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She looked very young to have the responsibility of living on her own. “How old are you?” he couldn’t help asking.
One blond eyebrow lifted questioningly. “In the States if you ask that question, you’re likely to get decked. It’s not considered politically correct to inquire about a woman’s age.”
“I know politics.” And women, he added silently. “You look too young to be—”
“I’m twenty-two.” She sat up straighter. “Not that it’s your concern, but I have a degree in early childhood education as well as business. I had a double major in college. I needed a job. With a good salary. So I submitted my rеsumе with an exclusive agency that handles child care for wealthy families. After looking at qualifications and pictures, the princess picked me, among others. According to the agency director, she was looking for a plain nanny.”
“Is that so?”
“I didn’t think it was appropriate to ask. But why do you suppose the princess was specifically looking for someone plain?”
There was no reason to reveal that he was responsible for the stipulation. “I can’t say.”
She shrugged. “Me, neither. But I was confident that I fit the qualifications and was just what they were looking for.”
“I see.” He might be the family charmer, but her straightforward declaration left him at a loss. His knowledge of women was based on the tall, sophisticated, glamorous type. Not small women with big, unattractive glasses.
“I prefer to meet life head-on. If you bury your head in the sand, you leave your—” She stopped and pushed her glasses up more securely on her nose. “Well, the rest of yourself exposed. If you know what I mean. I’m nothing if not practical. It’s best to face facts and not expect the fairy tale. Don’t you agree?”
He wasn’t sure how to answer. Best to go in a different direction. “So you got an interview with my—with the princess?”
“Yes. I received a round-trip plane ticket to New York. It was my first time on an airplane. Very exciting. But there was a problem.”
“Is that so?”
The office doors opened and a female servant wheeled in a cart bearing a silver service and china cups. “Thank you, Salima.”
“You’re welcome, Your—”
“Leave it by the desk,” he said, quickly interrupting her. “I’ll take care of it.”
“Very well.” She bowed slightly and backed out of the room.
Wide-eyed, Penny watched her. “Wow. Is everyone so deferential? We in the States could take lessons. You’re going to have to help me. I wouldn’t want to offend anyone. If you see me doing anything disrespectful, please take me aside so I don’t make a fool of myself.”
“You’re an American,” he said as if that was answer enough. Then he picked up the coffeepot and aimed the silver spout at one of the delicate china cups.
“Would you mind pouring me some, too? I can’t believe I fell asleep. Now I need to kick-start my motor.”
“All evidence to the contrary.”
“Am I talking too much?” She went on without waiting for an answer. “I do that sometimes. But today it’s worse than usual. Probably because I’m tired and nervous. A bad combination. Does it bother you? The princess didn’t seem to mind.”
“She is a very strong woman. Cream or sugar?”
“Black is fine,” she said.
He handed her the cup. “You were saying?”
“Where was I?” She took a sip and thought for a moment. “Oh, yes. I was in New York to meet the princess. Wouldn’t you know it? My flight was delayed.”
“North Texas weather?”
She nodded. “You really listen, don’t you? Then there was traffic getting through the city. By the time I got to her suite in the hotel, which was pretty hoity-toity I can tell you, she had already hired someone else.”
“A plain nanny?”
“Yes.” She frowned. “I still can’t imagine why that would be a criteria for employment. Go figure.”
“Indeed.”
“Anyway, the princess was so nice and easy to be with. She invited me to stay for lunch. We did the girl-talk thing and bonded over chocolate.”
“Bonded?”
“You know. Where women share stories that bring them closer together?”
“Ah. Chocolate, you say?”
She nodded. “Godiva, I think. Very yummy. Anyway, she said she liked me and she was in need of an assistant. So she hired me. She made me an offer I couldn’t refuse. But then you already know how well a job in the palace of the royal family of El Zafir pays.”
“I do indeed,” he agreed.
“Room and board is included.”
“Truly a fine offer.”
“You can say that again— What did you say your name was?” she asked, then took another sip of coffee. “How rude of me to forget. I can only plead fatigue. After a good night’s sleep, I’ll be back in fighting form. I’m usually very good with names.”
“I don’t believe I mentioned it.”
He found her intriguing. For a woman pleading weariness, she had an amazing amount of energy. With proper rest she would no doubt be a, what was that American expression? Ball of fire? Yes. That was definitely Penny. He couldn’t help wondering if her dynamic verve was reserved strictly for work. Or if it spilled over to the personal—to the man in her life.
“You’re staring at me with the oddest expression. Do I have a smudge on my face? A wart on my nose? Do you find me strange looking?” she teased.
“Not at all.”
“Surely your name can’t be that bad. Since we’re going to work together, it might be a good idea to tell me so I don’t have to call ‘hey you.”’
He straightened to his full six-foot-two-inch height. “I am Rafiq Hassan, Prince of El Zafir, Minister of Domestic and Foreign Affairs.”
Her eyes grew round as the china cup fell from her hands, hit her knees, then the floor, splattering the coffee that hadn’t stained her dress on the light-colored Berber carpet.
Her mouth opened, but no words came out. A victory indeed. He’d finally rendered her speechless.
Rafiq knocked on the door to his aunt Farrah’s suite of rooms in the wing of the palace where the royal family resided. At her muffled “Come in,” he entered. His footsteps echoed on the marble tiles of the foyer as he walked into the living room with floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking the Arabian Sea. A large semicircular white sofa on the plush light-colored carpet dominated the center of the room. The only splash of color in the suite came from expensive original paintings hanging on the walls. His father’s sister owned a world-famous art collection.
