“Did he use protection?”
She gasped at the bluntness of her mother’s question. They had always enjoyed a close relationship but never conversations like this. Lifting a trembling hand to her forehead, she found it impossible to form the words to reply.
“Very well. Your silence has said it all. When the king and I heard about your situation, we took this possibility into consideration. We know that for all your independence, you are naïve when it comes to matters of men and sex and this man has taken advantage of you. Mr. Lucas will be invited to fly back with you to be our guest at the palace so we can sort this matter out.”
“Mummy, he won’t accept. You can’t embarrass me in this way.”
“Don’t interrupt. He will stay until the test can be done to find out whether you are pregnant or not. If you are, we will then discuss the next step.
“Meanwhile, the press office will issue a statement to the international
media to explain that Mr. Lucas is a friend of the royal family and you stayed with him in that capacity. Do you understand?”
Lara had never known her mother to be so tough. Her parents, and probably their close advisors at the palace, had worked it all out. What would Jack say? That it was all a lie? And he’d be right, she thought dismally. He knew she couldn’t be pregnant because he’d made sure of that.
What if he refused to come with her? She dreaded to think what might happen. Between the palace and the police, they could make things very difficult for him and he had to go on earning a living, not be placed in jail for something he hadn’t done. Besides, her family would probably pay him handsomely if he didn’t cause any trouble.
“Yes, I understand,” she replied, her manner subdued as she made her decision to keep quiet.
Her mother’s voice softened. “Lara, don’t worry. I’m sure everything will be all right. We are so looking forward to you coming home and we will make Mr. Lucas welcome.”
They finished the strange conversation and she sat in a nearby chair, her legs trembling. She had done the most terrible thing to Jack but perhaps he would forgive her. He might never find out what was suspected—that she might be having his baby, and he might even enjoy being a privileged guest of the Challoner royal family. After all, it would make a change from fishing.
~ * ~
Jack climbed the few stairs into the cabin of the private jet. His luggage had already been transferred from the light aircraft that had flown him from Port Margaret earlier that day. He had been rushed through a customs clearance, in the company of two government officials, and was now on his way to Challoner in Northern Europe.
Nodding to the pretty female flight attendant, he made his way along the aisle of the luxurious cabin.
Hmm, nice
.
Almost as good as my plane.
Lara faced away from him seated in one of the small number of wide, beige-colored leather seats. He passed his jacket and carryon bag to the attendant and took the seat opposite her.
Now, this should be interesting.
“Good afternoon, princess,” he said politely.
Her eyes were huge and very green as she stared at him. He looked for any sign of guilt. Yes, it was there. She instantly averted her face and he could only imagine it was a blush of embarrassment that touched her cheeks.
She was even more beautiful than he remembered, her hair in an elegant chignon and light make-up emphasizing the creamy texture of her skin and the softness of her lips. She wore a matching jacket and skirt in pale apple green with her slender legs clad in fine silk stockings and on her feet were elegant black court shoes. How well he knew those beautiful feet. He could feel them now, her skin like silk beneath his fingers as he caressed them. He grew hard thinking about it. Perhaps he had a foot fetish? It was definitely turning him on, or was it just seeing her again?
She leaned toward the window as if to hide from him
.
Yeah, you’ve got a lot to answer for, Your Royal Highness.
He raised a quizzical eyebrow. Surely, she wasn’t going to subject him to the silent treatment for the next twenty-four hours?
“What’s wrong? Did your media advisors gag you?” His voice was sharper than he intended.
She looked at him then. “Hello Jack. I’m so glad you could get here. I hope you’ll enjoy your holiday with us.”
“Oh, the lady doth speak.”
She smiled but Jack could see she was nervous. Her hands were clasped tightly in her lap and her body radiated tension. He studied her face. She was pale and strained—unsure.
She doesn’t know what I’ve been told
.
Well, let’s string it along a little.
“I appreciate the opportunity,” he said pleasantly.
“It’s good that you could get away from your work. Did your employer mind you having a break?”
“No. I think he was pleased to see the back of me for a while.”
“So, you won’t lose your job, or anything?”
“Absolutely not. I’m important to the company.” He made a big thing of fastening his seatbelt, turning away so he could hide his grin. “It’s a long trip but I guess you’re used to traveling,” he continued.
“Have you flown on long journeys before?”
Jack almost choked. Had he ever. There had been times when he had done nothing else but spend time in planes flying to and from the Asian countries. “Yes, a few times.”
“There’s a bedroom with a double bed in the back of the plane.”
He watched in delight as she positively wriggled with embarrassment as soon as she had made the unthinking statement. He made no comment, deciding to let her suffer a little longer.
