by TG Haynes
‘What in heaven’s name is that?’ she asked.
‘It’s what Her Highness sits on to preside over the proceedings.’
‘She really does like to play the part, doesn’t she?’
‘To the hilt.’
‘No more “princess” for you after tonight, though,’ she reminded him.
‘I wouldn’t say that.’ He gave her an admiring look.
Nikki blushed at the compliment, but deep down was so touched by it she permitted him to steal a kiss.
Getting back to the task in hand, Matt positioned a series of hay bales around the outer rim of the fencing. When he was satisfied that there were enough to provide adequate seating for all of the guests, he stood back to admire his work, taking pleasure in a job well done. Nikki’s eyes wandered over to the hayrick in the corner. Matt read her intentions.
‘I’d love to,’ he said, ‘but I can’t. I’m pushed for time as it is and I did make the princess a promise.’
‘So? Break it.’
Matt looked extremely tempted, but declined. ‘And what would you think of me then, Miss Foster? I thought you’d like a man who keeps his promises.’
She pretended to be upset with him, but she wasn’t really. ‘You’re right.’
He brushed a hand through her hair. ‘Just think – in 24 hours’ time, we’ll be able to roll in all the hay we want, to our hearts’ content.’
The thought prompted her to beg another kiss from her prince. After obliging, he glanced at his watch and cursed, knowing that he was going to be pushed for time. ‘Right, I’ve got to go and help the boys in the kitchens.’
‘Can I watch?’
‘What? And spoil the surprise as to what canapés we’ll serve up?’
‘Not welcome in the kitchen, then, am I? That bodes well, Mr Darnley.’
‘Are you sure you’ll manage without me for a couple of hours?’ he joked.
She wrinkled her nose. ‘I’ll survive somehow.’
As he made his way off to the kitchen, Nikki pondered what to do to kill time. She’d tired of the company of the other guests and no longer wished to be embroiled in their silly sex games, so she decided to go for a walk along the beach and hoped she wouldn’t bump into anyone there.
Although the sun was past its zenith, the heat was still quite intense. Then she spotted a scuba mask lying on a towel – doubtless left by a guest for one of the servants to retrieve – and decided to take a cooling dip in the sparkling, crystal-blue water. She swam directly out from the beach for about 50 metres, until she found herself above a coral reef. She marvelled at the scene. Scores of fish calmly glided around in the underwater tropical paradise. Their colours were nothing like she had ever seen before and the sheer variety and number of different species took her breath away.
It wasn’t just the fish that Nikki found remarkable: other equally impressive creatures lived upon the reef. Crabs of every shape and size scurried hither and thither among the coral. Seahorses bobbed around in a regal fashion, as if they were kings of the reef and all that they surveyed. A shoal of tiny jellyfish drifted past serenely, lobsters lurked among the shadows, and shrimps bustled about their business, always in a hurry for some reason.
The anemones were no less spectacular. They were like beautiful underwater flowers that had just come into full bloom, rippling delicately in the water. Eager to see them in more detail, she took a few deep gulps of air and then dived down, holding her breath for as long as she could.
None of the animals seemed to mind her presence and, for a fleeting moment, she felt at one with the reef, as if she belonged there. It was a lovely feeling. As her breath began to run out, a shadow fell across her. Many of the fish that had happily been swimming around beneath her only seconds beforehand suddenly darted for cover, as did a lot of the reef’s other inhabitants. On looking up, Nikki found that a huge ray had cast the shadow. Flapping its fins majestically, it cut through the water with little effort, seemingly unaware of the effect that it was having upon the rest of the wildlife.
Although she was fairly certain that the ray was no danger to humans, Nikki nevertheless found its presence disconcerting and shot back up to the surface. Whether it was due to the ripples that she was creating she could not be sure, but, for some reason, the ray took an interest in her and circled around her a couple of times to investigate. She didn’t panic and remained perfectly still until the creature’s curiosity was satisfied.
