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Everyone jumped to their feet cheering and clapping their approval, but not Lucca. He studied her out of dark, veiled eyes, his expression suddenly indecipherable. Had she said too much? Was he worried what his lover would make of it?
Honesty was usually the best policy, but maybe not in this case. Her off-the-cuff speech would be circling the world before long. It was too late to recall it.
Lucca let go of her hand and put both of his on the lectern. “As you have deduced,” he began in his deep voice, “our marriage is going to be a lively, twenty-first-century version of thrills.”
The crowd gave them a standing ovation. He waited for the din to subside before he said, “I want to thank those members of the media for coming. Because of the cabinet’s urgent business now that my father is stepping down, we would appreciate it if you cleared the conference room so our meeting can begin.”
On cue the cameramen and reporters started to exit the room. While the president of the cabinet engaged Lucca in conversation, Regina came running up to Alex. “You were wonderful,” she whispered, catching hold of her arm.
Alex hadn’t seen her leave her seat. “Thanks, Regina, but I’m afraid I said too much.”
“No. It was perfect!” she argued. “I’ve been dying to learn how you met, but you know my close-mouthed brother. I saw everyone’s reaction, Alexandra. They love you. I love you for loving my brother so much. He badly needs to be loved by a woman like you.”
Lucca was already badly loved by a woman, but Regina didn’t know that. However, the sincerity of her words made Alex realize she’d pulled off her part of the agreement with Lucca. If Regina could accept they were a love match, then she wasn’t worried about other people.
“Come on,” Regina urged. “Papa and Mama asked me to bring you to their suite after the news conference. Lucca will be tied up all day.”
That’s what Alex feared. The hours dragged when she wasn’t with him. “All right.”
“Lucca?” she called to her brother who was busy talking to several men by now. He turned his head in their direction. “We’re going upstairs.”
“I’ll join you later.” His glance swerved to Alex. She saw a nerve throbbing at the corner of his jaw. “You had them eating out of your hand, Alexandra.”
Then why aren’t you happy about it? Alex didn’t understand his unexpected change of mood, but she couldn’t ask him about it. At this juncture the press of dignitaries surrounding him had grown.
Averting her eyes, she turned her attention back to Regina. They left through a private door at the rear of the room. “After we’ve checked in with my parents, I thought you might like a tour of the grounds.”
“I’d love it, but I have another Italian lesson at two with Professor Morelli.”
“There’ll be time for both.” She gave Alex a sideways glance. “I saw him on the stairs after he left the schoolroom yesterday. Apparently Professor Emilio is ill.”
“That’s what I understand.”
“He’s very nice looking.”
Alex smiled. “I agree. He’s a terrific teacher, too.”
One of Regina’s brows lifted. “Does Lucca know about the change?”
“Yes.”
“Ah, that explains it.”
“Explains what?” Alex prodded.
“Lucca’s mood at breakfast after Mama asked if you’d begun your Italian lessons. He didn’t seem to want to talk about it.”
“You know he did seem a little offish after I introduced him to Tomaso. I assumed he was disappointed Professor Emilio couldn’t make it.”
A knowing smile broke out on Regina’s face. “My brother’s jealous.”
“Don’t be silly, Regina. I’ve done nothing to make him feel that way.”
“You don’t have to. It’s an emotion completely new to him. I love seeing him out of control for once.”
Alex couldn’t afford to protest too much. “I think you’re wrong.”
“Better not refer to Professor Morelli as Tomaso in front of him,” she said.
“Does that mean I’m breaking some kind of royal protocol to address him by his first name?”
“Of course not, but you don’t know my brother like I do. At least not yet. He has a possessive streak about certain things he considers his.”
“I am his,” she blurted. Sort of. Come to think of it, he was pretty obsessed over her wearing his pin all the time.
“You and I both know that. However, to be safe I implore you to be formal with Tomaso in front of Lucca and whatever you do, don’t praise your teacher. Lucca would never be able to handle it.”
Alex broke into laughter. She couldn’t help it, but Regina remained serious. “Laugh if you want, but don’t say I didn’t warn you.”
At quarter to three that afternoon Alex was reminded of their conversation when Lucca came striding into the schoolroom unannounced. He was still dressed in the stunning gray suit he’d worn for the press conference. Her breath caught at the magnificent sight of him.
She’d been working on the next chapter in her Italian book while she waited for Tomaso. Evidently he’d been held up at the university and was running late.
“Hi,” was all she could get out.
“Hi, yourself.” He removed his elegant suit jacket and flung it over a chair. Then he removed his tie and rolled up the sleeves of his immaculate white shirt to the elbow, revealing bronzed arms.
“P-Professor Morelli’s late,” she tripped over the word because she almost said Tomaso. “So I’ve just been studying.”
Lucca sat down at the desk facing her. He flashed her a look of male admiration. She’d changed clothes and was wearing a soft orange linen wraparound dress he’d admired on her at the boutique. Her only adornment was the pin. “He won’t be coming anymore. I’ll instruct you every day until Professor Emilio is well enough to do it.”
Joy.
Remembering Regina’s warning, she said, “I’m glad because I’d rather be taught by you.” Her comment seemed to smooth the waters a little. She took advantage of the silence. “How did the cabinet meeting go?”
“Fine,” he answered, but she could tell his mind wasn’t on government affairs. “Every man in the room envied me today.”
“They can envy you all they want, but could any of them make as good a king?”
“You know damn well I wasn’t referring to the title,” his voice rasped.
Adrenaline gushed through her veins. “How do you say damn in Italian? I think I should learn some curse words. In the States all the foreigners can swear in English before they say anything else.”
