Читать книгу Exclusive!: Hollywood Life or Royal Wife? / Marriage Scandal, Showbiz Baby! / Sex, Lies and a Security Tape - Jackie Braun, Fiona Hood-Stewart, Fiona Hood-Stewart - Страница 13

‘YOU CAN’T STAY HIDDEN there for ever,’ Anne insisted next day, when Victoria phoned her, sitting perched on the balustrade of the terrace looking down past the olive groves at the sea.

‘Anne, I—’ Victoria wanted to tell her about Bill, about the awful phone call and how scared she was. But something stopped her.

‘What is it, Vic?’

‘Nothing.’

Anne hesitated. ‘Vic, is something the matter?’

‘No, not at all. In fact very much the opposite. The Prince has been a wonderful host.’

‘Look, they want to shoot those pictures in London in four days.’

‘Four days?’

‘Exactly. I’ve made arrangements for a jet to pick you up on the island and fly you to London. I’ll be there to pick you up.’

So she’d been right. It was all a dream that would come to an end as fast as it had begun. Victoria stared at the sea, at a woman leading a loaded donkey on the path below, and sighed.

‘Vic? Are you still there? Tell me, how did you like the island? See any property that you might want to invest in?’

‘It’s very nice. But frankly I’m not sure about it.’ The thought of being on the island, so close to Rodolfo and having to perhaps see him with another woman, would be unbearable, she realised suddenly. The last thing she wanted was to live here if she couldn’t be with him. ‘We’ll talk about it when I see you.’

‘Okay. Fine. Have a good time. I’ll call you again with the departure time. By the way, I think things are beginning to die down on the press front. Ed’s cooled down.’

‘Good. Bye then.’

Victoria swallowed as she laid down the receiver. She thought of Bill and the twenty-four-hour deadline he’d given her to come up with some cash. Should she pay him off and be left in peace for a while? Or would he simply become an ongoing threat, always there, ready to blackmail her whenever he wanted more money?

Her thoughts were interrupted by a movement from inside the castello. She looked up. A tall, slim blonde woman in well-cut white trousers and a black linen top, with a large leather handbag flung over her shoulder and a haughty expression, stepped onto the terrace.

‘And who,’ she demanded peremptorily, ‘are you?’ She tipped up her designer sunglasses to take better stock of Victoria.

‘I’m staying here,’ Victoria replied, bristling. Who was this creature, and what right did she have to question her?

‘Oh. How strange,’ she said. She had a foreign accent. ‘Where is he—do you know?’

‘Who?’

‘Why, the Prince, of course. Who else?’ The woman cast Victoria a withering look.

‘I have no idea. Perhaps in his office,’ Victoria replied coldly. ‘He said he had business to attend to.’

‘I see. Are you the new secretary?’ the woman enquired, looking her up and down. ‘Why aren’t you inside working?’

‘Look, I really don’t see what business it is of yours who I am or what I do,’ Victoria muttered icily.

At that moment Rodolfo stepped out onto the terrace. He took in the scene and cleared his throat. ‘Alexandra. What an unexpected surprise. I didn’t know you were on the island.’

‘My yacht anchored this morning. You look in good form, mein lieber.’ The woman sidled up to him, slipped an arm around his neck and deposited a kiss on his lips.

‘Uh, yes, I’m fine. I see you’ve met Victoria,’ Rodolfo added hastily, amazed at Countess Alexandra’s extraordinary behaviour.

She was one of the women the council had suggested he marry. Seeing her now, next to Victoria, he realised how impossible that would be. Alexandra was domineering and cold, even though her beauty and chic were undeniable. He glanced at Victoria, saw the tempestuous pain in her eyes, and felt his heart sink. The way Alexandra was behaving, Victoria would naturally believe there was something between them.

‘I haven’t been introduced. I didn’t know you allowed your staff to dawdle about,’ Alexandra pronounced in a low sultry voice.

‘Staff?’

‘Well, isn’t she your new secretary?’ Alexandra said, as though Victoria weren’t there.

‘Whatever gave you that idea?’ Rodolfo returned, annoyed, and stepped pointedly away from her. ‘Victoria, may I introduce Countess Alexandra von Bellinghof? This is Victoria Woodward. You have perhaps seen her in the movie which won so much acclaim at the Cannes Film Festival.’

