Читать книгу By Request Collection Part 3 - Майя Бэнкс, Robyn Donald - Страница 45

ALYSSA stretched out luxuriantly, still hazy from the dream she’d just had. Opening her eyes, she lurched back to reality. This was Lysander’s bed, and she was still in his cabin on-board his private plane. Only the touch of his lips had been a dream. The wonderful, guilty feeling of being held in his arms slipped away as she woke fully, leaving her alone again. It wasn’t his pulse she could feel purring through the length of her body, but the soft vibration of aircraft engines.

That was enough to get her moving. She wished she could enjoy Lysander’s own private space, but the sensation of being in a plane played on her nerves. She needed distraction, and was about to get up when sounds of soft movement came from outside the bedroom. She froze. Without knowing why, she shut her eyes again and rolled onto her side with her back to the door. There was something about being found awake in this room that felt all wrong, and her only defence was to play possum. Whoever was coming to investigate was bound to let her sleep on. That would be less embarrassing all round.

She heard the cabin door brush over the thick carpet as it was pushed open. She expected her visitor, whoever it was, to retreat after a quick peek. Forcing herself to breathe slowly despite her pounding heartbeat, she waited to hear it close again. It didn’t happen. Instead, muffled footsteps crossed the room to her bedside. Despite straining her ears she hardly heard a sound, but there was a definite presence very near to her. She felt it grow closer as someone leaned over her—and she inhaled the clean fresh scent of Lysander’s aftershave. It gave her such a lift she let her eyelashes part a fraction. When she saw the pale shape of his hand drifting towards her cheek she drew in a long lingering breath, waiting for his touch.

It never came. His hand hovered beside her face, then moved down to linger over her shoulder. He was almost touching her—but his fingertips never quite connected with her body. The suspense stroked an exquisite glow over her skin. Then she saw his fingers clench. Abruptly, he pulled his hand out of her restricted field of view. Her heart sinking, she waited for him to vanish and quietly close the door on her fantasy.

When he slammed it with enough force to demolish the place, Alyssa didn’t have to pretend to jump—she did it naturally. She sat up sharply in the bed, then remembered she should be half asleep. Rubbing her eyes, she pretended to be confused. Lysander was standing in the doorway, looking carefully at everything else in the cabin, but not her. Alyssa was glad she wasn’t the focus of his attention. It meant she didn’t have to meet his eyes.

‘Come on, Goldilocks, it’s time to get out of my bed. Alyssa!’ he called across the room.

Oh, why couldn’t you have thought of Sleeping Beauty instead? she thought, but deep down she knew. It was the same reason why he hadn’t shaken her awake. That would have bridged the invisible dividing line between them—the one she had been so keen to draw. His bedroom was the place where it was stretched so thinly, Alyssa was glad Lysander was the one making sure things didn’t get too personal. The reason for her being here in his bed was awkward enough. She already felt at a disadvantage, and wouldn’t have known what to say.

‘You’ll have to get your seat belt on for the landing,’ he announced as she checked her watch.

She sighed, but it had nothing to do with sleepiness. It was such a let-down to get up and leave all that comfort behind. Lysander’s on-board office was geared up for work, not fantasy. She had experienced a lovely dream, but that was all. He had made waking her up nothing more than a chore, to be ticked off his ‘to do’ list. Given his casual attitude to women and her damaged feelings, Alyssa knew it was probably just as well. Trying to hide her mixed feelings about that, she busied herself getting Ra’id ready for touchdown. To distract herself, she risked a look out of the nearest window as she fastened his seat belt. If anything could take her mind off Lysander, it was the reminder that she was on a plane.

As the clouds thinned the lion-colored landscape of Rosara became visible below. Alyssa’s stomach lurched, and not only through fear. She hadn’t anticipated the way she would feel when seeing Lysander’s country. His beautiful land appealed to her heart straight away, in the same way something about him reached out to her. It was a mystery, just waiting for her to explore …

The moment they landed Ra’id bounced out of his seat. Alyssa was glad of the excuse to chase after him. She couldn’t wait to get off the plane, but Lysander caught her arm as she passed him. She looked back, and her reaction made him let go instantly. He raised his hand in a wordless apology.

