The Princess and the Rogue Read Online Free

she stopped and put her hand to her mouth. She felt her heart pounding. There was only one person in these parts who had the wealth to live like this. The red countess! It had to be. But why? She was just a simple country girl. Why lavish all of this on her? Her thought was interrupted. They had arrived at a door and her escort was knocking. The door opened and she was guided inside.
    Waiting for her was a beautiful woman whom Scarlett judged to be in her forties. She wore a red velvet gown of exquisite taste and craftsmanship, bedecked with jewels. Her hair was black and straight, parted down the middle and her skin was white. An aquiline aristocratic nose was set off by high cheekbones and almond-shaped eyes that fixed Scarlett with a gaze of such intensity that it made her think of a hawk staring down its prey.
    Scarlett stopped short, suddenly very apprehensive.
    But the woman smiled. “Come in, my dear. Don’t be afraid.”
    Cautiously, Scarlett entered the room. “How did I come to be here? What is this place? Why am I dressed this way?” she said.
    “So many questions, my dear. All will be answered in good time. First, how you came to be here was that you came willingly after we found you in the village, wandering from stall to stall on market day. This place is my private residence, and I am a loyal subject of King Robert. That is all you need to know for now.”
    Scarlett was not reassured. “But Sister Bernice and Sister Patricia, they will wonder where I am. I must be on my way back to the convent, I have chores, meals to prepare, I…”
    Morgaine silenced her with a finger to Scarlett’s lips. “It is all arranged. The sisters have been informed of your whereabouts.” The lie poured smoothly from Morgaine’s lips.
    Scarlett didn’t know if she believed that. And the story about her coming willingly—had she? All she could remember was the stall selling scents.
    To Scarlett it was all bewildering. Why on earth had she been brought here and treated so?
    “Now to business. Please sit.” The countess motioned her toward a divan, while a chair was brought over for Scarlett by a footman.
    “I know you have many questions and all will be answered, but first let me ask you a question. How would you like to be a princess?”
    “I don’t understand. I’m just a commoner, an orphan. I can never be royalty,” said Scarlett.
    “But you can be. Let me explain,” said the countess. “Juliet Greystone is King Robert’s daughter. She looks a lot like you. In fact, you could pass for twins. But this is the hard part. Princess Juliet is ill, and she must be taken to a place of healing where special doctors can attend to her. At the same time, all must appear normal in King Robert’s household. The people must not fear that something has happened to their beloved princess. For reasons you would not understand, it is important that appearances be maintained. You must trust me on this. It is for the good of the realm.”
    Scarlett heard the explanation, but didn’t fully understand. If the princess were sick, that was unfortunate, but people got sick all the time and needed doctors.
    “And so, until the princess recovers, the king needs someone to be the princess, to take over her day-to-day life as though nothing were amiss. Do you see?”
    Scarlett didn’t see, but she now understood what she was being asked to do. “You want me to take the princess’s place? To be her?”
    “Yes,” said Morgaine. “No one will know except a few close to the high minister. He will be the one to guide you in this mission.”
    “But the sisters at St. Agnes—they need me. I can’t leave them,” Scarlett protested.
    “The sisters will be provided for, if you perform this task that your king has asked you to do.” Morgaine cocked her head and narrowed her eyes as she delivered this last bit of explanation, which to Scarlett sounded like a command.
    The full implication sank in. What amounted to the only family she