The Serenade: The Prince and the Siren [Daughters of the Empire 2] (BookStrand Publishing Romance) (28 page)

His self-control wavering momentarily, his eyes stole a glance at her full, lovely bosom, now completely covered in opaque material. It was a crime against humanity to hide such exquisite beauty.

“That is the arrangement,” he replied evenly with a polite smile.

“No
, Your
Highness, that is
your
arrangement. I
have little
to say a
bout it.”

“What would you care to say about it, Señorita Nicolette?”

Instead of answering him she tipped her hat and covered her eyes—a far worse retort than any response might have been. He detested how she hid those amazing eyes behind her hat when he most wished to see them. He could be certain that if Señorita Nicolette was hiding from him, coyly positioning her eyes behind the rim of her hat, it was to promote her own designs and had nothing to do with shyness.

Nicolette Genevieve was not a shrinking violet—far from it! She met him full force instead of blushing, stuttering, and looking away with discomfiture. He disapproved entirely of her behavior.

And he was thoroughly entranced with her.

“I wish to know the terms of my performance before I favor you with my opinion.” She was tempting him, luring him in—possibly to an early demise—and he would no doubt willingly follow her there.

“The ‘terms’ of your performance?” He chuckled. She made it sound like the terms of her
surrender
. He surprised himself: he was beginning to warm to her despite her piratical temperament. Make no mistake—she might be impertinent and vain, but she was much humbled from their first meeting. He doubted if she had ever given the reins to anyone else in her life, and she
did not like it
.

Which made him like it all the more.

Her confidence was shaken, but the independent side of her personality was as strong as ever. She would go down kicking and screaming. She might bend, she might comply, but she would not do so out of fear but because she willed it to achieve an end.
To obtain her heart’s desire.
She gave her all to something greater than herself. Something greater than him.

Something
holy
.

How glorious to be driven by passion rather than by duty.

There was an intensity about her that he found wanting in other women. And not the fanaticism of desperation and need but the potency of focus and enthusiasm and centeredness. There was an uncalculated joy in her personality, a zest for life, even in the midst of a great tribulation. She had a dream, and she was not waiting for someone else to deliver happiness to her door.

He never expected happiness to arrive at his door, with or without his efforts, nor did he intend to pursue it.

“Let us not pretend that I have entered into this arrangement willingly when we both know the truth, Your Highness. I find your methods entirely
questionable
.”

“I suggest that you pretend a little, Señorita.” He frowned. She came dangerously close to attacking his honor and integrity, and that he would not tolerate.

She stared at him, clearly understanding that the line had been drawn, before he saw a resolve cross her face. “What are the conditions which you have placed upon me, Your Highness?”

“I have no conditions, Señorita Nicolette. I wish you
merely to sing
, as you put it, with all of the accompanying dances, just as you performed on the stage. Precisely as you are already doing at the Palais Garnier before thousands of people.” He remembered very well how she had looked in the low-cut black silk dress. He cleared his throat. “In the same…
ensemble
…appropriate to the part.”

“Ensemble?”

“Costume.” He cleared his throat.
“Attire.”

“Only the two of us?” she asked unsteadily.

“As we have already discussed, Señorita Nicolette.” He nodded, taking a sip of steaming French coffee. “Why do you force me to repeat that which you already know? Instead of performing before two thousand people, you will perform for
me
.”

“And you will not attempt to touch me?” she asked, her voice shaking.

“Abrupt, even for you, Señorita Nicolette,” he managed, swallowing a bit more of his coffee than he had intended.

“And your answer is?”

He sighed and looked down, making a show of studying his hands while he attempted to regain his composure. Touching her was the last thing he wanted.

And the thing for which he would trade his every possession.

“Not unless you demand it of me, Señorita.” His lips unwillingly formed a slow, seductive smile, as evidenced by her flustered reaction.

“P–prince Alejandro?”

“For my part, I have a different need,” he replied curtly. The fantasy was beginning to affect him in unexpected ways. The thought of being in a room alone with her in that formfitting dress, swaying her hips and singing as that glorious sound flowed through his veins, was more vivid than he had supposed.

“Your
need
? And what might that be, Your Highness?” Her probing eyes were framed by long, thick eyelashes and lovely arched brows. She stuck out her chin, which was anything but soft. Like the rest of her, her facial features were feminine but solid. Surprisingly, he began to think that he preferred her features to the Austrian features of his mother’s line—tall women with stick figures, noses that rendered one unable to breathe, and eyebrows in a continual state of condescension.

In his view, everything about Nicolette Genevieve was ravishingly beautiful.

What is wrong with me?
He was not accustomed to being his own worst enemy. He needed this woman, but he did not need to bed her. He had many who could fill that bill.

“It is a very personal experience for me, Señorita.” He cleared his throat again.

