Worse, as soon as he talked to Sophie she would be so overjoyed to discover her plan was working she’d pretend to be ill for the entire weekend and encourage him to entertain Lee.
That meant she would be spending the next few days in Raoul’s company. It appeared that one of her teenage fantasies about being with him was going to come true. Except that in her dreams they’d been strictly alone, and there had been no princess…
Upstairs in the spacious loft, where there were four beds, Raoul spoke with Sophie while Philippe stood nearby. After telling her they’d make other plans once she had recovered, he clicked off the cellphone and stared at his friend.
“What’s going on?” Philippe demanded.
Raoul shook his head. “I wish I knew. Sophie says she’s feeling very sick.”
“Do you believe her?”
“I don’t know. Philippe-do you think it’s possible she’s as horrified over the marriage date being brought forward as I am?”
He shrugged his shoulders in typical Gallic fashion. “I suppose anything is possible. Is that why you invited her best friend to join us on the climb? To see if you could learn the truth from her?”
Raoul looked away, but not fast enough to fool his friend.
“I knew it,” Philippe cried. A wicked smile broke out on his face.
“What do you think you know?” he muttered in irritation.
“I saw the way you were looking at each other out by the car. Mon Dieu-with all that energy you two could have lit up a whole city!”
“You’re jumping to conclusions,” Raoul retorted, raking a hand through his hair in frustration.
“No, my old friend. I have eyes in my head. I know what I saw, what I felt. You’ve just discovered what it’s like to be struck by the coup de foudre. She’s what the Americans call a knockout.”
“You mean like Kellie?”
Philippe’s head reared back. The two men stared at each other. “Touché.”
Raoul didn’t need his buddy to tell him what he already knew. Between Lee’s lovely face and coloring, and the alluring shape of her body, he was forced to admit he felt an overwhelming attraction to her. But it was more than that.
While she’d stood her ground defying him, giving him as good as she got, something had happened to him on a much deeper level. Something he couldn’t explain. All he knew was that he couldn’t let her go just yet.
“Do me a favor?”
“Anything,” Philippe murmured.
“This close to the wedding I can’t afford for the paparazzi to catch me alone with Lee. Would you mind taking her to the Bergsteig Hof right now to get her outfitted for the climb?”
He grinned. “It will be my pleasure.”
“Don’t enjoy it too much.” The warning came out before Raoul realized how that sounded.
Philippe shook his head in amazement. “I never thought I’d see the day when you would say something like that to me. You’re not the same man I left an hour ago to go pick up the Princess.”
“I’m not sure what I am,” Raoul confessed. “Come on back with her when you’re through and we’ll eat here tonight before going to bed.”
“That sounds interesting.”
“She’ll stay downstairs in the master bedroom, of course.”
“Of course,” Philippe imitated him in cruel delight. “Have you informed her of all your plans?”
“I’ll do it now.”
“Do you think she has ever set foot on a mountain?”
“I guess we’ll find out tomorrow.”
If she’d lied to him, then she wasn’t the woman Raoul thought she was, and he’d be able to walk away from her without looking back. But, even as he reasoned that way, the idea that she might have been toying with him sent a feeling of desolation through him he couldn’t account for.
Tormented by thoughts that could get him into serious trouble, he headed downstairs with Philippe. As they made their way, the sound of voices drifted toward them. It appeared Yves and Roger were back from town and had become sidetracked by the latest arrival.
The eager expressions on their burnished faces revealed how enthralled they were with the charming blond American who spoke impeccable French.
Raoul had seen his climbing buddies in action too many times before and recognized the signs of infatuation. But, to his chagrin, this was one time when he didn’t find it amusing.
“It looks like everyone is acquainted.” He broke in on their conversation without the slightest compunction. All heads swerved in his direction but he only had interest in one unforgettable face.
“Lee? If you’d go with Philippe, he’ll take you to get outfitted for tomorrow. While you’re gone I’ll phone the Belle-Vue and cancel your reservation.”
“Oh, bu-”
“It’s all right,” he interrupted her. “I’d prefer you stay in the guest room here to avoid problems with the press. They’ll have heard there was a hotel reservation made in the Ramblet name and be lying in wait.”
He felt her hesitation before she murmured, “I’m sure you’re right.”
“It will be nice to fool them for a change. When you return from town we’ll eat, then turn in early.”
She looked as dazed as he felt before she got up from the couch to follow Philippe out of the room.
No one spoke until the back door closed. Yves turned to him. “What’s going on, Raoul?”
“I heard her tell you the Princess was too sick to come, so now you know as much as I do. Since Mademoiselle Gresham traveled all this distance to deliver the message, I thought the least I could do was invite her on the climb tomorrow.”
Roger looked dumbfounded. “She wants to come?”
“Let’s put it this way. She didn’t refuse.”
The astonishment on their faces was so comical Raoul would have been amused if these had been other circumstances. But the fact that she hadn’t backed out yet raised more troubling questions than it answered.
It didn’t help that his pulse raced every time he thought of being in her company for the next few days.
“Excuse me while I tell Greta there’ll be five of us eating in tonight.”
CHAPTER FOUR
LEE had made other climbs besides the Grand Teton with her father in the Colorado Rockies. She knew what equipment was necessary.
As soon as she and Philippe entered the sporting goods store she proceeded to find the warm clothing and sunglasses she would need. Before her companion could speak for her, she told the older man behind the counter she wanted mountaineering boots with a good profile for crampons.
It didn’t take long to be outfitted with the right helmet and harness. Throwing in a pick ax and rucksack with Thermos, she was ready to check out and pulled the credit card from her wallet.
Philippe covered her hand with his, signaling that she should put it away. “This goes on the Mertier account,” he murmured to the other man who nodded without asking questions. Obviously the staff here could be counted on for their discretion, a highly prized commodity for royals like Raoul.
But Lee wasn’t a person who expected to be taken care of. Her conscience wouldn’t allow her to let the Prince foot the bill for everything.
“This equipment is for me,” she asserted, removing her hand from beneath his to give the clerk the credit card. “I’ll pay for it.”
She’d always paid her way with Sophie, and wasn’t about to take advantage of Raoul’s generosity now. In fact, she’d been having second thoughts about joining him on the climb ever since he’d extended the invitation.
Thanks to Philippe, the business about who would pay for her equipment had served as a wakeup call. She’d be insane to have anything more to do with Raoul!
Unfortunately now was not the time to make a scene by declaring that she’d changed her mind. The only thing to do was wait until she got back to the chalet to inform Raoul. On her way to the train station, she’d return all the equipment.