November Harlequin Presents 1(19)

‘You’ve just proved that you would,’ Nico said. Walking to the door, he opened it wide. ‘Now, please leave.’

‘Nico—’

He turned his face away from her as if he couldn’t bear the sight of her a moment longer and his voice when he spoke next was the voice of a stranger. ‘I feel as if I’ve been with a very different woman to the sweet girl I employed. You’re a better actress than I thought, Carrie Evans, and a crueller one, but don’t think you can lay your mistakes at my door.’

‘My baby isn’t a mistake,’ she assured him tensely. ‘The only mistake I made was getting involved with you.’

‘It’s time to accept I’m not the father of your baby.’

‘Nico, you must believe—’

‘I can assure you I’m not. Your plan has badly misfired.’

‘My plan?’ She looked at him in bewilderment, but there was no chance to press him because in her worst nightmare come true Princess Anastasia was bearing down on them.

Wearing a slinky black dress with earrings so long the diamonds glittered on her shoulders like drops of sweat, the princess came straight to Nico’s side and linked arms with him.

‘Darling, what’s taking you so long?’ she purred into his ear.

‘Forgive me, Anastasia,’ he said smoothly, moving away. Thrusting Carrie behind him, Nico planted himself in front of her.

Carrie blenched as she viewed her rival through the small space left between Nico and the door frame. She might as well retire gracefully now. She was nothing but a little drab compared to the princess.

‘I heard raised voices, darling.’ Peering round Nico, Anastasia tried to get a better view of Carrie. ‘You don’t have a problem, I hope?’

‘No problem,’ Nico said evenly.

For a moment Carrie was surprised that Nico was troubling to protect her, but then she realised he was protecting his flawless reputation. Nico was used to sailing above the trivial embarrassments that afflicted the rest of mankind, and she guessed finding himself on the back foot was something new for him.

‘Is there a problem, Nico?’ Anastasia pressed. ‘They told me you had been detained.’ She gave a pretty pout. ‘But they also promised me that you would be joining us for coffee…Is this girl bothering you?’ Craning her elegant neck, she stared down her perfect ski-slope nose at Carrie.

Nico stood to one side, leaving the two women in full sight of each other. ‘Carrie Evans used to work for me.’

‘I see…’ Finely plucked eyebrows soared at an acute angle as the princess evaluated her opponent.

‘Carrie’s in Niroli on holiday, aren’t you, Carrie?’

Nico was prompting her? Carrie chose to remain silent.

‘Carrie, may I present Princess Anastasia….’

As Nico introduced her to the princess she stood stiffly, hoping Anastasia didn’t expect her to curtsy; the princess’s haughty gaze had instantly labelled her an inferior.

‘Why, Anastasia…nothing to say?’ Nico pressed. ‘Is there a reason Ms Evans shouldn’t visit the palace while she’s holidaying in Niroli?’ His voice was like a velvet threat, and as he spoke a quiver of response ran across Carrie’s shoulders.

‘No reason at all,’ Princess Anastasia said quickly, opening her eyes very wide to signal her absolute agreement with anything Nico chose to say about the matter.

He was playing them off against each other, Carrie realised. This might be providing Nico with an amusing interlude, but she wasn’t going to play. On the other hand, who knew what lengths Anastasia would go to in order to ingratiate herself with Nico? Any and all, Carrie concluded, watching the princess moisten her lips with the tip of her tongue.

‘I hope you will accept my apologies, Principessa?’

As Nico spoke Carrie had to hide her feelings, for, overriding the desire to scratch out Anastasia’s eyes was the desire to laugh. The role of penitent was completely beyond Nico’s acting capabilities. The princess didn’t seem to realise this and her soft exhalation of breath assured Carrie that Anastasia would take Nico on any terms.

‘I do hope we’re not too late for the last dance?’ Nico added, bowing low to Anastasia.

As his sardonic glance brushed her face Carrie knew she had been relegated to the position of silent servant. Nico and his princess were conducting a conversation that excluded her. Could he have found a crueller way to put her in her place?

‘Of course we’re not too late for the last dance, caro,’ Anastasia assured him, and this time she did include Carrie in the conversation, if only to shoot her a look of triumph.