He shook the snow from his hair. “Phew. What a welcome. It’s freezing out there.”
She flicked back the hood of her white fake fur coat. Her throat was strangely tight and her eyes stung with unshed tears. She was home. For all that she had thought about coming home and the duties this involved in the role of a royal princess, she had missed Challoner and particularly missed her family. Soon she would see them.
“I told you it was winter,” she managed to reply, swallowing the sudden emotion.
His dark head touched her blonde one for a moment and her heart began to pound. “Yes, but you didn’t tell me it was going to be this cold, princess,” he whispered. Was he going to kiss her? No. He was drawing away.
“Jack, hold me for a moment. I’m nervous,” she whispered back. Had she really said that aloud? She couldn’t believe it.
His arms instantly surrounded her and pulled her to his chest as his head rested on hers. “Why? Are your parents so intimidating?”
“No. But then I’ve never brought a lover home to meet them before.”
“I’m glad to hear it.”
She looked up at him, his sensual mouth so close. She needed him. Needed his strength and confidence but, mostly his physical presence.
He must have sensed it as his long fingers cupped her jaw and his tongue traced the soft fullness of her lips. His kiss, as his mouth moved over hers, was warm and firm. When he drew back, she was on fire from his touch.
“That will have to suffice for a while.” He smiled.
Too overcome to reply, she turned to look out the window. How could she have asked him to hold her? It was as if she lost control every time he came near. Perhaps he had cast a spell on her when they were on the island in the fairy tale cottage. It had been such a magical place, she would believe anything.
The snow had eased and she peered at the familiar countryside as the car made its stately way to the palace. The media hadn’t been informed of her arrival and she knew this was what her parents and the palace officials had wanted. She and Jack would be smuggled into the palace, surrounded by security guards and Jack’s strange visit would begin.
Thirty minutes later, the vehicle stopped in front of the Challoner palace. She greeted her aide, Rudolf Meinhart, and her maid, Greta, and introduced them to Jack. She tried to imagine the palace through his eyes. The massive doors that opened into a marble entrance hall, completely overpowering in its size. Ahead of them was a wide staircase leading to the upper floors. Everywhere the eye could see were long, daunting corridors with walls covered in tapestries and paintings of her ancestors.
“Rudolf will take you to your suite and make sure your luggage is delivered to you, Jack.” She stood a little away from him on the first landing of the stairway.
He stepped closer. “I’m impressed so far. Where is your suite?” he asked with a wicked grin.
She glanced at Rudolf who was standing discreetly nearby and put a finger to her lips in a silencing gesture. “I’ll meet you here at twelve o’clock and we’ll go into lunch together. If you need anything delivered, just pick up the phone in your suite.”
“I want you. Can I get you delivered by picking up the phone?”
She lowered her lashes but a faint smile played around her lips. She turned and, with Greta following, made her way to her rooms.
Two hours later Lara opened the door to leave her apartment. I am
really
nervous, she thought. What must this being doing to Jack? This poor, gorgeous man, whipped away from his old boat and smelly fish and about to dine with European royalty.
Oh help
.
He was waiting for her on the landing where she’d previously left him. Her eyes almost fell out of her head as she stared at the elegant man in front of her. Looking vital and refreshed, his black hair gleamed under the lights of the massive chandelier above his head. He wore a charcoal gray suit that surely must be tailor-made and a pale blue-toned shirt with a darker blue tie. He was magnificent.
She glanced at her blue-knitted suit and elegant shoes, realizing she and Jack were color coordinated.
“Smart suit,” she said, by way of greeting.
“And the same to you, princess.”
“Um, Jack, when I present you to the king and queen and my brother, you give a slight bow of your head. Okay?”
“Thanks. Rudolf has already filled me in on the protocols,” he said with a casual shrug. “Are you allowed to hold my arm as we walk down the stairs?”
She placed her hand into the crook of his arm, feeling the fine material and the steel of hard muscles beneath her fingers.
“I certainly am. Thank you, Mr. Lucas.”
~ * ~
Jack fidgeted with the knot of his tie. He knew he shouldn’t but he was bored. This informal luncheon, as Lara had called it, had been anything but, and at the end of almost three hours he was decidedly uncomfortable and yes, very bored.
But, I’ve been well behaved, he thought, allowing himself a small congratulatory smile as the attentive butler poured him another coffee.
I have been dutifully polite to King Johann and Queen Francesca and talked about nondescript topics with them and Lara’s brother, Crown Prince Carl
. Boring topics such as the weather and how different it was from Australia. Of course, it was bloody well different. Australia was thousands of miles away at the other end of the earth, and as far as he was concerned, it might just as well be on another planet compared to his present environment.
Earlier he had been greeted warmly by the king and queen, although he’d decided he had better not step out of line. He wondered if they had dungeons here and whether he could be in danger of being locked away for the rest of his life for daring to defile a royal princess. King Johann was a slight, elegant man with a serious, intelligent face. He was quieter than the queen, who appeared to be the diplomat, making sure Jack was warmly welcomed. He could see where Lara had inherited her beauty as in her early fifties, Queen Francesca was still a very lovely woman with a slender figure and noble bearing.