When it finally drifted away, she swam back to the shoreline. Then she took one last look out upon the magical tropical ocean as she wrung the excess water out of her hair. The sun was beginning to set, yet it was still strong enough to dry her skin as she made her way back towards the palace.
While Nikki was walking along the beach, all of the other guests were preparing themselves for the auction, as was the host of the evening’s entertainment, Roxanna. The princess was in the process of deciding what to wear when there was a knock at her door. Though she was naked, she invited whoever it was to enter, thinking it must be a member of her staff. But it was the Earl who stepped into the room.
He closed the door behind him and admired the view. Feeling strangely uncomfortable in his presence, Roxanna grabbed a towel and wrapped it around herself.
The Earl tutted disappointedly. ‘How times have changed.’
‘It’s not times that change, Ashley, it’s people that change.’
He considered her comment before responding. ‘That’s very philosophical for a Saturday evening.’
‘I like deep, remember?’
‘Oh yes, I remember.’ Like a moth to a flame, the Earl found himself drawn towards her. Almost of its own accord, his hand reached out towards the knot on the towel.
Roxanna shook her head. ‘I don’t think so.’
He pretended to sulk. ‘You never used to be so coy.’
‘And you never used to be such a bastard,’ she retorted.
‘Touchy.’
‘What’s got into you these days?’
‘Unrequited love,’ the Earl confessed. ‘It’s a terrible thing.’
‘Don’t give me that,’ she snapped.
‘It’s true,’ he said. ‘I swear.’
‘Nikki?’
The Earl nodded.
‘Why don’t you leave the poor girl alone,’ Roxanna urged him.
‘I can’t,’ he replied.
‘You mean you won’t.’
The Earl’s eyes sparkled fiercely. ‘I have to have her.’
‘I won’t let you do it,’ the princess warned him.
‘What?’
‘Ruin her.’
‘I don’t see that you have a choice,’ he drawled.
‘My island, my rules,’ she stated, bluntly.
The Earl nodded. ‘True.’ He stood up as if to leave. ‘Except, you don’t always adhere to them yourself, do you?’
Roxanna sensed a trap. ‘What do you mean?’
‘Matt Darnley,’ the Earl said. ‘He never has to abide by your rules, from what I can see.’
‘Get out,’ she snapped.
The Earl bowed sarcastically and headed for the door, only to halt before reaching it. ‘Ah, I nearly forgot. There was something else I’ve been meaning to chat to you about. May I use your telephone?’
She stared at him blankly. ‘May I ask why?’
‘I just want to call my office and check the latest share price for Regal Lingerie. That is, if you still needed me to make that investment.’
Roxanna eyed him coldly. ‘That’s got nothing to do with what’s going on here.’
The Earl rounded on her. ‘On the contrary, it’s got everything to do with what’s going on here.’
‘I see. So if you don’t have Nikki, you won’t invest in my stores – is that what you’re saying?’
‘Now you’re talking hypothetically, because that’s not going to happen, is it?’ he said.
Roxanna bridled at his threat. ‘Nikki Foster is her own girl; she’ll make
her own decisions, and I am not going to sell her out just to satisfy you.’
‘You always did stick up for the underdog, didn’t you? I’d forgotten that.’
‘She deserves better,’ Roxanna said.
‘Looks like she’s found it in Matt,’ he replied.
The colour flared in Roxanna’s cheeks.
The Earl picked up on this. ‘Ah, so I’m not the only one who has feelings for the wrong person.’
‘I don’t know what you mean,’ she replied, her voice quivering. It was clear that she was flustered, though.
‘Of course you don’t,’ he responded sarcastically. ‘Nikki and Matt. A match made in heaven. Such a happy couple, and she’s going to win him at the auction tonight. Unless –’ he paused ‘– someone else was to outbid her. Who knows, it might even make Matt change his mind? He might even stay on here.’
Roxanna’s mind raced.
