chapter Four
Lara woke with a start, her head resounding with the sound of men shouting from the lounge. Scrambling from the bed, she pulled on her underclothes, followed by slacks and top. What was going on? Who was yelling?
She would never forget the sight that met her eyes as she raced into the other room. The place was full of police officers brandishing guns while Jack stood in the middle of them arguing with a man in a suit. As she flew to Jack’s side, she could see that his hands were shackled behind his back in handcuffs.
“Who are these men? What has happened?” She pressed closer to him, her arms around his waist. Jack stiffened and step away.
“You might well ask what’s happened,” he snapped, his blue eyes as cold as ice as he looked down at her. “Why the hell didn’t you tell me who you were?”
Before she could reply, the man in the suit spoke to her. “Your Highness, I’m Agent Brian Hawkins from the Australian Federal Police. This man has been placed under arrest for your kidnapping and holding you hostage.”
“What?” She covered her mouth with her hands.
“I have instructions to take you both to the mainland where Mr. Lucas will be formally charged,” the agent continued.
“But there has been a most dreadful mistake,” she gasped, staring at Jack who merely shrugged.
The agent turned his attention more fully to her. “For clarification purposes, you are Princess Lara of Challoner?”
“Yes, I am.”
“You are not an Australian citizen?”
“No. But, please, Agent Hawkins, Jack... Mr. Lucas didn’t kidnap me. He’s a friend of mine,” she said in righteous indignation.
“Let them have their fun, Lara. We can sort this out on the mainland.” Amusement now colored Jack’s voice.
She rounded on him. “This isn’t funny,” she lashed out. “They could put you in prison.” She quivered at the prospect and turned again to the police officer.
“Mr. Hawkins, I ask you please to unfasten Mr. Lucas’s handcuffs and allow us to pack our things. We aren’t likely to run anywhere.” Her tone was firm and controlled but her insides were quaking with fear. Didn’t Jack realize the potential trouble they were in? Or didn’t he care? Somehow, the police had been told that she had disappeared and her parents notified and they had pressed the panic button. She briefly wondered the whereabouts of her detective, Mark.
Hawkins stared at Lara’s anxious face. “Okay. I guess it will be all right,” he said grudgingly as he unlocked Jack’s handcuffs. “Please, both of you pack up your belongings as quickly as possible.”
Jack caught her arm as she was about to move to the bedroom and spoke to the agent, his manner polite. “It will be preferable if the princess and I travel on separate boats, Agent Hawkins.”
The policeman nodded a gleam of respect in his eyes.
“Jack, why?” Lara couldn’t contain herself. “I want to go with you.”
He ushered her into the bedroom and turned her to face him. She was aware Hawkins was standing at the door watching them.
Gripping her shoulders, Jack pulled her close, his voice low. “Listen to me. Sending these policemen here must mean you and I are big news. Because of who you are, there will be a lot of media hype. Until I can sort this mess out when we get to Port Margaret, it is wiser if we leave here separately. The less attention on you, the better.”
She gazed into his handsome face, her eyes intent on his, then studied his mouth that only a short time ago had woken a passion within her she hadn’t known existed. Now, he was going to be accused of something he hadn’t done and be punished because of it. Because of her and who she was.
“I’ll contact my parents as soon as I can and explain it’s all a mistake,” she said, seeing the sense in what Jack said.
He grinned and took her breath away with his beauty. “You can come and visit me in prison, Your Highness. That should cause a stir.”
Tears welled in her eyes and she blinked them away. “Don’t joke about this, Jack. My parents are very strict and will be extremely angry if this blows up in the media.”
“When it blows up.” He bent his head, his mouth against her ear as he whispered, “You and I know what really happened but no one else need know, and if that means going to prison to protect your reputation, then so be it.”
Before she could reply, Hawkins interrupted, “Mr. Lucas, I must ask you and the princess to hurry. We need to leave the island as soon as possible.”
Jack shrugged and pushed the few clothes he’d brought into his bag. She quickly placed the rest of her things into her case, having already packed most of her belongings the previous night.
“Here, take this.” He thrust a bundle of money into her hand. She looked at it bewilderment. “It’s the five hundred dollars you gave me to take you to Seagull Island. Doesn’t look as if I’ll need it where I’m going.”
She opened her mouth to speak but he was already being led away accompanied by four of the uniform police. Rushing to the window, she watched as they made their way toward the beach and the waiting launch.
She turned to face Hawkins and the remaining two policemen. “I have left some of my cases on Jack’s boat,” she said quietly as she tried to gather her riotous thoughts. What was going to happen? How could the police think he had kidnapped her? True, he was a poor fisherman but she believed him to be honest and the last thing he would do is hold her hostage.
“We have your cases already, Your Highness.”
