His Majesty's Marriage

by Rebecca Winters

  He clapped Raoul so hard on the shoulder he almost knocked him over. “When I think it was less than a week ago that I received a call from a man who sounded like he’d come to the end of his life. You’re no longer that person.”

  They stared intently at each other in the moonlight. “No, I’m not.”

  “Have you told Lee know how you feel about her yet?”

  “If you’re talking physically, we almost lost it at Roger’s condo.”

  “Things have progressed that far already?” Philippe asked incredulously.

  Raoul nodded. “But the situation is complicated because I don’t know if I’m fighting the ghost of her dead fiancé.”

  “Mon Dieu.”

  “He was killed three years ago. At the moment she believes she’s doing all this for Sophie’s happiness.”

  Philippe shook his head. “If ever two people looked like they were in love, it’s you and Lee. After what I saw on television tonight, your broken engagement is a fait accompli. I’m beyond happy for you. But what about your title? Is it in the past now too, my friend?”

  “I have no idea.”

  “It’s not a small thing you’ve done.” Philippe eyed him soulfully. “The main reason I came out here was to tell you your parents have been calling the chalet every half-hour since I arrived. Your father wants you to phone him no matter the hour. When I saw your cellphone on the dresser, I realized you’d left it home on purpose. He asked me to wait up for you.”

  “I’ll call him.” Suddenly Raoul clasped his arm. “Thank you for being my friend. Without your inspiration, I would never have thought to ask Sophie to join me here. It has set a process in motion. I don’t know where it’s going to lead, but it has already changed my life. For that you have my undying gratitude.”

  “You had mine when you saved me after that helicopter crash on the mountain years ago.”

  Raoul breathed in the crisp night air. It didn’t matter what he had to face. After being with Lee, he had a sense of well-being nothing could diminish.

  By tacit agreement they started walking toward the stairs. “How was the climb?”

  “Good. Naturally it would have been better if you’d been along, but I’ll forgive you this time.”

  A smile broke the corner of Raoul’s mouth. “I didn’t know I could feel like this.”

  “That’s what I’ve been telling myself since I met Kellie,” Philippe confessed.

  “Then don’t let her get away. Do whatever it is you have to do.”

  “I intend to.”

  After what had transpired here in Zermatt, Raoul realized anything was possible. Right now his whole purpose was to make Lee see that too. Physically and emotionally, they were attuned. It was her mind that had to get past the prince part to the man.

  After what she’d told him on the drive home, that part wasn’t going to be easy. She’d been around Sophie long enough to see past the trappings to the kind of life required of a royal. Obviously it held no appeal.

  But he couldn’t worry about that right now. At least when he woke up in the morning she’d be under the same roof and they’d spend another glorious day and night together.

  He climbed the stairs after Philippe, aware the adrenaline surging through his body wouldn’t allow him to fall asleep for hours.

  Now was the time for the talk with his parents.

  For the first time in his life, they weren’t his first priority. He had to count on their understanding that what they’d seen and heard on the news tonight had happened for a specific reason. He prayed that because of the strong bond of love and trust that had always existed between the three of them they would reserve judgement until they’d heard from him.

  He planned to tell them the truth of everything. Destiny would have to take care of the rest.

  “Madame Simoness?”

  The older woman looked up from her desk. “Lee-you’re back a day early from Zermatt. I didn’t expect you home until Sunday night. Come in.”

  “Thank you, madame.”

  Lee shut the office door and took a seat opposite the desk of the headmistress who’d always been so good to her. She was close to eighty, but madame’s wise gray eyes still regarded her as shrewdly as ever.

  “What’s wrong, ma chére?”

  “I’m sure you’ve heard the news by now.”

  “Yes. My phone hasn’t stopped ringing.”

  “I knew that would be the case. Madame? I happen to know Mademoiselle Lambert would give anything to have my job. Would you consider letting her take my place until you find someone permanent?”

