by Carlyn Cade
She felt a light touch on her elbow. The prince was at her side.
He bent down toward her and whispered in her ear. “How do you like my goddess here?”
Instant desire raced through her at the sound of his voice. “She…looks…so familiar,” she sputtered.
“So you caught the resemblance, huh?”
“Is it...”
“You? That was my intention. The design came to me that night after our dinner together.” A grin appeared on his face. “I thought with your beauty, you should be dripping with diamonds.”
“But what if someone recognizes this as me?” she asked.
The prince laughed. “Now wouldn’t we be in for some juicy gossip!” His eyes met hers and stayed focused there. “This imitation of you cannot begin to compare with the real thing… you standing there live and in full red Technicolor.”
Stacia could feel herself blushing. Would her face get as red as the gown she was wearing? At any rate, she really was a big red blob now, and that wasn’t exactly the effect she’d been trying for – in fact, it was nowhere near it. With her luck, she’d probably break out in hives at any second.
“Come on,” the prince said, still chuckling, “I’ll introduce you around.” He held out his arm to her, and she placed her hand there. “By the way, Stacia,” he whispered in her ear, “you took my breath away when you walked in tonight.”
She looked up at him and smiled. “Not too much red?”
He shook his head. “I’ve decided red is my new favorite color, but make sure you don’t stand too close to my ice girl over there, or you’ll melt her on the spot,” he said, speaking low enough so that only she could hear him.
She laughed as they began to circulate the room, where she was introduced to many rich and powerful people she’d heard about, and others she hadn’t. Everyone was generous with their compliments about her “stunning beauty” and what a “great actress” she was. Some also commented that they couldn’t wait to see her next movie, London Affair, since they’d “enjoyed the original” so much. No one made any reference to the ice statue being her.
“There’s someone else I want you to meet,” Clay said.
He guided her around a corner where she saw a small entourage gathered around a woman she immediately recognized.
“Hello, Kate,” Clay said as he gave her a hug. “I’m glad you could make it. This is Stacia Saunders, the American actress.”
“How nice to meet you, Stacia,” the princess said. “I’m anxious to see your new movie.”
Stacia felt tongue-tied, but she managed to collect her poise. “Thank you,” she replied.
“I’m sorry William couldn’t come, but he said to tell you, he’s up for a polo match anytime you are.” She smiled at Clay.
“Is next week too soon?”
The princess laughed. “I’ll relay the message. Your ice sculptures are wonderful, Clay. I particularly like the carving of the woman in the red dress.” She gave Stacia a meaningful glance.
A member of her entourage stepped up beside her and said something in a low, undistinguishable voice.
“Stacia, it was lovely to meet you. Clay, I hope I see you both soon,” Kate said as her security team encircled her once more as they all hurriedly left the room.
Stacia was stunned. “She’s amazing, Clay. So gorgeous and…” She thought about the word she was searching for and then it came to her. “Royal,” she finished. “I think she was born to be a princess, and someday, even a queen.”
“To know Kate is to love her,” he said and led Stacia away from the crowd. He managed to find a little space where they could be alone.
“I wish we could have talked to her more.”
“That’s the down side of security. Sometimes they sense something isn’t quite right and you have to leave before a conversation can be finished.”
“It sounds like you’ve had the same experience.”
“At times,” he said. “Tonight there is security everywhere because of the jewels displayed here. Tucked in with the jewels that need protection is another security team watching out for me. My parents insist on it, and I have learned to listen to their instincts. Fortunately, I can roam the world freely most of the time, because no one recognizes me. I don’t need disguises like you do.”
“That’s why I live such a low-profile life,” Stacia said. “It’s easier that way. I have my brother, and since he’s a detective, he goes with me if I need protection. Anyway, I was wondering, what is the purpose of Ice-On-Ice? Will it benefit some charity?”
“Not this time. January is Harrods’s annual sale. That sale, plus the added revenue because of the sale of the diamonds from this evening’s venture, will make it a very profitable month. As I told you before, my father is on the board of directors and has stock in Harrods, and so I agreed to help out a little this evening. And see what my reward is? I have a glamorous Hollywood actress as my date. Life doesn’t get better than this. I have beauty in my work and beauty at my side.”
Stacia’s heart leaped. She’d heard many “lines” during her years of dating and her Hollywood experiences. Most of them were aimed at getting her to bed, but this was the first time she’d ever believed what a guy was saying to her. And she believed Clay completely, every word. “You know, you really are a Prince Charming, with the accent on the word charming,” she said.
“You’re pretty charming yourself, Stacia.” He scanned the crowded room and took her hand. “And now, I believe we can safely steal out of here and into the night for whatever waits there for us. The evening seems to have been a success.” He nodded his head toward a group of people across the room. “Look over there at Harrods’s people discretely writing up sales orders. I wonder who will be the lucky one to end up with your diamond necklace.”
♥♥
When they were back at Stacia’s hotel and seated at The Dorchester’s Grill Room restaurant, Stacia yawned. “Sorry,” she said. “I guess my jet lag’s beginning to set in.”
“Are you okay, or would you like to leave?”