“And there’s a shower,” she added, as if to try and take his mind off the double bed.
No way, princess.
“That’s great.”
“Did either of my parents speak to you, about coming on holiday, I mean?”
Yes, wriggle away, Lara. I’ve got you hooked on the end of my fishing line, gorgeous
. “You’re referring to the king and queen, of course. No, it was one of your companions from the palace.”
“Oh. I know my parents are looking forward to meeting you.”
He looked around making sure the two attendants weren’t close to them, and leaned toward her. He said in a low voice, “Let’s cut the crap, Lara. I know exactly what you told your parents.”
“I don’t know what you mean.” Her eyes widened. He had to give it to her; she was the epitome of an innocent ingénue.
He let ten long seconds tick by before saying, “I understand you could be having my baby.”
Five
Lara gasped. He knew. How humiliating. How embarrassing. She took a deep, controlling breath aware she had to face the situation but, what must Jack think of her.
Oh hell
.
“I don't know what to say.” She needed more time to sort out her thoughts. Besides, there was nowhere to run.
“You could start by telling me why you said anything about our…our being intimate.”
Good. She wasn't the only one grappling for words or was his hesitation deliberate? She couldn't tell.
“I thought we had agreed to keep that information to ourselves,” Jack added, with a twist of his mouth.
“My mother guessed.”
“She guessed? You must have given something away.”
The inquisition was on, well and truly. She looked along the aisle for one of the attendants. Surely they must be near to the flight leaving, for heaven’s sake.
“I…I actually didn’t say anything, Jack, except that you had behaved like a gentleman.”
“Huh. Such a gentleman that I seduced you and made you pregnant.”
He wasn’t taking this well and who could blame him? Being accused of making a baby with a royal princess, then to be literally forced to accompany her to Challoner to face the music.
“Excuse me, Your Royal Highness. Mr. Lucas.”
Thank goodness
. They were being interrupted at last. She concentrated on what the flight attendant relayed about the safety features of the aircraft, even though she had heard it many times before.
“Mr. Lucas.” The attendant turned to Jack and gave him a flashing smile. “For your information, we have a satellite phone, a fax and a computer on board should you wish to make contact with your business.”
“He won’t require them.” She could have bitten out her tongue as soon as she’d said the thoughtless words, which had drawn an enigmatic look from Jack.
“And we have a well-equipped gymnasium. There are showers and toilets at the rear of the plane and when you are ready to sleep, we have a comfortable bed for you.”
“Thank you. A double bed?”
The attendant blushed under Jack’s teasing manner and Lara could have hit him.
“I’m afraid not, sir. The main bedroom is for Her Highness but we will ensure you are very comfortable.”
“I’m sure you will.”
Lara pressed her lips together. He was flirting with the attendant. How dare he? She turned to look out of the window as the plane began to taxi toward the main runway.
A touch on her knee made her jump. “We haven’t finished this conversation by a long shot,” he said, settling into his chair as the jet began its ascent.
When the seat belt sign had been turned off, she remained seated not quite sure what to say next to the handsome and relaxed man in front of her. He was casually dressed in a short-sleeved blue and white checked shirt and clean, but very old, jeans with a tear across one knee. On his feet were navy sneakers and as she watched, he bent forward and removed them revealing one navy and one black sock.
“You’re wearing odd socks,” she couldn’t help remarking.
He grinned. “So I am. That’s what comes of having to leave home in a hurry. Does it bother you?”
“No.”
“Are you going to stay dressed in your Barbie doll outfit for the whole of the flight?”
She sucked in a furious breath. She was sure he was being deliberately offensive first by openly flirting with the attendant and now, restarting his attack on her.
“I will change shortly,” she replied, knowing she sounded prim. She politely refused the champagne the attendant now offered, noting Jack settled for a beer.
“Let’s get back to sorting out our relationship, Lara. We need to get the story straight before meeting your parents.”
She returned his intense stare. He was right, of course. For both their sakes, they couldn’t afford any more slip-ups and she did owe him a proper explanation.
Gripping the arms of the chair, she began, “I was hesitant in talking about you and my mother suspected something had happened between us.”
“She was right.”
Lara waved a hand in the air to stop him interrupting. This was bad enough to explain as it was without his cryptic comments. “She asked if you had forced yourself on me.”
She could sense his sudden tension and hurriedly continued, “I said no but we had made love—become lovers. She asked if we’d used protection and…and I couldn’t bring myself to answer.”
She swallowed as Jack shifted in his seat.
“That’s when my mother told me you would be invited to the palace as a friend of the family and we would wait and see if I was pregnant. My mother and the king, and probably their advisors, have it all planned.”