Princess Sophia was only a child when Napoleon conquered the island paradise ruled by her father. Raised in England and now twenty-one, she means to claim the throne that is rightfully hers and bring peace to her war-torn land. But an ambush by deadly enemies forces Sophia into hiding outside London. Disguising herself as a peasant girl until she can safely return, she meets Major Gabriel Knight, a wounded warrior whose brush with death has utterly changed him.
Heir to a great fortune, and a master swordsman, he has given up his worldly possessions and laid down his arms. Sophia is fascinated by his brooding magnetism, and Gabriel, lured by her beauty and healed by her touch, is drawn back inexorably toward the world of the living.
But when Sophia’s royal destiny is revealed, Gabriel knows he must take up his sword again, whatever the cost, to protect his princess from those who would destroy her. And as longing blossoms into passion, Gabriel discovers the one cause that is truly worth fighting for.
Safe Haven...
No, she mused as she lounged in his bathing tub, the secret of her identity must stand.
From what little Gabriel had told her of his experiences fighting those ghastly wars in India, the man had already been through hell. His valor had cost him enough of his blood. All he wanted now was to live in peace—the same boon she wanted to bring to her people.
She had already put him enough at risk just by hiding here at his lonely farmhouse.
Fortunately, Sophia was confident that it would not be long before her bodyguards reappeared to usher her back to her mission. She merely had to give them a bit more time to locate her and she’d be on her way, with Gabriel none the wiser about his peasant girl’s true royal birth.
Perhaps if another twenty-four hours passed and there was still no sign of her men, then she might consider asking him to help her reach the castle where the diplomats had been expecting her.
But only as a last resort. With all her heart, she vowed to keep him out of her family’s nightmare.
Just then, a hesitant knock sounded politely on the dressing-room door.
Rap, tap, tap.
“Sophia?”
At the sound of her host’s deep, silken voice, she lifted her head and looked over; his trusty nearness brought the hint of a smile to her lips. Unfamiliar longings for an even greater closeness with him rippled through her. “Yes, Major, what it is?”
“I, ah, got your bedroom ready and found you something to wear.”
“How kind.” He had to know that she desired him, she thought, biting her lip as she fought a girlish smile.
At supper, she had had such trouble trying to hide her attraction to him. He must be able to feel it—to see it in her eyes. A part of her wanted him to see it.
On the other side of the door, Gabriel cleared his throat as if he could hear her thoughts. “I have a shirt of mine for you, and a robe, as well, if you want it. I’ll hang them on the door for when you’re ready, all right?”
Sophia sat up straighter in the tub and answered all of a sudden: “Would you mind bringing them in?”
For a heartbeat, no sound returned.
She was motionless, having shocked herself with her scandalous invitation. It sounded like she must have shocked him, too.
But why must they go on denying their mutual attraction? Who were they fooling? He wanted her, she wanted him, and this might be the only chance she’d get before her guards returned. One precious night to shrug off the burden of her royal role and discover the pleasures other women knew.
Yes, in one impulsive moment, Sophia decided to reach out to him, to explore her first sensual experience with this man, if he was willing.
If the old troubles of her family were back, then her days on earth were probably numbered. It was too unfair to go to her grave never knowing the sweetness of a skillful lover’s touch. Gabriel Knight was beautiful in mind and body. More importantly, she trusted him. It had to be him—for with every suitor who had ever tried to court her, she was never sure if it was she herself that each beau wanted or her throne.
But Gabriel had no idea of her true status. When he looked at her, he saw a woman. That was all.
Besides, they were stuck here together anyway tonight, so why not make the best of it?
No one else need ever know.
