Amelia opened her arms. Josie! Jakob! No kisses for your auntie Mellie? Jakob, who had to be three now, squirmed away from Nick and ran to her like a friendly puppy. But Josie held back, her blue eyes full of caution.
Amelia gave Jakob a bear hug, smiling warmly at Josie over his head. Josie didnt smile back, her expression carefully neutral.
The expression on Nicks face was anything but neutral. His blue eyes seemed to devour Amelia inch by inch. She could tell he was angryperhaps dangerously so. Shed seen those veiled blue eyes looking just like that whenever anyone got in his way.
His gaze shifted to CeCe just as CeCe nudged Amelia.
Oh, excuse me. Nicholas Standish, this is my sister, Cecelia OConnell. And Hester Vanderling, who practically raised us.
Nick gave CeCe a suitably pleased-looking nod. Princess Cecelia. Congratulations on your recent marriage.
Thank you.
And Mrs. Vanderling. He shook Hesters hand, and she giggled like a schoolgirl. Amelia was amazed Nick had the capacity to be soso civilized, but she supposed their situation in Palemeir hadnt called for much in the way of manners.
Who are these cute little munchkins? CeCe asked, her adoring gaze focused on the children.
Im Jakob, the little boy said proudly. Jakob Standish!
The corner of Nicks mouth lifted at the mention of his own surname tacked onto Jakobs. The last time Amelia had seen them, Jakob had not been at all sure he wanted to go anywhere with large, gruff Nick, much less accept him as his father. Things must have improved a great deal since then, and all without her assistance. Certainly the children looked better. Jakobs light brown hair had been cropped close, much like Nicks, and his blue eyes sparkled with health. Hed gotten some color, too, and a few more freckles on his nose from being out in the sunshine. Josies hair, which had been dull and matted in Palemeir, was now a halo of shiny, golden curls.
Amelia felt a pang of regret that she hadnt been part of this almost miraculous transformation and that she hadnt helped the children settle into their new home.
Nick nudged the little girls shoulder, urging her forward. This is Josie.
Josie, who would be seven now, held out her hand, which still looked far too thin and delicate for Amelias peace of mind. Pleased to meet you, Josie said to CeCe and Hester with perfect manners, then added in a whisper to CeCe, Are you really a princess, like Cinderella?
CeCe laughed. Well, I dont have any glass slippers, and I ride to work in a limo rather than a pumpkin, but I did manage to catch myself a pretty good prince.
Yeah, rub it in, Amelia thought. CeCe would be living out her own private fairy tale here in America while Amelia was whooshed off to a country she hadnt visited since she was Josies age, where she didnt even speak the native language.
Life wasnt fair. But then, her work with the ICF had taught her that.
Josie, youve gotten taller. I think youve grown a foot since I last saw you, Amelia said, trying to get the little girl to warm up to her.
But they both could use some fattening up, said Hester. Ill bet Bernice has some fresh cookies in the kitchen.
Splendid idea, CeCe said.
The children looked up hopefully at Nick.
One cookie apiece, Nick said.
Looking delighted, CeCe gave a hand to each. Well be in the kitchen.
Traitor, Amelia muttered. But she would have to speak privately to Nick at some point. He had yet to tell her why hed come here, and the sooner he did that, the sooner he would leave. And the sooner he left, the less chance she would make a fool of herself by begging him to smile at her again, to stop making her feel shed done something criminal.
Even if she had.
Nick put his hands on his lean hips. Are you going to ask me all the way into the royal penthouse, Your Highness?
Please dont call me that, Amelia said.
What am I supposed to call you, then? Not Melanie.
You and the kids all called me Mellie. That could be short for Amelia, as well.
Nicknames are a show of fondness. I use them for friends. Doesnt apply in this case.
Well, he certainly had sharpened his tigers claws during their separation. But shed be damned if she showed him how much he could hurt her.
NICK REFUSED to be impressed by the Carradignes terrace, where MelanieAmeliahad led him. Apparently there was a spy in or near the household, someone providing tidbits to the gossip columnist, Krissy Katwell, and Amelia thought there would be less chance of someone overhearing their discussion if they went outside.
He hadnt read any New York papers, but the Korosol press had gone to town with the story of the princesss illicit marriage. Theyd probably picked up the item from this Krissy person.
