And she didn’t want to be alone now. She didn’t want to have to think of that moment when she’d had to pull the trigger and seen Naldona fall to the floor. It had been too horrible to accept. But she had to accept it. She had taken a life. If she hadn’t taken that life, others would have died. Still, she wished with all her heart that she hadn’t been the one to have to do it. She closed her eyes. Perhaps it was better she had this time alone Since she had awakened, she had flinched away from thinking of what she had done. Now she had to face it and come to terms with it. She had faced many ugly shadows in her life, and this might be the ugliest one of all. Nevertheless, the shadow had to be confronted. She would lie here and try to nerve herself to confront what she had done.
The small, dark-skinned maid, who arrived in her suite a few hours later and identified herself as Bette, had obviously been given very explicit instructions. Alessandra was helped carefully into the bathroom, where she was bathed and her hair was shampooed and dried. Then she was wrapped in a bath sheet, transferred to the Queen Anne chair in the bedroom, and was manicured and pedicured. Her hair was curled and then brushed out to fall down her back in a shimmering flow of rich brown silk. Ordinarily, Bette’s solemn determination to turn her into a pampered beauty would have amused and then exasperated Alessandra. However, she was still sore and weak enough to sit back and enjoy the cosseting.
“Makeup,” Bette announced firmly. When it had been duly applied, the maid stood back and observed her critically. “Now you are beautiful.”
“Not unless you’re a sorceress,” Alessandra said dryly. “There’s only so much soap and paint can do. It’s almost seven. I guess I might as well dress. The white gown will be fine.”
“No, the Tanzar will send you what he wishes you to wear. You sit back and rest.”
Sandor’s “arrangements” covered attire as well, it seemed.
The gown was delivered ten minutes later. When Bette returned from answering the door, she was carefully carrying a garment that was a splash of magnificent color and fabric. The jade green of the brocade shimmered in the lamplight as if it were alive.
“Beautiful,” Alessandra whispered. “I’ve never seen a gown so beautiful.”
But she found it wasn’t a gown at all. The garment proved to be a robe, full and flowing, with a high mandarin collar and wide sleeves. The robe itself was gloriously extravagant, and she felt absolutely royal as she slipped it on. Royal and confident and … treasured. She was still gazing bemusedly at herself in the mirror when another knock sounded. Paulo.
She turned to face him. “I feel as if I’ve been groomed to be the concubine of Kubla Khan.”
“It’s funny you should say that.” Paulo’s eyes were dancing. “You must have the power to see what others do not. My sister has such a power. Come, it’s time.” He scooped her up in his arms. “Now, do not protest. Sandor said you must not walk.” He nodded to the maid to open the door. “I promise I will carry you only until we get to the foyer.”
The reason for Paulo’s amusement was at the bottom of the stairs, sitting squarely in the huge foyer.
“A ricksha.” Alessandra couldn’t believe it. Not just an ordinary ricksha, but a vehicle as extravagant as the robe she was wearing. The edge of the seat and the back of the ricksha were garlanded with gardenias and tuberoses, the wheels spoked with gold and studded with jade and amber. Standing beside it was a tall, powerful man in a scarlet uniform with gold braid. “But how did Sandor do it? There wasn’t enough time.”
“Everyone in Tamrovia is crazy to please Sandor. He only had to ask.” Paulo sat her on the seat of the ricksha and motioned to the majordomo. One finger touched her cheek affectionately. “Joy.” He stepped back.
The wheels of the ricksha had rubber rims, and the vehicle moved silently through the foyer and down the halls. Alessandra passed several soldiers standing at attention who were trying with some difficulty to repress their smiles. She didn’t blame them. This entire scenario was completely outrageous. She didn’t know whether to be more amused or touched.
The tall double doors were thrown open, and she caught her breath. Flowers were everywhere. White roses, jasmine, lilac. The scents were heady and fresh and the colors vibrant with a beauty that was a drug to the senses. The teardrop crystals of the huge chandelier reflected their hues like icicles in sunlight. Then she saw Sandor standing totally alone in the middle of the flower-bedecked ballroom and forgot everything but him. He was wearing a dark blue dress uniform embellished with only a narrow scarlet stripe down the sides of the trousers. No medals. No braid. Just Sandor.