‘I thought you might like to let me go on ahead, Alyssa. That’s all. I’m more used to the reception committee,’ he began, but his cabin crew were already swinging the aircraft’s door open.

She caught Ra’id’s hand before he reached the top of the steps, and she was almost thrown backwards by a wave of noise. Looking out of the plane, she registered the huge crowd of people gathered around Rosara’s small airport building. They were lined up around the roof, the balconies and spilling onto the airstrip. Panic almost swamped her. She gripped Ra’id’s hand, but the little boy was in his element.

‘Wave, Alyssa!’ He laughed, but all she wanted to do was dive back into the plane. She half turned, but Lysander was right behind her. There was nowhere to run, but suddenly that didn’t matter. She couldn’t move. The change in Lysander was so amazing, she wasn’t going anywhere. Acknowledging the cheers of his people, he seemed taller and more impressive than ever. Everything that had intrigued her about him was magnified under Rosara’s golden sunlight.

Rising to the occasion, he lifted one hand to salute the crowds. They went wild with delight. Lysander must be as popular with his people as he was with supermodels and celebrities! Swept up in the romance of it all, Alyssa couldn’t help being impressed. She had wondered if Lysander saved his best behaviour for abroad, making his home ground the place where he was Player King. Instead, he looked every inch the suave, sophisticated statesman. With one hand on Ra’id’s shoulder, he encouraged the little boy to wave to their audience. Alyssa decided she might have misjudged Lysander. His country was bringing out the professional best in him. Maybe she would be able to relax her guard a little bit while she was here, after all … The heat of Rosara flowed over her, filled with exotic sounds and scents. It was exciting, but terrifying at the same time. The breath caught in her throat, and she had to fight the urge to lean back against Lysander’s reassuring bulk.

He had no qualms about lowering his head until she could feel the whisper of his words, warm against her neck.

‘Are you OK?’

She nodded. ‘Just a bit overwhelmed, that’s all! Are you always greeted like this when you arrive in Rosara?’

‘Pretty much. With so few flights in and out of our country, a royal arrival is always a real event. Practically the entire local population turns out to welcome us home.’

That explains everything, she thought with a rueful smile. He’s playing to the gallery. It’s an easy way to impress the maximum number, with the minimum effort.

Letting Lysander deal with the cheering crowds, she basked in the warmth of his reflected glory. It was lovely to pause, and take in her new surroundings. The atmosphere was rich, and Rosara was well named—The Land of Roses. She could smell flowers with every breath, and it was wonderful. She drank in optimism with the dry air as she walked down the aircraft steps holding Ra’id’s hand. With Lysander so close beside her, her dream job was getting better and better.

‘There. You’ve done it. Solid ground beneath your feet at last.’ He chuckled quietly.

Alyssa laughed at the sensation of his breath whispering over her hair again. She was glad he had to lean so close to make himself heard over the racket.

‘Yes, but you helped me more than you will know, Lysander. Thank you. And it was well worth the journey. I’m so pleased to be here at last. Isn’t it terrific? All these people really love you!’

‘I know. They always have, but that isn’t enough any more, is it?’ he murmured with an insight that made her look at him with new eyes. ‘From now on, I must earn their respect, too. That’s why I must get to work straight away. I should be hustling us straight to the palace.’ His grimace told its own story. It was one thing to be the centre of attention, but not so enjoyable when you were in charge of all those individual lives.

Alyssa knew all about pressure. She had been under enough of it herself in the past. But this was on a massive scale.

She thought back to her first sight of Lysander, surrounded by clamouring staff all wanting a piece of him. He had looked as tense as she’d felt then, but arriving home in Rosara had transformed him. He moved today with the ease of someone who didn’t have a care in the world. It was only when he mentioned going to the palace that the telltale creases reappeared around his eyes.

‘The crowd are enjoying this so much, it’s a shame to disappoint them by rushing away. Why don’t you send someone on ahead to sort out the most urgent stuff, while you stay here and enjoy your reception for a bit longer?’ Alyssa said with a smile. She guessed he might use her words as a good excuse to linger. ‘Anyone can see how you’ve been missed. You and Ra’id really ought to let the crowd get a good look at you both before you disappear behind the black glass of one of your official cars, Lysander!’

