done before, which is why so few people think of traveling there. But we have everything, magnificent scenery, great art, history-”
“Disneyland?” Mike asked eagerly.
“No,” Randolph was forced to admit, “we don't have Disneyland. But we have Lake Bellanon, with its beautiful beaches. I think you'll both like it there.”
“Us?” Dottie asked suspiciously.
“It's been my task to find two people who would make best use of the prize. It has to be a young couple, so that as well as enjoying our hospitality you can tell us what Elluria needs to attract other young people. It will be everything you've dreamed of-money to burn, gold plates, your every whim catered for.”
If only, he thought, Mike didn't say, “Eee, Dot!” But he did. Randolph ground his teeth.
“It's too good to be true,” Mike went on.
“Right! Too good to be true,” Dottie said, showing an astuteness that dismayed Randolph. “In real life, things just don't get handed to you on a plate like this. I'm suspicious.”
“He can't be stocking a harem, Dot,” Mike pointed out. “Not if he wants me as well.”
“You don't know that. He's probably covering all the angles.”
“Pardon?”
“Never mind,” she said hastily. Randolph's lips were twitching. He'd divined her meaning at once, while Mike was still floundering around trying to believe she'd meant what he thought she'd meant.
“I promise you, it's all on the level,” Randolph said smoothly. “Wouldn't you like a free vacation, spending money, new wardrobe?”
Dottie drew a long breath at the thought of new clothes, but she was torn two ways, trying to equate this with his behavior to her earlier. Randolph understood her perfectly and his conscience smote him.
“It could be our honeymoon,” she said at last.
“No,” Randolph said hastily, “we have to leave at once.”
“But if we got a special license…”
Seeing disaster staring him in the face Randolph became even more inspired.
“I must make a confession, Ms. Hebden. The fact is that you two are replacements. The original prize winners had to drop out at the last minute. The celebrations are all arranged. When I return to Elluria tonight I must take you with me or I'll probably lose my job.”
“Tonight?” Dottie squealed. “And what about
“I promise to settle everything with your employers. The Ellurian tourist authority will provide temporary replacements, at their own expense. Generous expense. Your employers will gain on the transactions.”
“But we don't have passports,” Dottie pointed out.
“You will travel on Ellurian diplomatic passports.”
“A whole month's free vacation,” Mike mused. “It's a pity it couldn't have been our honeymoon.”
“But it can,” Dottie said triumphantly. “We can get married out there. Think what terrific publicity for tourism that will be.” She beamed at Randolph. “You'd like that, wouldn't you?”
“Of course,” he said in a hollow voice.
It seemed that as he avoided one pitfall another opened at his feet. His conscience was troubling him more every minute. But he had no choice. At all costs, he had to get Dottie to Elluria, or his country would be at Harold's mercy, and that mustn't be allowed to happen.
“We can be married at once,” Dottie was murmuring, almost to herself. “Oh but look, it's nonsense. Things don't happen like this. We have to be realistic.”
“Perhaps you can be too realistic,” Randolph pointed out. “Take the chance life holds out to you.” The cunning of the serpent made him add, “Just think how mad Brenda will be when she finds out! Of course, by then it will be too late.”
“Oh, if only I could be there to see her face,” Dottie breathed.
“But you won't,” Randolph reminded her. “You'll be in Elluria, with Mike.”
“Let's go,” Dottie said at once. She jumped to her feet, her face shining with joy. “Oh Mike, Mike!”
She threw her arms about him and they hugged each other exuberantly. Randolph suddenly looked away. When he looked back he found Dottie regarding him, and he could have sworn there was accusation in her eyes.
Like all crown princes of Elluria, Randolph had spent some time in the army. There he'd learned lessons about tactics, strategy and intelligence gathering that stood him in good stead now.
Certain things were simple, like arranging two diplomatic passports. Sorting matters with Mike and Dottie's employers were tasks for embassy attaches. But keeping his two quarries in protective custody without arousing Dottie's suspicions further, demanded the skills of a policeman, a magician and a mother hen, and taxed Randolph's ingenuity to the fullest.
Whatever organizing skills Dottie displaying at the cafe seemed not to carry over into her personal life. Her packing was an exercise in chaos, and the number of times she stopped to remember, “just one more thing,” drove Randolph nearly demented.
Finally she made her appearance dressed for traveling in what she called “comfortable clothes.” These turned out to be a pair of short shorts which would give her future prime minister heart failure, were he to see them. Luckily Randolph had prepared for this disaster by having suitable clothing waiting on the aircraft.
At last he had them in a car on the way to the airport, and their attention was occupied by the excitement of the trip.
“What happens when we get there?” Mike asked.
“We get married,” Dottie said firmly.
“What, today?”
“It will take a few days for the paperwork to be complete,” Randolph said hastily. “In the meantime, why don't we celebrate with champagne?”
He produced glasses and a bottle of Bollinger from the car's mini bar, and the moment slid past. At the airport they were whisked through their passport checks with the minimum of fuss, and then onto the small luxuriously appointed aircraft, with its soft armchairs in a pale biscuit color.
“Where are the other passengers?” Dottie asked.
“You are Elluria's honored guests,” Randolph informed her. “This is a special plane, part of our hospitality.”
It was, in fact, the royal plane, which had been on standby, ready to leave at his command.
Dottie regarded him wryly. Something about this was all wrong, and she was growing more uneasy by the minute. But once they took off she became entranced with gazing out of the window at the sea, and then the coast as they reached France.
“Hey, look at that,” she breathed to Mike. Receiving no answer she turned and found Mike missing.
“He's in the cockpit,” Randolph explained, coming to sit beside her. “Knowing that he was interested in things mechanical, the captain invited him.”
“You fixed that,” Dottie said. It wasn't a question. She already knew that this man was a great fixer.
“Yes,” he admitted. “I needed to talk to you alone. Please Dottie, it's very important.” Having created his chance he found he couldn't use it, and was silent a long time.
“So important that you can't find the words?” she suggested.
“Exactly that. What I have to tell you is so extraordinary that at first you may not believe it. In fact, you won't believe it.”
“If I'm not going to believe it, it doesn't matter what words you use,” she said, trying to be helpful.
“Oh it matters. A lot hangs on this. You may blame me for…for various thing-”
“Well, I have a few things to blame you for, haven't I?” she said quietly.
She couldn't name the obscure sense of hurt that had troubled her since this morning. Nor would she say aloud that he'd deluded her with false magic, but the unspoken reproach was there in her eyes, and he colored.
“Please hear me out before you judge me,” he said.
When she didn't reply he took out a copy of
Frowning she opened at the page, and the first thing she saw was a large picture, captioned, Prince Randolph, The Deposed Heir.
