Read Online The Prince Who Loved Me (The Oxenburg Princes) by Karen Hawkins - Free Book Online

do as good of a job as he. He had much more knowledge of the people, how to pull them together, despite their independent spirit—but I would try, Tata. And I wouldn’t stop trying until I had improved their lives.”
    “Improve? You judge—”
    “I do not judge, but neither do I pretend all is well when it’s not. I am a realist, not a romantic as you seem to think. I love the Romany, true, but I know their shortcomings. I am not blind to their flaws. They can be far too quickly swayed by gold.”
    “Perhaps you see them clearly enough,” she admitted, her tone grudging. “But it does not change my mind. For now, the kaltso stays with me, around my neck, where your grandfather placed it.”
    “ Bozhy moj , what must I do?”
    She clutched his arm and leaned forward. “Marry a woman of good breeding, someone who will settle those restless ways of yours, and have sons to carry our family name.”
    “How do you know I’ll have sons? You only had a daughter.”
    She sniffed. “Aye, but she has produced four fine strapping sons. She has good, strong blood, she does. My blood.”
    Despite his vexation, he had to grin. “You take credit for far too much, Tata Natasha.”
    A twinkle lit her black eyes. “Perhaps.” She patted his arm and released him. “You must let me help you, Alexsey. Last year you were this close”—she held up her finger and thumb, with almost no space between them—“to making a proskchek a member of our family.”
    He stiffened. “I can’t believe you’d use such a word.”
    Tata waved a hand. “I say what I see.”
    “You know nothing. I spent a lovely few weeks in the company of a nubile young dancer—”
    “A proskchek .”
    “I never planned to make her a member of our family, and you know it. I had tired of her long before you even knew of her existence.”
    “Humph. I heard you were mad for her.”
    “I have never been mad for any woman.”
    Natasha’s gaze sharpened, a look of true curiosity crossing her face. “ Nyet?”
    “I think I am not cut of the same cloth as Father, who fell deeply in love at one glance.” He shrugged. “I do not have that capacity.”
    “Which is fortunate for all of us, considering the low company you keep,” she muttered.
    Alexsey raised a brow. “Stop consigning me to the devil for being a man.” He smiled at her. “If I could find a woman with your spirit, I would marry her today.”
    “Pah! Don’t try to charm me. I am immune to compliments.”
    He laughed and bent to kiss her cheek. “Then I won’t say another word. In fact— Ah! I see someone I’ve been waiting to speak with. If you will excuse me, Tata.”
    “Who is it?” She stood on her tiptoes. “Is she lovely? Tell me who she is and I’ll ask Sir Henry to introduce you.”
    “ Nyet. I have been waiting for Viscount Strathmoor. Though he is of good birth, even you would not wish me to marry him, for he is very short and has the devil of a temper. Now excuse me. And no more matchmaking, please. It is wearing.” He kissed her hand and then left, ignoring her frown as he made his way across the room to Strath.
    Alexsey had known the viscount for more than ten years. Strath’s sharp wit always made him laugh, and if there was one thing he could use right now, it was a laugh.
    Aware he was being surveyed from head to foot by every woman present as he crossed the room, Alexsey eyed them all back. They stared, measured, and—sadly for them—hoped. There were several beauties among them, but none possessed anything that tantalized him. His Roza would outshine them all.
    He’d liked that she was innocent and exotic at the same time, curved and welcoming. A man could sink into bed with such a woman and not rise for a week. He suspected she possessed the same innate natural passion as the Romany. Perhaps it was that which had drawn him to the beauty in the woods?
    “I cannot believe it.” Strathmoor stood before Alexsey, a glass in each hand. “All these beauties