Robyn Donald - The Royal House of Niroli - Innocent Mistresses

Wearing a slinky black dress with earrings so long the diamonds glittered on her shoulders like drops of sweat, the princess came straight to Nico’s side and linked arms with him.

‘Darling, what’s taking you so long?’ she purred into his ear.

‘Forgive me, Anastasia,’ he said smoothly, moving away. Thrusting Carrie behind him, Nico planted himself in front of her.

Carrie blenched as she viewed her rival through the small space left between Nico and the door frame. She might as well retire gracefully now. She was nothing but a little drab compared to the princess.

‘I heard raised voices, darling.’ Peering round Nico, Anastasia tried to get a better view of Carrie. ‘You don’t have a problem, I hope?’

‘No problem,’ Nico said evenly.

For a moment Carrie was surprised that Nico was troubling to protect her, but then she realised he was protecting his flawless reputation. Nico was used to sailing above the trivial embarrassments that afflicted the rest of mankind, and she guessed finding himself on the back foot was something new for him.

‘Is there a problem, Nico?’ Anastasia pressed. ‘They told me you had been detained.’ She gave a pretty pout. ‘But they also promised me that you would be joining us for coffee. Is this girl bothering you?’ Craning her elegant neck, she stared down her perfect ski-slope nose at Carrie.

Nico stood to one side, leaving the two women in full sight of each other. ‘Carrie Evans used to work for me.’

‘I see …’ Finely plucked eyebrows soared at an acute angle as the princess evaluated her opponent.

‘Carrie’s in Niroli on holiday, aren’t you, Carrie?’

Nico was prompting her? Carrie chose to remain silent.

‘Carrie, may I present Princess Anastasia….’

As Nico introduced her to the princess she stood stiffly, hoping Anastasia didn’t expect her to curtsy; the princess’s haughty gaze had instantly labelled her an inferior.

‘Why, Anastasia … nothing to say?’ Nico pressed. ‘Is there a reason Ms Evans shouldn’t visit the palace while she’s holidaying in Niroli?’ His voice was like a velvet threat, and as he spoke a quiver of response ran across Carrie’s shoulders.

‘No reason at all,’ Princess Anastasia said quickly, opening her eyes very wide to signal her absolute agreement with anything Nico chose to say about the matter.

He was playing them off against each other, Carrie realised. This might be providing Nico with an amusing interlude, but she wasn’t going to play. On the other hand, who knew what lengths Anastasia would go to in order to ingratiate herself with Nico? Any and all, Carrie concluded, watching the princess moisten her lips with the tip of her tongue.

‘I hope you will accept my apologies, Principessa?’

As Nico spoke Carrie had to hide her feelings, for, overriding the desire to scratch out Anastasia’s eyes was the desire to laugh. The role of penitent was completely beyond Nico’s acting capabilities. The princess didn’t seem to realise this and her soft exhalation of breath assured Carrie that Anastasia would take Nico on any terms.

‘I do hope we’re not too late for the last dance?’ Nico added, bowing low to Anastasia.

As his sardonic glance brushed her face Carrie knew she had been relegated to the position of silent servant. Nico and his princess were conducting a conversation that excluded her. Could he have found a crueller way to put her in her place?

‘Of course we’re not too late for the last dance, caro,’ Anastasia assured him, and this time she did include Carrie in the conversation, if only to shoot her a look of triumph.

‘Shall we go?’ Nico offered with yet another bow.

How charming he could be when it suited him, Carrie thought, narrowing her eyes as Nico deigned to acknowledge her with a slight tilt of his head.

‘I’ll have one of the palace drivers take you back to your hotel,’ he said to her, pausing mid-stride as if she were an afterthought. ‘Wait in the courtyard and I’ll have them come and find you—’

‘I can make my own way back to the hotel, thank you,’ she told him with composure.

Carrie’s defiant pose lasted only until the regal pair was out of sight. To hear them chatting so easily together was sheer torture. She was forced to admit they did look stunning together, but as Anastasia’s laugh rang out she thought again that Nico had it all. Having enjoyed his entertainment on the side he could relax and escort his beautiful princess to the ball. While she remained in the shadows listening to the rustle of Anastasia’s silk gown brush against the wall like a mocking reproach.

Carrie waited until she was sure the coast was clear and then hurried in the same direction as Nico and Anastasia. Before she reached the grand staircase she slipped through the doorway that led to the back stairs used by the servants.

The cool stone soothed her sore feet, but did nothing to help her aching heart. Nico didn’t believe her. Nico thought she was lying. Nico thought she’d been with another man. She didn’t know what else she could say to him. And in a horrible reminder of just how low she’d sunk every part of her was still throbbing from his heated possession. Once again he’d been hungry for sex, and once again she’d been willing. They were tinder and fire, verbally, physically. She might be strong in many areas of her life, but where Nico was concerned she could never find the strength to resist him.

The moment the sun hit her face Carrie looked for cover. If she was stopped now it would be hard to explain what she was doing in the palace—impossible if she wanted to avoid speculation and gossip. She could see a stone-roofed walkway that offered some protection, but if she took that route there was a point where she would be in full view of anyone standing on the balcony….

It was a risk she would have to take.

Hurrying along the passage, she fought the impulse to look up. But she had to, and then she saw Nico sipping champagne with the royal family.

It only emphasised his elevated status, and reminded her of the distance between them. And yet he stood apart from the rest, Carrie noticed.

She was deeply conscious of her bedraggled state and her bare feet as she reached the end of the walkway and stepped into the light, but she did so with her head held high. It was then Carrie noticed Princess Anastasia, and the princess noticed her. Walking up to Nico, Anastasia threw her arms around his neck and kissed him full on the mouth.

She couldn’t bear to see Nico’s reaction, but the pain of not knowing if she would ever see him again made her look up in time to see him wiping his mouth discreetly on the back of his hand. It was a small triumph, but inwardly she smiled.

Filled with renewed purpose, Carrie hurried to the gate. She could feel Nico’s gaze burning into her back every step of the way, but she didn’t notice the shadow of an older woman watching her from an upstairs window.

SO MUCH had gone wrong that day Carrie couldn’t wait to get back to the hotel, rest, relax and think about how to make it right. She had been sitting on a wall gazing out to sea for well over an hour mulling over the mess she’d made of things. She had given in to Nico, she’d had a row with him and she’d even managed to antagonise Princess Anastasia. What more could possibly go wrong?

Carrie knew the answer the moment she saw the smoke. Her hotel was on fire. Forgetting how sore her feet were, she began to run. Pushing through the small crowd, she captured the attention of an elderly man staring up at the firefighters. ‘Is everyone safe?’

‘Everyone’s safe now,’ he reassured her. ‘The fire was confined to the kitchen, but it knocked out the electricity and so all the guests have been evacuated. They’re just checking the upstairs rooms now as a precaution.’