A quick smile transformed his chiseled features. “Like English, Italian has many subtleties,” he said in a more relaxed tone. “You can say managgia. The slang for it is accidenti. A politer version is diavolo.”
Her head flew back. “I heard you say that word the other day.”
“So I did.” He suddenly shoved himself away from the desk and stood up. “Let’s get out of here. You can work on those words while we take a drive.”
She rolled her eyes. “Something tells me they’re going to come in handy.”
He let out a bark of laughter before reaching for his coat and tie. “Have you ever ridden on the back of a motorcycle before?”
A thrill of excitement ran through her body. “No.”
“You said you liked speed. I’m going to take you at your word.”
Almost jumping out of her skin in anticipation, she hurried over to the door ahead of him. “I’ll need to change first.”
“Meet me in the north portico in ten minutes. Wear those blue jeans you bought yesterday. On our way out of town, we’ll pick up the rest of the items you’ll need.”
“All right.”
She reached her room breathless over their plans, but when she discovered all the phone messages waiting for her from the States, they brought her back to the grim reality that every gesture on Lucca’s part was meant for show.
Outwardly he was carrying on his role as the ardent fiancé but she’d be a much greater fool than her mother if she allowed herself to stay in denial about his deepest feelings. There was another woman. He’d told her in the car on the way to airport.
In order not to displease his parents, Alex was beginning to think he intended to stay away from his lover until the honeymoon was over. When Lucca had talked about his work schedule, he’d told Alex that after he performed his royal duties each day, he would indulge his other interests. She’d known what he’d meant, but it was getting harder and harder to accept.
Deflated by the unpalatable truth about her deepest feelings, she checked each message. All of them could wait except the one from Manny. SOS, Alex. Must talk to you immediately! Call me no matter what time it is! This could settle all your mother’s debts and then some!
Her heart thudded in her chest. How was that possible?
She quickly returned the call. He picked up on the second ring. “You’re a good girl for calling me back so fast, Alex. How would you like to be a very, very rich one in no time at all?”
“Were mother’s real diamonds found?” she cried.
“No, no, honey. Those are long gone.”
Her brief elation dissipated. She sank down on the side of the bed. “Then I don’t understand.”
“Listen to me and don’t interrupt. Can you do that?”
If she didn’t get downstairs soon, Lucca would come looking for her. “Yes—if you make it quick. I’m on my way out the door.”
“I’ve got the part of the century for you!”
She frowned. “What are you talking about, Manny?”
“Oh, honey, after seeing your beautiful face splashed all over the news and the Internet this morning, you’re the only one who can play it.”
“Play what?”
“Garbo! I’ve got the script in my hand. Every actress in Hollywood wants the part. None of them can do it. They don’t have what it takes. You do! Come home, Alex. I’ve already got the audition arranged for you.”
She shot to her feet. “Manny, I’m not an actress!”
“Ah, honey … you’ve been around it all your life.”
It was hard to breathe. “If you saw me on TV, then you’d know I’m getting married.”
“You can work around that. The point is, you can carry off the role so people will believe you’re Garbo. I just talked to Michelle. She agrees with that me you’ve got those great bones—everything it takes including her sad eyes.
“Between your portrayal, plus the fact that you’re Kathryn’s daughter and the consort of Prince Vittorio of Castelmare, the box-office take will be in the millions. One film of the definitive Garbo, honey. Just one and you’ll be on easy street for the rest of your life!”
And you’ll get paid what mother owed you within the year instead of ten or twelve years from now.
For the first time in all these years, she was beginning to realize the kind of pressure her mother had lived under. Manny said and did all the right things. He was a master manipulator.
Alex’s mind went back to the conversation with her Uncle Yuri:
“My mother was married six times,” she’d said.
“I can understand why you’re frightened. But think about this. Maybe part of it’s because she lost Oleg, and maybe the other part is because she didn’t have parents to teach her what a good marriage is all about. Hmm?” Yuri had told her.
There was a familiar rap on the door. “Alexandra?”
“I’ll be right there, Lucca,” she called out, then put the phone back to her ear. “Listen, Manny. I have to go.”
“No way. Whatever else you have to do can wait.”
She took a deep breath. “I’m afraid it can’t, Manny. I’ll have to call you later.”
“When? This thing is big, honey. An opportunity like this only comes knocking once in a lifetime.”
Manny never gave up!
Oh, Mother, he must have had you bound up so tightly, is it any wonder you tried to find escape with other men?
Her hand gripped the phone tighter. She could hardly concentrate for the knocking on the outer door, which was growing louder. “I realize that. Give me some time to think about it.” She didn’t want to hurt Manny, after all he was still waiting for his money. On the other hand she had to consider Lucca and the agreement she’d entered into with him. “I have to hang up now.”
She dropped the phone on the receiver and ran through the suite. “Lucca? I need two more minutes.”
“Are you all right?” he demanded.
“Y-yes.”
“You don’t sound it. Do you need help?”
“No … I’ll be right there.”
Alex half hopped out of her dress as she hurried to the dresser for the jeans and top she planned to wear. She’d barely slipped on her separates when Lucca entered her bedroom wearing jeans, a blue T-shirt beneath a black bomber-type leather jacket and riding boots. He looked fantastic.
“I’m not going to apologize for invading your privacy,” he said worriedly, breathing hard. “You’re as pale as parchment. After what you had to face this morning, it wouldn’t surprise me if you’re sick to your stomach. There’s no way I’m taking you out on my motorcycle when you’re ill.”
Brushing a lock of hair off her forehead, she brazened out his intimate scrutiny. “I … I had a personal phone call I couldn’t ignore,” her voice faltered.
He folded his strong arms. His eyes glittered ominously. “Personal? From whom?”
