Each had saved the other's life on more than one occasion, and Matt had shared far more with Ephraim than with any man alive. Yet on the subject of Tatiana he'd never said a word.

"You said you made her acquaintance in Paris last year." Ephraim's voice was thoughtful. "And when you returned to England, you were in the foulest of moods-" "Me? The foulest of moods?" Matt widened his eyes in feigned surprise. "I am never anything but jovial and even-tempered."

Ephraim ignored him. "-and spent a good six months in an impressive state of drunkenness." "Hardly six months," Matt said in an offhand manner. "Scarcely more than four. And my condition had more to do with the fact that my work wasn't going well and I couldn't-" "I stand corrected." Ephraim waved away Matt's comment. "Although that's not the impression I had then. At the time, you indicated that your melancholy, obvious anger and ongoing inebriation were to the blame or credit of a member of the fairer sex. However, you never revealed the details of what was obviously a disastrous liaison. As you had never before been the least bit reluctant to regale me with your amorous adventures, I assumed this was somewhat more serious than usual." Matt puffed on his cigar, then grinned. "She quite broke my heart." Ephraim's eyes narrowed knowingly. "That's what I thought." "It wasn't as bad-" "It was." Ephraim leaned forward. "And it was this woman, wasn't it? Thisprincess ?" Matt met the other man's gaze and considered his answer. He hated to admit what a fool he'd been for not seeing Tatiana was not who she'd said she was. And more, for losing his heart to her. But now that she was back in his life with her outrageous and too-tempting offer, it was perhaps past time to take an objective look at what had passed between them. He shrugged. "I didn't know she was a princess."

"Didn't know?" Ephraim's brows drew together in mock astonishment. "What? She wore no crown? Had no royal retainers in her wake? Bore no trappings of monarchy? I've never met a princess yet who wasn't obviously a princess."

"And you've met so many."

"Not a one," Ephraim said with a wicked grin. "But I have a vivid imagination."

Matt laughed, pleased to note he could now see humor where there had been only anger and pain

before. Odd, how time and distance changed one's outlook. Odder still, how long it took him to realize it. He drew on his cigar and sent a thoughtful smoke ring drifting toward the ceiling. "She told me she was a companion to a princess."

"Really? A princess pretending to be a commoner? In disguise, as it were?" A familiar light shone in Ephraim's eye. "How very intriguing."

"I know what you're thinking, and you can forget it right now." Matt aimed his cigar at him. "I have no intention of contributing so much as a single word about this for that scandal sheet of yours."

Ephraim paid no heed. "My Adventures with a Princess in Paris. Or better yet:A Revelation of RoyalSecrets . It's a damn fine title for a story." "This is exactly why I never told you about her."

"Hah." Ephraim snorted in disbelief.

"Very well, not exactly." Matt shrugged in surrender. "I admit it was far more serious than any relationship I'd ever had with a woman. And frankly, it was damned painful at the end."

"Hence the drinking."

"Dulled the pain." Matt raised his glass in a toast. "It works exceedingly well."

"But you have gotten over her." Ephraim's statement was as much question as comment.

"Of course. She's just another woman. No more important than any other in the scheme of the world.

Oh, certainly this one could rule her own country one day-a very small country, I might add, really rather insignificant-but I didn't know that at the time and it makes no difference now." "Then you have put her in the past." "Where she belongs," Matt said firmly. "And it doesn't bother you that she's reappeared?" "Not in the slightest." "And you no longer mind discussing her?"

"Absolutely not." Matt didn't hesitate for an instant and almost believed his own words. "Then why not write a story for me about your affair with her?" Ephraim leaned forward, his eyesgleaming with editorial excitement. "Passion in Paris: A Royal Rendezvous."

"Passion in Paris?" Matt grimaced. "Sounds exceedingly sordid." "Doesn't it, though? My readers will love it. Circulation will soar. There's nothing the common man likesto read about so much as the foibles of royalty. Scandal sells papers and there's nothing better,unless"-Ephraim straightened-"it's a nice juicy murder. Is there any chance-"

"Sorry, old man." Matt laughed. "Besides, you know full well I am not fond of writing so much as a letter, let alone one of your stories." "All you need to do is give me the details; I'll do the writing." Ephraim practically chortled with anticipation. "With my editorial flair and a bit of creative embellishment, it will be-"

"No." Matt's voice was firm.

"Why not?"

"It doesn't seem"-he searched for the word-"honorable, I suppose."

"Were her actions honorable?"

It was an excellent question. One Matt had never especially considered and one he had no answer to

now. He hadn't understood the significance of her position before today, and it put a distinctly different light on her abandonment. "To be honest, I'm no longer certain, but it scarcely matters. It's my honor in question at the moment, and I will not betray her trust by allowing you to make our relationship public fodder."

"I'll change your names," Ephraim said hopefully. "I'll make it impossible for anyone to recognize you or her. It can be completely anonymous."

"Absolutely not."

"Pity." The printer thought for a moment, obviously unwilling to give up. "Still, consider for a moment what an excellent way it would be to wreak revenge on her. Get a bit of your own back. She did, after all, break your heart."

"It has healed and taught me a valuable lesson in the process."

"Oh?"