“The generator needs to be switched off and Jack’s boat shouldn’t be left here, Agent Hawkins.”
“You don’t need to worry. We will see to all of that.”
Lara picked up her handbag and moved toward the door. But, I am worried. This is Jack’s special place. It needs looking after and Jezebel should be towed back to the harbor.
Hawkins walked at her side as she made her way to the beach while the other officers followed behind. He appeared awkward as he explained what was to happen. “Several media wait at the quayside in Port Margaret so we have arranged to land further up the coast. There you will be met by your own security and flown by private plane to Adelaide and taken to a secret location.”
“This cloak and dagger stuff is outrageous. Mr. Lucas and I have done nothing wrong.” She knew she was being at her most difficult as the realization hit her that she would never see Jack again.
Hawkins assisted Lara into the police launch and made sure she was safely seated inside the small cabin. She peered at the departing beach as the powerful boat drew away from the shore. “Oh, Jack, I’m so sorry. I’ll come back to you,” she whispered under her breath, as she pressed her face against the window.
As Hawkins sat opposite her, she waited for him to speak. “Princess Lara, if what you say is true and your story about how you came to be on the island was in all innocence.” He stopped as she glared at him, but then continued, “Then I’m sure it can be sorted out. However, you would be unaware of the concern your disappearance has caused in the past twenty-four hours. I’m afraid it has rapidly become a diplomatic incident between Australia and Challoner with an expectation that you could be murdered, or at the very least, held hostage for a huge ransom.”
She gave a very un-princess like snort. “I’ve never heard such rubbish. I told the queen, my mother, where I was going.”
“But you never arrived.”
“Jack radioed and left a message.” Lara hesitated as a sudden thought came to her. Had he done this? She only had his word for it. Would he have kept her there? No, of course not. He was ready to leave and she was the one that had begged to stay. But, had he tricked her, leading her on, seducing her…? She was so naïve and he was a poor fisherman who probably needed money. She unclasped her hands and stared at the wad of notes he had returned to her.
“I need to speak to whoever is in authority and explain everything,” she said abruptly.
“We can arrange that when you arrive at the safe location, Your Highness.”
~ * ~
Jack could see a throng of reporters and cameras as the police launch drew close to the quay at Port Margaret. What a strange situation to be in. So his Lara was a royal princess. It all fell into place now. The regal bearing, that proud, almost haughty attitude when they had first met and later, her shy reserve. There had been such innocence about her…innocence which he had almost taken from her. As it was, they knew each other intimately, very intimately.
What could have gone wrong with his communication to cause this storm? Surely his mates would have told the police who he was? That he could be trusted. That he was one of the wealthiest men in Australia and the last thing he needed to do was to kidnap a princess from a foreign country for money, or anything else.
He wished she had told him about her background then he would have been more alert to the possibilities of what might have happened. And yet, why would she? He hadn’t told her who he was. And for her it wasn’t the sort of thing to broadcast—the fact that one was a princess and worth a fortune. He needed to know more. He was puzzled, and he had to admit, intrigued as to why she would wish to holiday alone on Seagull Island.
He turned to one of the police officers. “I would like to use my cell phone,” he said, the police having taken it from him earlier. He decided he would need his lawyer present.
“Sorry, sir.”
“Come on, Constable. An accused man is entitled to one phone call.” Jack smiled but privately he thought this situation was now ridiculous.
“I expect that can be arranged at the police station, Mr. Lucas. Meanwhile, would you please make sure you don’t speak to the media and certainly don’t mention the princess?”
Jack nodded. He didn’t want to talk to them, besides he was sure his story would be an anticlimax compared to what they thought had happened and the possibility that he was a criminal.
He didn’t enjoy his arrival at the quayside. Although his guards protected him, he was still jostled and pushed by an overexcited media and was glad when he was driven away in a police car to arrive at the station a few minutes later.
“Mr. Lucas, the government of the country of Challoner has brought some very serious charges against you.”
He studied the two men opposite him, more federal police officers but very high up the ladder this time, he gathered.
“You don’t need to answer, Jack.” His lawyer, Lawrence Hayward, who had now joined them, butted in.
“Lawrence, I appreciate the fact you’re here, but I’ve got nothing to hide.” Jack’s usual calm nature began to boil.
“Then perhaps you’ll explain why you took the princess to this island, Mr. Lucas.”
He did explain succinctly and patiently, but left out any reference to his and Lara’s very close relationship. It took several hours of questioning as they went over things time after time, but things improved when a report came in that Jack’s friend, Dave Shelton, had confirmed he’d received a message from Jack. Unfortunately, he had forgotten to contact the resort on Seagull Island and relay the message.
