“I’d stake my life on it,” she bit out. “Otherwise she would probably have suggested you meet her in Geneva.”
A tiny nerve was hammering at the base of her throat. What flawless skin she had.
“Apparently the Princess doesn’t have a problem sending her best friend to fill in for her.”
“What are you insinuating?”
“Give me a little credit, Ms Gresham. You wouldn’t have arrived with some fairy tale about having climbed the Grand Teton unless you’d done your homework first.”
Hectic color stained her cheeks. “It sounds like you believe what the tabloids say about the thousands of female admirers who follow your every move and know everything down to the brand of shampoo you use. Give me a little credit for not being part of the adoring horde!”
She wheeled away from him and reached for her suitcase.
Stunned by her fiery reaction, Raoul blocked her path so she couldn’t escape down the hallway.
“Not so fast,” he cautioned, putting his hands on her shoulders so she couldn’t turn and run out the front door. His hands scorched where they held her.
Lee froze in place, remembering another conversation with Sophie.
What if he’s not a gentleman?
Then I need to find that out too. I’m sure you’ll know how to handle him. You weren’t the most brilliant girl in school for nothing.
Right now Lee wasn’t sure of anything. She’d been playing with fire and had let her temper get the best of her. As a result, he held her in his firm grasp, almost daring her to take another step.
With his powerful male body so close she could feel its warmth and smell the fresh scent of the soap he used; she was blinded to the issue at hand. This was so much worse than anything she’d imagined. Especially when she was guilty of almost everything he’d accused her of without realizing it.
“I’m afraid you and I have gotten off on the wrong foot,” he began in his deep compelling voice. His hands seemed to slide away from her upper arms with reluctance. “If it’s all right with you, I’d like to start over.”
Chastened by his conciliatory tone and her own guilt, she backed away from him. “I-it’s my fault,” she faltered. “I’ve lived around Sophie long enough to understand why you’re both suspicious of strangers. You had every right to think and say the things you did. Please tell me you forgive me, then I can leave feeling a little better.”
She heard his sharp intake of breath. “What if I don’t want you to go?”
Lee blinked in shock.
“You admit you’ve accomplished your errand and have little else to do but wait in an empty hotel room until tomorrow. If you would enjoy a good climb, then why not go up on the mountain with me and my friends in the morning? The guys will love it.”
Now what was he saying?
Something was terribly wrong here. She wasn’t supposed to wish that Raoul had said he would love it. The man certainly wasn’t the person Lee had thought he was a few minutes ago. He sounded…honorable.
It was more than apparent that Sophie didn’t know anything about the real Raoul. Swallowing hard, Lee said the first thing on her mind. “What about Sophie?”
He reached for the paper Lee had put on the table. “I’ll phone her right now. If she’s feeling better, I’ll call off the climb and fly to Geneva in the morning to see her. Since you’re her best friend, naturally I’ll take you back with me. Excuse me for a moment.”
In a few strides he reached the stairs, which he took three at a time. Lee noted he moved with the grace of a natural athlete. She let go of her suitcase and sank down on the nearest couch, closing her eyes as if to shut out her fears.
Somehow he’d turned things around, making it difficult for her to back out if she didn’t want him to think she’d lied about everything.
Worse, as soon as he talked to Sophie she would be so overjoyed to discover her plan was working she’d pretend to be ill for the entire weekend and encourage him to entertain Lee.
That meant she would be spending the next few days in Raoul’s company. It appeared that one of her teenage fantasies about being with him was going to come true. Except that in her dreams they’d been strictly alone, and there had been no princess…
Upstairs in the spacious loft, where there were four beds, Raoul spoke with Sophie while Philippe stood nearby. After telling her they’d make other plans once she had recovered, he clicked off the cellphone and stared at his friend.
“What’s going on?” Philippe demanded.
Raoul shook his head. “I wish I knew. Sophie says she’s feeling very sick.”
“Do you believe her?”
“I don’t know. Philippe-do you think it’s possible she’s as horrified over the marriage date being brought forward as I am?”
He shrugged his shoulders in typical Gallic fashion. “I suppose anything is possible. Is that why you invited her best friend to join us on the climb? To see if you could learn the truth from her?”
Raoul looked away, but not fast enough to fool his friend.
“I knew it,” Philippe cried. A wicked smile broke out on his face.
“What do you think you know?” he muttered in irritation.
“I saw the way you were looking at each other out by the car. Mon Dieu-with all that energy you two could have lit up a whole city!”
“You’re jumping to conclusions,” Raoul retorted, raking a hand through his hair in frustration.
“No, my old friend. I have eyes in my head. I know what I saw, what I felt. You’ve just discovered what it’s like to be struck by the coup de foudre. She’s what the Americans call a knockout.”
“You mean like Kellie?”
Philippe’s head reared back. The two men stared at each other. “Touché.”
Raoul didn’t need his buddy to tell him what he already knew. Between Lee’s lovely face and coloring, and the alluring shape of her body, he was forced to admit he felt an overwhelming attraction to her. But it was more than that.