The warmth of his presence was quite a distraction in itself, but when his hand dropped lightly onto her shoulder in response to her words, she jumped.

‘There’s no need for that.’

Lifting his hand again, he pointed across the tarmac. A huge black open-topped limousine was gliding towards them. Surely she wasn’t expected to travel in that with him, under the interested gaze of his adoring public?

A chauffeur in full formal uniform and cap opened the car doors for them, saluting as Ra’id bounced into the front seat. Despite his regal status, Lysander stood aside with a smile for Alyssa to get into the rear seat first. She almost died of embarrassment as the crowd greeted this little touch with an extra loud roar of pleasure. From the sound of it, watching Lysander load young women into the back of official cars was a national pastime.

As they drove slowly past the airport terminal a man burst from the ranks of the crowd. The car slowed, giving him time to throw something into the car. It fell into Alyssa’s lap. She jumped, then saw it was only one of the famous red roses of Rosara. It was the first of dozens. The car soon filled with flowers, all thrown by the delighted, cheering crowd.

Secure in his popularity, Lysander gave her a lazy smile.

‘Wow, I’ve never experienced anything like this! Your people seem truly happy to have you as Regent.’

Her words had far more effect on him than the jostling press of people around the limousine. He dodged her gaze, leaning forward to reach between the front seats and tousle Ra’id’s hair. ‘I know. So all I have to do is to build on that. For Ra’id’s sake.’

Alyssa wondered if he only tacked on those last few words for her benefit. It was easy to see it was Lysander the people wanted. It was his name they were calling, not the name of his nephew. That made her feel suddenly very uneasy, but she couldn’t ask him about it in front of all these crowds. She had to wait until their car turned onto the new main road leading directly from the airport to the palace.

‘I need to speak to you, Lysander.’ She flicked her eyes meaningfully towards where Ra’id was chatting happily to the chauffeur.

Lysander flipped a switch, and the car’s roof slid silently into position. Then he raised the partition separating them from Ra’id and the driver.

‘Are you sure it’s safe to bring Ra’id to a place like this?’

He gave her a steady look. ‘It’s his home. You don’t need to worry about a thing.’

‘Yes, I do. I lost a child because I didn’t like making too much fuss, even though I knew in my bones it was the right thing to do. I’m never going to stand by and watch another one suffer. This time I’m going to speak out, whatever the cost to me.’

His looked at her steadily. ‘Go on.’

‘The people of Rosara are fond of Ra’id because he’s small and cute, but most of that love and affection wasn’t directed at him. It was meant for you.’

Lysander leaned back in his seat. As their car crossed the trackless wastes of desert he gazed out of the window, running one finger back and forth across his lips. ‘Oh. Is that all you’re worried about?’

‘All?’ Alyssa’s voice was a squeak of disbelief.

‘Let’s just say that who the country want as their king isn’t uppermost in my mind at the moment. My people want something to celebrate, Alyssa. My—our—country was marooned in the Stone Age until only a few decades ago. They don’t want that any more. My late father replaced the horrible regime that killed my mother, and started improvements.’

‘Your mother was killed?’

His expression shut like a trap. ‘Yes. The recent rulers of Rosara don’t have a good track record when it comes to wives. My parents were put together by politicians, while my late brother married for love. Both matches led to disaster and death, so I’m saving myself from that. That’s why, when it comes to women, I keep moving. Everything I’ve seen and experienced tells me it’s safer that way.’

‘I thought men played around for the sake of it.’

Alyssa hid her pain so well, Lysander laughed. ‘Yes, there’s an element of that. Or at least there was, until my brother died and I was forced to—’

He stopped in mid flow, looked at her and became serious again.

‘When I became Ra’id’s guardian, and caretaker for my country. That’s a job that’s every bit as serious as childcare, wouldn’t you say?’

‘I hope you’re not making fun of me.’

