"When Tatiana asked me today to play the role of her husband, it was not simply due to my handsome face, witty manner and devilish charm." Matt grinned wickedly. "Although admittedly I am amply endowed with all that and more."

"And humble as well." Ephraim's murmur belied the growing realization in his eyes.

"Indeed. No, she asked me to pose as her husband because I have experience in the part." Matt savored the look on Ephraim's face. "I see you have ascertained just how foolish I was. Her promise to free me from legal entanglement referred to procuring an annulment in her own country. No doubt an easy act for a misguided princess."

"Then you're saying..." Ephraim's voice had an odd strangled quality about it, as if he couldn't believe or accept his own words.

"I'm saying exactly what you think I'm saying. It lasted less than a full day, but for that handful of hours"-Matt chuckled wryly-"I was indeed her husband."

Chapter 4.

Tatiana straightened her shoulders and raised her chin in the royal manner she had been taught from birth. A manner that trained her to ignore the fluttering sensation lodged somewhere between her heart and her stomach. She drew a steady breath and stepped purposefully toward the parlor where Matthew waited.

The residence she had arranged to occupy was large enough to house her traveling companions and staff, yet not overly grand, and was located in a neighborhood both fashionable and discreet. Most of the homes around the square were minimally staffed, their owners retreating to their country estates during the summer months. As such, there were few people about to speculate on exactly who was staying in the home of Lord Westerfield, long a friend of the Avalonian people and loyal to her family. Servants would talk, of course, but then when did they not?

She adopted a pleasant smile, welcoming yet not overly eager. It would not do to let Matthew know now important his agreement to her proposal was or, in truth, how important he was to her. She was fairly certain he was the type of man who did not especially value what came too easily.

Tatiana pushed open the doors and stepped into the salon.

Matthew leaned casually against the mantel on the opposite side of the room. His worn attire was not up to the standards of the well-appointed parlor, but his demeanor was as proper as if he were dressed in the first stare of fashion. Odd, how she had not before noticed the marks of good breeding in his bearing. He was as comfortable here as he had been in his stables. Or in the gondola of a balloon or, she imagined, the bow of a ship.

"Lord Matthew."

"Your Highness." He straightened, and his voice held the correct note of deference, yet there was a distinct gleam in his eye. Sarcasm, perhaps.

"How delightful to see you again."

"The delight is mine, Your Highness." He swept a perfect bow, and again she realized Matthew may not have participated in society as such in any number of years, but it was obvious he was born to it.

"I did not expect you at such an early hour. It is scarcely midmorning." "Ah, but, Your Highness..." Now there was no mistaking the sarcasm in his tone, as well as his eye. Not simply the subtle way in which he emphasized her position, but the frequency with which he used the proper form of address.Your Highness had a distinctly pointed edge... "every moment we are separated seems a lifetime." "How lovely of you to say so." She wasn't entirely sure what polite game of words he was playing, but she could certainly play one of her own. She closed the doors firmly behind her. "And during those moments, that lifetime, did you miss me?" The corner of his mouth twitched, as if he were trying not to laugh. "I scarce noted you were gone." She smiled slowly. "That's precisely what you said yesterday, my lord. Surely you can some up with something more original." "Indeed, I could." His brows drew together in mock consideration. "But what would it be, I wonder?" "Well, you could say you missed me as..."-she thought for a moment-"as the blossom in the heat of the day misses the morning dew."

"I doubt it. I should never say anything so absurd." He shook his head. "Perhaps as the fox misses the hounds. Now, that I might say." "It doesn't convey quite the right sentiment, though." She narrowed her eyes thoughtfully. "I should think as the moon misses the evening star to be much better."

"Far too sentimental. However, if it's sentiment we're after,as the deer misses the hunter conveys the proper feeling." "Not at all." Her voice was sharp, but her smile stayed firmly in place. "As the night misses the sunis much more appropriate." "But not as good asas the horse misses the flies about his tail ." Satisfaction rang in his voice. "Now, that is original, for everyone save the horse. You do have a way with words, my lord." Still, it would not do to let him believe he had won. She cast him a triumphant smile. "And regardless of how you choose to say it, it is sufficient to know you did indeed miss me." His eyes widened slightly in surprise, and perhaps appreciation, then he grinned. "Certainly, but onlyas the horse -"

"Oh, do leave the poor horse in peace." She crossed the room, seated herself in a French-styled armchair and gestured for him to sit on a nearby sofa. "Have you come to give me your answer, or do you have no other purpose here this morning than to be annoying?"

"Being annoying, Your Highness, is simply an unexpected pleasure." He ignored her invitation and instead wandered casually around the perimeter of the room, forcing her to turn her head to follow him, his movement as deliberately irritating as his words. "I have, however, given your proposition the consideration it deserves. In truth, I have thought of little else since we spoke. It is quite intriguing."

"I thought so." She nodded firmly. "I think uncovering the true story of the travels of the Princess Sophia will be most interesting, and something of an adventure as well."

