Secret Fire (29 page)

He glanced up at her only then, to remind her, “Looking for you.”

“I realize that now. But at the time, I gave up, deciding it was for the best that we didn’t see each other again. So I came home as soon as
Alek was old enough to travel. You have the right to know about him. I’m not denying that. And I would have written to you to tell you. But you showed up here so quickly. I was only just settled in, home only a month.”

“When I couldn’t find you here, I returned to Russia. And when I still couldn’t find you there, I came back here. I could think of nothing else to do. But you have had ample time to tell me since I arrived. I have called on you daily.”

“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.

V
ladimir 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 said 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.