Nick had almost fainted when hed discovered Melanie Lacey was actually Princess Amelia, granddaughter to the king of Korosol. She must have been slumming in Palemeir. Her way of dabbling in charity work. Her little deception had thrown his life into chaos.
Fortunately the rain had stopped. Nick and Amelia sat on opposite ends of a bench in the center of an oasis of trees and shrubs that rivaled Central Park. The greenery sheltered them somewhat from the damp March breeze.
He enjoyed the discomfort reflected on Amelias face, her stiff, too-regal posture. He wanted to needle her. He wanted to do more than that, after the hell shed put him through. Unfortunately, he also wanted to bed her. A years separation hadnt taken the edge off his desire.
A year ago, hed naively thought a marriage license might afford him that privilege. But once the adoption papers had been filed immediately after their hasty wedding, shed deserted him.
He wouldnt trust her again. Hed ask for her help, but this time hed make sure there were no loopholes.
She looked fantastic, he conceded. Hed been half-afraid she would look different in her princess environment, with her hair tortured into some silly style, maybe wearing a tiara and two pounds of makeup. But she was still just Mellie, a natural beauty who required no enhancement. That tumble of gold curls was as unruly as ever, inviting a mans fingers to bury themselves in them. Her green eyes still flashed emerald bright, even out of the intense Palemeiran sun. And her body was just as curvy and luscious as he remembered, more tempting in a casual, flower-sprigged dress.
So whats going on? Why are you here? Amelia asked point-blank.
Its those do-gooders at the Ministry of Family, Nick said. News of our marriageand that it wasnt legalhas been picked up in Korosol. The fact you dumped me on our wedding day has brought social workers down on me like a ton of bricks. They say its obvious the marriage was a fraud, and so was the adoption. Thanks.
Amelia gasped. They want to take the children from you? They cant!
Apparently they can. Korosol isnt America. Theres not any legal recourse. The Ministry of Family will investigate, and their decision is final.
But surely theyll find youre a good father. Youre very devoted to those children.
How would you know? You havent been around for the past yeara fact that hasnt escaped the social workers notice. They say we got married with fraudulent intent, adopting children without ever meaning to live as a family. Theyre old-fashioned in Korosol.
How would you know? You havent been around for the past yeara fact that hasnt escaped the social workers notice. They say we got married with fraudulent intent, adopting children without ever meaning to live as a family. Theyre old-fashioned in Korosol.
Amelia looked away. Thats my fault, I suppose. But I couldnt stay in Palemeir. The ICF wanted me out of there, and I had to do what they said.
So you just abandoned your new husband and the children who needed you. Do you have any idea how badly you disappointed Josie? And him, although hed shoot himself before hed admit that to Amelia.
His barb hit its mark. He saw the sheen of tears in her eyes, but she ruthlessly blinked them back. We both knew the marriage was strictly so you could get the children out of the country, she said. Even if it had been legal, it was a sham.
He intentionally softened his voice. That kiss at the airport didnt feel like a sham.
Amelias face turned a flattering shade of pink. She had no ready comeback, and all she could do was look away. He was glad to know that kiss had affected her as it had him. There theyd been, arguing at the Palemeir airportif one dirt airstrip and a cinder-block terminal could be called thatand suddenly theyd been in each others arms. Theyd never kissed before, not even at their wedding.
That kiss, long and slow and hot, had been everything Nick had fantasized about, and more. He thought hed won, that hed convinced her to stay with him. Then hed realized it was a kiss goodbye.
I wanted to at least see you and the children to Korosol, she finally said. But the children were already getting attached to me. It was better that I left when I did. Surely you can see that.
All right, maybe she had a point. There had never been any question that the marriage was one of convenience. He and Mellie had been friendsgood, close friends, bonding quickly the way people do in adversitybut nothing more, not that he hadnt wished for more.
They had never discussed a future together, and in fact, what could he have offered her? He was not husband material, and never would benever again. For that matter, he wasnt really great father material, either. He was no longer capable of fully opening his heart to a child. But in the last year hed grown so fiercely protective of those kids that he would die for them. Mellie was right about that. Maybe he didnt always say the right thing. Maybe he was too strict. But he refused to let anything bad happen to themincluding another major disruption in their home life. He would fight the Ministry of Family with every weapon in his arsenal to prevent them from ripping the kids away from him and thrusting them into foster care.