  “Why would I do that?”

  “I’m going back to America. There’s an eleven a.m. flight to Brussels from Geneva this morning. I have to be on it.”

  “Lee-if you thought I would fire you over this, you’re very much mistaken.”

  “No. You’re too kind for that.”

  “Then it’s true-”

  “What do you mean?”

  “You’ve fallen in love with Sophie’s prince, haven’t you?”

  So many emotions had welled up inside Lee she couldn’t stop the tears. They gushed down her face until she was convulsed.

  “I-I’m sure you think I’m a wicked person.”

  “Nonsense. As soon as I read this morning’s headlines I saw Sophie’s hand somewhere in all this. Remember, I’ve known the two of you for a long time. She was always the one at the bottom of any trouble around here. The poor thing had too much to rebel against.”

  Madame Simoness understood a lot about life. That was what made her such a remarkable substitute mother for the girls at Beau Lac.

  “Why don’t you begin at the beginning and tell me everything?”

  It felt so good to confide in someone Lee trusted, and it all came pouring out. Everything except for the interlude in Roger’s kitchen.

  “…so as soon as Raoul brought me home from the disco bar I realized I couldn’t stay in Zermatt another second. I left the things he’d bought me on the bed. Then I packed my bag and walked down to the village station.”

  “In the dark?”

  “Yes. I wanted to be on the first train back to Visp. From there I rented a car and drove straight here. It won’t be long before he discovers I’m missing. Madame-I don’t want him to find me. I’ve played the part he asked me to play. Now it’s over. There are other titled women his family will suggest he marry in place of Sophie. At this point it will be much better for Raoul if I disappear. I’m so sorry to run out on you like this, but I can’t stay here! I simply can’t.”

  “Is this to be a permanent move on your part?”

  “Yes.”

  “I see.” After a brief silence, “Of course you’re free to go. Whenever you wish.”

  “You mean it?” she cried out.

  “Bien sûr. Even when you were mourning your family, you never let up in your duties. I worried about that. It wouldn’t surprise me that it has all caught up with you. I’ll phone Mademoiselle Lambert right now and ask her to come over.”

  Lee jumped up from the chair and rushed around to hug the older woman. “Thank you, madame. I’ll never be able to repay you for everything.”

  “Nonsense. You’ve been through a lifechanging experience far too early in your young life. I want you to find happiness, ma chére. I had hoped it would be here in Switzerland, but evidently that’s not the case.

  “If you’re going to make that flight, you need to leave for Geneva in the next few minutes. On your way out, come back in here. There’ll be a check for you on my desk.”

  “I don’t deserve your kindness.”

  “Of course you do. You’re the best assistant I ever had. Don’t worry about your things. The maids can pack up your belongings and I’ll have them shipped to your address in Jackson. It’s still in my file.”

  “If you wouldn’t mind, could you ask them to take them up to the attic? You see, my parents’s house is being rented at the moment. Their things are in storage. I’ll proba
bly stay in Montana with my aunt and uncle until I’m free to move back to Jackson. Even then I may sell up and move somewhere else. When I’m settled in a place for good I’ll send for my things here. Right now e-everything’s so up in the air I can’t make definite plans.”

  “Of course not. I’m just thankful you have relatives who love you and will be happy to see you. Promise me you’ll stay in close touch?”

  “I swear it.” She sniffed. “Madame? There’s one more thing. I’ve written Sophie a letter and put a stamp on it. Will you wait a week and then put it in the post?”

  “Consider it done.”

  They embraced once more before she hurried from the office and raced up to her room on the third floor. All she needed to do was put a few more blouses, jeans and shorts in her suitcase. She wouldn’t need anything else until she knew what she was going to do about the rest of her life.

  For the moment nothing was as important as putting an ocean between her and Raoul.

