Lara looked around her room fighting the panic rising in her. Was this how the rest of her life would be? To be prodded and pulled to do other peoples’ bidding. She needed someone to talk to—Jade or Kate, her best friends.
She checked the time on her bedside clock. They were both in Australia and it was getting late there. Still… She rang Jade’s cell and received a voice mail message. Then a disembodied voice on Kate’s cell said her phone was either switched off or out of range. Disheartened, she replaced the receiver. She just couldn’t win.
~ * ~
By the time two o’clock arrived, she had talked herself into a different frame of mind. She had decided that none of the present situation was anyone’s fault and to be petulant wasn’t going to do her, Jack or her parents any good.
After all, this whole thing had been caused by a domino effect. If she hadn’t met Jack and he hadn’t been wealthy and her country in trouble, then her parents wouldn’t have considered him for her husband. Regretfully, he wouldn’t even have been invited here as the royal guest but could possibly have been sent to prison instead. Because she had refused his proposal, her parents would now seek another suitable husband for her. Well, that was too bad. She wasn’t ready to marry anyone unless they loved her, really loved her for herself. Not for her position and to take advantage of her family and not because they wanted to own her, like a prized possession.
“And certainly not because they want to use my body to satisfy their physical needs, Jack Lucas,” she whispered, stepping down the remaining stairs and walking toward the main entrance of the palace.
She was worried about the financial difficulties of her country and would ask her father to explain this to her when she could get some time with him. She didn’t understand how a huge debt could place the royal family in such a position. Surely, Challoner’s government, not her parents, was responsible for sorting this out?
“There you are, Lara. She looks lovely, doesn’t she, Jack?”
Lara smiled at him determined to put the marriage proposal episode behind her. “Thank you. Hello, Jack. Have you had a good meeting with my father?”
He looked very handsome in a thick, warm coat and on his head wore a Russian-style hat. Obviously, Rudolf had wanted to make sure he didn’t get cold and had provided him with appropriate clothing. Lara once again wore her white fake fur coat and matching hat, which she pulled over her hair.
“I had a good meeting and an extremely pleasant lunch with his majesty,” he replied and she could tell he had no intention of giving anything away.
“Jack, you sit next to Lara and face forward so you can see the beautiful sights of Challoner.”
Francesca was in her top organizing form, and Lara found herself sitting in the horse-drawn sleigh with Jack at her side as the driver tucked a warm rug over their knees. Francesca had arranged for Hubert, the royal estate manager and expert historian on Challoner, to accompany them and he and the queen sat facing the other two.
“This is fantastic and what beautiful horses,” Jack remarked.
Lara smiled at Jack’s pleasure as the two magnificent thoroughbreds, encouraged by their driver, moved forward easily pulling the giant sleigh across the snow.
He was right, she thought an hour later as the horses turned toward the palace on the return journey. She had forgotten how lovely her home was. It was a glorious blue and golden day with the sun shining brilliantly on a fairyland of beauty. The ride had taken them through the palace grounds and then into the royal parks. Every tree dazzled under their ethereal mantles of snow.
When they had left the palace grounds, they had been joined by a land rover carrying four plain-clothed policemen who provided the necessary protection and escorted them through the old part of the city. Throughout the ride, Hubert had pointed out the historical features of interest to Jack who, in return, had asked many questions. Francesca was at her most charming and continued to make a huge fuss of Jack.
For Lara it had been a ride of exquisite torture. She was aware of the slightest movement Jack made. His hands chopping the air as he emphasized a point in his conversation with Francesca, the perfection of his profile as he half turned to her, the occasional pressure and warmth of his