Chapter 5.

Matt threw open the door of the cottage and stared down the road as he had a dozen times or more in the hour since dawn. Where was the blasted woman? She should have been here by now. She was the one eager to get this farce under way. This was her adventure, not his.

Perhaps she had changed her mind. Come to her senses and realized just how absurd this so-called adventure was. This mission of hers to retrace and document the travels of a fleeing princess half a century ago. He snorted with disdain. He could have come up with a better story without trying. Still, it served her purpose, whatever her purpose was. It was obviously more important to her than a silly history of her family. But what could be of such significance that she would come to him for help?

Unless she chose him only because of his grandmother's involvement.

He turned away from the door and ran this hand through his hair. The question of why Tatiana had reappeared in his life had haunted him through the endless hours of the night past, just as it had the night before. He'd tossed and turned and scarcely slept more than an hour or so at best. Even when exhaustion had claimed him, he'd had no peace. His slumber was fraught with unanswered questions and all-too-vivid memories.

Matt absently paced the length of the room, acknowledging in the back of his mind how often he'd walked this same stretch of floor trying to puzzle out a problem. Those difficulties were typically of a mechanical nature. This was different. This was personal. And far more difficult.

At some point in the long, restless night he'd wondered if perhaps Tatiana's true intentions had little to do with a long-dead relative and everything to do with the man she'd asked for help. If possibly it wasn't the past of this Princess Sophia she searched for but a future with the man she'd once professed to love. It was a ridiculous thought, of course, triggered only by the startling clarity of his dreams and his own arrogance. While it was obvious at their last meeting that desire between them still simmered, it could go no further than that. He would not allow it, and in truth she had given him no reason to believe she wished otherwise.

She had not thrown herself into his arms, declaring her undying love. She had not wept with remorse at having abandoned him. Her apology had been scarcely more than polite. Nor had she begged his forgiveness and pleaded for him to allow her back into his life.

It was the height of irony to realize that he would have indeed forgiven her and more had she returned to him within the first months after her departure, even as long as a full year. He would have understood the reasons for her choice or, at least, wanted to understand and forgive. Now, it was too late.

He had no wish to rekindle what they'd once shared. Aside from his desire to protect his family, his only real reason in agreeing to her proposal was to rid himself of her continuing presence in his dreams. In his blood. To regain that part of his soul he'd given freely and never reclaimed. He cared no more for her than for any woman whose bed he wished to share.

Still, it was odd to note how much her quick agreement to his last condition dwelled in his mind. He knew full well, aside from her first husband, there had been no other man in her life before him. Had there been others since then? Had she discovered the kind of passion she'd shared with him with another man? More than one? Fifteen months, three weeks and four days-no, six days now-was a very long time.

Certainly he had been with other women since he'd last seen her. Nameless and for the most part faceless, they had been one way he'd struggled to fill the emptiness Tatiana had left him with. Had she felt the same void?

Hardly. His jaw tightened at the thought. She had been the one to leave. The one to decide their marriage could not continue. He had had no choice in the matter. And no choice in her return.

The sounds of an approaching carriage caught his attention. He stalked to the door and stepped outside. But he damn well had choices now.

A curricle, rather too shiny to be anything but new, pulled to a halt on the road in front of the cottage. A horse tethered to the vehicle trailed behind. The gentleman, or more likely officer, he'd seen help Tatiana onto her horse after her last visit held the reins. Tatiana perched on the seat by his side, entirely too close. Matthew raised a brow. Surely that was not proper behavior for a princess or any other respectable woman.

The officer accompanying her leapt out of the carriage and hurried to help Tatiana to the ground with a familiarity that struck Matthew as far too intimate and extremely irritating.

"Good day, Lord Matthew." She cast him a brilliant smile.

"Is it? I hadn't noticed." He directed his words toward her, but his gaze focused on her companion. The man was not unattractive-some might even say handsome, in a stern sort of way. Indeed, foolish women might well appreciate his dark hair and disapproving eyes. Matt wondered how foolish Tatiana was.

She laughed. "That is scarcely the way to start such a lovely day. I do think something a bit more welcoming is in order, although a sinceregood day is always appropriate." "Good day," Matt said, feeling not the least bit sincere. The officer's eyes narrowed slightly as if he didn't appreciate Matt's tone. Tatiana ignored the palpable tension between the men. "My lord, I should like to introduce you to Captain Petrov. Captain, this is the Lord Matthew Weston." "My lord." Petrov nodded coolly. "Captain." Matt's voice was every bit as cold. For whatever reason, he didn't like this man, and it was obvious the enmity was mutual.

Petrov was of a similar height and breadth as Matt, with a distinctly military bearing. Nonetheless, Matt was confident he could defeat him in a fair fight if need be. The idea was surprisingly inviting.

"I thought you understood that if this ruse is to be effective, you shall have to abide by my terms." Matt

met the other man's gaze. "I believe I specifically mentioned that does not include servants."

The officer's eyes darkened with anger and he took a step forward. Good. Matt's fists clenched. He would quite enjoy thrashing Tatiana's escort.

She held out a hand to restrain the officer. "Nonsense, my lord, any fool can see Captain Petrov is not a servant."

"Perhaps, Your Highness," Petrov said coolly, "his lordship is not just any fool, but a fool of astonishing

proportions."

"Perhaps he is," she said brightly. "Perhaps only such a fool would agree to help me in my endeavor, and for that we can be most grateful."

"You shall quite turn my head with your compliments, Your Highness," Matt said wryly.