He looked across at Lara who sat opposite him, next to Carl. She was pale and her face was strained. In fact, he’d found it hard not to keep looking at her throughout the long lunch. He was bewitched by her beauty and gentle manner but he worried for her and couldn’t determine why. She should be fine returning to the loving arms of her family. However, he had been surprised at the cool greeting she had received from her parents. Perhaps they were different when there wasn’t a stranger present or perhaps they were mad at her for breaking ranks and daring to live her life as she wanted. He didn’t know, but he didn’t like what he saw. Lara shouldn’t be treated in this almost callous way.
He studied Carl, who was a good-looking man and at thirty-three, was the same age as him. But, for all of Carl’s handsome features, there was a sulky petulance in his manner and signs of a weak character in the lines around his mouth and chin.
Jack fidgeted again, moving restlessly in the velvet upright chair. The five of them were seated in what he understood was the small salon, except it was huge. The king and queen sat at either end of the magnificent dining table, which was laden with silverware with a low display of yellow roses as a centerpiece. Servants had hovered nearby to serve the three course meal and accompanying wines. This probably accounted for the stilted conversation, because there was no way this family was going to discuss anything of a personal nature in front of the staff.
Even so, he didn’t understand why the king and queen hadn’t questioned him about his background and businesses. They were definitely keeping something from Lara and…so was he. Frowning, he decided he would explain things to her as soon as he could. That, in fact, he wasn’t the poor fisherman she thought he was, but was wealthy—substantially wealthy, even by this family’s standards.
He noticed Lara refused a port with her coffee, as she had refused the wines during the meal. He had done the same, not because he wouldn’t have enjoyed them, but he wanted to have all his faculties on red alert if he had to deal with any awkward questions. Carl, on the other hand, had freely indulged and was now motioning to the butler to refill his port glass. His cheeks were flushed from the amount of alcohol he had consumed and his voice was becoming louder by the moment.
As the last servant departed, Carl turned to Queen Francesca. “Mummy, I’m flying to Monaco tomorrow for a few days.”
Francesca looked reproachfully at her son. “Not again, surely. You were only there last week.”
“Well, I don’t have any official engagements and I’m not required to attend the ball. Quite honestly, I’m sick of this freezing weather. I need to get away.”
“Seeing we have a guest staying with us, I would think you could stay and entertain him,” Johann said crisply.
Jack exchanged a glance with Lara who instantly lowered her eyes. He took a sip of his coffee.
Hmm, a family disagreement. Interesting
.
“Sir, Mr. Lucas is Lara’s guest, not mine. I’m sure he won’t mind if I disappear for a few days, would you, Jack?”
Yep. Drop me in it, why don’t you.
He decided he didn’t particularly like the Crown Prince.
Francesca hurriedly came to Jack’s rescue. “We will discuss this later, Carl. Mr. Lucas, would you like Lara to take you riding this afternoon if you’re not too jet-lagged? We have excellent horses and a superb indoor school.”
“Are you mad, Mother? Lara shouldn’t go riding in her condition.”
Following Carl’s outspoken statement, there was an embarrassing silence. Even Carl realized he had blundered but was too intoxicated to let it go. “Well, she shouldn’t. It’s no good avoiding the issue and pretending Jack is here for any other reason than the fact that Lara is having his baby.”
Lara turned on Carl, her color high as her eyes flashed with fury. “Shut up, Carl. You’re drunk.”
Jack decided it was time to defuse the situation. He turned to Francesca. “Actually, I don’t ride.”
“You don’t ride?” The voices of the king and queen and Carl were in unison as they stared at Jack.
“Unfortunately, no. But I’m good at fishing.”
There was another one of the silences and then Lara laughed, a delightful sound, her face alight with humor. You are the most gorgeous creature ever created, he thought as he grinned in response. By this time both the king and queen had seen the funny side and it was only Carl who looked sullen. Pushing back his chair in a violent gesture, he stormed from the room, which caused Lara to break into more peals of laughter.
“Mr. Lucas, I’m very sorry you’ve been embarrassed by my son,” Francesca said, bringing her laughter under control with an effort as she lightly touched Jack’s arm.
“Your Majesty, I’m not concerned,” he replied. “Perhaps without realizing it, the Crown Prince has broken the ice.”
Looking thoughtful, Francesca replied, “Perhaps he has.”
“Lara, why don’t you show Mr. Lucas around the palace this afternoon,” Johann suggested, effectively capturing his daughter’s attention.
Francesca nodded her head in agreement. “That’s a good idea. Then I’m sure you’ll both want an early night following that tiring journey.”
He glanced at Lara trying to gauge her response. It would seem her parents were comfortable with them spending their time together. Good. He hoped she felt the same way.
“You haven’t forgotten the palace ball is only two days away, have you, Lara?” Francesca’s tone was light as she rose from her chair, but Jack sensed an underlying warning in her voice.
Lara sighed. “No, I haven’t forgotten. I gather Michael’s arriving tomorrow, which is one of the reasons you wanted me home.”
Francesca turned to Jack, who had immediately stood as the king and queen prepared to leave. “Prince Michael is a distant relative, Mr. Lucas. He joins us at this time every year to attend the ball.” She hesitated and glanced at her husband standing beside her. Lowering her voice, she said, “Actually, we know the ball is just an excuse for Prince Michael to visit. He is really coming to ask for Lara’s hand in marriage—again.”