The Princess and the Rogue Read Online Free Page A

had ever known would be taken care of if she would do this thing. How could she refuse? The king had commanded it.
    “Yes,” said Scarlett. “What must I do?”
    Morgaine smiled. “Why, you must learn to be a princess, of course.”

Chapter Four
     
     
    Outside Greystone Castle, two weeks later
     
    Juliet liked to ride. In fact, she fancied herself an expert horsewoman. Her father had forbidden her to ride alone, but he had been feeling poorly, which gave her a golden opportunity. As she frequently did when her father was present, she dressed in boy’s clothes and snuck out of her quarters, right under the watchful eye of Dame Frida, her nursemaid since birth and frequent chaperone, to steal her way to the stables. Once there, she commanded Johan, a stable boy, to saddle Flower, her favorite horse—and to tell no one lest he invoke her wrath. And just like that, she was off on Flower. The plan worked so well that she repeated the escape on a regular basis. She would feign tiredness late in the afternoon, retire to her quarters, and change clothing, only to sneak out moments later. She would return in time for the evening meal, with no one the wiser. What she did not see were watchful eyes following her every movement.
    At first she was not alarmed when approached by the four riders as she was on her way returning home. Sunset was coming and she wanted to be sure that her father did not notice her absence. As they came closer she began to be alarmed. Before she realized what rough-looking fellows they were, it was too late to run. They came straight for her and boxed her in before she even had a chance.
    “So,” said their leader, “a stable lad on a fine horse. It can’t be yours.”
    “It’s my horse,” she snorted. “Now get out of my way.” She was about to tell them who she was, then thought better of it.Such an admission would put an end to these adventures. She would be watched constantly after that, with no chance to do this again.
    “Oh, ho. It’s not a lad at all, but a young girl,” said the leader. “What are you doing out here alone, girl?”
    Juliet decided to say nothing.
    “What’s the penalty for horse stealing in these parts, lads?” asked the leader, twisting about in his saddle to survey his men.
    “Hanging, I’m sure,” said one of the men. “Or maybe, because she’s a girl, just a good whipping on her tender rump.”
    The eyes of the others lit up at that prospect. Underneath the page’s plain leggings and tunic they could see the curves of her womanly figure.
    “I’m sure she has a fine ass, men, and I know you’d love to see it duly thrashed, but we must be about our business.”
    Juliet saw him reach for something in his saddlebag. It looked like a hood. Before she could react, he’d slipped it over her head. There was a curious scent that she had never smelled before. Then her world went black.
     
    * * *
     
    Greystone Castle, that same day
     
    Scarlett arrived under cover of darkness, as if returning late from a ride in the country on her horse. She hardly knew anything about horses and had been terrified when the countess’s men had told her she’d have to ride one. It was the princess’s own horse. Scarlett did not ask how they had procured the animal.
    They had arrived to within sight of the town of Kingsgate and Greystone Castle that evening in a wagon, and the horse was brought forward on a lead. It was then that she was told that she’d have to ride it back to the castle. Up to that point, her experience with beasts of burden had been limited to leading the convent’s poor donkey about. Fortunately, the horse knew the way and when they released her at the edge of the woods, she merely hung on as Flower headed for her familiar stable. Unfortunately, the guard of the watch spotted her and she had some explaining to do to her housekeeper and servants.
    Her heart pounding, wondering if the deception would work, she stumbled through an explanation. “Oh, I