This time he recognised that something had touched a raw nerve in her. The half-smile he had been using to try and lighten her mood vanished again. ‘Now it’s my duty to concentrate on my country, and carry on the good work started by my father and brother. Once I’m up to speed on ruling, I’ll teach Ra’id how it’s done. Until then, I’m happy to live off my—I mean our—people’s love until I can earn their respect. If the Rosari are happy, then the Kahani family is happy too. It doesn’t matter which one of us gets the credit.’

‘I want to believe you,’ Alyssa said slowly. ‘But when you mention Rosara, sometimes you forget Ra’id. Your instinct is to call this country your own, instead of saying “our country” and “our people”.’

The look Lysander gave her was inscrutable, but he didn’t silence her so she carried on.

‘You said that your country is in flux. I hope there’s no tussle for power going on behind the scenes. It would be terrible for Ra’id if Rosara turned into a war zone.’

Lysander’s hawklike glare checked the car’s intercom. Their conversation was guaranteed to stay secret, so he relaxed—but only a little. Almost as though he enjoyed keeping her guessing, he started to smile and let his expression mature in the heat of her glare. She refused to back down.

‘That won’t happen. I do love my country, but I didn’t ask for this responsibility—frankly, I’m far more comfortable lazing about on yachts. I’ll just be thankful when it’s over and I can get my freedom back. Until then, it’s my job to keep control of things.’

‘Including me?’ She narrowed her eyes.

He allowed his soft laughter to caress her. For an instant she was back in his private cabin, waiting expectantly beneath his hands.

‘I only work wonders, not miracles.’

She lowered her lids in disdain, but his next words were a teasing throb of promise.

‘Don’t tempt me to try, Alyssa, or you’ll miss your first sight of our palace.’

He spoke in a low, slow combination of notes that played over her body like fingertips. She turned her head away. It was one thing for her body to be preoccupied with Lysander, but she wanted to keep her mind her own. She needed distraction. Glancing out of the window, she got it.

‘What’s the matter?’ Lysander tensed again at her gasp.

‘I knew somewhere called the Rose Palace had to be beautiful … but I hadn’t realised how big it would be!’ she breathed.

‘Do you like it?’

She didn’t need to answer. Her amazed silence was enough.

The Kahani palace had been the home of Lysander’s family for centuries. It stood on the site of the best oasis in that vast, ochre landscape. The afternoon sun was already drawing gossamer shades of apricot and salmon across the sky and sand. Against this exotic colour scheme, Lysander’s home stood out like a fairy tale castle spun from sugar. An enormous range of buildings glowed as white as a wedding cake against the tawny desert. Nothing Alyssa had read or seen could have prepared her for this.

It was impossible to believe that such a lovely place could exist in this sea of sand, with its brutal reefs of rock.

As they drew up at the grand south front of the palace Alyssa thought it was the most beautiful thing she had ever seen. Lysander’s huge home was built around a vast central courtyard. It had been enlarged and extended over the centuries around the site of the original desert spring, which had been captured in a series of formal pools. Around them, fig and apricot trees cast lots of deep shade. This oasis of calm was overlooked on one side by offices and on the other by a residential wing. Cool, paved corridors and shady courtyard gardens running away from this living heart were the perfect place to spend hot summer days. There were all sorts of places to hide or wander undisturbed. Each large, graceful room inside the palace was more stunning than the next. Delicate traceries of pierced stonework and gold leaf were everywhere. Smiling, bowing servants in flowing traditional dress gave the whole place a fairy-tale feel. It was a completely new world for Alyssa, and she loved it.

Lysander went straight to his office, leaving Alyssa to be shown around her new home by one of the resident housekeeping team. She was given the pick of several apartments in the nursery wing and chose one overlooking a small, quiet courtyard. Her living room had a little balcony draped with wisteria where she could sit down and relax, when she had a moment to herself. In practice, that might never happen. There were plenty of staff, but in England she had already found she could never rest while Ra’id was up and about. She didn’t like to let him out of her sight during the day, and always popped in to check on him during the night, too. Each time she had run her hand over his cool, dry forehead she thought of little Georgie. That had been a rare tragedy, and with Lysander giving her total control over Ra’id’s health and welfare she knew the same thing would never happen again, but the worry was always there. She knew everyone else would think she was being irrational, but it didn’t feel like that to her. I’d rather care too much than not enough, she kept telling herself. Except when it comes to Lysander … Ra’id was so exhausted after all the excitement of their journey home, he wanted to go to bed straight after his supper. Alyssa couldn’t believe her luck. Once the nursery was straight, she had a long indulgent bath, got ready for bed, then allowed herself the luxury of a really early night. She was almost as tired as Ra’id, and dropped off to sleep straight away.