She shook her head. Tired as she was, she realized that more than food, she wanted to focus on the prince’s brown eyes and have them looking back at her. They had such depth, such power, such a glow of mysticism that she felt as if whatever he’d ask, she’d do. Anything that would make this night, this moment, last for eternity. She didn’t want to leave. “I’m fine,” she said.
“If you’re too tired, we can come back again tomorrow,” he suggested. “That is, if you’re free.”
Before she could speak her answer out loud, the waiter arrived with menus and crystal water-filled goblets. “What can I get you to drink?” he asked.
“A bottle of vintage wine,” the prince said. “The older, the better.”
“Yes, sir,” the waiter replied and left.
Clay turned his concentration back to Stacia. “So how long will you be here?”
“How long do you want me to stay?”
He was silent, then finally spoke. “I think you have to answer my question. You probably aren’t prepared for my answer to yours.”
She looked at him and promptly got lost in his eyes. She could see and feel many emotions there. She held her breath, not wanting to break the connection. Then she exhaled slowly and quietly, her emotions volleying back and forth inside her, causing flames of desire to circulate through her, until a fire burned deep within that she never wanted to put out. Still, she would not look away. Clay reached for her hand and caressed it, making tiny circles with his thumb in the center of her palm. Each circle stroked the fire even more.
He finally broke the silence. “I know we have to take this slow, but that’s not easy with you being so incredibly beautiful. Each second I get to know you more, I realize you’re as beautiful inside as you are out, which is a wonderful gift to offer, except I don’t even know if you are offering it. I haven’t felt like this with anyone before. I don’t know how you feel, or what kind of relationship, if a
ny, you want with me. I keep remembering how you said we were oceans apart, and whenever I think about those words, I feel like I’m being doused with some of that frigid ocean water you spoke of. Can you help me, here? I think perhaps I’m drowning.” He let go of her hand and leaned back in his chair.
Realty struck like lightning, and Stacia sighed. She’d been so busy gazing at Clay that she’d zoned out the waiter serving their drinks. Evidently he didn’t want to disturb them because an open bottle of wine sat in an ice-filled bucket on their table. A crystal-crested wine glass stood at each of their place settings. She fingered hers, and Clay reached for the bottle and poured the red liquid into their wine glasses.
She didn’t know if he would even like her answer. “I want to be completely honest with you. I’ve never met anyone like you either, and I do want to get to know you better. And I don’t want you to drown. Everything you say or do is wonderful. You’re caring and compassionate. There isn’t one thing I could say about you that was bad. And I am very attracted to you…”
“But…?”
“Yes, there are several of those. When we first met, I told you my career was the most important thing in my life right now. I’m getting a huge break being in London Affair. As much as I don’t want to, I have to put my career first, and I can’t begin a relationship under those conditions. It wouldn’t be fair to you. Another but is I still feel we really are oceans apart in our lives. How could I ever fit into yours?”
“That’s easy. Look at Kate and Princess Di. If they could do it, so can you. Besides you’re beautiful. You’re smart. You’re already a celebrity, and you have poise, personality and charm. What else is there to want?”
“But you were born into your kind of life. It was bred into you. And I’m not princess material like Kate.”
“You do have what she has, if you choose to accept it. You could have a man who would always have your back and stand beside you at the same time.”
“Clay, we’re getting way ahead of ourselves. We have a lot of time to get acquainted, and we could have a lot of fun doing it. Can’t we just enjoy being with each other? I’m not ready to go home yet. I feel like we’ve just begun, but that decision is up to you.”
Clay gazed at her for a long moment before he released a soft sigh. “Have it your way – for now,” he said. Smiling slightly, he raised up his glass. “To London and to fun.”
CHAPTER SEVEN
…Two years later, the streets of London were once more filled with happy people. The war was over and flowers were blooming everywhere. Splashes of green appeared here and there, sprouting from the surviving trees.
Lily, fresh and clean, her long, brown hair curled and fastened with a bow at each side, was playing with a large Dalmatian in the center of a small living room. The worn rug on the floor and the sparse furnishings suggested not much money was available.
The door opened. Victoria appeared carrying a large paper bag. “Hello, you two,” she said. The dog ran to greet her. “Spotty, how are you doing?” Victoria leaned down and stroked the wiggling body and spoke to her sister, “How did you do in your arithmetic test today?”
Lily wrinkled her nose and shrugged. “He gives hard tests.”
“Oh, you’ll pass with a high grade like you always do,” Victoria said. She took off her coat, hung it up and headed for the kitchen. “Did you nap after school? Do you feel rested now?” A caring look crossed Victoria’s face as she tied her apron strings behind her.
“You worry too much.” Lily stood up and walked toward her sister with the dog at her side. “I’m not hungry.”
“I have your favorite dinner in here, including...” Victoria dug into the bag and pulled out a delicious dessert. “This! See, I even got you truffle.”
“Maybe just a little truffle would be okay,” Lily admitted.
Concerned, Victoria studied her sister’s face. She bent over and hugged her. “I think it’s time we take you to a doctor, Lily. He’ll help you, so you’ll be hungry again.”