  Philippe finished off his croissant with another cup of tea. “You keep pacing the floor like that and you’re going to wear a hole in it, mon ami. It’s only nine-thirty. After a night of dancing, I wouldn’t be surprised if she slept till noon.”

  Raoul’s frown turned into a grimace. He eyed his friend. “I doubt she could sleep anymore than I could. I’m going to phone her.”

  He walked across the kitchen to the house phone on the wall and rang the guest bedroom. After four rings he decided she could be in the shower. When he’d counted twenty of them, he knew something was wrong and hung up.

  Filled with alarm, he left the kitchen and raced down the hall. “Lee?” he called out before opening her door.

  His gaze fell on the purple dress and shoes laid out neatly on top of the made-up bed. Alongside them were the coat and his mother’s sweater. He groaned as if someone had just planted a fist in his gut.

  “She’s gone!”

  Philippe was right behind him. “Maybe she went out the front door for a walk.”

  “You don’t believe that anymore than I do.”

  “I’ll contact the taxi service and find out when she left.”

  While Philippe phoned from the bedside table, Raoul picked up one of the shoes she’d worn dancing. As he dangled it by its dainty strap, a certain conversation came back to him in full force.

  I feel like Cinderella who got her dance with the Prince.

  Except that the enchantment isn’t over yet.

  Mon Dieu, how wrong could Raoul have been?

  Philippe hung up the receiver. “There’s been no call made from the chalet.”

  “She might have gotten a ride with Greta and Franz on their way to mass,” Raoul theorized, but he didn’t believe it.

  “We didn’t go this morning.”

  At the sound of his housekeeper’s voice, Raoul spun around.

  “Franz isn’t feeling well.”

  “I’m sorry to hear that. Greta? Do you know anything about Lee’s disappearance?”

  “Nothing.” She turned and went back down the hall, mumbling.

  “I’ll phone Roger,” Philippe volunteered. “Maybe she asked for his help.”

  “Thanks, but you’d be wasting your time. He would have let me know if she’d tried to use him. It’s evident Lee sneaked out of here on foot. The question is, when did she go?”

  “Probably while you were on the phone to your parents.”

  “I told them I was bringing her back to the château to meet them,” Raoul muttered.

  His mother and father had been more understanding than any son had a right to expect. Touched by Lee’s allegiance to Sophie, and the tragedy that had befallen her family and fiancé, they had urged him to bring her home so they could get acquainted.

  He checked his watch. “If she left that long ago she ought to be arriving at Beau Lac any time now.”

  “Then let’s fly you to Nyon right away!”

  “You’re reading my mind.”

  Philippe pulled out his cellphone and punched some numbers. “I’ll alert the guys to have the helicopter ready for us.”

  CHAPTER TEN

  T HE sight of the Tetons had thrilled Lee all her life. But as her rental car rounded a bend in the highway, and she glimpsed those glorious mountains tinted an orange-pink by the setting sun, they brought back such powerful memories of Raoul she was staggered by the pain.

  Why did I come this way? She groaned.

  During the last month and a half she’d been living in a kind of limbo with her mother’s sister and family. Between their love and a busy schedule guaranteed to keep her distracted, she’d managed to keep her heartache simmering beneath the surface.

  After this long, she’d actually thought she was doing better. But one glance at the Grand Teton, reminiscent of the Matterhorn knifing through the thin atmosphere, and her agony came rushing to the fore, raw and unbearable.

  She could never live here! There was no way. Lee needed to move to a part of the country where there’d be no possible reminder of Raoul.

  During her time with the family she’d talked to her aunt about moving to Sacramento, where there was an opening at a private college for a teacher with her foreign language skills and experience. Though she couldn’t imagine ever being happy again, she had to make a new start somewhere.

  After checking into the Mount Moran Inn in Jackson, Wyoming, Raoul got back in his rental car and followed directions to the Greshams’s modest ranchstyle home a mile away. Thanks to Madame Simoness, he’d been given an address.

