MAID FOR A PRINCE: (Book 1) (Point St. Claire, where true love finds a way) (9 page)

“Everyone, meet Helene Masters. She’ll be staying with us for a couple of weeks.”

Each person nodded his or her greeting, many of them with questions—good and bad—shadowing their eyes. But someone was missing. Despite her being upset with him, he had expected Tahlia to be here. Then again, chances were that his sister was off hiding—as well as doing other things—in the stables.

Helene was looking at him strangely. “You’re scowling,” she said.

Ushering her up the rest of the steps, he made an excuse. “Thinking about the work piled up since I left.”

“Who’s this cute guy?” she asked, tilting her chin at his dog following a step behind.

“Ajax, say hello to Helene.”

The dog bounced up on his hind legs and jumped twice, yapping out a bark on each bounce. Helene laughed. “He’s smart.” Ajax sat dutifully again, peering up at his master, eager to please. “It’s obvious he adores you.”

Darius slid a palm over his dog’s ears. “We’re pretty tight.”

Regardless of the earlier incident with Otis, that would never change.

They moved through the Arabian-inspired entrance, which was guarded by two life-size marble lions and set beneath a roof of gilded onion domes that visitors said touched the sky.

“Almost a thousand years ago,” he explained, “when an earthquake leveled a sacred temple that stood on this site, an ancestor saw it as a sign. The gods had provided the perfect location to construct his palace.”

They passed through the main door with its gold embossed Vasily monogram and into the central vestibule. They were met with walls clad in marble, restored frescos, and ornamental moldings that drew the eye to the lofty, domed ceiling. Helene shrank back. Darius understood her reaction. Aside from boarding schools, he’d lived here all his life, and still there were times the grandeur astounded him.

As they headed off again, Darius caught a movement out the corner of his eye—a flash of a familiar flowing skirt. So his sister had come to greet him, after all. No doubt she’d hung back because of his current company, and now wasn’t the best time for introductions. In fact, although Tahlia and Helene would hit it off, he wanted his guest to settle in before they met.

He guided Helene through the central reception hall then up the wide marble staircase that led to a guest wing. As they navigated the wide hall, he said, “Later, I’ll give you a palace tour. For now, you should rest up in your apartments.”

He fanned open the soaring double doors. Edging inside, Helene gaped at the sumptuous private reception area that led to a music room, a dining room, a bedroom, and baths.

She sighed long and hard. “This…is…
amazing
.”

As he followed her in, his focus shifted to skim over a rear view of her curves. His palms shaped over the slope of her shoulders, trailing the arms that had clung to him this morning when they’d made love a final time in the villa. He soaked in her unique fresh-flower scent and murmured against her ear.

“
You’re
amazing.”

Laughing softly, she pressed back against him. His hands slid across and over her waist before his touch wove down toward her belly. His eyes drifted shut and he brushed his lips over her cheek.

“I wish I hang around,” he said. “But state business is calling.”

He rotated her around and, rubbing his palms up then down her back, he kissed her until they’d run out of air.

When their lips parted, her gaze was heavy and glazed. The tip of her tongue looped around his Adam’s apple. 

“You taste salty,” she said. “I like salt.”

“I’m pretty sure I’m salty all over.”

“I’m pretty sure state business can wait.”

Guess that meant she’d forgiven him.

But he really needed to go. He needed to speak with Tahlia.

“I’ll be back in a couple of hours.” He dropped a final kiss on her forehead and headed for the door. 

Outside the quarters, he practically collided with his quiet-as-a-cat sister.

Tahlia’s almond-shaped, sapphire-blue eyes sparkled with excitement. “I like the look of your friend, Darius. Do you think she’d mind if I went in and introduced myself?” 

Darius gave her a hug and planted a kiss on her brow. Tahlia might drive him nuts sometimes but he loved her to bits.

“Why don’t you let her settle in first?” he asked, heading down the hall.

“How long is she staying? What’s her name?”

“Helene Masters. And she’s staying a couple of weeks, maybe a little longer.”

“How did you meet her?” She looked at him sideways. “You were supposed to be on that island alone. Did an albatross drop her down from the sky?”

His lips twitched. Smart aleck.

“She’s American, isn’t she?” Tahlia went on. “I heard her speak. That accent is so sexy.”

He pulled up sharp. “
Tahlia
.”

“Well, it is.”

Shaking his head, he started off again. “I’ll explain it later.”

“Helene Masters could explain it all to me now.” She skipped to keep up with him.

“There’s plenty of time.” He added, “Everything doesn’t have to be so urgent.”

As always, she didn’t take the advice.

“I know you’ve had lots to think about this past week,” she said, walking alongside of him. “But did you give any more thought to Otis and me?”

He tried not to groan.
Here we go
. “Tahlia, I want to give you everything you need and deserve,” he said. “But you’re too young to get serious.”

“Why are you so stubborn about acknowledging him? Acknowledging us?” She stopped walking. “Why is it so hard to let me be who I am rather than who
you
want me to be?”

Because he didn’t know what to expect next. Or maybe he did, and that made him wish all the more that their father was still alive to deal with it. Tahlia knew about the birds and the bees. Darius was dead certain Otis did, too. If he “acknowledged” Otis, he might as well give Otis the nod to more than kisses snatched in shadows.

If his gate-keeping stifled Tahlia’s individuality, too bad.

She tossed him a parting remark. “You can’t keep us apart. Just like they couldn’t keep Uncle Galen from being with the person who he loved.”

Darius sighed. He’d have to deal with it at some point, just not now.

He had a state building downtown where his ministers and staff worked, but he preferred to attend to business from “home” when he could. When he entered his office, he found Yanni standing by a credenza. Glancing up from sorting papers, the Chief Aide greeted him with a smooth smile.

