Unfortunately as she spoke, the music faded and one of the sisters—Natalie, she would guess—flounced away.
“What is not going to work?” the king asked Maggie.
“I, ah—” She looked around frantically for a way to escape. “Ah, nothing.”
“It is not nothing. It is important that all my sons marry. As they seem to be in no hurry to find a bride on their own, I am forced to interfere.”
Maggie remembered what Victoria had said about the beheading and hoped the other woman had been kidding.
“You can’t lead a woman to him like that,” she said cautiously. “Not that your choices aren’t lovely, lovely young women.”
The king glared at her. “I assume you have a reason for saying that.”
“Because men like the chase.” Jon had told her all about it several times. They’d laughed about his friends and their disastrous love lives, secure in the comfort of their own relationship. “Did you see the movie Jurassic Park?”
“No.”
“You should rent it. Or have it delivered or something. Men are like the T-Rex. They don’t want their next meal handed to them. They want to hunt it down. By meal I mean—”
“Women. Yes, I understand the analogy.” He looked out at the couples dancing then turned back to her. “You’re sure of this?”
“Sort of.” At the moment she wasn’t sure of anything except she really wanted to be done talking to the king.
“Who is he hunting now? You?”
“What? No. No. Not at all. I work for him.”
The king frowned. “Doing what?”
“Restoring a car.” She held out her hands to show him the scars and calluses. “See? I’m not anyone. Really.”
“For not anyone, you’re very free with your opinions. Come with me.”
He started walking without once glancing back to see if she was keeping up with him. Maggie entertained a brief thought at ducking away, then she reminded herself she lived at the palace. Total escape was impossible and she really did want to keep her job.
The king stopped and motioned her forward.
“Do you know any of these people?” he asked.
She looked at the unfamiliar faces, then shook her head.
What followed was a rapid set of introductions to people she’d only read about in the newspaper, including two American senators, a impossibly thin starlet and the Russian ambassador to El Deharia.
Maggie murmured greetings and tried to ignore the fact that she was barefoot. Thank God her gown trailed onto the floor and no one could see. Still, she couldn’t help covering one foot with the other, as if to hide the truth.
Conversation flowed for a few minutes, ranging from a recent Grand Prix time trial to the continuing rise in oil prices. Maggie kept her mouth firmly closed and wished for someone to rescue her. Unfortunately she was on her own.
Then the Russian ambassador, a handsome older man, smiled at her. “May I have this dance, Miss Collins?”
Everyone looked at her. Maggie did her best not to blush. “Thank you, sir. It would be a pleasure.”
At least she hoped it would be. If he danced as well as Qadir, she wouldn’t have a problem.
He took her hand and led her to the dance floor. The music began and they were moving together. It wasn’t as easy as it had been with Qadir, and not nearly as exciting, but she didn’t step on him or stumble.
“You are friends with the king?” he asked.
“We’ve just met.”
“So you are not his mistress?”
Maggie did stumble over that. She steadied herself. “No.” The next word should have been ick but that wasn’t appropriate. “I work here, at the palace, Mr. Ambassador.”
“I see. You may call me Vlad.”
Did she have to?
“I am a powerful man, Maggie. We could be good for each other.”
Her shock must have showed because he chuckled. “You are surprised by my honesty?”
Not exactly, she thought. Was it just her or was the whole thing really tacky?
“Mr. Ambassador—”
“Vlad.”
She ignored that. “Mr. Ambassador, I’m afraid you have the wrong idea about me.”
She had plenty more she wanted to say, but just then Qadir appeared at her side. “Maggie. There you are. Our dance is next.” He smiled at the Russian. “Do you mind if I cut in?”
Vlad stepped back. “Of course not.”
Qadir drew her against him. “What happened?”
“Nothing.”
He waited. She sighed. “I think he was coming on to me. I’m not sure.”
“He was.”
“Yuck.”
Qadir laughed. “He would not be flattered by your reaction.”
“I barely know the man.”
“He is powerful. For many women that is enough.”
Then those women needed to get a life, she thought. “I didn’t know what to say.”
“You can start with no. That usually works.”
“I’ll remember that.” Not that she was likely to run into any more ambassadors. “How was your dance with Sabrina?”
Qadir’s gaze narrowed. “Are you mocking me?”
“Maybe a little. But she is a known breeder.”
He moved them off the dance floor and out onto a balcony. The stone floor was cool on her bare feet.
“For you this situation is amusing,” he grumbled. “For me it is anything but. I do not want an arranged marriage to a sensible young woman from a good family.”
“Then what do you want?”
Qadir didn’t answer. Was it that he didn’t know or was he simply not prepared to share his private thoughts with her?
“Can the king force you into marriage?” she asked instead.
“No. But he can be difficult.”
“He cares about you and it’s not totally crazy that he wants his sons married. I’m sure he’s more than ready for grandchildren.”
“You’re taking his side?” Qadir asked.
“No. I’m pointing out that while his tactics are a little obvious, he means well. He cares, which should be worth something.”
“If he were to turn his considerable interest on getting you married, I suspect you would change your mind.”
“Maybe,” she murmured thinking she wouldn’t mind a little meddling from her own father. It would mean he was still around to bug her. Right now that sounded lovely.
“So he wants a good breeder,” she said, “and you want to fall in love?”
“Love is not required. I would settle for mutual respect and shared interests.”
Neither sounded very romantic, Maggie thought, but then she wasn’t royal. She wanted a lot more than that. Passion, excitement. She wanted to be swept away. She wanted a deep love that would last forever.
Qadir