  He got there in time to watch an elderly couple drive away from the empty house in a U-Haul truck. Over the last six weeks he’d badgered them for Lee’s whereabouts. They’d insisted they didn’t know anything about her. But during one of his many phone calls from the château Raoul had found out they’d be vacating the house on the twenty-eighth of August.

  That was the news he’d been waiting for.

  Knowing the date, he’d made arrangements to leave Switzerland for as long as it took to find Lee and take her back with him. Her disappearance had created a living nightmare for him.

  If the headmistress of Beau Lac had been able to give Raoul even one clue where to look for Lee in Montana, he wouldn’t have left a stone unturned tracking her down.

  To compound his pain, Sophie and her parents had left Geneva that same weekend as Lee, to go to an undisclosed location. Sophie had remained incommunicado. The last he’d heard, she had married Luciano and had gone on an extended honeymoon.

  Without her help, Raoul had been left with no choice but to wait for Lee to show up in Jackson. It had been agony, and it wasn’t over yet.

  He got out of the car and walked up to the front porch. There was no Realtor sign or “For Rent” card anywhere. No phone number he could call.

  That familiar sinking pit in his stomach was growing. He descended the steps and explored around the back of the house. Beneath a hot noonday sun his gaze took in the property that held so much meaning for her. From tiny baby to a seventeen-year-old, this had been her world, where she’d known happiness with her family.

  Mon Dieu- How long did she intend to torture both of them? He knew in his gut she was far from indifferent to him.

  Where are you, Lee?

  He checked his watch. Two detectives from a local PI firm he’d contacted would be meeting him here in a few minutes. He was having the house put under surveillance to make certain he didn’t miss her.

  She had to come back here sometime. Until then, he wasn’t leaving town.

  By the time Lee reached Jackson it was dusk. Every motel had a “No Vacancy” sign. As usual the town was filled with tourists taking advantage of the last weekend in August before school started.

  Since she’d made reservations at the Mount Moran Inn from her aunt’s house, it didn’t matter when she checked in. While there was still some light, now would be a good time to drive by the house for one last look. She had no desire to go inside and dredge up childhood memories.
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  Tomorrow she’d ask her attorney to put the house on the market. Then she’d leave for California.

  As she drove through Jackson she noted that it had grown some over the last few years. Maybe six or seven thousand people made up the town. But the street where she’d once lived hadn’t changed.

  The old ranch-style home came up on the left. She pulled into the driveway and sat there for a while.

  Was there anything emptier than a house without people in it? Especially when you’d loved those people and knew you wouldn’t see them till the next life?

  Her emptiness grew as her thoughts flicked back to Switzerland and all that she’d left behind.

  “Raoul-” His name burst out of her on a sob before they began in earnest. Great heaving sobs that shook her whole body. “Dear God, how am I going to make it through this life without you?”

  She buried her face in her hands.

  Eventually the tears subsided enough that she could start the car and go back to the inn.

  After checking in at Reception, she took the card key and walked down the left hallway to room twenty-five.

  “Lee?”

  A masculine voice that sounded achingly familiar caused her to drop everything: the card, her purse, the overnight bag.

  She spun around, wondering if she was hallucinating. But the second her gaze fused with those riveting blue eyes she couldn’t doubt the incontrovertible proof of his presence.

  It was Raoul. He was here in Jackson, not Zermatt or Neuchatel.

  Shock made it difficult for her to think.

  “H-how-?”

  “I followed you from the house.”

  “I mean-”

  “Madame Simoness.”

  “You were there?” Lee was so dazed nothing was coming out right. “She gave you my address?”

  “Yes,” he answered in a solemn voice. “I would have tapped on the car window, but I didn’t want to frighten you.”

  Lee started to tremble. Had he heard her cry out his name?

  “What are you doing here?”

  “Isn’t it obvious?”

  She shook her head in disbelief. “But why have you come? Has something terrible happened?”