His Majesty's Marriage

to be looking at Lee. After his personal observation, Lee felt equally dazed. Her legs were about as substantial as mush.

“We do have a dress. It just came in. Follow me.”

When they reached the fitting room Lee noticed how the other woman kept staring at the black cardigan Raoul had thrown over her shoulders earlier to keep warm.

“I’ll be right back, mademoiselle.”

Left alone, Lee removed it before taking off her other clothes, wondering what was so fascinating. Raoul had muttered something about his mother accidentally leaving it behind after a visit. She gasped the second she realized the D’Arillac royal crest had been embroidered on the pocket.

Hundreds of people would have recognized it. To be wearing such a garment would show the world Raoul had put his personal claim on her. Short of kissing her in public, he couldn’t have done anything that would have conveyed his disregard of his fiancee as completely.

Already there’d been a moment after lunch when he’d helped her up from the table and his lips had grazed her cheek. The contact had sent scorching heat to her face. The tabloids would love that kind of press. She could be thankful they hadn’t caught a photo of him kissing her senseless in Roger’s kitchen.

“Here we are, mademoiselle. I showed this dress to the Prince. He said it’s perfect. In fact he would like to see you in it, and suggested these heels to match.”

Lee took the articles from her. “Thank you. I won’t need any help.”

As soon as the other woman walked away, Lee put it on. The purple affair with spaghetti straps, an Italian creation in a soft crepe de Chine, was stunning. The lines made the most of her figure without being immodest. But she couldn’t face Raoul right now. There’d been too much intimacy already.

She dressed quickly in her other clothes and walked out to the counter. “It’s all very lovely,” she murmured, avoiding Raoul’s eyes.

“You need hose, mademoiselle?”

“Yes, and a slip.”

Before long she had her packages. Raoul ushered her out to the street amidst a barrage of camera flashes. Some reporter in the crowd called out, “Prince Raoul? Is the rumor true that you’re not marrying Princess Sophie after all?”

Lee cringed, but he just smiled and waved before helping her into the car.

Once they were on their way, he glanced at her. “You couldn’t have gotten much sleep last night. I have to assume that’s the reason you wouldn’t give me a preview in the shop, so let’s get you home for a nap.”

“That sounds good.”

“I thought it would. You can sleep until seven-thirty. We have dinner reservations at the Alex at eight. Afterward, I’m planning to dance the night away with you.”

At the thought of being in his arms again she felt her heart take up a furious tattoo.

“Don’t look so alarmed,” he muttered. “It’s the thing to do at night in Zermatt.”

“I-I haven’t danced in a long time.” Her voice faltered.

“The place will be so packed all you’ll have to do is hold on to me and I’ll take care of the rest.”

That was what she was afraid of.

Six hours later, after a sumptuous dinner from the grill followed by champagne, Raoul guided her into a disco bar. It wasn’t Lee’s scene, but it was exactly the kind of place Sophie would have loved because the music ‘rocked’.

Once again Lee heard whispers as people recognized Raoul. The manager was all smiles and arranged the best table for them, but her companion seemed totally oblivious. He relieved her of the chic white wool dress coat he’d bought for her while she’d been in the fitting room.

In the next instant he spirited her on to the floor, drawing her arms behind his neck before sliding his hands around her hips to rest against her back.

There wasn’t a centimeter of air between them. Lee trembled so hard, he had to feel it. They might as well have been making love standing up.

“I told you there was nothing to this kind of dancing,” he said in a husky tone. The warmth of his breath on her temple shot sparks of desire through her system, electrifying her.

“You warned me it would be crowded, but I didn’t realize we wouldn’t be able to breathe.”

He chuckled softly. “That’s the whole idea.” His hands roved over her back where skin met skin. “Have I told you yet how sensational you look in this dress? I’m the envy of every man here.”

Lee had been thinking the same thing about Raoul. He looked drop-dead gorgeous in his tux, a breed apart from any other man. The women in the room couldn’t keep their eyes off him.

“Thank you for the compliment.”

She lost track of time as one dance turned into another. It was the only legitimate excuse she had to cling to him. But as the night worn on she realized this was too dangerous a game to play. It was vital she put distance between them.

“Raoul?”

“Umm?”

“Do you think we could leave now?”

“You’re not enjoying yourself?”

If only you knew.

“It’s not that, but I couldn’t sleep this afternoon and-”

“And now you’re exhausted. That’s fine. We’ll go.”

People made a path for him as he drew her through the crowd to the exit. Until more flashes went off, blinding her, she’d forgotten the paparazzi. They never let up, not even at two in the morning.

She was a throbbing mass of emotions on their drive back to the chalet. “Today has been like a page out of a fairy tale. I feel like Cinderella who got her dance with the Prince.” She had to keep things on a light note or she might break down and tell him how she really felt.

“How have you liked your role so far?”

He was letting her know not to get too carried away.

“Knowing it’s temporary, I’ll be honest and tell Your Highness that I’ve loved every second of it. But the thought of it being on a permanent basis is ludicrous. Your world and mine are so far apart as to be beyond comprehension.”

After the slightest hesitation she heard him say, “Nevertheless the enchantment isn’t over yet, and you still have both glass slippers.”

In other words, he intended for the public charade to go on through tomorrow night as well. But it wasn’t necessary. She was convinced they’d given the reporters more than enough material for Sophie’s family to call off the engagement. In one day Raoul had destroyed all the good he’d spent his life building.

As for Lee, any more time in his company would only bring about her final destruction. However, tonight was not the time to tell him she was through playing the role of his lover. Otherwise he’d insist on another one of his talks, where she always came out the loser. She couldn’t risk that.

Still high on the feel of his arms around her, Lee’s only salvation was to run inside when they arrived, and go to bed without stopping for a breath.

When they drew up behind the chalet, she saw another car parked there. Beyond it she spied Philippe, descending the outside staircase from the loft.

She heaved a sigh. “I’m glad your friends are home safely.”

“Me too,” Raoul murmured before levering himself from the car. As he came around to open her door she heard the two men greet each other.

Relieved because Raoul had been distracted for the moment, Lee nodded to Philippe, then slipped past them and darted into the house. She couldn’t reach her bedroom fast enough.

CHAPTER NINE