“Your Highness.”

“Thanks for taking care of Helene,” Darius said, moving behind his desk and taking a seat.

“As you asked, I spoke with the ship’s crew before and after the journey.” Yanni wandered closer. “They won’t spread tales about the extra passenger.”

“And Alexio, the island caretaker?”

“Of course, he also respects this office’s privacy.” Leaning in, Yanni dropped his voice. “That case is in your quarters. The safe is prepared. I’ll store the figurine away whenever you’re ready.”

A snapshot of the goddess sitting in that alcove at the villa flashed into Darius’s mind. After much deliberation, he’d felt good about his decision to leave her out in the open. But was he wrong to consider something similar now that he was home?

“Your Highness, are you all right?”

Darius gave himself a mental shake then sat straighter in his high-backed chair. “I’ll get back to you on the figurine. In the meantime, could you organize a press release? Say how much I’m looking forward to the upcoming coronation. We need to confirm a date.”

“The sooner the better. And, I wonder…” Yanni adjusted his glasses. “In a separate release, should we mention a temporary guest staying at the palace?”

“Why? Helene isn’t here on official business.” Darius drew a document from his inbox. “Her time spent here is a private matter.”

“Of course. Except, with the coronation looming, people might make assumptions.” Yanni brought a closed hand to his mouth to cover an awkward smile. “I only say this because when Ms. Masters mentioned an arrangement, I made an assumption myself.”

The penny dropped. “You thought we were in a serious relationship?”

Yanni shrugged. “A misunderstanding.”

Darius laughed, then sobered, then flicked his pen aside. He found his feet and, hands in pockets, came to stand at a floor-to-ceiling window. “If there were a misunderstanding…” If people thought Helene and he were looking toward the future together… “In this day and age, what real harm could come from it?” He turned back Yanni. “Hypothetically speaking, of course.”

Yanni seemed to hold his breath before slanting his head. “We know very little about her. She might have a criminal record, might have an undesirable past.”

“You did a search. Nothing untoward showed up.”

“Ms. Masters said you’d invited her to stay two weeks. Is there any reason you’d extend that time?”

Darius’s focus had drifted to a portrait of his father, which graced the opposite wall. He winged back his shoulders. “Not at this stage.”

Yanni’s expression changed again. “While you were away, your uncle sent communication. He wants to attend the coronation.”

Darius blinked. He couldn’t have heard right. “After all these years?”

“Perhaps he feels that with your parents passing you might appreciate his support on the day. He might also want you to permanently pardon his exile.”

Darius was floored. He had never imagined this day would come. “And his wife?”

“It’s said he goes everywhere with her.”

Gazing blindly out the window at a view of the sea, Darius absently twirled his father’s ring around his finger. Despite his uncle’s walking out and leaving a mess, Darius still cared for the man. At the prospect of seeing him again, Darius realized how much he’d missed him. He’d like to speak with Galen, and on one subject in particular.

“Yanni, you knew my uncle well. What kind of man would you say he is?”

Yanni’s eyebrows hitched. “To put it simply, Your Highness, I would say he is a man who has found his peace.”

After a quick freshen-up, Helene was back in the main room of her magnificent palace quarters. She was unzipping her knapsack, eager to read the rest of that story, when she heard a knock and her heart gave a skip. Guess Darius had gotten through his work sooner than expected.

But on opening the door, she found a beautiful young woman waiting. A flowing peach-colored skirt was perfect against her olive complexion. A stunning gold pendant graced her regal neck and a pair of thickly-fringed eyes twinkled with eagerness.

“I’m Tahlia, Darius’s sister.” She tipped her head, and a stream of dark satin hair fell over one slender shoulder. “May I come in?”

Taken aback, Helene introduced herself as she closed the door.

“Darius says you’re American,” Tahlia said, strolling in. “I want to live in New York one day. Have you been there? Or Hollywood? I’m dying to see Rodeo Drive.”

“Well, I can’t afford designer boutiques,” Helene said, amused. “But I sure like to window shop.”

“I went to school in Switzerland,” Tahlia said, lowering herself to sit among cushions scattered over an extravagant sofa. “And I’ve been to many places in Europe. It only makes me hungry for more.”

Helene liked Tahlia already. The princess was a girl after her own heart.

“Darius tells me you might go to the UK to study,” Helene said delicately.

“I’ve had enough of tutors and books for now.” She sat back. “Although I do love to read poetry. Keats, Byron…”

Helene suddenly remembered those old pages she’d found. “Stories, too?” she asked, heading for her knapsack.

“Only if they have a happy ending.”

Helene eased out the writing block then removed the yellowed sheets and presented them to Tahlia. “I found these at the villa, tucked away in a wardrobe and a desk.”

Pages in hand, Tahlia ran an interested gaze over the top sheet. “This was written many years ago.” She eyed the initials of the author. “D.D…” Her focus shot up. “Have you read it?”

“Only the first few pages.”

“Oh, then you should read it all first.”

“How about I keep these here and when you visit again, we can read it together,” she suggested, accepting the pages back.

“And afterward you can tell me how you came to be with my brother alone on that island.”

As Tahlia’s eyes twinkled with playful curiosity, Helene set the pages aside. “Darius should probably fill you in on that.”

Tahlia slumped. “My brother finds it difficult to talk to me about anything other than duty these days.”

Tahlia’s attention had slid to one of a dozen soaring arched windows. Was she thinking about the stables and that boy she’d fallen in love with? Helene wanted to ask about Otis. She wanted to help if she could, but she shouldn’t interfere. It wasn’t her place. 

“How long are you staying, Helene?”