Iris Johansen - Always

He watched her as she climbed the wide stone steps of the staircase in the foyer. She moved quickly, her carriage light and graceful, her delicate coloring contrasting sharply with the harsh gray of the stone wall.

He felt a swift rush of possessiveness that was as powerful as it was sudden. Tonight she was going to belong to him. If he was lucky, that one night might possibly turn into forever. When she disappeared from view, he turned and walked across the hall to the library. It took him only a few minutes to get through to Galbraith in Marasef. "Is there any word yet?"

"Not even a whisper. I called Berthold and told him to keep an eye out in case Baldwin returned to the island, and also contacted our operatives in the U.S. and alerted them." Galbraith paused. "But you don't really think he'll return to either place, do you?"

"No. I think he'll go to Said Ababa and join his terrorist friends. He knows he'll be safe there." Clancy's tone roughened. "And with their contacts in Sedikhan, he won't find it difficult to discover where Lisa can be found. It's a combination he'll find hard to resist."

"Then hadn't you better return to Marasef? You're pretty isolated out there in the desert."

"On the contrary, in the starkness of the desert you notice anything unusual at once. I can't say the same about a crowded city like Marasef. I want you to send a few of our best men out here tomorrow. Tell them they'll pose as servants. I don't want Lisa worrying about all this." "You'll be staying out there indefinitely?" "Until we get Baldwin." There was a slightly sardonic note in Clancy's voice as he added, "It would be nice if you made the effort to capture him before we have to confront him here. If it's not too much bother."

"Testy, aren't we?" Galbraith asked lightly. "I'll do everything short of crossing the Said Ababa border. Okay?"

"Okay, and for God's sake keep in touch."

Clancy hung up the receiver and stared at it abstractedly for a moment. He had been a little testy. He knew Galbraith would do everything possible to capture Baldwin if he crossed the border. It was just that he was so damned scared for Lisa.

He checked his watch and then moved swiftly to the door. Fifteen minutes had already passed, and he wanted to shower and change before he joined her. An elegant tuxedo wouldn't turn him into the kind of glamorous knight a princess deserved, but by God, he could try.

To Lisa's relief, dinner was served in a small oval dining room instead of the high-ceilinged hall she had glimpsed from the foyer. The walls were hung with rich tapestries faded with age and lit with flickering candles in a silver candelabra. The oak table was also oval and gleamed in the candlelight with an age-silkened patina. The entire castle had an air of dignity and grace, reminiscent of a bygone time, she mused. Though the modern comforts of electricity and efficient plumbing had been added, they hadn't been allowed to interfere with the ambience of the place.

The maid who served them was quick and deft and appeared a little nervous as she moved around the table serving the delicious duck a l'orange. When a tiny drop of sauce dropped on Lisa's placemat,.she gasped with horror, her gaze flyingto the figure of Marna Debuk standing unobtrusively just to the left of the doorway. Marna frowned. The girl gasped again and hurried from the room.

"What was that all about?" Lisa asked.

"It was nothing," Marna said with a shrug. "I'm sorry the foolish girl was so clumsy. I will send in another maid from the kitchen." She left the room, moving with surprising grace for a woman of her bulk.

Lisa met Clancy's eyes across the table, and she grinned in amusement. "And I thought the head-waiter at the cafe was intimidating. I don't believe I ever saw any of the waiters blanch and run from the room when Monty frowned."

"But Monty wasn't a gypsy believed to be able to cast spells and hexes," Clancy said dryly. "His subordinates only have to worry about their jobs."

"She's a gypsy?"

"A genuine, card-carrying gypsy," Clancy said with a grin. "There are several tribes in Tamrovia that travel in caravans around the countryside. She belongs to one of the more powerful ones."

"But how did a gypsy become nursemaid to a royal princess?"

"Tradition. In olden times it was believed that gypsies had great magical powers, and to have one in attendance on their children was a social coup. It became a custom in Mama's tribe to send a chosen one to serve in the royal household in every generation. Unfortunately, Their Majesties made the mistake of assigning Marna to Kira when she was born."

"Why unfortunately?"

"Because combining a lawless gypsy philosophy like Mama's with Kira's temperament was like adding oil to fire." He picked up his glass of wine. "Explosive."

"Fascinating," Lisa murmured.

"If you like to play with dynamite." He smiled. "Personally I like my entertainment a little less volatile. Have I told you how lovely you look tonight? I like that caftan."

"So do I." She touched the peach-colored brocade of the bodice. She knew the color was good with her hair and eyes, and the richness of the material always made her feel festive. "Though the style is more fitting to one of your Middle Eastern palaces than this castle."

"Oh, I don't know. I imagine quite a few knights brought their ladies gorgeous garb like that from their crusades."

"I hadn't thought of that." She wasn't thinking very coherently of anything, she thought ruefully. Her palms were actually damp with nervousness. Good Lord, she was acting with all the sophistication of a teenage virgin. She should have seduced Clancy this afternoon on the plane. Then she had responded with complete naturalness and passion. Now that she'd had time to think how important tonight might be to her, she had developed a case of nerves.

"You're not eating again." Clancy's eyes were twinkling. "You mustn't disappoint Marna. She might put the evil eye on you."

"Is that why you brought me here? So that Marna could accomplish what you and Galbraith couldn't?"

He went still. "You know why I brought you here," he said quietly. "And it has nothing to do with that particular appetite."

Her chest was suddenly so tight she was finding it hard to breathe. She could see the reflection of the candle flames in his eyes, but she doubted if that was what made them blaze. The room was charged with an electricity and naked desire that was unmistakable. Why were they sitting here indulging in this charade of social amenities when neither of them wanted to be anywhere but in each other's arms? She swallowed. "You don't seem to be eating very well yourself. Shall we give it up and take the risk of incurring Mama's wrath?"

He threw the napkin on the table and stood up. "If we can manage to escape before she comes back from the kitchen." He was around the table, pulling her to her feet. "Let's go!"

They ran from the room like naughty children, only to be confronted by Marna in the hall. Braking, they skidded to a stop.

"You do not wish dessert?" the housekeeper asked, raising a brow.

Clancy shook his head. "Miss Landon needs some fresh air. We thought we'd take a walk on the battlements."

The faintest smile touched Mama's lips. "It is always wise to satisfy one's needs when they occur. It is unhealthy to do otherwise. Good night, Mr. Donahue."

Lisa stared after her retreating figure. "Maybe she is a witch. That had to be a double entendre."

"She wouldn't have to be psychic to read our minds at the moment. There's a certain look…"

He grinned. "Though I wouldn't swear that she didn't." He took her hand and pulled her up the stairs. When they reached the landing he suddenly turned to her with a frown. "Would you like to?"

She blinked. "What?"