Her driver signaled, and inched, and honked and nudged.
When he successfully switched to the exit lane, she could have shouted for joy.
Brittany was in her element.
Shed always known this was the life she wanted-interesting conversation, gracious service, elegant surroundings and breathtaking fashions from around the world. Helping her parents with parties had always been fun, but it was nothing compared to the rush of being the hostess herself.
She caught Harrisons smile from across the room, and she could tell she was making him proud. She asked Ambassador Beauregard a question about his family, grateful yet again that her parents had sent her to school in France for two years. One of the Saudi princes came toward them, and Brittany drew him into conversation, introducing him to the ambassador and mentioning their mutual interest in impressionist painters.
Then she politely excused herself, having spotted the wife of a German diplomat standing alone near the terrace door.
Very polished, came a deep voice beside her.
She glanced behind her and came face-to-face with Alex Lindley. Thank you.
Im not sure it was a compliment.
She wasnt going to let him mess with what was a near-perfect evening. Im going to take it as one anyway. She kept walking.
Want me to crack the facade?
No chance of that. You disappeared for a while.
He smiled, voice laced with self-satisfaction. You noticed?
No. I noticed that Harrison disappeared. You were more of a She timed a significant pause. A byproduct.
That is a crack in that facade, he said.
Not at all. You dont count since youre not a guest. Something I can help you with?
You know that Harrison thinks youre perfect?
Brittany didnt answer. There was really no need. She and Harrison enjoyed a great deal of mutual respect. It was why their relationship was going to work.
So are you in love with him?
She stopped, and drew an exasperated sigh. You werent brought up around nice people, were you?
I spent many of my formative years with the U.S. navy.
That explains a lot.
Where you probably went to the finest schools money could buy.
Some of them, she acknowledged.
So whats your excuse?
I need no excuse. Im not being rude.
Oh, yes, you are.
No. She wasnt. She was simply responding in kind to his provocation.
Mr. Lindley, she told him. You can expect to get out of a social interaction that which you put in.
Youre turning me on.
Brittanys jaw dropped open. She was honestly speechless. Did Harrison have any idea what kind of a boor he had employed?
Im just saying, Alex continued smoothly, leaning slightly forward, his eyes dancing with obvious delight, if Im getting out of this conversation what Im putting in
Then, Harrison caught her eye.
He was heading toward them, looking none too happy.
I believe your comeuppance is on its way, she informed Alex.
Weve got a problem, Harrison said to Alex.
They certainly did.
What do you need? asked Alex, his demeanor instantly changing.
Julias at the front gate.
That caught Brittanys attention.
She wasnt sure how she felt about Julia. There was something about the passion, no, the anger she inspired in Harrison that left Brittany feeling unsettled.
I thought she left the country this morning, said Alex.
Apparently, she did not.
You want me to go down?
Harrison looked around. His hand went to the back of his neck. Never mind. Ill go.
Then he smiled courteously at Brittany, reaching down to give her hand a reassuring squeeze. Im sorry Ive been neglecting you. Ill be right back.
Ive been fine, said Brittany, determined not to be demanding, even though she would have appreciated a little more of Harrisons attention.
Thank you, he said, with what seemed to be genuine gratitude.
She took comfort in his appreciation, then she and Alex watched him walk away.
They both stared in silence at the empty doorway as minutes ticked by. Brittany knew she should stay back and see to the guests, but curiosity was burning within her.
I think we should go with him, she finally ventured, hating the shimmer of what could possibly be jealousy, telling herself it would only take a minute.
I agree, said Alex, putting a hand on the small of her back and guiding her through the crowded hall. He may need some help.
The man named Nuri glared suspiciously at Julia while she waited in the small gatehouse. His mouth was set in a grim line, his dark eyes piercing beneath his blue turban. She tried not to squirm on the hard wooden chair, and kept her hands tightly folded in her lap.
She felt a whole lot less than welcome here, that was for sure. And she knew she was risking Harrisons temper by showing up on his doorstep. But she didnt have anywhere else to go.
Even if that roadblock hadnt been intended for her-which it likely wasnt, given that she hadnt murdered anyone or stolen a hundred million in gold bullion-her name was probably in the central police computer. All it would have taken was for an officer to type in the particulars of her passport, and, wham, shed be right back in jail.
At least this way, there was a chance Harrison would help her. Even if Nuri looked as if he might do her in before she had a chance to talk to him.