"Adventure? Perhaps." He slanted her a sharp glance. "However, that's not the part that I find interesting."

"Really? Why on earth not?"

"For one thing, I'm not sure that I believe this nonsense about writing a family history."

She widened her eyes and lied through her teeth. "You mentioned that yesterday, but I assure you it is quite true."

He studied her carefully and she returned his gaze with an unflinching calm. After all, there was a certain element of truth to her claim. She did need to know exactly where Sophia had gone and what she had done. Sophia's flight from Avalonia coincided with the disappearance of the Heavens, and while it was possible there was no connection at all, it was more than likely the princess had taken the jewels. For their safety or hers.

"You don't lie well."

"Nonsense. I lie exceedingly well, but only for the very best reasons." She smiled in an overly sweet manner. "Although I will admit, before meeting you, I had little experience with lying and no need to do so."

"It's gratifying to know I bring out the best in you."

"I thought you would appreciate it," she said primly.

"Indeed I do." He paused and stared thoughtfully. "Regardless of the true purpose of your presence here, I must confess to a great deal of curiosity."

"About what, exactly?" She forced a light laugh. "I have already told you, my lord, I want nothing more than to write-"

"Not about that." He waved away her comment. "I am willing to accept your claim, for the moment. What has piqued my curiosity is why you feel it necessary to pose as my wife."

"I have explained that as well. People are often quite intimidated by royalty and not at all inclined to be candid." She sighed. "Goodness, my lord, did you not pay attention to anything I have said thus far?"

His eyes narrowed in irritation and she bit back a satisfied smile. With scarcely any effort at all, she could be every bit as annoying as he. And enjoy it every bit as much.

"I should think"-his words were measured-"given what has passed between us, the last person on the face of the earth you would wish to involve in a deception such as you propose would be me." His gaze trapped hers and the fluttering in her midsection returned. "I should further think you would hesitate to so much as cross my path, let alone ask me to play husband-"

"One would think so."

"-as you showed no reluctance in absolving me of that position. And did so without even the minor courtesy of informing me as to your intentions until such time as I could not raise a word in protest." His voice was light, but his gaze hardened. "I gather procuring your annulment posed no particular problem?"

"No, no problem at all." She gathered her resolve and drew a steadying breath. "In point of fact, I-"

"You needn't explain further; I scarcely need a detailed account." He continued his meandering, moving to a position somewhere behind her. She refused to give him the satisfaction of twisting in her chair, especially since he would not allow her to finish her explanation. Besides, she could listen perfectly well without looking at him.

"When I discovered your true identity, I realized how simple it would for the member of a royal family to rid herself of an impulsive, and obviously unwanted, marriage to someone of my position. The civil nature of our union, unsanctioned by any church, in a country in which neither of us were citizens, plus our use of a modest bribe to circumvent the usual requirements, all meant the legality of the marriage was no doubt questionable in the first place."

"Really? I had never considered that."

She could hear the shrug in his voice behind her. "It's of little consequence now. It is over and done with." Abruptly, he stepped directly in front of her chair and stared down at her.

"The only thing that matters now is our newly formed union." Matthew braced his hands on the arms of the chair, effectively trapping her, and bent close. "My dearLady Matthew ."

She gazed up at him, resisting both the urge to shrink back and the desire to strain forward. He was extraordinarily close. So close she could stare into the endless depths of his blue eyes. Eyes she had once lost her soul in and never found again.

"Then you will do it?"

He nodded slowly. "Under certain conditions."

"Conditions? What conditions? I am willing to pay you handsomely. Given that, I should think any conditions would be mine."

"Possibly, but I am not overly concerned with your money."

"That is absurd. Why on earth not?" Not that she particularly cared right now. It was difficult to concentrate on anything beyond the enticing rise and fall of his chest with every breath and the proximity of his body to hers.

"It doesn't interest me."

"Nonsense. You need..." Her voice faltered at the look in his eye. Speculation and... more. Her heart thudded in her chest. The moment the words formed on her lips, she knew the question was a mistake. Or an invitation. And did not care. "Whatdoes interest you?"

His gaze strayed from her eyes to her mouth and back. Without thinking, she shifted slightly until her lips were scarcely more than a whisper from his.

"Any number of things, my dear," he said softly, his breath mingling with hers. "But they shall have to wait." Abruptly, he drew back and straightened to loom over her. "At this point, what interests me most is whether or not you will accept my conditions."

"I see." She cleared her throat, ignoring the smug look on his face. The blasted man knew full well she wanted him to kiss her, and probably realized she wanted to kiss him back. "What are your conditions, then?"

"First of all, if you are to pose as my wife..." He stepped aside and again roamed restlessly around the parlor, examining an objet d'art here, a painting there, his attitude as casual as his words. "... you shall have to play the role in a realistic manner. If we are to fool the rest of the world, we shall have to be convincing."

