“I know, but—I was afraid.”
“Of what? That I would take him from you? That I would be angry? Katya, I am overjoyed. He is—he is incredible! The most beautiful baby I have ever seen.”
“I know.”
She couldn’t help smiling at the pride in his eyes as he put his cheek to Alek’s and gently squeezed him close before handing him back to the nurse. “Take him home,” he told the woman. “My man will escort you, and your lady will return shortly.”
At Dimitri’s wave, Katherine noticed the carriage parked behind her own and Vladimir stepping down from it to meet Alek’s nurse. Dear old Vladimir. Always there when needed, always resourceful. If not for him, Katherine would never have met Dimitri, never have borne Alek. And to think how much she had resented him at one time.
Dimitri said nothing until his carriage had driven away and then he turned to Katherine, his eyes expressing all the tenderness inside him. “I love you, Katya. Marry me.”
“I—”
His finger touched her lips. “Before you say anything, be warned, little one. If I don’t like your answer, you will probably find yourself abducted once again, you and the boy, and there will be no escaping me this time.”
“Is that a promise?”
He gave a shout and picked her up in his arms, swinging her once around before letting her slide slowly down his body and fastening his mouth to hers. In his kiss was all the aching loneliness of so many months. And as usual, there was no bed around.
Chapter Forty-two
Vladimir was waiting for them in the entryway when Dimitri returned Katherine to her home. In his exuberance Dimitri clasped his longtime servant in a bear hug, leaving the poor fellow breathless.
“She said yes, Vladimir!”
“I gathered as much, my prince. Congratulations, and to you, my lady.”
“Thank you, Vladimir.” Katherine nodded regally. “And you needn’t be so stiff. Just because I’m going to be your new mistress, doesn’t mean there will be that many changes. I’m a very forgiving sort, you know. I promise to have you whipped only on Saturdays.”
Dimitri chuckled at the slow flush creeping up Vladimir’s cheeks. “He doesn’t know you’re teasing, Katya. You really must choose your targets with more care.”
“Nonsense. He knows very well. He just has a guilty conscience. Isn’t that right, Vladimir?”
“Yes, my lady.”
“Well, you can put it to rest, my friend.” She grinned at him now. “I have a lot to thank you for, if truth were known.”
Katherine turned away, removing her bonnet and gloves, and only Dimitri heard Vladimir sigh. He smiled to himself, shaking his head. His soon-to-be-wife was going to be a holy terror in his household. His people would never know when to take her seriously and when not, but it would certainly keep them on their toes. And then he realized the same went for him and his smile widened. He didn’t care. As long as she was always near and happy and loving him, she could tease to her heart’s content.
He turned to Vladimir. “The Duchess is expecting me for lunch. You’ll have to inform her… No, better yet, bring her here. Is that all right, Katya?”
She grimaced. “Of course, but I feel I should warn you, Dimitri. She isn’t going to be too pleased with your news. She and I didn’t get on too well together at our first meeting. I’m afraid I refused to let her see Alek, and she didn’t take too kindly to that.”
“You mean she knew?”
“She knew I came home with a son. She only suspected he was yours. Sonya had written her complaining about me, you see.”
He gave a short bark of laughter. “Why that old… I knew she was keeping something from me. But you’re wrong, you know. She greatly admires your spunk, as she calls it. And she was quite as determined as I was to see us reconciled. Now I know why. She wants to coddle her great-grandson.”
“Oh, it’s you, Kate.” George St. John appeared at the top of the stairs. “I thought I heard voices, but I couldn’t understand a word of such gibberish. Practicing your French again, are you?”
“Come down, Father. I want you to meet your future son-in-law.”
“The Russian?”
“Yes.”
“So it was him,” George said with a smug amount of satisfaction.
“Yes, it was him.”
Katherine spared a glance at Dimitri to see if he was getting annoyed that they were speaking in English. He wasn’t. But this was going to get difficult. Her father didn’t speak French.
“Don’t know why it took you so long to own up to it,” George said when he reached the bottom of the stairs. “I could have got him for you sooner, you know.”
“I got him for myself, thank you, without any help.”
“And here I thought I had done the catching,” Dimitri said in perfect English, and to George: “It’s a pleasure to meet you, my lord.”
Katherine turned on him, eyes narrowed and sparkling. “Why, you—you—”
“Dolt? Fiend? Scoundrel? Oh, we mustn’t forget blasted lecher. And those are only a few of the names you have called me when you thought I didn’t understand a word of English.”
“Was that fair?”
“Fair, little one? No. Amusing? Yes. You are absolutely adorable when you mumble to yourself in a fit of pique.”
“Isn’t she though,” George agreed. “I always thought so. Got the habit from her mother, you know. Now there was a woman who could carry on the most interesting conversations, all by herself.”
“All right.” Katherine grinned. “I give up.” And then to change the subject, hopefully, “Is Warren or Beth in? They’ll want to meet Dimitri.”
“It’ll have to wait until tonight, Kate. Your sister said something about shopping, and Warren’s off at his club, I believe. And I was just leaving, too. You will come for dinner, won’t you?” He directed this to Dimitri. “Need to discuss the wedding arrangements, you know.”
“I wouldn’t miss it,” Dimitri assured him.
The front door opened just as George reached it, and Elisabeth stepped in. “Back so soon?” George greeted her. “So’s your sister, and she has some news for you, I believe.”
“Oh?” Elisabeth glanced over his shoulder and then gasped, seeing Dimitri and Katherine standing close together. “Oh!” And she rushed forward, leaving her father chuckling as he left.
