Christmas At Thorncliff Towers by Marina Myles Page B

talk about me. Don’t you love Karina? After all, both of you are Gypsies. And she’s so pretty.”
    Karina stroked Grace Ann’s hair.
    A moment later, Grace Ann gasped. “I just realized something. You’re the dark-haired princess in the fairy tale Constantin tells me!”
    “Fairy tale?” Karina repeated, confused.
    Grace Ann turned to Constantin. “You said it was partly true.”
    Constantin smiled at Karina. “Yes. She is my dark-haired princess.”
    Karina blushed.
    He kept his eyes on her. “I was out of my mind when I thought I lost Miss Petri in the snow.”
    Tears rimmed Karina’s eyes. She looked hopeful.
    “Oh, say you love her!” Grace Ann blurted.
    “I do. Very much.”
    Karina smiled, too, her tears flowing like a waterfall.
    Constantin reached out and squeezed her hand. “I’d die if I lost you.” He pulled her toward him and sealed his lips over hers. With the force of a tidal wave, he deepened the kiss as if there were no tomorrow. “I’m sorry,” he said against her petal-soft lips.
    “Sorry for what?” she asked.
    “For being so focused on being right, that I was wrong.”
    “Wrong?”
    “My beliefs about you and magic were wrong—and I should have trusted you all along.”
    “I would never use witchcraft for evil purposes.”
    “I know that, now.” He kissed her again, loving the way her lithe body fit his, perfectly. She hummed with fire and brimstone and passion—all the qualities Constantin had rebuked most of his life. But as the wind howled around the sanctuary of the wagon, he knew that being with someone so fiery would fulfill his life forever.
    “Constantin. Do you forgive me for what happened to Viktor?”
    “I do.”
    “This is the happiest day of my life,” Karina said.
    “It’s wonderful!” Grace Ann clapped her hands.
    Karina and Constantin clung to one another for a long time.
    Grace Ann cleared her throat. “I hate to interrupt, but Grandmamma must be looking for me. I was a bit naughty back at the manor. I drank a strange red liquid—”
    Karina pulled away from Constantin, cheeks flushed. “I found you frozen in the snow, my dear. I assumed you came looking for me, but when I picked you up, you didn’t look as though you drank anything.”
    “That’s funny.” The girl gave a frown. “I must have imagined it.”
    Constantin took her hand. “Karina found you close to the Gypsy camp, so she carried you here.”
    Grace Ann wiped her mouth then looked at the liquid on the back of her hand. Her eyes grew wide. “Gracious! What’s this?”
    Karina said quickly, “It’s welcome punch. Every visitor gets some.”
    Grace Ann ran her tongue over her teeth. “Mmm. Tastes like berries.”
    Furious clomps on the stairs made everyone jerk their heads to the rear of the wagon. Lord Winthrop entered the space, glowering like a vulture whose dinner had been snatched away at the last minute. “Stoica. I’m impatient, cold, and tired.” He eyed Grace Ann. “Good thing we found you, young Miss. You had no business leaving Thorncliff Towers in the first place. You’ll surely face punishment.”
    Grace Ann gave a little sniffle.
    Constantin’s body quaked with anger. Why did Winthrop have to be so cruel? He faced the earl valiantly. “The child had quite a scare, my lord. I think it best she stay here tonight.”
    “Very well.” Winthrop turned to leave. “I shall send someone for her on the morrow. Come along, Stoica.”
    “I’m not going back to Thorncliff Towers, my lord.”
    The earl stopped dead in his tracks. The tips of his ears flushed a deep red. “What did you say?” He whipped around.
    “My lord.” Constantin’s nose flared. “I’ve served you well. My brother, Viktor, served you before I. We have more than repaid his debt. I’m in love with Karina . . . Miss Petri. I want to be with her—and I want to return to my people.”
    “I say when your service with me is finished, Stoica. No one else!”
    The wagon door creaked open. In