The Royal Wager

by Kristi Gold

  “And in some ways, for ruining yours.”

  She lifted her chin. “No, not my life. I haven’t let them do that.”

  The bravado in her tone sounded false to Dharr and perhaps she was right, but only partially. Her parents may not have ruined her life, but they had dealt her a blow from which she had yet to recover. He could relate to that type of misery.

  Even though he wished to stay with her and offer more consolation, he had several tasks he had to complete before days’ end. “I must leave. Two days from now, we will be having a reception for a group of European diplomats and I am involved in the planning.”

  “Really? What country?”

  “A very small principality known as Doriana. Perhaps you’ve heard of it?”

  “Yes, but I don’t know a thing about it. Geography was never my strong suit.”

  “It is situated in the Pyrenees near France. The king is a good friend and former Harvard colleague.”

  Her expression brightened. “Will I get to meet him?”

  “He will not be in attendance since his wife has recently given birth. But you will be my special guest at the reception.”

  She favored him with a smile. “You know that’s only going to make matters worse if I show up. Then everyone’s going to think we’re definitely an item.”

  He kissed her cheek. “Let them think what they will. I have no cause to hide you away in seclusion.”

  She gave him a mock pout. “Well, darn. I was hoping we could enjoy a little seclusion after everyone goes to bed tonight. Finish what we almost did in the conference room before my mother came calling.”

  Dharr would like nothing better, but too much was now at stake. “I’m afraid that would not be wise considering we are all staying on the same floor.”

  “True, and why is that?”

  “The rest of the palace bedrooms are undergoing renovations.”

  She toyed with the top button on his shirt. “That’s too bad. Maybe we could find a nice spot under a drop cloth. Or maybe a corner in the attic.”

  Dharr began to feel the familiar sexual stirrings and did his best to quell them. “I have work to do.”

  “And I guess I need to go and make sure there hasn’t been any bloodshed between my parents.”

  Dharr offered his hand, which she took without hesitation. Even though he knew better, he couldn’t resist kissing her, long and hard.

  Once they parted, Raina smiled again as she kept her arms circled around him. “Thanks for giving me something nice to remember. And thanks for letting me vent.”

  “My pleasure.” And it was, more pleasure than he’d ever thought possible. “I suppose I will see you again tonight during dinner.”

  “And after dinner?” she asked hopefully.

  He touched her cheek, hating what he needed to say, yet knowing it had to be said. “Raina, too many people know, or believe they know, what is going on between us. With your mother now on the premises, it would be best if we discontinue our intimacy.”

  She lowered her eyes before contacting his gaze again. “You’re probably right. But it was nice while it lasted.”

  More than only nice, as far as Dharr was concerned. “I will never forget what we’ve shared.”

  “Neither will I, and if you change your mind, there’s something you need to know about my mother. She can be totally oblivious when it comes to what’s going on right under her nose.”

  * * *

  “Tell me, Dharr. Exactly what have you been doing with my daughter?”

  Raina nearly choked on the bite she’d forced down her throat. For the past two nights, her mother had remained rigid and silent, barely civil to anyone, including Dharr who had joined them. Unfortunately he hadn’t joined Raina in her bed. Hadn’t sought her out even to give her a quick kiss. And oh how she’d needed him after she’d walked on eggshells with both her parents. Obviously the shells had just been shattered.

  When Dharr led off with, “Raina and I—”

  “Don’t think that’s an appropriate question,” Raina finished for him.

  “I believe it is a very fitting question, my child,” her father said. He’d been practically bedridden for days and now he was seated at the end of the table, fully dressed and looking as if he were holding court. Dharr had taken his place at the opposite end, leaving Raina and her mother positioned across from each other to face off, which they definitely were at the moment.

  “I can’t believe you’re actually taking her side, Papa.”

  “He’s not taking sides, Raina,” Carolyn said. “He’s asking questions, and so am I. We don’t understand what’s going on between the two of you.”

  Raina gritted her teeth. “And that’s really not any of your concern considering we’re both of legal age and free to do as we please.”

  Her mother’s eyes widened. “Are you two sleeping together?”

  Not nearly enough, Raina thought. But before she could issue a protest, her father jumped back into the fray. “I would certainly hope that is not the case,” he said, his features as hard as the chair beneath Raina’s bottom.

  Dharr continued to watch the verbal volley and Raina wouldn’t blame him a bit if he decided to leave. Right now she could use him as an ally, but she understood why he wouldn’t want to dive into the interrogation. Too many thorns in this bed of familial nonbliss.

  Raina stiffened her frame and her resolve not to buckle under pressure. “You both can think what you will, but I’m not going to tell you anything other than Dharr and I are friends.” Very good friends. “And neither will he.”

  Her mother dabbed at her mouth with a pristine white cloth napkin, then pursed her lips in displeasure. “Your father and I believe otherwise, Raina. We’ve discussed this at length. And we have a right to know exactly how far this relationship has gone.”

  Raina drummed her fork on the table before dropping it with a plunk on her plate. “Obviously you’ve discussed me at great lengths without my knowledge. I tried to see Papa twice today only to be told by Badya that I wasn’t welcome.”