♥♥
“Lily’s tired all the time, Dr. Fulton. She has no appetite, and I’m sure she’s lost weight.” Victoria glanced at her sister. “For the first time in a long time, we’re planning on going to Brighton Beach on holiday for a few days.”
Lily’s eyes sparkled. “We get to take a train too.”
“That sounds wonderful, Lily.” Mark Bennett, playing the role of Dr. Dean Fulton, smiled. “I’ll do my best to pep you up, so you’ll have a great time. But first, I need to steal a little blood from you. You have a lot, and I promise you won’t miss it. Okay?”
The doctor prepared Lily’s arm for the test and succeeded in withdrawing her blood without causing discomfort or pain to her.
“You’re a good doctor. I didn’t feel a thing.” Lily stared at him with admiration.
Dr. Fulton grinned. “I have two boys at home about your age. I get lots of practice working on them, but they complain and yell loudly whenever the needle comes near them.” The doctor’s grin widened. “Maybe I need a sweet, little girl like you. There, you’re all finished.” He let go of Lily’s arm. “Suppose you go out to Nurse Margaret, and she’ll give you a treat.”
“What’s wrong with her, doctor?” Victoria asked as soon as Lily was out of hearing range.
Dr. Fulton inserted the blood sample into the hemoglobin-reading machine and scowled as he read the results. “Her white blood count is up. I won’t know anything until we do more tests. For now, I’ll give you a prescription for some potent vitamins. That way you should be able to go on holiday. When you come back, call me immediately, and we’ll know then what we’re going to be fighting.”
“Make her well, please, doctor. I couldn’t stand to lose her, I just couldn’t. We only have each other.” Victoria fought to stop the tears that were filling her eyes.
“I’ll do my best, I promise you that. She’s a beautiful child. How long have you been in charge of her?”
“Since our parents were killed during the bombing in the war.”
“How have you managed to support the two of you?”
“The answer to that is, with love. She’s always been my whole life. My brother was in the R.A.F., and he was killed in a flying mission. Then, our parents. Now…” Victoria’s voice trailed off, and she swiped at her eyes. “Possibly Lily. I don’t know if I could take that.”
“I didn’t say anything about dying,” Dr. Fulton replied, his tone sympathetic, as he placed one hand on her shoulder and patted her in a comforting manner. “Let’s not plan on bad news. Let’s look for good.”
“It seems like I’ve spent my whole life crying.” Victoria took out a hankie to wipe her tears away. “Maybe that’s how it is for some people.”
“You’ll get your happiness, Victoria.” The doctor smiled warmly at her. “You must have some good memories stored inside you. Cling to those until some more new ones come along, and I predict your good new memories will begin with your train trip to the beach.”
“I’ll try...I really will. Our family doctor was killed in the same bombing as my parents. We haven’t needed to see a doctor until now. I’m glad it was you. Thank you for everything.” Victoria picked up Lily’s and her coats and walked into the waiting room, where her sister took her hand.
Back in his office, the doctor shook his head grimly…
♥♥
The next morning, Clay picked Stacia up at The Dorchester. He apologized for getting into such a deep conversation, when in reality, she was right they had only just begun.
His limo driver took them to the Fox and Anchor Restaurant “for a real British breakfast,” as Clay described it. He ordered the full house, which consisted of eight different items from sausage and bacon to black pudding. Stacia opted for tea, toast and jam. He also ordered two Buck’s Fizzes, which they both thoroughly enjoyed. After all, Stacia reasoned, what better way to kick-start the day than with orange juice and champagne?
“You have to taste this,” he kept
saying as he began to try each new menu item he’d ordered. “It’s excellent.”
Stacia sampled all the eight foods he offered her. She certainly wasn’t going to refuse him and miss all the intimate attention she was getting from being spoon fed. She found all the food unique and delicious, just the same as she found the man at the other end of the spoon.
After breakfast, he dismissed his driver, and Stacia and he begin to walk toward Charterhouse Street, which led into a tree-lined square, where buildings that had survived the bombings in the 1940's still stood. “Some of these buildings date back to the sixteenth century,” Clay said.
“Can we stop here?” Stacia asked. “Remember what we discussed before? I want to see if I can get into character.”
She turned around slowly in a complete circle and inhaled deeply, trying to draw in the sounds and smells of the area. She tried to visualize how London had been back in World War II during the bombing. Fire burning. Ashes smoldering. Some people chaotic, while others were dead or dying around them. And fear – fear another bomb might come any second and fear life would end.
Stacia closed her eyes and tried to fill her mind with the emotions of a woman in war-torn London. And it worked. She became Victoria. She could feel tears rushing to her eyes, and she began crying. Her parents and brother were gone, only she and her sister were left, orphans themselves, with an orphaned puppy. She could almost hear it whimpering...almost smell the burned ashes of her home.
“What’s wrong, Stacia? Why are you crying?” Clay’s voice broke through the decades.
She opened her eyes. Instead of war-torn London, it was a warm winter day. Though the trees were barren now, everything around her would be alive again, growing into leaves and blossoms in only a few short weeks. Even without the colors of spring, today’s London was beautiful and filled with hope, not bleakness and blackness as it was during the war.