“When the resort owners reported the young lady hadn’t arrived, it started a chain-reaction, Mr. Lucas,” the police officer explained in an apologetic voice. “You’re free to go, and I’m sorry this has caused you such problems. I will inform the Challoner officials as to what happened.”
“Where is the princess now? I’d like to see her before she leaves Australia…to say goodbye,” he added at the look of perplexity on the officers’ faces.
“That’s not possible. Her security people have taken her into hiding to protect her, mainly from the scrutiny of the media.”
Jack left the police station, avoiding the media by exiting through the rear entrance. Well, that’s that, lovely Lara, he thought as the police drove him through the town and up the steep hill to his huge villa overlooking the bay. “I would have liked to have brought you here, sweetheart,” he said as he stood on the cliff at the edge of his property. The sun was dipping low in the sky and dusk had begun to gather. “Perhaps one of these days I need to head to Europe for a break. Challoner perhaps?”
~ * ~
“I would like to talk to Jack. This is not good enough.” Lara was at her imperial best but was getting nowhere. Mark, her detective, was adamant she needed to speak to her parents.
“I have placed a call to the palace, Your Highness,” he replied.
She wandered around the elegant room of her secret location, which turned out to be a large rambling house in the prestigious suburb of Springfield on the outskirts of Adelaide. She had no idea to whom the house belonged and at this time, didn’t really care.
On the flight from Port Margaret, Mark had explained in detail what had happened and how the nation’s media had grabbed hold of the story making it instantly front page news. When they had landed in Adelaide, she had been whisked away by the federal police to this safe house.
It was mid-day now and Mark had taken pity on her long enough to tell her that Jack was still be interrogated by the police. Even though she had repeatedly told Mark that Jack was innocent of any crime, he said it was up to the federal police to decide that. Meanwhile, she had fretted and fumed as she waited for the call from her parents.
A few minutes later, the phone rang and she waited as Mark took the call and then placed it on a secured line. He passed her the receiver.
“His Majesty,” he said with reverence in his voice and left the room so she could speak to her parents in private.
Her stomach quivered and her nerves tightened a notch as she placed the receiver to her ear. She knew her father loved her but he was also very strict and wouldn’t be happy about the difficulty that had arisen.
“Hello, sir.”
“Lara.” His voice was so clear it was as if it was in the next room. “Your mother and I have been very disturbed by this incident. Arrangements have been made for you to fly home tomorrow and remove you from the mess you’ve created.”
“It’s all been a terrible mistake, Daddy.”
“So I understand. We have received the police report and it would appear this man Jack Lucas meant you no harm. But, you were at fault, Lara. You should never have placed yourself in that compromising position. I’m very angry with you.”
“But, I’ve been in Australia for years and have never caused as much as a ripple of scandal.” She was flustered as the clipped voice of her father continued, riding over the top of her explanation.
Then her mother’s voice came on the line and Lara’s eyes filled with tears as the soft concern cocooned her. She experienced a huge lurch of homesickness.
“Darling, are you sure you’re all right?”
“Yes, I’m fine. Mummy, please tell my father it wasn’t anyone’s fault. In fact, no one would give it a second thought if it wasn’t for who I am.”
“He knows that, dear but we have always trusted you to be so sensible and you have been until now. I really shouldn’t have allowed you to go away on your own.”
She gripped the receiver, struggling to breathe. She had fought so hard with her parents to be allowed to lead an almost normal life, first as a school student and then at university. But, she had been aware she was constantly watched and protected against harm. Her first bid for freedom, just for a few days, had gone disastrously wrong.
“However, we have had this man checked out and he seems harmless enough. I assume he behaved like a gentleman?”
She cringed at her mother’s words, her throat going dry as she thought of Jack and how she had begged him to make love to her. “Yes, he did.”
There was silence for a few seconds and her heart began to pound. Her mother was very shrewd and knew her daughter well. Would she pick up the vibes?
Her mother’s next statement said it all. “Something happened between the two of you, didn’t it?”
She swallowed. She had always found it impossible to lie to her mother. “Yes.” Her voice was almost a whisper.
“Did he force himself on you?”
“No. God. No. We made love. He became my lover.” The words tumbled out before she could stop them. She couldn’t bear her mother to think that Jack had attacked and raped her.
“Did he use protection?”
She gasped at the bluntness of her mother’s question. They had always enjoyed a close relationship but never conversations like this. Lifting a trembling hand to her forehead, she found it impossible to form the words to reply.
“Very well. Your silence has said it all. When the king and I heard about your situation, we took this possibility into consideration. We know that for all your independence, you are naïve when it comes to matters of men and sex and this man has taken advantage of you. Mr. Lucas will be invited to fly back with you to be our guest at the palace so we can sort this matter out.”
“Mummy, he won’t accept. You can’t embarrass me in this way.”