He stood by the sofa and looked down at her, with papers in her lap and spread around her. “I would like to speak with you, Aunt Farrah.”
“Of course. What is it, Rafiq?”
“In a word—Penny.”
She smiled, and the years melted away. His aunt, in her fifties, was still an attractive and vibrant woman. Her dark hair was cut in a sleek style that brushed the collar of her tailored turquoise Chanel suit.
“She is wonderful, no?”
“She is—something.”
“Why? What is wrong?” she asked, frowning. She set aside her work.
“She fell asleep on the couch in my office.”
“Poor thing. In her defense I have to say it’s quite a comfortable couch.” She clucked sympathetically. “A grueling trip. I was told the dear child insisted on beginning work as agreed. Wouldn’t hear of postponing her start even for a day.”
“I want her beheaded.”
“Certainly a fitting reward for her dedication.”
“I’m joking.”
“I’m glad to hear it.” Farrah laughed. “The government outlawed that form of punishment many years ago, even before I was born.”
“Cutting out her tongue would be more appropriate, I think.” He paced in front of her. “Yes. Excellent idea if I do say so myself. Make the consequences fit the crime.”
“My dear nephew, what crime has she committed?”
“She is—” He stopped, unable to find the words to describe his feelings. “A woman.”
“Ah,” his aunt said, as if that explained everything. “You are bemused by her.”
“Certainly not. I’ve never met a woman I couldn’t understand.” The lie was a very small one. He hadn’t ever met a woman he couldn’t understand. Until today.
“So you’re intrigued.”
“Nonsense.” He shook his head and turned away, staring out the French doors to her balcony that looked out over the ocean. “Completely, utterly absurd.”
“Rafiq, have you ever been in love?”
He didn’t know how to answer the question. Many women had charmed him. Certainly infatuation had been involved, but love?
“Don’t start with me, Aunt. Love is a luxury not permitted a prince of the royal blood. It’s all about duty. I will marry and produce heirs.”
“When?”
“When I am ready.” Glancing over his shoulder, he said, “But I fail to see what this has to do with Penny Doyle.”
Farrah clasped her hands together in her lap. “Because of your mother’s tragic premature death, I can’t help feeling as if your education in this regard has been sadly neglected. Servants, tutors, boarding school…”
“I had an excellent education. Now, about this small American—”
“Penny. I found her a breath of fresh air. But it’s just as well you don’t agree.”
He turned and steeled himself against the knowing expression on his aunt’s face. He reminded himself that she was a woman, his elder, a cherished family member and deserving of his respect, honor and protection. But the gleam in her eyes made him wonder if he might not be the one in need of protection.
“Why would I agree? She’s a small, insignificant young woman from Texas.” He walked to the French doors and stood with his hands clasped behind his back. “It was my understanding that things from Texas were much larger.”
“Yes. Penny is the exception, I assume.”
“Penny. Even her name is trifling.”
“Have you ever heard the expression ‘find a penny, pick it up, all day long you’ll have good luck’?”
“Perhaps. Penny Doyle—rhymes with oil,” he murmured, unable to stop his mouth from curving up at the memory of her words. He was glad his back was to his keen-eyed aunt so that she didn’t see.
Behind him she coughed. He turned and noticed the glitter of amusement in her black eyes. “Are you all right?” he asked. If he didn’t know better, he’d think she was laughing at him.
“I’m absolutely marvelous.”
“And why is that?”
“Your reaction to Penny is just what I’d hoped. Now, I don’t have to warn you to keep your distance.”
“If you’re concerned about it, Aunt, then why did Father take my own assistant and give me a woman?”
She shifted slightly. In anyone less regal, it would have been a squirm. “He needed someone experienced. And he is the king. Penny is perfect for your…needs. Business needs,” she added. “If I were you, I would think twice before questioning your father.”
“All right then. But I’m wounded that you feel it’s necessary to question my behavior.”
“Aside from your reputation as a bit of a rogue with women, I’m concerned about Penny.”
“Why? She could talk the ears off an elephant,” he pointed out.
“She was badly used by a man.”
Rafiq frowned. Penny was vexing, but in an impish sort of way. “How?”
“She told me the whole horrid story in New York. Her mother died when Penny was twelve or thirteen. The woman was single, a teacher. Yet she managed to leave her daughter an inheritance that was put into trust. The dear child planned to open a preschool until that unprincipled scoundrel romanced her in order to abscond with her money. She’s unlikely to trust a man ever again,” she finished.
“He is not a man. A man would not treat a woman so. Especially a woman like—”
“Like what?” his aunt asked, one eyebrow lifted.
“Never mind. I would like to meet this man,” he said through clenched teeth. “Horsewhipping would be too good for him.”
“I agree.” She nodded grimly, then the look was gone, replaced by a serene smile. “But Penny is here now and we will take care of her. That is, I will look after her. In my opinion, things couldn’t be better,” she said.
“On the contrary.” When he left the young woman, he was merely bemused by her. After learning her story, he found himself mildly intrigued. It made him a bit uneasy, something he normally didn’t feel around women. Without a doubt he could also say he didn’t much like the feeling. Perhaps he could change his aunt’s mind about assigning to him this particular woman.