  Idris reached to his right and patted Raina’s hand. “That is not true, daughter. You are always welcome. Your mother and I simply needed to catch up on several issues.”

  Raina pulled her hand from the table and wrung the napkin resting in her lap. “And you spent all that time talking about me?”

  Carolyn’s gaze flitted away. “For the most part.”

  Her mother appeared to be blushing, something Raina had rarely witnessed. Odd, but then so was this entire gathering.

  Her appetite completely gone, Raina tossed the napkin onto the table and posed the question foremost on her mind. “What else did you discuss?” She braced for the bitter word divorce.

  Carolyn’s eyes went wide. “That is none of your business.”

  “Oh, I see. My parents’ conversation about me and Lord only knows what else is none of my business, but mine and Dharr’s relationship is yours? Sorry, Mom, but that doesn’t cut it anymore. And I’ll make you a deal. If you stay out of my business, I’ll stay out of yours. Agreed?”

  Her papa rubbed his jaw, indicating his increasing discomfort. “Raina, we are only concerned about your welfare. We want to make certain that if the rumors of your engagement are valid, you both have thought over that decision carefully. We would not be pleased if you make a mistake you cannot rectify.”

  Now that beat everything she’d ever heard to this point in her twenty-five years. Raina raised both hands, palms forward. “Wait a minute. If I’m not mistaken, you’re the one responsible for the marriage arrangement, Father dear. And if I recall, you’re the one who for years has been telling me what a nice guy Dharr is. How I should really consider following tradition. How he would be my perfect mate. And then that quote in the newspaper. Now you’re telling me you’ve changed your mind?”

  “We’re just being cautious,” her mother said. “We want to make sure you don’t rush into anything.”

  All the years of
resentment crowded in on Raina, robbing her of the last remnants of patience. “Well, believe me, I promise that I’m not going to get pregnant, if that’s what’s worrying you. I also promise that if and when I decide to marry, I’m not going to run out on my husband then spend years living a lonely life in an apartment with only a cat as company. Or holed up in a dusty mansion alone, pretending everything’s okay.”

  Idris slammed his hand down on the table, rattling the dishes and startling Raina out of her tirade. “That is enough, daughter. You should not speak to your parents in that manner, especially your mother.”

  Raina’s mouth dropped open then shut until she finally recaptured her verbal skills and enough sense not to cuss a blue streak. “You’re defending her? Have you forgotten she left you in the middle of the night taking your only daughter away from you?”

  “Your father understands why that happened,” Carolyn said. “We’ve talked about that.”

  “Oh, yeah? Would someone like to explain it to me?” Too angry to be reasonable, Raina pushed back from the table. “Never mind. I’m not sure I want to hear it.”

  “Raina, please sit back down,” her mother said.

  Idris stood but made no move to stop her. “Your mother and I ask that you visit with us a while longer.”

  She gripped the chair forcefully as she pushed it beneath the table. “Not tonight. I’m tired and I’m going to bed. But you two feel free to stay up and discuss my life further. Right now I just want to be left alone.”

  Before leaving the room, she sent Dharr a quick look of apology before leaving him with her parents, practically defenseless. However, she figured he was more than capable considering he was in charge of a whole country. And he would probably need every diplomatic skill he possessed.

  Nine

  What he’d lacked in diplomacy at dinner, he’d made up for in lies. Not exactly lies, Dharr decided, but an omission of the truth. Yet he’d felt compelled to defend Raina’s honor even if he had angered her parents in the process. Even if he had not necessarily honored her.

  Now alone in the conference room where he’d met with Raina two days ago, he debated whether to seek her out, or leave her to her solitude as she’d requested. Yet he knew if he did find her, exactly where that would lead—back into his bed. Back into her body. Back into oblivion.

  He stood over the museum blueprints laid out on the table, yet he could not focus on anything other than his desire to be with her. To be close to her. To make love with her. Because of his demanding schedule, he’d resisted those urges for forty-eight hours, and his resistance was waning.

  When the knock sounded, his irritation increased, until the door opened to the object of his distraction.

  Raina entered wearing the same clothes she’d had on at dinner, a tailored pink sleeveless top held together by a zipper and white slacks that formed to the curve of her hips. That zipper had captured his attention all through dinner and he saw no end to his fascination with it, or with her.

  “May I talk with you a minute?” she asked.

  He straightened and shoved his hands deep into the pockets of his slacks to quell the urge to go to her and without hesitation, touch her everywhere. “Please. I’m afraid I’m making little progress in my work tonight.”

  She stepped forward to the table opposite him. “I want to apologize for leaving you to confront my family alone.”

  “I managed.”

  She brushed her hair from her shoulders. “What did they say to you after I ran out?”

  “Basically the same questions they asked of you. The state of our relationship. Whether we had been intimate.”

  He could see the tension seeping into her face and her frame. “What did you tell them?”

  “I told them that they should respect our privacy. We are both adults and what transpires between us is our concern. I also informed them that should we agree to be forthcoming with more information, we would do so if and when we are ready.”

