Princess at Sea Read Online Free

hand atop the handle.
    I came abreast of them, not sure how to interfere without ending up publicly reprimanded. It was embarrassing, and I didn’t like it. “Ah, Contessa?” I started, tension slamming the air from me when she lunged forward and pulled Alex’s sword.
    My hand went to my topknot where I usually kept my poisoned darts. “Contessa!” I shouted, lurching to stand between her and Alex as she struggled to hold the heavy sword.
    The point dipped as the fiery woman looked from me to Alex in frustration. “If your sword won’t break,” she threatened, “then I’ll be rid of it.”
    â€œContessa! No!” I cried, reaching out even as she twisted her body and threw Alex’s sword out over the water. I held my breath, watching in a horrid fascination as the hazy sun glinted on the highly polished metal. Alex’s green eyes went wide in disbelief; he was too shocked to move. Soundless over the wind, it cut cleanly into the water—and was gone.
    She had thrown his sword into the waves. She had thrown his grandfather’s sword where none could find it. Suddenly frightened, I tore my gaze from the gray waves laced with froth. I could see the new Misdev/Costenopolie alliance that I had worked so hard to foster shred like cotton. Her temper had dealt a blow more severe than had I murdered the prince in his bed.
    Contessa’s color was high, and she met my horrified look and Alex’s expression of shock with absolutely no repentance. Her satisfaction melted into surprise when Alex swooped around me, and before I knew his intent, picked her up, and dropped her over the side. Her shriek of surprise cut off with a splash.
    â€œFetch my sword, wife,” he whispered, his jaw tight in anger.
    â€œContessa!” I shrieked when the call for man-in-the-water went up from three different throats. Panicking, I pulled three knives from my waistband. The first I threw to thunk into one of the twin lines holding the mainsail. One side of the massive sheet fell in a sliding sound of canvas amid shouts of distress. The second went thunking into the lead of my black gelding, freeing him. I had a third knife which I wanted to stick into that fool prince Alex, but instead I used it to rip my outer dress off. My heart pounded and my fingers fumbled in fear. Contessa . . .
    â€œWhere is she?” Alex said, his angry satisfaction dissolving as he peered over the railing and watched the waves. Slowly, he moved to the stern of the boat to stay with the disappearing bubbles. “She hasn’t come up yet.”
    â€œShe’s drowning,” I said, shoving my dress into him so hard he almost fell back. Stupid landlubber. Doesn’t know a bloody thing. “Her skirts are pulling her down. Congratulations. I think you’re the new king of Costenopolie.”
    His mouth opened, and his face went ashen under his blond bangs. I had no time to spare for him. Whistling for my horse, I ran to the stern, and as Captain Borlett reached out in alarm and protest, I scrambled over the railing and fell ungracefully into the water.
    Captain Borlett’s call cut off with the shocking, swirling cold. A second, muffled whoosh of sound shook me as I pushed to the surface. It was Jy, having jumped the railing right behind me. Pulling in a huge breath of air, I dived. The sounds of organized panic vanished.
    Salt water burned my eyes as I looked for a shadow in the murky dusk the clouds had made of the ocean. Nothing. I came up, gasping. Jy was nearby, his feet darting down as if trying to trot. His neck was arched and his eyes wide in excitement. I thanked God I had spent the last three months training him to follow my whistle. Kavenlow had thought it was a vain, silly, woman thing to have a horse come when called. I wished he had been right.
    From above came the sound of Duncan shouting my name. The boat had slipped farther away despite the remaining sails having been