The majordomo stopped before Sandor and, with a little flourish, set the arms of the ricksha on the floor and stood at attention.
“Sandor, are you trying to overwhelm me?” Alessandra asked with a shaky smile. “All of this …” She waved a hand. “I feel like someone in a fable.”
“You’re the type of woman men write fables about.” He stepped closer and lifted her into his arms. “I’ve given you enough sordid reality to last you a lifetime. I wanted to give you something beautiful, for a change.”
He had already given her something beautiful that had nothing to do with gold or jade or expensive brocade. Didn’t he realize that? She opened her lips to ask him and then closed them again without speaking. Lord, he looked tired. Now that she was closer, she could see the shadows beneath his eyes and the deep grooves around his mouth. “Paulo said you hadn’t been sleeping enough.”
“I’ll sleep later. There’s too much to do right now.”
“Including ‘arranging’ all this for me,” she said in helpless exasperation. “I’ll bet you haven’t had a decent night’s sleep for days, and yet you—”
“Hush.” He set her down in the midst of a pile of satin pillows on a low, wide couch vaguely resembling a sultan’s divan. “That wasn’t work; it was pleasure.” He brushed her lips lightly with his own. “You’re a pleasure.” He gestured and the majordomo left the room. “How are you?”
“Fine. Stiff, but better than you.”
“Don’t you ever give up?” He sat down beside her. “I’m a little tired, that’s all.” He suddenly frowned. “I know this is all a little glitzy, but I thought you might enjoy it.”
She experienced a surge of love so great, she couldn’t speak for a moment. He had planned this wonderful, thoughtful gesture and she hadn’t even told him how much it meant to her. “I love it,” she said softly. “It’s utterly insane and completely glorious. Thank you, Sandor.”
“You’re welcome.” He inclined his head, his frown disappearing. “I’m glad you appreciate it. You know, of course, I’m going to have to produce receipts for the new treasury department to prove I paid for it all out of my personal fortune. We mustn’t have any hint of corruption in the government.”
“You’re definitely going to be the new president?”
“For one term, at least. We can’t persuade anyone to run against me, so it looks as though I have no choice.”
“You’ll make a wonderful president.”
“Will I?” He smiled crookedly. “ ’I don’t know about that. I know how politics are played, but I’ve grown accustomed to bypassing diplomacy. Perhaps I’d better have someone around to keep an eye on me to make sure I don’t become a dictator.” He paused. “The job’s open, Alessandra. All you have to do is apply.”
“Watchdog?” She shook her head. “You wouldn’t need me. There’s no way on earth you could ever turn into another Naldona.”
“The hell I don’t need you.” He knelt beside her, his eyes intent. “I’ll always need you. Look, I know you’re probably upset with me because of what happened to Naldona but—”
“Why should I be upset with you?” She stared at him in surprise. “It was my decision. You and Paulo seem to be on the same wavelength. No one is responsible for what I choose to do but me.” She smiled sadly. “I know we made a deal, but there are some responsibilities we have to shoulder alone.”
&n
bsp; “I didn’t want you to go through that.” His voice was husky. “Why the hell didn’t you go to Switzerland?”
“Because you were on your way to Belajo. Why the hell didn’t you take me with you?”
“I wanted to keep you safe. This wasn’t your war.”
“But you were my man.” Damn, she hadn’t meant to say that. She moistened her lower lip with her tongue. “Weren’t you? I’ve been called your woman so many times since the night we met, I’ve learned to accept it. But it has to go both ways.”
“Yes, it has to go both ways.” A smile tugged at his lips. “But you should rephrase it to reflect the present tense. I am your man. Or perhaps the future tense is even a better idea. I will be your man.” He paused. “Forever.”
Joy, warmth, radiance. “I think I’ll have to practice that for a while,” she whispered. “I’m not used to thinking about forever.”
“Neither am I. It’s been a long time since I’ve dared to think more than one day at a time. But I want to get used to it, and I want to get used to it with you.” He looked away, “Oh, hell, I’m rushing you again, aren’t I? I didn’t mean to pressure you into …” He made a motion to stand. “I’ll tell them we’re ready for dinner.”