After a few moments, Amelia was more composed. She sat up straighter, and in a brisk tone, said, Id like to help with your situation. What can I do?
I would think that would be obvious. Youre a princess. Your grandfather is my king, and hes here. Oh, dont look so surprised. I know he is still here, that he didnt return to Korosol after CeCes wedding. My sister could never keep secrets from me. Nick had tracked Eleanor down in New York, and had figured out that if she was here, so was the king.
So you want me to intercede on your behalf.
You get an A.
She looked uneasy, which he didnt understand. The request hed made of her was simplefar simpler than falsifying marriage licenses and adoption papers.
Is something wrong? he asked.
Ill do what I can, of course. But its not as simple as you make it sound. First, Im not exactly on intimate terms with my grandfather. I barely know him. And second, Im certainly not among King Eastons favorites right now.
Ah. He doesnt like it when his princesses make the gossip columns?
Exactly. And third, hes a stickler for following the letter of the law. He doesnt micromanage his country. Interfering with the Ministry of Familys normal course of business isnt his style.
Youre saying you wont even try?
No, Ill give it my best shot. But I think we should see him together, present a united front. Its the best chance we have.
Exactly what Eleanor had suggested.
We should probably bring the children with us, too, Amelia continued. It couldnt hurt for Easton to see you all together, as a family.
Lets do it, then. He stood up, anxious to get his audience with the king over with. The sooner he got this mess straightened out, the sooner he could get his kids back home to the peace and quiet of Montavi, the little mountain town where he was building a new life for himself and the children. And the sooner he could get away from this woman whod lied to him but still made him tingle in uncomfortable ways.
Amelia laughed. We cant just walk in on him. Well have to make an appointment. Fortunately, your sister is the one who can set it up.
Ill talk to her, then. Hell, hed pulled Josie out of school for this trip, thinking it wouldnt hurt her to miss a couple of days of first grade. But now it looked as if she might miss a week or more, and she was already a year behind because of the language problem.
Ill show myself out. He turned and headed toward the terrace doors, wondering where he might find his children in this monstrous penthouse.
Nick?
He stopped, turned.
For what its worth, Im sorry I didnt tell you who I really was. But not even the ICF knew my true identity back then. If the truth had gotten out, it could have created a security nightmare. Keeping my identity secret is second nature to me. But youre right, I should have explained before Ibefore I married you. I didnt think through the possible repercussions, and Im truly sorry.
He was surprised by her candor and seeming sincerity. Hed expected her to be different than he remembered her. A year ago, shed just been a dedicated volunteer who never complained about physical hardships. Hed even seen her give away her own dinner more than once.
Hed had a hard time reconciling that selfless, friendly woman with a Korosolian princess. But now that hed seen her again, she seemed much the same as beforea fact that was dangerous to his peace of mind. Saying goodbye to her the first time had been torture. And unless he wanted to go through it all again, hed better harden his heart.
Chapter Two
Amelia had run out of nails to bite as she, Nick and the children cooled their heels in an anteroom at the Korosol embassy. Her grandfather had agreed to see them the day after Nicks arrival in Manhattan, but hed chosen the embassy as the venue, even though it was Saturday. It was less personal than his quarters at the penthouse would have beennot a good sign. He was treating them like any other subject who wanted his time, but King Easton was not one to give preferential treatment to anyonenot even the future queen.
She had worn her best, most dignified outfita gray wool suit with a black silk blouse, silver stockings and gray pumps. Shed even made an attempt to subdue her hair into a tame twist, and at CeCes urging had actually worn makeup.
Nick, for his part, had cleaned up pretty nicely. Hed been a savagely handsome man back in Palemeir, filling out his camouflage clothes in intriguing ways. His wild, sun-bleached hair, deeply tanned skin and scruffy beard had added to his dangerous image. And Amelia was a sucker for dangerous. Shed always felt smothered by the protective cocoon shed been raised inbodyguards, exclusive schools, tinted-windowed limousines. The adventure and excitement of traveling to third world countries under a false identity had held appeal for Amelia as much for the danger as for the chance to help children.