Alexandra looked taken aback, but she quickly came about. ‘Ah, yes, of course. I should have recognised you immediately. After all, you’ve been front-page news for the past few days, haven’t you?’ The Countess’s tone was patronising and laced with venom.

Victoria seethed inwardly, but held her temper in check. She could tell the woman was determined to provoke her but she wouldn’t rise to the bait.

‘Part of the trials of fame,’ she answered languidly. ‘One keeps on having to deal with the paparazzi and the gutter press.’

‘Victoria is here incognito,’ Rodolfo said hastily. ‘I shall expect your complete discretion,’ he insisted.

‘Oh, goodness. Well, of course.’ Alexandra waved a dismissive hand. ‘I’m sure you have enough troubles without being hounded by the curious. Though, of course, if one has the unwholesome habits you’re reputed to indulge in, then…’ She let the rest of the sentence trail, turned from Victoria and shrugged. ‘I suppose it’s the best one can expect.’

Rodolfo’s blood boiled, and he replied icily, ‘Alexandra, you should have called before coming here. I’m afraid this isn’t a very convenient time. Why don’t I give you a buzz when I’m able to make some arrangement to see you socially?’ he said, slipping his hand under her elbow and guiding her firmly back towards the living room.

Victoria was pleased to see the woman’s features stiffen. Then Alexandra drew herself up and sniffed. ‘Of course—I’m sorry if I’m in the way. I shall leave immediately. You are obviously very busy. I imagine you must be amusing yourself quite nicely,’ she added, in a low conspiratorial voice that was calculated to reach Victoria.

Despite her anger, Victoria’s cheeks turned red. Was it written all over her that she’d slept with Rodolfo? Or was the woman just a bitch? Whichever the case, she felt diminished and offended.

‘I’m sorry about that,’ Rodolfo said a couple of minutes later. ‘Alexandra was being particularly obnoxious today.’ He laughed, making light of the situation, but Victoria could see that he was ruffled.

‘Who is she anyway?’

‘A German countess whose parents have a property on the island.’

‘She seemed to be quite intimate with you.’

‘Hmmm.’ He smiled ruefully. ‘I have a feeling that was for your benefit.’

‘Why?’

‘I think Alexandra sensed something between us. She knows that the council of the island are urging me to find a suitable wife and get married. They are concerned with the succession. Obviously Alexandra has her own agenda.’ He approached, lifted Victoria’s chin and peered into her clear grey eyes. ‘Don’t tell me you’re jealous, cara?’

Victoria caught the glint of male satisfaction in his eyes. ‘Not in the least,’ she answered, sending him a bright smile. She would not let him know the devastating effect of Alexandra’s gestures. She would not give him that satisfaction.

Swooping an arm possessively around her, Rodolfo brought her up close. ‘How about a drive around the island? We could picnic somewhere, if you like, or I could take you to lunch at my favourite restaurant in Lamara—a village at the end of the island. I promise you Alexandra won’t bother us again. I sent her away with a flea in her ear.’

A slow smile hovered about Victoria’s lips. His words mollified her defiant mood. ‘Okay, that sounds very nice,’ she said, lifting her face for his kiss.

THE RIDE TO THE OTHER SIDE of the island was delightful. Together they wandered hand in hand up a hill to the little rustic fish restaurant, all crooked whitewashed walls and bright blue shutters, perched on the edge of a cliff overlooking the pristine sandy beach below. Immediately a large grey-haired lady in a bright flowered apron, wreathed in smiles, came to greet them.

‘Your Highness, what a pleasure to see you. And so well accompanied,’ the woman said with a broad smile.

She showed them to a secluded table with a wonderful view, and soon the red and white checkered tablecloth was covered with all sorts of dishes, ranging from fried fish to squid salad, lobster and a local specialty of meatballs in a delicious sauce that Victoria had grown particularly fond of in the past few days.

Now that they were away from the palace, and Alexandra’s oppressive presence, she’d recovered her mood of the night before. It was difficult to think of anything disagreeable like Bill’s ultimatum when she was being treated to so much solicitude. Determined to enjoy herself, she pushed the impending threat to the back of her mind. What could he do that hadn’t already been done? The scandal was fading, according to Anne—a seven-day wonder. Soon she would just be another item of old news.

Rodolfo was charming, as always, and she found herself melting inside when she looked at him, remembering all that had taken place the previous night. There was a new tenderness and intimacy between them that she had never known with a man before. What would it be like to leave? she wondered as she sipped a glass of chilled water. What would Hollywood and all the hype be like after this? That, and knowing that she probably wouldn’t ever see him again? Her heart sank at the thought.