“No.” Her hand on his sleeve prevented him from rising. “Not yet. I’ve been waiting all day to talk to you, and I have no intention of observing the social amenities until we have a few things clear.”
He frowned. “I would have come to you the minute they told me you were awake, but—”
“I know. Paulo told me how busy you are. I’m not complaining of neglect. This time it was my place to come to you.” She smiled. “Just as there will be times when it will be your place to come to me. We’ll both have to learn to compromise.”
He went still. “Does that mean you’re going to stay with me?”
“Of course I’m going to stay. I would think you’d know that. I must have walked fifty miles for you in the last few days. I wouldn’t do that for a man I was merely going to have dinner with”—she glanced around the lavishly decorated room—“though a dinner in a setting like this might have been very tempting.”
“Why?” His tone was low and urgent. “Why are you going to stay with me?”
“I love you.” Her smile faded, and she glared at him with sudden fierceness. “And you’d better love me too. I know I’m not as glamorous as some of the other women you’ve—”
His lips were on her own, cutting off the words. He raised his head. “Lord, yes, I love you.” His eyes were glittering as they gazed down at her. “I was so damn scared I’d turned you off by all this violence and …” He kissed her again with joyous exuberance. “Of course I love you. Who’d be crazy enough to want glamour when he could have a fierce Amazon like you?”
“I can imagine there are a few men who suffer from that particular insanity,” she said dryly. She was silent for a moment, searching for words. “I am fierce sometimes, and I have a lot of rough edges. That may come to annoy you. We’re different people from different backgrounds.” She made a face. “Which brings up the question of children. I want your children very much. Will you want to give them to a woman who has no knowledge of her parentage?”
He lowered his head to press his lips to the pulse throbbing in the hollow of her throat. “I thought we’d agreed I was to share my background with you.” His gaze lifted to meet her eyes. “Bloodlines are just nonsense. You have strength, intelligence, courage, and honesty. I’ll be damn lucky if I can offer as much to our child.” His eyes began to twinkle. “And I’ll be glad to initiate the procedure of impregnating you immediately, if it will offer you any reassurance. We can always hold dinner.”
She experienced a hot, clenching sensation in the pit of her stomach. It had been too long since their night together. All she had to do was nod, and…
But he was exhausted, and he had probably been skipping meals as well as sleep. “Later.” She buried her face in his shoulder, and her words were muffled. “I want to be gentle. I want to give you gentleness and love and everything you need from me. I’ll try so hard. I want you to know that.”
“Gentleness is something we’ll both have to work on.” His hand was tenderly stroking the back of her head. “I’m a little out of practice myself.”
“I can’t give up my work. It’s too important to me.”
“I wouldn’t want you to give it up. I’ll give you carte blanche here in Tamrovia. If you feel you have to visit any other country, I’ll try to arrange to go with you.”
“That may be difficult for you to do as president of Tamrovia.”
His chuckle reverberated beneath her ear. “Has it occurred to you that you may have the same difficulty? You won’t be the Tanzar’s woman then. You’ll be the president’s first lady.” His laughter broke off abruptly. “You will marry me, won’t you? I know you don’t like the idea of becoming involved in politics, but—”
“I’ll marry you.” She lifted her head to look up at him and smile. “Perhaps it’s time I stopped criticizing and started doing. I have to warn you, though, I have a tendency to throw myself into projects with a good deal of enthusiasm. You may wish you hadn’t asked me.”
“No, I’ll never wish that.” He kissed her lightly, lovingly. “This choice is one I’ll never regret.”
Choices again. They had both had to make so many painful ones in the past. Now they could hope for better alternatives from which to choose. Joy and love and freedom. Wonderful choices.
And responsibility. She was feeling the weight of that responsibility now as she looked at Sandor. He was so very tired, but she knew he wouldn’t rest. He had planned this evening for her and wouldn’t willingly relinquish his gift. Well, obviously there was only one thing to do.
She feigned a yawn and gazed up at him with eyes that were clear and innocent. “Now that we’ve settled a few of our problems, do you suppose I could lie down for a few minutes before dinner? I feel a little weak.”
Sandor frowned in concern. “Perhaps you shouldn’t have gotten up tonight. Would you like me to take you back to your room?”