The door swung open, and she reflexively straightened her spine.
Where is she? came Harrisons gravelly voice.
Nuri pointed with his riding crop, and Harrison turned.
She struggled to gauge his mood. But everything about him was neutral. His tone, his expression, his posture. I thought you were leaving.
I tried, she answered honestly.
His eyes squinted down with skepticism. How hard did you try?
She knew she needed to come clean. If shed learned anything about Harrison, it was that he liked the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth.
Robbie and Melanie left this morning, she began. And then I tried to leave this afternoon. All true. But there was this roadblock. At the airport.
He planted his butt against the edge of Nuris desk and crossed his arms over his chest. And what are you leaving out?
Nothing. That was truly how it had happened. There was no reason for him to know shed voluntarily changed her ticket.
They wouldnt let you into the airport? Funny, my guests all arrived on time.
Oh, right. Shed left out something important. But she was nervous. Nuri, especially, was making her nervous.
The doorman at the hotel, she quickly elaborated. He said the police were looking for me. Thats why I was afraid of the roadblock at the airport.
Are you making this up as you go along?
No!
Harrison straightened away from the desk and moved toward her, definite skepticism in his tone this time. And why would the police be looking for you?
She stood to lessen their height difference. She didnt much like it when he loomed over her. Plus, this part was definitely not her fault.
I dont know why they were looking for me. I thought you- She cut herself off, remembering Nuri. Then she dropped her voice to a hissing whisper. I thought you took care of that little thing.
I did, said Harrison. What else did you do?
Nothing. Nothing.
I have a hard time believing that.
Yeah? Well, you seem to have a hard time believing anything I say.
They stared at each other for a long minute.
Then, apparently, he got tired of having an audience, because he latched on to her arm. Out here.
She scrambled out the door with him, along a stone pathway that led over his lawn to a garden gazebo dotted with tables and lawn chairs.
Hands on her upper arms, he sat her down on a padded chair.
Start from the beginning, he demanded.
There was that height difference again.
Sit, she told him, gesturing to the next chair.
His lips compressed into a line.
This feels like the Spanish Inquisition.
No, it doesnt. And you came to me, remember?
Only because I had nowhere else to go.
Then she could have kicked herself for the sarcastic tone. She was asking this man for help. The least she could do was be civil about it.
Im sorry, she said. Youre not the Spanish Inquisition.
I cant help you if you dont tell me what this is all about. But then he did sit down.
Julia took a breath. She went through it from the beginning, all of it-changing her ticket, the doorman, the checkpoint, finally coming to Cadair.
At the end of the hurried explanation, he sat back and gazed across the palm-tree-dotted gardens.
Julia became aware of music coming from the palace. She glanced up and saw lights streaming from every window, flickering lanterns on the veranda and guests, many, many guests both outside and in. It was then that she realized Harrison looked even more formal than usual.
In fact, he was wearing a tux, with a ribboned medal of some kind pinned to his lapel.
Youre having a party. she stated.
He glanced over his shoulder at the palace. I am.
Im sorry.
That you interrupted my party?
She nodded.
He coughed out a cold laugh. I think thats the least of our worries at the moment.
Is it a special party?
He raised a brow. Now whos the Spanish Inquisition?
There must be three hundred people in there.
Its the secretary-generals reception for the United Nations International Economic Summit.
She pasted her gaze on the glittering crowd, suddenly feeling as if shed fallen into another dimension. Youre kidding.
No. I am not kidding.
She was so out of her league here. No wonder she and Harrison had a hard time understanding each other.
He cracked a grim half smile. This part is the reason your arrival caused us so much grief. Had you only been a horse thief, my life would have been a whole lot simpler.
She blinked her focus back to Harrison. I dont understand. Was he sorry she hadnt been after his horse?
I thought you were a covert operative sent here to assassinate a Syrian diplomat.
Julia had no response to that.
She honestly could not think of a single thing to say.
Wait a minute. Her heart sank. You dont think the police-
No, no. Harrison vehemently shook his head. Alex and I were the only ones who even thought of it.
You cant be sure.
Yes, I can. Other than the guests and their own security staff, very few people even know about this party. Besides. He paused. If somebody else thought you were a spy, it wouldnt be the police out looking for you.
Julia swallowed.
She struggled to find her voice. There was a roadblock.