Just as she was about to take another sip of water a shadow fell on the table and she looked up. A scruffy young man stood there, a smirk on his face.

‘Hi, gorgeous,’ he drawled in an American accent. ‘Having a nice day? Knew I’d find you if I looked hard enough.’

Rodolfo was looking at her, then at the young man.

‘Who are you?’ Victoria demanded, feeling her pulse race and her stomach lurch. This had to be Bill. How on earth had he found her?

‘You know what they say. You can run but you can’t hide.’ Bill wagged a finger at her and smirked again.

‘What do you want?’ she muttered, swallowing.

‘I told you what I wanted when I called you last night. But I guess it’s too late for that, honeybunch. You had your chance and you didn’t take it. Tough.’ With that he pulled a small camera from his pocket and snapped several quick shots.

‘Who the hell is this?’ Rodolfo rose quickly to his feet as Bill stepped niftily away from the table and made for the door.

‘He’s someone from LA. He—well—’ Oh, how could she tell Rodolfo?

‘What, Victoria? Tell me at once,’ Rodolfo commanded, leaning towards her and taking her hand in his. ‘You must tell me. He’s taken pictures. I need to know.’

‘He’s the boyfriend of the girl who introduced me to the doctor who gave me the pills,’ she said in a half-whisper. ‘He’s already tried to blackmail me. He—’

But before she could finish Rodolfo had spun on his heel and was marching across the restaurant. He caught up with Bill as he was about to get into his Jeep.

‘Hey—you!’ Rodolfo threw at the coarse-looking unshaven creature. ‘Give me that camera at once.’

‘You have to be kidding. This is tomorrow’s headlines.’ Bill patted the camera smugly. ‘You may run your own little show here on your fantasy island, Your Royal Highness, but where I come from money talks. Sorry.’ He made to switch on the engine.

But before he could do so Rodolfo lunged forward and caught him by the scruff of his neck. ‘I’m asking you nicely,’ he said, his voice low and filled with menace.

‘Hey, leave me be,’ the man said, trying pull away, his expression ugly. ‘I have every right to take pictures of who the hell I want.’

‘Not on my island, you don’t. As you just pointed out, I run the show around here. If you don’t give me that camera immediately I shall have you arrested for harassment. That, I believe, is a term that you should be familiar with where you come from?’

‘Hey, you can’t do that,’ Bill protested. Then, after pushing Rodolfo away, he revved the engine and skidded off down the earth road, leaving a trail of dust in his wake.

Without hesitation Rodolfo pulled out his mobile and called the local police. They would stop Bill at the port. No way would he allow Victoria to be blackmailed or harassed by the press or by some unscrupulous drug dealer.

As he slipped his phone back in his shirt pocket and stepped back into the restaurant, it occurred to Rodolfo that his reaction had been somewhat out of proportion. It had been that of a man protecting the woman he cared for, he thought suddenly. He looked across at Victoria, standing uneasily by their table, not knowing what to do, and smiled at her reassuringly. He did care for her, he realised, more than he would have imagined—certainly more than he ever would have deemed possible. Last night, spent together in each other’s arms, had been so special, so filled with extraordinary sensations and tenderness, that he would find it hard to forget.

Banishing his thoughts, Rodolfo went over to her. ‘The police will cut him off further down the road or at the ferry, so don’t worry. He won’t leave the island with those pictures. And if he doesn’t give the camera up voluntarily he’ll go to jail for a few hours. That should do the trick.’ He smiled down at her, his fingers touching her hair, and he made her sit down again. ‘There is no need to worry, Victoria. All that is behind you now, cara mia. But you must swear something to me.’

‘What is that?’ she asked sinking back onto the chair, her hand still held in his.

‘That if anybody should come bothering you or threatening you again, you will tell me at once. Trust me, Victoria. Above all, I’m your friend.’

She swallowed, then nodded silently, allowed him to pour her some more mineral water and sat with her hand covered by his.

‘Promise?’ He raised his glass to hers.

‘I promise,’ she said, smiling into his eyes. It felt strangely reassuring to know that he cared for her enough to worry about her well-being. ‘I wish I didn’t have to go back to Hollywood and that whole scene,’ she said suddenly.

‘Then why not drop the whole thing?’