"Princess, lady or whore-the so-called fairer sex is not to be trusted." Matt pulled a healthy swallow of

his drink and relished the slow burn of the liquor. "None of them."

"I could have told you that." Ephraim sipped his whiskey and considered his friend. "At least you can give me the details."

"Ephraim."

"Oh, not for publication." He heaved a dramatic sigh. "Although it does pain me to pass this by. But do

allow me to indulge my personal, if not my professional, curiosity. How does one meet a princess posing

as one of us ordinary folk?" "I was engaged in hawking balloon rides in a public park as a way to provide a bit of extra funds. She said she'd always wanted to fly." For a moment, he was back to that glorious spring day and the presence of an enticing green-eyed creature with a demeanor that was at once reticent and daring.

She was an enigma to him when they'd first met. A woman obviously of proper breeding, yet without so much as a groom accompanying her for protection or chaperone. She'd explained it by claiming she was a widow, a companion to royalty, and had felt the need to escape the confines of her position. Even on that first afternoon he was too enchanted to do more than brush off the suspicious nature of her story. In point of fact, she was a widow and had indeed slipped the bonds of her rank, but it was there that the truth of her story ended.

"Excellent.Passion over Paris is a much better title." Ephraim pulled on his cigar and let the smoke drift lazily upward in emphasis to the teasing note in his voice.

"What a shame you won't be able to use it," Matt said pointedly.

"And after you met," Ephraim prodded. "Then what?"

"Then..." Matt paused for a long moment, the memory of their interlude washing through him with a strength that was almost physical. A mere six days filled with passion and excitement and the adventure of exploring each other, body and soul. And more, the shocking tenderness of feelings he never suspected could be so intense, so overwhelming, so complete. He was a fool to have fallen so thoroughly under her spell. To have abandoned all logic and rational thought. To have surrendered his soul.

"Then?" Ephraim prompted.

But it was indeed all in the past and he was done with her. At least where his heart was concerned. As for the rest of her...

Matt cast Ephraim a wicked glance. "Then, old man, we did what lovers in Paris always do."

Ephraim stared. "That's it? That's all you're going to tell me?"

Matt leaned back in his chair, grinned and silently puffed his cigar.

"It's that blasted sense of honor of yours again, isn't it?" Ephraim scowled. "First pride, now honor. I'm bloody grateful I'm not shackled with anything so debilitating." "Come, now, Ephraim," Matt said mildly, "I've seen you engage in behavior that could well be described as honorable."

"Keep it to yourself," the other man muttered.

Matt laughed.

Ephraim fell silent and the two men shared a companionable silence broken only by the subtle sounds of the sipping of whiskey or the smoking of cigars. It was late and Ephraim's handful of employees had long since left. The steam-powered printing press in the main room was quiet, but as the week progressed it would operate late into the night printing copies of theMessenger for its weekly issue on Sunday.

"So if you're not doing it for your family or for the money-"

"I've not decided that yet."

"Very well. Aside from the matter of payment, why are you doing it?" Ephraim narrowed his eyes. "I assume you are accepting her offer, aren't you?"

Matt nodded.

"Then why-"

"I have my reasons. Curiosity, I suppose, prime among them. I want to know what she's hiding and the real reason why she has again entered my life."

"Ah-ha, you do still care for her."

"Not at all."

"Prove it." Challenge sounded in Ephraim's voice. He pulled open a drawer and tossed a small leather-bound book on the desk. "Keep a journal of your time with her, your travels and adventures."

"I don't write."

"You can write letters. Write them to me. And when it's over, I'll publish them. And," Ephraim added, "pay you handsomely."

Matt shook his head. "I see no difference between this and publishing what passed between us once before."

"The difference, my friend, is that this time"-Ephraim drew the words out in a deliberate manner-"there is no question of affection. It is a business arrangement between the two of you. A contract of sorts. Nothing more. If you will not accept payment from her, should you not get something of value from the arrangement?"

"Oh, I intend to get something. Satisfaction, if nothing else. However, you have convinced me to accept her money, for the time being. Regardless of pride, I certainly need it, and it will indeed put our arrangement on a solid financial footing. Besides, I can always refuse it later."

Why not agree to Ephraim's request as well? After all, didn't he owe this old friend far more in terms of loyalty and allegiance than he ever had to Tatiana? And hadn't Ephraim repaid him in kind through the years, whereas Tatiana had left him without a second thought?

"I shall make a bargain with you. I will keep your journal, but I will make no guarantee as to its ultimate use. Agreed?"

"I can ask for nothing more." Ephraim grinned. "Unless you'd care to share more of those reasons of yours for going along with this royal farce."

"I suppose you could call the entire incident unfinished and unresolved." Matt puffed on the cigar and considered his words. "Our parting was not entirely mutual. I woke up one morning and she was gone, leaving behind nothing more than a note about responsibility and a promise to free us both from any legal entanglement."

"Legal entanglement?" Ephraim's brows drew together.

"You see, my friend, in France, a legal marriage is not necessarily sanctioned by the church. It can also be nothing more than a civil arrangement performed by a local official." Matt studied the glowing end of the cigar. "A moderate bribe in the right hands can circumvent any requirements for public notice or eliminate the wait for performance of a ceremony."

"And you know all of this because..." Ephraim said slowly.