The Earl allowed his remark to sink in before continuing. ‘Was it a third of your stock you needed me to invest in to prevent you from having to close half of your stores? Just think, all of those staff who would be made redundant. Such a shame …’
‘You really are a bastard,’ the princess said. She went to slap him, only he caught her hand and stopped the blow.
‘You used to like me being a bastard,’ he countered.
‘I grew up.’
‘Then grow up now.’
‘To think,’ she said, ‘it was you who once told me that business and pleasure should never mix.’
‘I lied,’ he said.
‘Do you ever tell the truth?’
‘Not if I can help it.’
Roxanna pursed her lips. ‘I’ve put a ceiling limit on the auction. Five hundred pounds.’
He couldn’t be sure if the comment was a threat or a warning. ‘Then use your princessly prerogative and overrule it.’
‘Just to make you happy,’ she said, sneering.
‘No,’ he snapped. ‘To make us both happy.’
Roxanna couldn’t bring herself to reply. The Earl thought about trying to kiss her to seal the deal; however, the look on her face made him change his mind and so he left her room, happy with his evening’s work so far.
Chapter Fifteen
Confession
To her relief, Nikki managed to avoid everyone back at the palace, which enabled her to retreat to her suite and prepare for the evening in her own time. She grabbed a hasty shower and then, as she dried herself off, pondered what to wear. She half considered buzzing down and asking Matt his opinion, but she didn’t want to bother him if she could help it. Unable to make up her mind, she decided to ask the princess, so she ventured along the corridor and knocked gently at her door. When no one answered it, she tried again. Reluctantly, Roxanna opened the door. Instinctively, Nikki knew that something was wrong.
‘What’s the matter?’ she asked.
‘Nothing,’ the princess replied, unconvincingly.
‘Sure?’
Roxanna nodded, but it was clear her mind was elsewhere. ‘Sorry, what was it you wanted?’
‘Tonight. I’m not sure what to wear.’
‘Anything goes.’ And with that, the princess closed the door again.
Puzzled by her attitude, Nikki made her way back to her own suite, only to hear a knock at her door. To her surprise, she found Roxanna standing outside it.
Without saying a word, the princess entered the Paradise Suite and began to toy with the selection of clothes that her guest had laid out; she seemed even more troubled now. She picked up the underwear set that Nikki had purchased from the Regal store before embarking on her trip, then said, sighing deeply, ‘I love him.’
‘Excuse me?’
Roxanna continued distractedly. ‘You once asked me why I let him get away with refusing to participate in our games to the full. It’s because I fell for him a long time ago.’
It suddenly dawned on Nikki who Roxanna was talking about. ‘Matt?’
‘Silly, eh? The princess who has everything, except the one thing she really wants.’
Nikki was gobsmacked. ‘Does he know?’
Roxanna let out a hollow laugh. ‘God, no.’
‘Why are you telling me this?’
The princess smiled weakly. ‘I’m not sure.’
Nikki started to feel uneasy. ‘Does he feel the same way about you?’
‘What do you think?’
‘I don’t know – that’s why I’m asking.’
Roxanna let the towel she was wrapped in fall to the floor and examined herself in the mirror. ‘It’s not bad, is it? My figure, I mean. You’d think it’d turn most men’s heads. Not Matt’s. He’s never looked at me that way. To him, I’m just his rich, eccentric boss.’
For a second, Nikki didn’t see a successful, powerful businesswoman in front of her. Instead, she saw an ordinary – if rather beautiful – 28-year-old woman who happened to be in love with the wrong guy. She picked up the towel and wrapped it back around Roxanna. ‘I’m sorry,’ she whispered. ‘I had no idea.’
The princess reached out a hand and gently caressed Nikki’s cheek. ‘It’s not your fault. You weren’t to know.’
‘But …’ Nikki began.
Roxanna shushed her, placing a forefinger against her lips. ‘Besides, it’s me who should be apologising to you.’
Nikki didn’t understand. ‘What for?’
‘Putting you through tonight’s auction. I should have let you escape earlier.’
‘It’s OK, though, isn’t it?’ Nikki said. ‘I am going to win Matt, aren’t I?’