“Don’t interrupt. He will stay until the test can be done to find out whether you are pregnant or not. If you are, we will then discuss the next step.
“Meanwhile, the press office will issue a statement to the international media to explain that Mr. Lucas is a friend of the royal family and you stayed with him in that capacity. Do you understand?”
Lara had never known her mother to be so tough. Her parents, and probably their close advisors at the palace, had worked it all out. What would Jack say? That it was all a lie? And he’d be right, she thought dismally. He knew she couldn’t be pregnant because he’d made sure of that.
What if he refused to come with her? She dreaded to think what might happen. Between the palace and the police, they could make things very difficult for him and he had to go on earning a living, not be placed in jail for something he hadn’t done. Besides, her family would probably pay him handsomely if he didn’t cause any trouble.
“Yes, I understand,” she replied, her manner subdued as she made her decision to keep quiet.
Her mother’s voice softened. “Lara, don’t worry. I’m sure everything will be all right. We are so looking forward to you coming home and we will make Mr. Lucas welcome.”
They finished the strange conversation and she sat in a nearby chair, her legs trembling. She had done the most terrible thing to Jack but perhaps he would forgive her. He might never find out what was suspected—that she might be having his baby, and he might even enjoy being a privileged guest of the Challoner royal family. After all, it would make a change from fishing.
~ * ~
Jack climbed the few stairs into the cabin of the private jet. His luggage had already been transferred from the light aircraft that had flown him from Port Margaret earlier that day. He had been rushed through a customs clearance, in the company of two government officials, and was now on his way to Challoner in Northern Europe.
Nodding to the pretty female flight attendant, he made his way along the aisle of the luxurious cabin. Hmm, nice. Almost as good as my plane. Lara faced away from him seated in one of the small number of wide, beige-colored leather seats. He passed his jacket and carryon bag to the attendant and took the seat opposite her. Now, this should be interesting.
“Good afternoon, princess,” he said politely.
Her eyes were huge and very green as she stared at him. He looked for any sign of guilt. Yes, it was there. She instantly averted her face and he could only imagine it was a blush of embarrassment that touched her cheeks.
She was even more beautiful than he remembered, her hair in an elegant chignon and light make-up emphasizing the creamy texture of her skin and the softness of her lips. She wore a matching jacket and skirt in pale apple green with her slender legs clad in fine silk stockings and on her feet were elegant black court shoes. How well he knew those beautiful feet. He could feel them now, her skin like silk beneath his fingers as he caressed them. He grew hard thinking about it. Perhaps he had a foot fetish? It was definitely turning him on, or was it just seeing her again?
She leaned toward the window as if to hide from him. Yeah, you’ve got a lot to answer for, Your Royal Highness. He raised a quizzical eyebrow. Surely, she wasn’t going to subject him to the silent treatment for the next twenty-four hours?
“What’s wrong? Did your media advisors gag you?” His voice was sharper than he intended.
She looked at him then. “Hello Jack. I’m so glad you could get here. I hope you’ll enjoy your holiday with us.”
“Oh, the lady doth speak.”
She smiled but Jack could see she was nervous. Her hands were clasped tightly in her lap and her body radiated tension. He studied her face. She was pale and strained—unsure. She doesn’t know what I’ve been told. Well, let’s string it along a little.
“I appreciate the opportunity,” he said pleasantly.
“It’s good that you could get away from your work. Did your employer mind you having a break?”
“No. I think he was pleased to see the back of me for a while.”
“So, you won’t lose your job, or anything?”
“Absolutely not. I’m important to the company.” He made a big thing of fastening his seatbelt, turning away so he could hide his grin. “It’s a long trip but I guess you’re used to traveling,” he continued.
“Have you flown on long journeys before?”
Jack almost choked. Had he ever. There had been times when he had done nothing else but spend time in planes flying to and from the Asian countries. “Yes, a few times.”
“There’s a bedroom with a double bed in the back of the plane.”
He watched in delight as she positively wriggled with embarrassment as soon as she had made the unthinking statement. He made no comment, deciding to let her suffer a little longer.
“And there’s a shower,” she added, as if to try and take his mind off the double bed. No way, princess.
“That’s great.”
“Did either of my parents speak to you, about coming on holiday, I mean?”
Yes, wriggle away, Lara. I’ve got you hooked on the end of my fishing line, gorgeous. “You’re referring to the king and queen, of course. No, it was one of your companions from the palace.”
“Oh. I know my parents are looking forward to meeting you.”
He looked around making sure the two attendants weren’t close to them, and leaned toward her. He said in a low voice, “Let’s cut the crap, Lara. I know exactly what you told your parents.”
“I don’t know what you mean.” Her eyes widened. He had to give it to her; she was the epitome of an innocent ingénue.
He let ten long seconds tick by before saying, “I understand you could be having my baby.”