“No, I’ll be fine. Just give me a few minutes to rest.” She leaned back on the silk pillows of the divan, pulling him down to lie beside her. “Hold me.”
“You’re sure?” His arms slid around her and held her close to the warm hardness of his body.
“Very sure.” She shifted his head to rest on her shoulder and began gently to stroke his hair. “I want to be close to you. I like this, don’t you?”
“Yes.” His eyes were already closing. “So sweet …” His lips nuzzled the side of her throat. “Tell me when you feel rested enough to have dinner, love.”
“I will.”
He was deeply asleep in minutes. Alessandra’s hand continued to stroke his hair. She had never realized she could feel this poignant tenderness. Perhaps she was actually learning gentleness. Yet the tenderness was still interwoven with fierce protectiveness. Maybe the two qualities could exist side by side. She hoped so. Sandor would need her fierceness as well as her gentleness in the future. He was a man who would always neglect his own welfare in order to give more than he should. She would have to guard him well. And she would start tonight.
She would see that he wasn’t disturbed and slept the whole night through. Eating could wait. Passion could wait. If any of his blasted cabinet members decided they couldn’t do without Sandor, they’d have to wait too. She brushed her lips lingeringly over his forehead. And if those gentlemen gave her any arguments, they’d learn just how fierce the Tanzar’s woman could be when she was protecting the man she loved.
THE EDITOR’S CORNER
Welcome to Loveswept!
I truly believe that one of the best things in life is spending long, leisurely days curled up with a book. Whether it’s a novel of erotic discovery and hidden desire like Stacey Kane’s scorching e-original CLAIMED, a sizzling small town romance like Elisabeth Barrett’s fourth e-original Star Harbor book,
SLOW SUMMER BURN, or an electrifying story featuring hockey hunks like Toni Aleo’s contemporary e-original BLUE LINES … it’s a wonderful feeling to be transported to a new and exciting world … especially one filled with sexy heroes and vibrant heroines. Pick up these reads and lose yourself in romance and love.
And for more wonderful reads, don’t miss:
Sandra Chastain’s SURRENDER THE SHADOW – an enthralling classic of secrets and suspense; Katie Rose’s charming historical romance, COURTING TROUBLE – where an attorney and a determined suffragette butt heads; Adrienne Staff and Sally Goldbaum’s CRESCENDO – a sparkling story about a princely society man and his everyday princess; Iris Johansen’s blazing YORK, THE RENEGADE – where passion takes a man and woman on a wild ride in a rough-and-tumble mining town; and Ruth Owen’s BODY HEAT – an alluring tale of love, betrayal and murder.
If you love romance … then you’re ready to be Loveswept!
Gina Wachtel
Associate Publisher
P.S. Watch for these terrific Loveswept titles coming soon: September arrives with more timeless stories for you – Three enticing stories from Sandra Chastain, THE JUDGE AND THE GYPSY, FIREBRAND, and THE LAST DANCE, beloved author Iris Johansen’s THE DELANEY’S OF KILLAROO, Fran Baker’s enchanting SEEING STARS, Julie Ortolon’s irresistible DRIVE ME WILD as well as three original stories: another fantastic installment from Ruthie Knox’s ROMAN HOLIDAY serialized novel, Lauren Layne’s seductive AFTER THE KISS, and Mira Lyn Kelly’s sexy and sweet TRUTH OR DARE. October has more eoriginals in store: Maggie McGinnis’s brilliant THE ACCIDENTAL COWGIRL, Megan Frampton’s sweltering WHAT NOT TO BARE, and Katie Rose’s delightful MISTLETOE AND MAGIC, as well as some wonderful reissues: Connie Brockway’s dazzling stories, DANGEROUS MAN and MY DEAREST ENERMY, Ellen Fisher’s memorable THE LIGHT IN THE DARKNESS, Ruth Owen’s riveting works, SMOOTH OPERATOR and SOMEONE TO WATCH OVER ME, Iris Johansen’s delicious ACROSS THE RIVER OF YESTERDAY, and three breathtaking books from Sandra Chastain, THE MORNING AFTER, FOR LOVE OF LACEY, and GABRIEL’S OUTLAW. Don’t miss any of these extraordinary reads. I promise that you’ll fall in love and treasure these stories for years to come.…
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