‘I’ll be presiding over the auction and my decision will be final.’
Feeling reassured, Nikki said, ‘Then everything will be fine.’
Roxanna was so close to divulging the Earl’s plan. She was so close to offering her private jet to spirit Nikki and Matt off the island and out of the Earl’s clutches. However, she also knew how desperately her stores needed the Earl’s investment and so, to her shame, she said nothing. Instead, she reached across and gave Nikki a peck on the cheek.
Nikki, meanwhile, was contemplating her host. The princess truly was beautiful and Nikki had almost forgotten how much she had fancied her. The kiss reminded her momentarily. ‘You know, if things had worked out differently …’ She allowed the sentence to trail off, unfinished.
‘I know,’ Roxanna mused. ‘But then things rarely turn out how you want them to.’ She crossed over to the door, then paused. ‘Please try not to hate me.’
Nikki laughed off the comment. ‘Don’t be silly – of course I don’t hate you.’
‘At least one of us doesn’t,’ Roxanna muttered distractedly, before closing the door behind her.
Nikki tried her best to ignore the strange remark and turned her attention back to her outfit.
Given Roxanna’s earlier comment, she strongly suspected that her fellow guests would opt for racy and revealing attire, so she decided to go for the complete opposite. After slipping into her matching champagne-white bra and panties set, she ummed and ahhed over stockings or tights, eventually settling upon a pair of hold-ups. She admired herself in the mirror, pleased with the demure effect. Over her lingerie, she wore her ruffled white chiffon dress and a pair of sleek, white flats. Although she looked a picture of innocence, Nikki’s thoughts were anything but as she imagined Matt peeling the dress from her shoulders later that night and making passionate love to her for the first time.
On arriving at the reception downstairs, Nikki found that her guess had been correct, for the other guests’ outfits were, indeed, outrageous. Celine was wearing a purple waspie, complete with a matching bra and thong, whereas Grace was in the cheerleader’s outfit she had donned the night before. As Roxanna was nowhere to be seen, Nikki asked if either of them knew where their illustrious host was.
Grace pointed back towards the stairway. ‘She’s just coming.’
Nikki turned to find Roxanna making her way down the stairs. Her outfit was sensational: a b
lack corset and elbow-length gloves emphasised her lily-white skin to great effect. And as for her stockings, Nikki had never seen a pair with such lustre before. They practically begged to be touched, as did the scarlet bows on her see-through knickers. The finishing touch to the princess’ costume was a dainty tiara that sat snugly upon her brow. Whether the diamonds were real or not, Nikki couldn’t be sure. It didn’t matter either way, for the headpiece looked amazing and gave her a suitably regal air.
Upon reaching the bottom of the stairs, Roxanna said, ‘Shall we?’
Celine and Grace kissed her lightly on the cheeks, then the four of them linked arms and made their way outside and across to the barn.
Chapter Sixteen
Auction
Upon entering the barn, the girls found the Earl already waiting. To Nikki’s surprise, he had shunned the raunchy dress code and was resplendent in a dinner jacket and black tie. The only part of his attire that seemed over the top was the outlandish cigarette holder clamped between his teeth. The Earl exhaled and, momentarily, became lost in a plume of smoke. Nikki thought it highly appropriate, because it added to his devilish appearance. He greeted them all courteously, for which she was grateful. She had half expected him to be bearing a grudge, given their previous encounter, but he appeared to have dismissed the incident.
As if to test the Earl’s feelings further, Matt appeared at their side, carrying a tray upon which sat five flutes of champagne. For a second, Nikki thought she saw an angry scowl flash across the Earl’s brow; however, he recovered almost instantly and accepted his drink graciously. Nikki was tempted to engage him in polite conversation, but when she saw the way that Grace and Celine were draping themselves over Matt, she decided her boyfriend needed to be rescued.
‘Congratulations, Nikki!’ Celine bubbled excitedly. ‘Matt’s just told me.’