"However, Captain, apologies are in order. Lord Matthew is not a fool, simply annoying. It is one of his

finer qualities."

"I've no doubt of that, Your Highness." Petrov stared at Matt with disdain. "Very well. I am sorry, my lord, that you are an annoying, astonishing fool."

"I too apologize for mistaking you for a mere servant when it's obvious you are little more than"-Matt

crossed his arms over his chest-"a glorified coachman."

"That is quite enough." Tatiana shook her head. "I should have known you two would not get along.

You are far too similar in nature to approve of one another."

"Yet another compliment, Your Highness? I'm not certain if I should be flattered." Matt's gaze locked

with the other man's and he knew full well the captain was assessing him with an eye toward combat.

"Or insulted."

"The insult is mutual, my lord. Furthermore, you should understand I do not approve of Her Highness's

plan," Petrov said slowly. "I think it is both foolhardy and dangerous."

"Dangerous?" Matt raised a brow. "I scarcely think gathering information for a family history is dangerous." "The enemies of Avalonia are everywhere." Petrov's voice was grim. "As the commander of the guard charged with her safety, I would prefer she allow those trained for the position to accompany her rather than leave her protection to a single escort." "She will have the protection of my name as well as my presence. She'll come to no harm." Matt studied the other man carefully. His reactions were overblown, even if understandable given the nature of his position, if indeed Tatiana had told the truth about her quest. The captain's attitude confirmed Matt's suspicion that her story was nothing but a fabrication. "I will see to that."

Petrov leaned closer, his voice hard and threatening. "See that you do. If she is harmed in any way I will track you to the ends of the earth and kill you with my bare hands." Matt lowered his own voice. "Nothing would give me greater pleasure than to see you attempt to do just that."

"Stop it at once." Tatiana huffed. "You sound like small boys drawing lines in the dirt. My lord, you are being even more annoying than usual and, Captain, it is past time you were on your way." Petrov stepped toward her. "Princess, I cannot-" "You can and you shall." Tatiana's voice was firm. "Now, Dimitri. This discussion is at an end."

Dimitri?

"Very well, Your Highness," the captain said stiffly, nodded in a curt manner then strode around the carriage to his horse. He untied the beast, mounted and walked the animal back toward Tatiana. "I shall await word from you in London." Petrov cast Matt a last warning glance and rode off down the road.

Matt's gaze followed the officer's retreat. "He doesn't like me."

"I cannot imagine why. As always, you were most charming and thoroughly delightful. Furthermore, you

made no effort to conceal your opinion of him." She blew a disgusted breath. "You need not have been quite so rude." "Do you call all the members of your guard by their given names?" he said without thinking, watching the mounted figure disappear down the road. "Certainly not. But I have known Captain Petrov all my life. I consider him to be a friend as well as a trusted advisor." She studied him curiously. "Surely my familiarity withDimitri does not bother you?"

"I scarcely care one way or the other. I simply thought it was odd behavior for someone of your position." She smiled smugly. "You needn't be jealous of...Dimitri ." "I am not jealous. Merely curious."

"You sound jealous."

"Well, I'm not." His voice was sharper than necessary for a man who was not jealous. "I don't care in the least, although I daresay he might."

"Really?" Surprise crossed her face as if she'd never before considered such a possibility. "Why do you say that?"

"It's clear to anyone with half a brain." Matt snorted in disdain. "Everything about him shows his feelings.

To start with, there's his attitude toward you."

"Duty, nothing more."

"His attitude toward me," Matt said pointedly.

"Scarcely proof of anything. I believe we have already agreed you are extremely annoying. You make

no effort to be pleasant. I daresay there are any number of people who do not especially like you." "Hah." He scoffed. "If you recall, I can be extremely charming." "I am having some difficulty at the moment remembering that," she said under her breath. "However, we are not talking about me. We are speaking of your captain,Dimitri . Aside from his manner, he is given away by"-he paused for emphasis-"the very look in his eye."

"Is it like the look in your eye?" She stepped close and gazed up at him.

Matt clenched his teeth and glared. "This look?"

"Don't be absurd. That look is nothing short of murderous." She tilted her head and considered him.

"Admittedly, I have seen something similar in Dimitri's eye. I have never been especially fond of it."

"No?" He stared down at her, his anger fading. He knew full well his reaction to Dimitri was irrational,

probably due more to his thoughts about Tatiana before their arrival than the irritating nature of the man himself. "I should think you'd be used to it. No doubt you have seen it any number of times."

"More so in recent months," she said, still searching his gaze.

"I would have thought you'd have spent most of your life getting such looks from those charged with

your protection or education or whatever else goes into the upbringing of a princess." He struggled to

disregard the proximity of her body to his. How easy it would be to reach out and pull her into his arms.

"It may well be difficult for you to believe, but I have spent most of my life doing exactly what was expected of me. Without pause, without question, without argument. Aside from the odd occasion as a child, I had never done anything at all that could be considered improper until I rode in a balloon"-a teasing light sparked in her eyes-"fifteen months, three weeks and a handful of days ago."

"Five," he said absently. "It would be five days and sixteen months, if you count from when we first met."

"I believe you are wrong, Matthew," she said softly.

"I'm not. It would be five-"

"No, wrong about Dimitri. I have never seen a look in his eye like the one in yours... now." Her own

eyes sparkled in the morning light. Green and sensual and beckoning.

"Perhaps you've simply never noticed."

"Oh, I am most certain I would have noticed." She bit her bottom lip in that way she had, endearing and