Alyssa had been told the nursery wing was fitted with the best alarm system money could buy, but nothing could override her years of training. Her ears were tuned to hear the slightest night-time noise. When music wafted in through her open windows, she was awake instantly. The faint, distant sound of wheels on tarmac told her exactly what was going on. Lysander was having a party. A big affair, judging by the number of vehicles arriving.

She tried to get back to sleep rather than worry about what might be going on, or how much noise there would be. From the sound of it, the party was a long way away. It must be on the other side of the palace complex. Although there was no way a nanny could have expected an invitation to one of Lysander’s parties, a part of her couldn’t help wishing she were there—while knowing it would be a bad idea. She had seen enough photographs of Lysander partying to know what would be going on. Half-naked starlets would be draping themselves all over the place, hoping for something more permanent than a simple photo opportunity. The more she thought about some other woman making a fool of herself over a philanderer like Lysander Kahani, the harder it was to get to sleep. In the end, she pulled the sheet over her head and stuck her fingers in her ears to block out the distant rise and fall of sound.

A loud knocking at the door to her suite was harder to ignore. Scrambling out of bed and padding over to open it, she found a footman outside. He was carrying a silver salver, and on it was a single sheet of handmade paper. It had been folded in half to hide the message. When she opened it out, she found a simple message written in a bold, flowing hand.

‘Dear Alyssa, please bring Ra’id straight down to the state banqueting hall. I’d like to introduce him to the company.’

It was signed simply ‘L’, with a little ‘x’ beside the initial letter.

Alyssa felt the unwanted stirrings of arousal within her body. A personal invitation from Lysander to visit his party, and with a kiss after his initial … She pursed her lips. It was a dream that, professionally, she had to treat as a nightmare. He was asking her to treat his nephew like some performing animal on display!

She checked her watch, which only made things worse. It was ten past ten—hours after Ra’id’s bedtime. Infuriated, she told the footman there was no reply and sent him back to the party. When he had gone, she realised a simple message would never stop a man like Lysander. He would carry on sending for her until she did as he commanded.

Fingering the mobile nursery alarm hanging from its loop at her waist, she wondered what to do. Ra’id was fine—she had checked on him the moment the party woke her, only a few minutes before. The security system was switched on, and there was no one else around. She hesitated between taking a chance, and doing nothing in case Lysander took ‘no’ for an answer. Assuming that wasn’t very likely, she decided to take direct action. She would head towards the noise of the party, and give the first member of staff she saw another message for their prince. This time she would send a proper explanation. Slipping his letter into the pocket of her dressing gown, she marched off through the shadowy palace. I’m not going to wake Ra’id so he can be paraded in front of Lysander’s feckless friends as some sort of novelty act! she thought angrily.

Her plan to pass on a better message didn’t work. She didn’t meet anyone who could relay it. All the corridors were deserted. It was only when she reached a landing above the great state banqueting hall that she saw someone. A footman in uniform stood beside a pair of wide open double doors. She hesitated, but when he noticed her and smiled she knew there was no escape. Creeping downstairs, she hoped no one would wander out from the party until she had passed on her message. Despite her dressing gown and slippers, the footman listened gravely as Alyssa tried to explain that Ra’id was asleep and wasn’t to be disturbed. As she spoke she caught sight of the glittering party going on beyond the open doors and knew she had made a mistake. It wasn’t the celebrity drinking contest she had expected. Expensively dressed, respectable couples were being treated to silver service at a formal banquet. The music came from an orchestra that was playing in an adjoining quadrangle while the diners chatted and laughed. Candlelight and the fragrance of good food made her want to linger, but she couldn’t risk anyone inside the room spotting her. Ducking out of sight as soon as she had left her message with the doorman, she made a run for it. Her slippers slowed her down so she had barely reached the first landing when she heard someone thundering up the stairs behind her. They were taking the steps three at a time. Only one person would follow her with such silent intent.