While she’d stood her ground defying him, giving him as good as she got, something had happened to him on a much deeper level. Something he couldn’t explain. All he knew was that he couldn’t let her go just yet.
“Do me a favor?”
“Anything,” Philippe murmured.
“This close to the wedding I can’t afford for the paparazzi to catch me alone with Lee. Would you mind taking her to the Bergsteig Hof right now to get her outfitted for the climb?”
He grinned. “It will be my pleasure.”
“Don’t enjoy it too much.” The warning came out before Raoul realized how that sounded.
Philippe shook his head in amazement. “I never thought I’d see the day when you would say something like that to me. You’re not the same man I left an hour ago to go pick up the Princess.”
“I’m not sure what I am,” Raoul confessed. “Come on back with her when you’re through and we’ll eat here tonight before going to bed.”
“That sounds interesting.”
“She’ll stay downstairs in the master bedroom, of course.”
“Of course,” Philippe imitated him in cruel delight. “Have you informed her of all your plans?”
“I’ll do it now.”
“Do you think she has ever set foot on a mountain?”
“I guess we’ll find out tomorrow.”
If she’d lied to him, then she wasn’t the woman Raoul thought she was, and he’d be able to walk away from her without looking back. But, even as he reasoned that way, the idea that she might have been toying with him sent a feeling of desolation through him he couldn’t account for.
Tormented by thoughts that could get him into serious trouble, he headed downstairs with Philippe. As they made their way, the sound of voices drifted toward them. It appeared Yves and Roger were back from town and had become sidetracked by the latest arrival.
The eager expressions on their burnished faces revealed how enthralled they were with the charming blond Am
erican who spoke impeccable French.
Raoul had seen his climbing buddies in action too many times before and recognized the signs of infatuation. But, to his chagrin, this was one time when he didn’t find it amusing.
“It looks like everyone is acquainted.” He broke in on their conversation without the slightest compunction. All heads swerved in his direction but he only had interest in one unforgettable face.
“Lee? If you’d go with Philippe, he’ll take you to get outfitted for tomorrow. While you’re gone I’ll phone the Belle-Vue and cancel your reservation.”
“Oh, bu-”
“It’s all right,” he interrupted her. “I’d prefer you stay in the guest room here to avoid problems with the press. They’ll have heard there was a hotel reservation made in the Ramblet name and be lying in wait.”
He felt her hesitation before she murmured, “I’m sure you’re right.”
“It will be nice to fool them for a change. When you return from town we’ll eat, then turn in early.”
She looked as dazed as he felt before she got up from the couch to follow Philippe out of the room.
No one spoke until the back door closed. Yves turned to him. “What’s going on, Raoul?”
“I heard her tell you the Princess was too sick to come, so now you know as much as I do. Since Mademoiselle Gresham traveled all this distance to deliver the message, I thought the least I could do was invite her on the climb tomorrow.”
Roger looked dumbfounded. “She wants to come?”
“Let’s put it this way. She didn’t refuse.”
The astonishment on their faces was so comical Raoul would have been amused if these had been other circumstances. But the fact that she hadn’t backed out yet raised more troubling questions than it answered.
It didn’t help that his pulse raced every time he thought of being in her company for the next few days.
“Excuse me while I tell Greta there’ll be five of us eating in tonight.”
CHAPTER FOUR
L EE had made other climbs besides the Grand Teton with her father in the Colorado Rockies. She knew what equipment was necessary.
As soon as she and Philippe entered the sporting goods store she proceeded to find the warm clothing and sunglasses she would need. Before her companion could speak for her, she told the older man behind the counter she wanted mountaineering boots with a good profile for crampons.
It didn’t take long to be outfitted with the right helmet and harness. Throwing in a pick ax and rucksack with Thermos, she was ready to check out and pulled the credit card from her wallet.
Philippe covered her hand with his, signaling that she should put it away. “This goes on the Mertier account,” he murmured to the other man who nodded without asking questions. Obviously the staff here could be counted on for their discretion, a highly prized commodity for royals like Raoul.
But Lee wasn’t a person who expected to be taken care of. Her conscience wouldn’t allow her to let the Prince foot the bill for everything.
“This equipment is for me,” she asserted, removing her hand from beneath his to give the clerk the credit card. “I’ll pay for it.”
She’d always paid her way with Sophie, and wasn’t about to take advantage of Raoul’s generosity now. In fact, she’d been having second thoughts about joining him on the climb ever since he’d extended the invitation.
Thanks to Philippe, the business about who would pay for her equipment had served as a wakeup call. She’d be insane to have anything more to do with Raoul!
Unfortunately now was not the time to make a scene by declaring that she’d changed her mind. The only thing to do was wait until she got back to the chalet to inform Raoul. On her way to the train station, she’d return all the equipment.
During their drive back, Philippe remained silent. In fact from the moment he’d learned she was a friend of Sophie’s his behavior had become more reserved. As they drove around the back of the chalet she turned toward him, anxious to say what was on her mind.
“Philippe? Would you answer a question for me?”
He shut off the motor before glancing at her. “If I can.”
“I get the feeling tomorrow’s climb has been ruined for you.”