‘Because I love acting—and the script of this new movie. It’s what I’ve always wanted. I can’t just run away. I would never forgive myself. I just wish—’ She cut off abruptly, looked down into her glass and sighed.

‘What do you wish?’ he asked softly.

‘That I was made of sterner stuff,’ she replied with a smile.

‘You are strong. But that world is full of traps. I know—I’ve seen it close-up. Are you sure you have to go?’

‘I have to. Apart from the fact that I’d never be able to face myself if I failed, I’m under contract. Ed would have a fit. No,’ she said, shaking her head and sipping more water, ‘I’m just going to have to face it.’

‘And fall back into old habits?’ he said, raising a harsh dark brow and withdrawing his hand from hers.

‘No. I’m determined not to.’

‘Easily said, when sitting here away from it all,’ he remarked dryly. ‘You don’t want to go back to popping pills, but you can’t guarantee that you won’t when the going gets tough.’

‘I will do my very best, I promise. And I’ll have Dottore Manfreddo’s tea.’

‘That’s not good enough,’ he said harshly, his eyes meeting hers. ‘I want you to swear to me that you won’t ever take those things again. Don’t you realise the danger? You have no idea what you’re taking. They could kill you, Victoria.’

Her eyes met his full-on, and she read the concern and anger in them and felt sudden resentment at his attitude. ‘Rodolfo, it’s easy enough for you to judge. You live here, in this magical kingdom, protected from everything. It’s different out there in the real world. I don’t want to fall back into anything, and I don’t believe I will now that I know the full truth, but I can’t promise you that in a crisis I won’t, because I don’t honestly know. I’d be lying. Sometimes the stress is overwhelming and, as we both know, I’m not good at too much pressure.’

‘You’re right,’ he conceded reluctantly. ‘Will you at least promise me that if you’re feeling down, overwhelmed or whatever, you will call me before doing anything rash, and that together we’ll find a solution? As I said before, cara mia, I’m above all your friend.’

She nodded. ‘I promise.’

Her friend. That was all. She supposed it was a lot but she wished he had said, I’m the man who loves you. But that wasn’t to be, she argued reasonably. And she was foolish even to think of such a thing.

Several minutes later Rodolfo rang the police and was advised that Bill had been stopped on the road and his camera confiscated. He had left the island furious, threatening lawsuits. But that, as Rodolfo knew, was just hot air.

‘He can threaten as much as he likes. The laws here do not permit harassment of my residents,’ he said autocratically. ‘Victoria, I suggest we go back to the castello and take a long afternoon siesta?’

He sent her an intimate smile filled with promise. His tender eyes and fingers, caressing the inside of her wrist, sent shivers jolting through her. Was it foolish to allow him to make love to her again? Was it courting trouble? Perhaps. But how could she resist? She had only a few days left before the dream came to an end and she returned to reality. She knew that, whatever the consequences for her own heart, she must live it to the full or regret it for the rest of her life.

A HEAT HAZE SHIMMERED outside, but in the shuttered bedroom of Rodolfo’s apartment the atmosphere was cool. Drawing Victoria towards him, Rodolfo slipped her top off, then her skirt and lacy undergarments. There was no pretence, no lingering over niceties, just a deep-rooted need to be in each other’s arms, skin to skin, throbbing heart to throbbing heart.

As her bra fell to the floor and his eyes fell upon her upturned breasts he sighed. ‘Ah, bellissima Victoria, how shall I be able to let you go?’ he whispered, letting his fingers trail down her throat, then down to caress the tips of her taut nipples.

She swallowed, eyes closed, then let out a tiny gasp of delight when his thumb grazed the aching tips and his other hand reached between her thighs for that special secret spot inside that she had never known existed until yesterday.

Next they were lying on the bed. Rodolfo caressed her, relishing the warmth, her honeyed response as his fingers reached inside her, making her writhe with delight as expertly he stroked while he took the tip of her nipple between his teeth, taunted and laved, driving her to distraction.

Only when he knew she could bear it no longer, that he had brought her to a peak several times, did he allow himself the ultimate pleasure. In one quick thrust he penetrated her, making her gasp. This was not the tender lovemaking of yesterday, but a hot, harsh need for completion in which she joined him. Braced on his hands above her, Rodolfo took her in long deep thrusts that left her on the verge of madness. Then she curled her legs around his waist and brought him down upon her, and together they spiralled once more, reaching new heights of unexpected pleasure, spinning into a whirlwind of delight that knew no boundaries.