"It would be ridiculous to do otherwise." She watched him cautiously and folded her hands in her lap. "How, pray tell, do you propose we do that?"

"To begin with, this"-he gestured at the opulent room-"will not do at all."

"Why not?" She furrowed her brow. "This is a lovely house, and quite well situated."

"However, it is not the house Matthew Weston-forgive me,Lord Matthew-would occupy. Not with the current state of his finances." He picked up an apple from a bowl on a nearby table and tossed it idly in one hand. "I live primarily on a small naval pension, most of which goes for the supplies necessary for my work, and my ever-dwindling savings."

"Yes?" She heard his words, but her gaze fixed on the mesmerizing motion of the apple. His hands, deft and sure, releasing and catching the scarlet fruit.

"Did I tell you I am trying to refine a heating system of my own design to greater increase control aloft and during ascensions?"

"No." His strong, tanned fingers captured the apple, enveloped its vivid flesh in an all-consuming caress.

"I can scarce afford to fund this project as well as a proper residence, so at the moment I am living in the cottage beside the stables you visited yesterday."

Without effort she remembered how those fingers had felt on her flesh.

"In truth, it's barely more than a roof and four walls, but it was included in the lease of the stables and serves my needs."

How his caresses had captured her body and seared her soul.

"Nonetheless, right now it is my place of residence. Where I live and where I expect..." How all-consuming the passion had been between them. "... mywife to live as well." He caught the apple and held it still. My wife to live ? The words jerked her to attention. Matthew grinned expectantly. "You expect me to live in a... a"-she could barely choke out the word-"cottage?" He shrugged. "If truth were told, it's not substantially better than a shack." "A shack?" She rose to her feet. This was not at all what she had in mind. "You expect me to live in a shack?"

"The rooms we shared in Paris were not especially grand. They were rather shabby, if I recall."

"Another consideration?" She crossed her arms over her chest.

"I have only one horse, and he is better suited to pull-"

"A carriage?" she said hopefully.

"It's really a wagon." He shook his head in a regretful manner she didn't believe for a moment. "In truth,

more of a cart." "To go along with the shack, no doubt." She would put up with his living conditions, castle or cottage scarcely mattered, as long as she was with him. But she had absolutely no intention of traveling in a cart or a wagon. Still, it was not necessary for him to know that. "Very well." "And there will be no servants," he warned. "Of course not, given your modest income," she said brightly. "Is that it, then? Your conditions?" "Not entirely." He studied the apple in his hand casually. "Really? Whatever is left?" She ticked the items off on her fingers. "Thus far you have eliminated servants and any possibility of civilized living either during our travels or when we are in the proximity of London. It seems to me your requirements ensure I will indeed act as your wife in the fullest, as well as the most frugal, sense of the word."

He raised his gaze to hers and wicked triumph glittered in his eyes. "Not entirely."

She drew her brows together. "I don't see-" At once she did see, and all too well. The man was an

annoying beast, but at least he still wanted her, and that was a start. And he had played right into her hands. "You do not mean..." She widened her eyes in stunned disbelief. "You cannot possibly believe..." She wrung her hands together and paced to the right. "Surely, you do not expect that I..." She swiveled and paced to the left. "That you... that we..." She stopped and turned toward him. "That you think I would... Oh, Matthew, how could you?" She let out a wrenching sob, buried her face in her hands and wept in the manner of any virtuous women presented with such an edict.

"Good Lord! Your Highness. Tatiana." Concern sounded in his voice and she heard him step closer. "I didn't mean-"

"I know what you meant." She sobbed.

"I didn't realize you'd- That is to say, I didn't want-"

"You most certainly did." She dropped her hands and glared at him. "This is exactly what you wanted. Exactly the response you hoped for." She advanced toward him. "Are you happy now? Was my reaction dramatic enough for you? Was I as aghast, as offended, ashurt as you'd wished?"

"I never-"

"And was it satisfying, Matthew?" She stepped to within a few inches of him and planted her hands on her hips. "Or was there a moment of regret over your beastly behavior?"

"There is now." He glared down at her but held his ground.

"Hah. I doubt that. Your intentions with this and every other of your ridiculous conditions was to shock me and, furthermore, to put me in my place. Obviously as revenge for the wrongs I have done you."

"They were not," he said indignantly.

"Come, now. You don't lie nearly as well as I do." She cast him a look of disdain. "These stipulations of yours, especially the last one." She shook her head. "Did you really believe for a moment I would fall to pieces at the idea of sharing your bed? I am not a blushing virgin. I have been married."

"Twice, by last count." His eyes narrowed dangerously. "Or have I missed another marriage or two?"

"Not yet," she snapped. "But the day is still young."

"Excellent. Then you will no longer need me."

"However, at this particular moment, I do still need you."

"Do you?" An odd intensity underlaid his words.

"Yes," she said sharply. "And if you think your silly conditions will dissuade me, you do not-"