‘Lysander!’ He caught her arm before she could escape. ‘Why are you running away?’

Flustered, she waved at her towelling robe. ‘Isn’t it obvious?’

‘You should have told Gui to leave the door and come in to fetch me. Then you could have given me the message yourself.’

‘I didn’t want to disturb you …’ She faltered.

Lysander looked so smart, it took her breath away. He was dressed in a formal black suit and a purple sash, which was studded with medals. His finery made the contrast between them all the more painful.

‘You mean you didn’t want to tear me away from the party where I was having so much fun?’ he said wryly, making sure Alyssa saw something behind his eyes. ‘But perhaps not quite as much fun as you thought I might be having when you stormed down here in your wrap to check up on me?’ He grinned.

‘I wouldn’t dream of doing a thing like that!’ she snapped, but his widening smile told her there was no point in denying it.

‘Well … maybe you’re right,’ she said grudgingly. ‘I thought you wanted me to parade Ra’id in front of some noisy bunch of famous halfwits.’

‘You may have a point.’ He cocked his head towards the state banqueting hall. The company might be more sophisticated than she had thought, but the chat and laughter were still pretty loud. ‘But my real reason for making that request was to show everyone how well Ra’id is being cared for.’

His pride was obvious. Gazing at him, Alyssa forgot everything except the bond she knew was already beginning to grow between Lysander and his little nephew.

‘Why don’t you go back and fetch him, Alyssa? I’ll take good care of him for you, and it’ll only be for a few minutes.’ He smiled.

It was supposed to be an irresistible request, but it had the opposite effect on Alyssa. It shook her out of her delicious trance, and back into real life.

‘I don’t think so. Not at ten o’clock at night. He’s only five years old, Lysander. He needs his sleep,’ she said defiantly, expecting him to argue.

That was the last thing on his mind. He stood back, shocked.

‘I had no idea it was that late! The staff only told me about this reception an hour before it happened, when I asked to have dinner served in my suite. My late brother was so disorganised, bless him, that this household practically runs itself. They have been used to telling their king what to do at the last minute. It meant he never had to worry about making any arrangements for himself. It was safer that way. So when I wanted to offer you dinner this evening to welcome you to Rosara …’ his voice took on a softer tone ‘ … it threw everything into confusion, and I lost track of time. Of course you’re right—I’ll go back and tell everyone they’ll have to see what a wonderful job you’re doing with Ra’id another day. Maybe he could host his own little party. The staff would love to arrange that.’

‘Don’t make him grow up too fast,’ Alyssa warned.

Lysander nodded. ‘That’s a good point. I had to when I was young, to make sure the staff didn’t push Akil, my brother, too hard. It wasn’t fun.’ His lips became a thin, serious line. ‘You’re right—I’ll tell the assembly they’ll have to meet our little star another time, and leave it at that.’

Alyssa smiled. ‘They’ll understand. I’m sure many of your guests have children of their own. But you’d better get back to your dinner party. You are the host, after all.’

‘Yes … and a lonely business it is too, despite all the racket.’ He laughed, without sounding happy. ‘It’s almost as barren as my old celebrity circuit.’

‘But much more useful.’ Alyssa glanced back along the way she had come, towards the nursery wing. ‘I have to hurry back. Even with this, I still worry about Ra’id.’ She tapped the monitor attached to the belt of her robe.

‘That’s why I never need to worry about him when he’s out of my sight, because I have you,’ Lysander said with a warmth that was completely different from his usual flirting. ‘Thank you, Alyssa.’

Dipping his head, he kissed her, in a brief echo of her wonderful dream. It was only the smallest gesture, but it was enough to send heat powering through Alyssa’s veins. Instinctively she reached out her hands, sliding them up his arms. It was all the encouragement he needed. His light touch became an all consuming embrace as he crushed her tightly against his body.