Well, arent you going to open it? demanded Lara. Dont you want to know who theyre from?
I know exactly who theyre from, said Rose slowly. Khalim sent them.
You cant know that!
Oh, yes, I can. She gave a wry smile. I may have had a few sweet and charming boyfriends, but not one who would spend this much on a bunch of flowers. But curiosity got the better of her, and she ripped the envelope open to find her hopes and her fears confirmed.
The message was beautifully and arrogantly stark.
The yellow is for your hair; the blue for the sapphire of your eyes. I will collect you at noon. Khalim.
Oh, my goodness! How utterly, utterly romantic! squeaked Lara, who was busy looking over her shoulder.
You think so? asked Rose tonelessly.
Well, Id be in absolute heaven if I got flowers like these from a man! And what a masterful message! Youd better get a move on!
But Rose wasnt listening. What a cheek! she exploded as her eyes roved over the message again. How dare he just assume that he can tell me a time and Ill be meekly sitting here waiting, like a lamb to the slaughter?
But you arent going out anywhere else today, are you? asked Lara in a puzzled voice.
That isnt the point!
Well, what is the point?
The point is that I dont want to go out with him!
Dont you? Honestly?
Honesty was a bit more difficult. Rose had worked hard on her independence and her sense of self-possessionboth qualities which she suspected Khalim could vanquish with the ease of a man who had sensual power untold at his fingertips.
A tiny bit of me does, she admitted, and saw Laras face go all mushy. But the rest of me is quite adamant that he would be nothing but bad news!
Lara sighed. So what are you going to do? Tell him that to his face? Or just pretend to be out when he calls? She brightened a little. I could go instead, if you like!
Rose was unprepared for the shaft of jealousy which whipped through her with lightning speed. She shook her head. Im a realist, she said proudly. Not a coward. If I turn Khalim down again, then hell just up the anteand I am not prepared to be bombarded with charm and expensive trinkets.
And wouldnt he just wear her down anyway?
Hes the kind of man who thrives on the chase, she said slowly. The kind of man who isnt used to being rejectedits probably a first for him!
So what, then?
Little shivers of excitement rippled down Roses spine as a decision formed in her mind. Ill go, she said, in a voice which wasnt quite steady. And Ill convince him that Im not the sort of woman he wants.
What sort of woman is that? asked Lara, mystified.
A temporary concubine! said Rose, and then, seeing Laras expression of mystification grow even deeper, added, Someone who will live with him as his wife, until he tires of her, and then on to the next!
You dont sound as though you like him very much, said Lara thoughtfully.
And that was just the trouble. She didnt. And yet she did. Though how could she form any kind of opinion about the man, when she didnt really know him at all? She was simply sexually captivated by a man who exuded an animal magnetism which was completely foreign to her.
Im going to go and get ready, she said, looking down at her faded jeans.
What shall I do with the flowers?
At the door, Rose turned and smiled. Ill forgo the obvious suggestion! You keep them, Lara, she added kindly, and went back into her bedroom to change.
At least her wardrobe was adequate enough to cope with most thingseven something like this. Her job meant that she had to look smart or glamorous whenever the occasion beckoned. Though an outing with a prince was so far outside her experience!
Still, a midday assignation was unlikely to call for much in the way of glitter, and she deliberately chose her most expensive and understated outfit. A demure shirt-dress in chalky-blue linen. It looked very English, she decided, and not in the least bit exotic. As she slid the final button into its hole she wondered whether that was why she had chosen it. To emphasise the differences between her pale restraint and his dark, striking beauty.
She swept her hair back and deftly knotted it into a French plait, and had put on only the barest touch of make-up before she heard the pealing of the front door bell. Drawing in a deep breath for courage and hoping that it might calm the frantic beat of her heart, Rose went out into the hall to answer it.
She pulled open the front door and saw that it was not Khalim who stood there, but a very tall dark-haired man dressed in an immaculate suit, his green eyes glittering with something akin to amusement as he looked down at her belligerent expression.
Miss Thomas? he asked smoothly.
He had a cool and rather beautiful face and was the kind of man who might, under normal circumstances, have made her heart beat a little faster. But these were not normal circumstances, Rose reminded herself.
Thats me, she said inelegantly.
The Prince Khalim is downstairs waiting for you in the car, he said quietly. Are you ready?
Rose frowned. And you are?
My name is Philip Caprice. I am his emissary.
Really? Rose drew her shoulders back. And did Prince Khalim not think it polite to come and call for me himself?
Philip Caprice hid a smile. It is quite normal for him to send me to collect you.
Well, it is not normal for me! said Rose heatedly. If he cant even be bothered to get out of the car, then perhaps you would be so kind as to tell him that I cant be bothered going downstairs!
Philip Caprice frowned. Look
But Rose shook her head. Im sorry, she said firmly. I know youre only doing your jobbut your bosssinvitation she bit the word out sarcastically leaves a great deal to be desired. It might have been more polite if hed actually phoned me to arrange a time, instead of calmly announcing it the way he did! Either he comes up here, or Im staying put.
Philip Caprice nodded, his green eyes narrowing, as if recognising determination when he saw it. As if recognising that, on this, she would not be budged.
Ill go and tell him, he said. Perhaps you could leave the door open?
Having to ring the doorbell would be too much of an indignity, I suppose? she hazarded, but she did as he asked.
She stood for a moment and watched him go, before stalking back into the sitting room where Lara, who had been listening to the entire conversation, was see-sawing between fascination and horror.
Oh, Rose, she whispered admiringly. Youve done it now! Bet you anything he just drives away!
I sincerely hope he does, said Rose coolly.
Do you really? came a deep, velvety voice from behind her, and Rose whirled round to see Khalim standing there, with such a glint in his black eyes that she was unable to tell whether he was amused or outraged.
Y-yes! Yes, I d-do, she said breathlessly, her heart clenching tightly in her chest as she saw how different he looked today. The eyes glittered with the same predatory promise, but there was not a flowing robe in sight.