“Incidentally, Your Highness, Carmen knew how to wield a sword.” Her expression grew suddenly determined, as if she could read his mind. She smiled, but he knew she was quite serious. “As do I.”

“I am forewarned, Señorita Nicolette. But I can assure you that never in my life have I forced myself upon a woman. And never will I.”

“Out of your great regard for a woman’s wishes, no doubt.”

“Because it would make an otherwise enjoyable endeavor repulsive to me.” His lips formed a slow smile as he took another bite of caramel-drenched caramel ice cream, popping the cherry in his mouth while motioning for more coffee, glad for the additional company that the waiter afforded. He felt it safer to keep his eyes from Señorita Nicolette for the moment.

When he found the strength to return his eyes to the depth of those lovely turquoise waters, he saw that she was shaking her head decidedly.

“I cannot agree to your arrangement or your terms, Prince Alejandro.”

He clutched his spoon. It was all he could do to keep from dropping it.
He had not anticipated this
.

“I shall sing for you under one condition, Prince Alejandro.”

“Which is, Señorita?” he managed to utter.

“I desire a singing career. In order to have one, it is necessary to be a leading soprano, and you can help me become one. These are
my
terms.”

“Ah, yes.” Alejandro’s relief was so profound that he started to breathe again, unaware he had been holding his breath. “Monsieur Beaumaris mentioned your poor reviews. I was, frankly, astonished. I never beheld a more amazing performance in my life.”

“I thank you, Your Highness.” She swallowed hard and then leaned closer to him across the table, whispering, “I need to be seen with you, Prince Alejandro.”

“Seen with me?” He was well aware of the benefit he could confer upon this aspiring singer, but he pretended otherwise.

“Riding in the park. Attending events—the more populated the better—and dining as we are.” She motioned with her hands.

He looked around and noted that almost every eye in the room was on them despite the fact that there were many present who were equally famous in their own right.

“My schedule is very busy while I am here, Señorita.” Now they came to the point. “Many important affairs of state, you understand.”

“I desire that you should attend my performances, Your Highness,” she continued in a low voice. “My
public
performances.”

“Possibly that can be arranged, Señorita Nicolette. I am not fond of the crowds, as you have no doubt surmised.” His eyes were ever watchful, but he behaved nonchalantly and disinterestedly.

“I cannot be your puppet, Prince Alejandro.” There was a true determination in her voice. “I must be true to my character and my values; this is what makes me who I am and enables me to give the quality of performance you observed.”

“My
puppet
, Señorita Nicolette?”
If only
. He laughed despite himself.

“I will sing for you, nothing more. I do not wish to fear that, because I will not bend to
unreasonable demands
, you will take a dislike to me and decide to destroy me.” He had never heard anyone utter such words, and it fascinated him.

“After all the insults you have hurled at me, and still I have sought you out, you can even consider such a possibility, Señorita?”

“You must promise me, Your Highness”—her lips quivered into a questionable smile, but her expression remained serious. She ran her gloved fingers along the blue-and-ivory cameo at her elegant throat—“that whatever your feelings, I shall give you your performance, and you shall do your best to elevate my career. You shall complete your side of the bargain.”

“Agreed,” he replied without hesitation, when he should have stalled. His voiced lowered, he added, “And you shall promise to give me the private performance I require, exactly as performed on the stage, Señorita Nicolette.”

“As you wish, Prince Alejandro.”

“I have your word, Señorita Nicolette?”

“I have already given it, Your Highness,” she retorted.

“Let me hear it from your lips, Señorita,” he replied gravely, leaning toward her.

“You have my word,” she whispered, breathless. “You will call on me for a stroll in the Tuileries Garden tomorrow then?”

“At 3:00 p.m.,” he replied automatically.

“Shall I sing for you Thursday night here at Le Meurice then? I do not have a performance, as it so happens.”

A wave of regret washed over him, and he was unable to hide the irritation from his voice. “I have a prior engagement. I dine with the British Ambassador to France, a Lord Ravensdale.”

“How could I have forgotten…” she murmured, tapping her finger along her brow.

“Oh, did I tell you, Señorita Nicolette? I don’t recall it.”

“Excuse me? Forgive me, I have a terrible habit of thinking out loud.” She blushed, which astonished him, even as she added with a light laugh, her confidence returning, “Possibly I read it in the gossip columns. It is surprising what constitutes news, is it not?”

“I would desperately prefer to be with you, Señorita Nicolette. To hear you sing is my singular desire these days, but it is my responsibility and I am duty bound.”

“I could join you, I suppose,” she suggested.

He could not stop the disapproval from crossing his face. In an instant he realized the grave mistake he had made.

Her anger was apparent. Clearly she wished to be true to herself but did not desire his honesty in kind.