“Not at all!” he came back with surprising force.
“Be honest-how many times has Raoul invited a woman along?”
He pursed his lips. “This will be the first.”
“I thought so. And he did it without consulting the rest of you. Look-Sophie and I may be close, but that doesn’t place him under any special obligation to me. Since you and I both know this is the last thing he wants, perhaps you could suggest a good way I can get out of it and just go home? I’ll return all these things en route to the station.” Sophie wouldn’t thank her, but Lee couldn’t worry about that now.
“You don’t want to come with us?”
“That’s not the point!” she retorted, before she realized the mistake she’d made. Heat scorched her cheeks. “I mean- Oh!”
Someone had opened the passenger door where she’d been resting. If two familiar male hands hadn’t caught her arms from behind she would have fallen out.
Raoul helped her to her feet. The heat from the contact of his skin through her sweater distracted her so much she forgot what she was going to say. This time when their gazes collided the impact of those blue eyes was even more startling than before.
“I’m glad you’re back. Dinner’s waiting. Come. I’ll show you to your room first so you can freshen up.”
“Thank you.” She followed him inside.
Maybe this weakness she felt around him was the result of an empty stomach. This morning she’d awakened without an appetite. Knowing what Sophie expected of her, Lee had only been able to get down about half a sandwich at one of the train stops. She still wasn’t hungry.
He showed her to a bedroom off the hallway which kept the rustic flavor of the chalet. “The dining room is through the doors you saw in the front room. A hearty meal is what everyone needs before our climb in the morning.”
His eyes were too alive as they wandered over her. She was too aware of him.
Panic-stricken she said, “If you don’t mind, I’m afraid I couldn’t eat anything.”
His brows furrowed. “What’s wrong?”
“I think maybe I’ve come down with the same thing as Sophie. Bed is the only thing that sounds good.”
She could tell he didn’t know what to believe, but it no longer mattered if he thought she was lying through her teeth about everything. The sooner she got away from him, the better.
“I’ll send Greta with a cup of tea.”
“Please don’t bother your staff. I couldn’t tolerate anything right now.”
“If you’re that sick, let me at least help you to the bed.”
“No-” she cried. “I’ll be fine. Please go ahead without me.” She closed the door while he still stood there, eyeing her with a mixture of concern and something else she couldn’t decipher.
Dear God. The guilt.
Deep down she knew she mustn’t go with him tomorrow. If she did, it meant her desire to be with him was stronger than her conscience. That good old conscience which was telling her to get away from him and stay away! Where had it been when she’d agreed to help her friend with this wild idea?
Though Sophie and Raoul had led separate lives up to this point, they’d been raised to do their duty. No matter how much they might want to go against their parents’ wishes, neither of them had acted on those wants, otherwise there wouldn’t have been a formal engagement earlier this year.
After coming to Zermatt to speak to Raoul, Lee was convinced he was a man of honor who would follow through and marry Sophie. As for Sophie, she might be in love with Luciano now, but Lee was equally convinced that, in the end, her friend would submit to the inevitable and become Raoul’s wife.
And proceed to fall in love with him.
Lee groaned in pain as she fell across
the bed. That was what was tearing her up inside. The knowledge that Sophie had the right to touch Raoul, to get to know him and love him.
Heavens-he was going to be her best friend’s husband in eight weeks, and all Lee could think about was how it would feel to lie in his arms!
That was because she’d fantasized about him too much at boarding school. When she really thought about it, she realized that her relationship with Sophie had always included Raoul somewhere in the background.
He’d been lurking in Lee’s psyche all these years and had become far too familiar to her. Her mistake was letting Sophie talk her into this ridiculous plan. Meeting him in person had brought him to heart-throbbing life.
Don’t blame Sophie for this, Lee Gresham. You might have wanted to help your friend, but the truth is you wanted to meet the Prince and this was your chance. You’re a wicked girl.
More than ever Lee realized she’d barely been functioning since she’d lost her parents and fiancé. Lee hadn’t felt really alive until a few hours ago when she’d first laid eyes on Raoul. Perhaps some professional counseling was in order to help her come to terms with the past?
One thing was certain. It was vital she leave Switzerland right away so Sophie wouldn’t be able to include her in their wedding plans. The thought of watching them exchange vows in the cathedral with the whole country looking on was anathema to her.
What she needed to do was go back to Jackson and get a life. With the help of her father’s attorney she’d retained the small house her family had once lived in. It was rented at the moment, but she could rent something else until it became vacant. Then she’d look for a job.
Tomorrow she’d return to Nyon and tender her resignation to Madame Simoness. With only a handful of girls staying there over the summer, the headmistress could find someone else to cover Lee’s duties until a permanent replacement was found.
With that settled in her mind, she took a quick shower and prepared for bed. No sooner had she climbed under the covers than she heard a knock on the door.
“Lee? May I come in?”
At the sound of Raoul’s voice she started to tremble. “Yes-” she called out, before sitting up a little and pulling the eiderdown quilt to her chin. He entered the room carrying a mug of tea and crackers which he put on the table by her bed.
His Majesty's Marriage Page 3
