that he doesn’t disturb you, but—”
“No matter. We will be in the greatest informality for this time. I have already discussed with Madame Sabdoka that meals will be simple and of a family style. No ceremony or protocol.”
That, clearly, did not please Madame.
Perhaps to divert attention from that disapproval, the king said, “I confess to curiosity for what these boxes and bags contain.”
“Mostly Christmas decorations. A few things I’ve gathered over the years, a few things from my childhood.”
“Indeed. I should particularly like to see those items from your childhood.”
She looked up, knowing they treaded closer to the dangerous territory of her birth, but she smiled into his sad eyes. “I would like to show you and to share them with you.”
“The embassy decorations are under contract,” Madame said.
Her brisk tone broke the moment’s connection.
King Jozef said as the two men came down the stairs, “I’m sure we can arrange something once April is settled. In the meantime, Madame you will find a place for these decorations, as well as Rufus’ accoutrements.”
“The crate should go where I’ll sleep, also this tote.”
Madame nodded at Rupert. He headed back upstairs with a second load.
“I must close myself up in the office shortly for a remote meeting with members of my government who are in Bariavak. But I hope you will join me for tea at four. How will you entertain yourself in the meantime?”
“I want to take Rufus for a walk to, uh, avoid accidents. Then I’ll go up and unpack.”
“I shall unpack your cases,” Madame said.
“Oh, no. I can—”
“I unpack your cases,” she repeated, her accent stronger and her tone implacable.
“That is the way it is done,” King Jozef said.
April’s eyes met Sharon’s. She got the message: This was not a battle worth waging. “Thank you.”
Madame inclined her head and started across the room. At the stairs she turned back and declared, “I shall not, however, tend to that animal.”
“No, of course not. Rufus is my dog, and my responsibility.” She had to pitch her voice louder, because Madame was ascending the stairs. “I’ll feed him and take him for walks—”
“With escort,” Hunter said.
“I don’t need an escort.”
“You’re getting one. Any time you leave the grounds.”
Suddenly aware of the king’s scrutiny, she faced him. His expression was neutral, yet she had the notion he’d just finished smiling
“I am to my office now.” He nodded to both of them.
That left Hunter, Sharon and her in the entryway.
“I should put these somewhere, so they’re out of the way,” she said, gesturing toward the boxes and bags.
“Not unless you want Madame on your case,” Sharon said.
She clicked her tongue. “That’s embarrassing, isn’t it?”
“What?”
“Having someone unpack your suitcases. Especially someone like Madame.” She turned to Hunter. “I bet you won’t like it one bit.”
He said nothing.
“Wait a minute — you’re saying she won’t unpack for you?” Actually, he wasn’t saying anything, but she went on. “Why not?”
“I’m not a princess.” Hunter looked at her for a moment, as if waiting to see if she’d say that neither was she, then he pivoted and headed to another of the hallways, tossing over his shoulder, “Don’t leave the building without me.”
* * *
Caught.
April knew it the second she realized Sharon was watching her watch the direction Hunter had gone.
“Oh, April, honey.” Sharon shook her head. “Don’t.”
“I’m not.” Heat rose from her chest up her throat. “I’m trying not to.”
“Try harder. It’s a dead-end road. I’m telling you, an absolute dead end, with a cliff at the end of it. I strong-armed Hunter into going out with one of my friends to celebrate his getting out of training. That was the first of three women who ended up as sobbing puddles on our sofa. Each and every one of them fell for the guy, sure they
“No matter. We will be in the greatest informality for this time. I have already discussed with Madame Sabdoka that meals will be simple and of a family style. No ceremony or protocol.”
That, clearly, did not please Madame.
Perhaps to divert attention from that disapproval, the king said, “I confess to curiosity for what these boxes and bags contain.”
“Mostly Christmas decorations. A few things I’ve gathered over the years, a few things from my childhood.”
“Indeed. I should particularly like to see those items from your childhood.”
She looked up, knowing they treaded closer to the dangerous territory of her birth, but she smiled into his sad eyes. “I would like to show you and to share them with you.”
“The embassy decorations are under contract,” Madame said.
Her brisk tone broke the moment’s connection.
King Jozef said as the two men came down the stairs, “I’m sure we can arrange something once April is settled. In the meantime, Madame you will find a place for these decorations, as well as Rufus’ accoutrements.”
“The crate should go where I’ll sleep, also this tote.”
Madame nodded at Rupert. He headed back upstairs with a second load.
“I must close myself up in the office shortly for a remote meeting with members of my government who are in Bariavak. But I hope you will join me for tea at four. How will you entertain yourself in the meantime?”
“I want to take Rufus for a walk to, uh, avoid accidents. Then I’ll go up and unpack.”
“I shall unpack your cases,” Madame said.
“Oh, no. I can—”
“I unpack your cases,” she repeated, her accent stronger and her tone implacable.
“That is the way it is done,” King Jozef said.
April’s eyes met Sharon’s. She got the message: This was not a battle worth waging. “Thank you.”
Madame inclined her head and started across the room. At the stairs she turned back and declared, “I shall not, however, tend to that animal.”
“No, of course not. Rufus is my dog, and my responsibility.” She had to pitch her voice louder, because Madame was ascending the stairs. “I’ll feed him and take him for walks—”
“With escort,” Hunter said.
“I don’t need an escort.”
“You’re getting one. Any time you leave the grounds.”
Suddenly aware of the king’s scrutiny, she faced him. His expression was neutral, yet she had the notion he’d just finished smiling
“I am to my office now.” He nodded to both of them.
That left Hunter, Sharon and her in the entryway.
“I should put these somewhere, so they’re out of the way,” she said, gesturing toward the boxes and bags.
“Not unless you want Madame on your case,” Sharon said.
She clicked her tongue. “That’s embarrassing, isn’t it?”
“What?”
“Having someone unpack your suitcases. Especially someone like Madame.” She turned to Hunter. “I bet you won’t like it one bit.”
He said nothing.
“Wait a minute — you’re saying she won’t unpack for you?” Actually, he wasn’t saying anything, but she went on. “Why not?”
“I’m not a princess.” Hunter looked at her for a moment, as if waiting to see if she’d say that neither was she, then he pivoted and headed to another of the hallways, tossing over his shoulder, “Don’t leave the building without me.”
* * *
Caught.
April knew it the second she realized Sharon was watching her watch the direction Hunter had gone.
“Oh, April, honey.” Sharon shook her head. “Don’t.”
“I’m not.” Heat rose from her chest up her throat. “I’m trying not to.”
“Try harder. It’s a dead-end road. I’m telling you, an absolute dead end, with a cliff at the end of it. I strong-armed Hunter into going out with one of my friends to celebrate his getting out of training. That was the first of three women who ended up as sobbing puddles on our sofa. Each and every one of them fell for the guy, sure they
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