Katherine made the introductions and explained her happy news. But her sister didn’t seem to be listening. Seeing Dimitri up close for the first time, she could only stare at him, spellbound. Katherine had to jab her in the ribs to bring her to her senses.
“Oh! I’m sorry.” Elisabeth recovered, blushing. “I’m so happy to meet you at last, not that I’ve heard much about you. Kit has been so close-mouthed and… Does this mean you’re going to take Kit off to live in Russia? It’s so cold there.”
“On the contrary.” Dimitri smiled. “I imagine we will spend most of our time traveling to inspect my many business ventures.” Here he glanced at Katherine. “I have been warned what happens when I don’t watch over my investments.”
Elisabeth missed the byplay between them. “But that’s wonderful! Kit always did want to travel. And she has such a flair for business. You will let her help, won’t you?”
“I wouldn’t have it any other way. But now, as much as I want to get to know her family better, I must ask you, little Beth, if you will excuse us for a short time. Your sister has only just agreed to marry me, and I still have much to say to her.”
“Of course!” Elisabeth agreed eagerly, but then she would have agreed to anything he asked, she was so mesmerized. “I have things to put away and—and I’ll see you later, I hope.”
Katherine was amused by her sister’s behavior, but not at all surprised. How many times had she been thrown into a jumble of confusion herself when Dimitri looked at her with those sensuous dark eyes. She was, in fact, still in a pleasant state of shock from which she doubted she would ever truly recover. This man sai
d he loved her. Her. It was so inconceivable. How did she get to be so lucky?
A moment later, with Elisabeth disappearing up the stairs, Dimitri put his arm around Katherine’s waist and steered her into what looked to be the drawing room. It was.
“You didn’t have other plans for tonight, did you?” Katherine was saying. “I mean, my father did put you on the spot there.”
“All my plans revolve around you, little one,” he replied.
His closing the door behind them was Katherine’s first warning of his immediate plans. The look in his eyes confirmed it.
“Dimitri!” She tried to sound shocked, but the smile curling her lips belied her. “This isn’t your house, you know. Here servants think nothing of opening doors and barging right in.” He solved that problem by grabbing the nearest chair and bracing it against the door. “You’re terribly wicked.”
“Yes,” he agreed, taking her in his arms, where she pressed her body close, closer. “But so are you, my love.”
“That’s nice,” she murmured against his lips. “Say it again.”
“My love. You are, you know. Without you, there is no joy in my life.”
Did you hear that, Katherine? Do you believe it now?
She did. This fairy tale had come true.
About the Author
Johanna Lindsey has been hailed as one of the most popular authors of romantic fiction, with more than sixty million copies of her novels sold. World renowned for her novels of "first-rate romance" (New York Daily News), Lindsey is the author of forty-seven previous national bestselling novels, many of which reached the #1 spot on the New York Times bestseller list. Lindsey lives in Maine with her family.
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Praise
AMERICA LOVES LINDSEY!
“SHE UNDERSTANDS A WOMAN’S SECRET FANTASIES”
Romantic Times
“LINDSEY HAS MASTERED HER CRAFT…
You want romance—you got it!”
Inside Books
“HIGH QUALITY ENTERTAINMENT…
The charm and appeal of her characters are infectious.”
Publishers Weekly
“FIRST-RATE ROMANCE”
New York Daily News
“I HAVE NEVER BEEN DISAPPOINTED WITH HER STORIES…
A constant high level of quality”
Affaire de Coeur
“SPIRITED CHARACTERS, CONTRASTING SETTINGS AND INTENSE CONFLICTS OF THE HEART…
Johanna Lindsey has a sure touch where historical romance is concerned”
Newport News Daily Press
Other Books by Johanna Lindsey
ALL I NEED IS YOU • ANGEL • BRAVE THE WILD WIND
CAPTIVE BRIDE • DEFY NOT THE HEART
FIRES OF WINTER • A GENTLE FEUDING
GENTLE ROGUE • GLORIOUS ANGEL
HEART OF A WARRIOR • HEART OF THUNDER
A HEART SO WILD • HEARTS AFLAME • THE HEIR
HOME FOR THE HOLIDAYS • JOINING
KEEPER OF THE HEART • LOVE ME FOREVER
LOVE ONLY ONCE • THE MAGIC OF YOU
MAN OF MY DREAMS • ONCE A PRINCESS
PARADISE WILD • A PIRATE’S LOVE • THE PRESENT
PRISONER OF MY DESIRE • THE PURSUIT
SAVAGE THUNDER • SAY YOU LOVE ME
SECRET FIRE • SILVER ANGEL
SO SPEAKS THE HEART • SURRENDER MY LOVE
TENDER IS THE STORM • TENDER REBEL
UNTIL FOREVER • WARRIOR’S WOMAN
WHEN LOVE AWAITS • YOU BELONG TO ME
Copyright
This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents are products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously and are not to be construed as real. Any resemblance to actual events, locales, organizations, or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental.
Library of Congress Catalog Card Number: 87-91598
ISBN: 0-380-75087-2
www.avonromance.com
SECRET FIRE. Copyright © 1987 by Johanna Lindsey. All rights reserved under International and Pan-American Copyright Conventions. By payment of the required fees, you have been granted the nonexclusive, nontransferable right to access and read the text of this e-book on-screen. No part of this text may be reproduced, transmitted, downloaded, decompiled, reverse-engineered, or stored in or introduced into any information storage and retrieval system, in any form or by any means, whether electronic or mechanical, now known or hereinafter invented, without the express written permission of HarperCollins e-books.
EPub Edition © APRIL 2011 ISBN: 978-0-06-210666-7
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