  Now she looked pleased. “Did my father threaten you after that?”

  “No, although I believe he was practicing restraint solely for the benefit of your mother.”

  “And they bought all that without any protest?”

  “I did not give them the opportunity as I took my leave and retired here.”

  “Thanks for defending me. I hope that doesn’t come back to bite you on the butt.”

  He considered requesting she not reference anatomy in their conversation. “I will stand firm in my resolve.” His resolve was not the only thing standing firm when she strolled around the table and came to his side.

  “Is this the museum?” she asked.

  Her proximity made it difficult for Dharr to concentrate. But at least they could now discuss a more pleasant subject aside from her parents’ grilling. “Yes. What I’ve been working on for the past two days. These are preliminary blueprints.” He indicated the drawings of the various halls. “Exhibits will go here and the foyer will feature sculpture. That leaves a large space to the west. I am still considering its use.”

  Raina bent and surveyed the plans, holding her long hair back with one hand. “That’s easy. You take part of the space and you build classrooms.” She pointed a slender finger. “And here, you have a gallery devoted to the local children’s art.”

  “Children?”

  She faced him, leaning a hip against the table. “Sure. You’ll give them an outlet for their creativity, something to do to keep them off the streets after school. I would’ve killed for this kind of opportunity when I was younger. That would’ve saved Badya many a trip into the village looking for me when I’d escaped for a little adventure.”

  Dharr smiled with remembrance. “I recall you were often seen running through the streets, absent of shoes and covered in dirt, poor Badya chasing after you.”

  “It sure beat hanging out at the house all day with those boring tutors. A girl has to have a little adventure now and then.”

  Dharr greatly wanted to give her adventure now, with or without shoes. “This program you’re proposing. I assume it would be free to all who participate.”

  “Of course. Not everyone has your money or means. I’m sure you can find volunteers to teach and a few benefactors to fund the supplies.”

  “Yes, I could.” He came upon a spontaneous idea, one that he doubted she would consider, but at least he could try. “Perhaps you should think about returning here to teach.”

  She turned her attention back to the blueprints. “I couldn’t do that. I already have a job, and it pays. Besides, that would leave my mother all by herself. As mad as she makes me sometimes, she still needs me.”

  And so do I. The thought vaulted into Dharr’s brain so quickly it took him aback. He refused to recognize its validity for to do so would put him in emotional straits. “What about your father?”

  “He’s managed without us. I suspect he still will. In fact, I wouldn’t be a bit surprised to learn he has a mistress somewhere. Maybe several.”

  “That is not so.”

  Her gaze snapped to his. “How do you know?”

  “Even a man of your father’s caliber could not be discreet enough without rumors reaching the palace. He has maintained a reputation beyond reproach. He has had no other women.”

  “If you say so, but I find it hard to believe he’s been celibate for eleven years, if not longer. And I still can’t believe he spent all day in a room with my mother and they’re not fuming at each other. In fact, they seemed almost amiable at dinner.”

  “Perhaps they are considering reconciliation.”

  “My guess is they’re finally discussing divorce.”

  No matter how hard she’d tried to disguise it, Dharr heard the pain in her voice. “I realize that would be very difficult for you.”

  She turned and leaned against the table then stared at the bookshelves behind him. “You know, I don’t really care anymore. As long as they move forward with their lives. This whole limbo thing is ridiculous
.”

  She did care, that much Dharr realized. If only he could think of something to console her. If only he could take her pain away.

  Pushing away from the table, she walked to the glass doors where she’d made her first appearance as the prospective wife to the crown prince. “Come here and show me where the museum’s going to be.”

  Dharr walked up behind her, careful not to touch her and in turn, crush his control. He pointed toward the base of the mountain silhouetted against the night sky. “Do you remember Almase?”

  “Yes. The rocks shaped like diamonds, not far from the Minhat ruins.” She regarded him over one shoulder. “That’s a wonderful site. I used to play there as a child. But aren’t you afraid you’re going to destroy it during construction?”

  “We have considered that carefully. The museum will be built adjacent to the formation. We’ll use materials that will create the illusion that the structure blends into the mountain.”

  “That sounds wonderful.”

  So was she, in many, many ways. “It will be, once it is done. We are hoping to have the museum completed in eighteen months, which is why I need to finalize the plans.”

  She turned and rested her palms on his shoulders. “Take me there.”

  As much as he wanted to do that, the following day would be full of meetings and tours with the Doriana diplomats. “I am afraid my schedule will not allow that tomorrow. Perhaps the next day?”

  “Tonight. Take me there now.”

  “It is late, Raina. And too dark to see much.”

  She slipped her arms around his waist. “Exactly.”

  “The desert is not always friendly after dark.”

  “I trust you’ll protect me. Besides, Almase has had so many visitors, I doubt any vipers or scorpions still hang out there.” She stood on her tiptoes and gave him a soft kiss. “I’ll make it worth your while.”

  At that moment, he would do anything for her. Anything, except put her in peril. “Your mother and father could be tracking our whereabouts.”