The Ugly Duckling (39 page)

“Stay here at the cottage in case Nell calls. Keep away from her unless there’s trouble. Your face is as recognizable as mine. I’ll try to phone and give you a number where I can be reached.”

“You won’t be here?”

He shook his head. “I’m taking the first flight out of Paris tomorrow morning.”

December 8
Paris

“No, I won’t
have
this, Tania.” Nell’s hand tightened on the phone. “Stay home, where you’re safe.”

“But Maritz took care that I’d know I wasn’t safe, even at home,” Tania said. “He destroyed that for me.”

“I won’t use you for bait. What do you think I am?”

“I’m not asking you, I’m telling you. You can help me or not—your choice.”

“You know I wouldn’t leave you to—Tania, don’t do it. I’d never forgive myself if you were hurt again.”

“I’m not doing it for you. I’m doing it for me.”

“What does Joel say?”

“That I’m crazy, that he won’t let me go, that he’ll go after Maritz himself. He’s going to be a problem.”

“He’s right, you’re crazy.”

“No. Maritz is crazy. This is sane. I won’t let him control my life.” Tania paused. “I have to do this, Nell. I don’t have any more options than you do. I’m not going to argue anymore. I’m hanging up now.”

“Wait. When are you coming?”

“Oh, you’ll know when I get there.”

December 23
Marseilles

She had come to him.

And she looked so happy.

Maritz gazed at the picture on the front page of the feature section of the Paris newspaper. Tania was wearing a white suit and she was gazing up at Joel Lieber with a radiant smile.

But then, all brides were radiant.

He scanned the text under the picture.

Joel Lieber, world-renowned surgeon, and the former Tania Vlados arriving at Charles de Gaulle airport on the first leg of an extended honeymoon. The couple will be traveling to Cannes and staying at the Carleton Hotel until after the New Year
.

He had thought his luck was gone.

But then pretty Tania had walked back into his life.

If he could remove her as a witness, Gardeaux might accept him back into the fold.

But that wasn’t what was causing the excitement coursing through him.

The hunt was about to begin again.

J
amie gave a low whistle when he saw the article.

Nick wasn’t going to like this. He wished to hell he could get in touch with him. He had tried two days before, but Nick had moved on and was no longer at the number he’d given him.

He called Nell instead. “Did you see the newspaper?”

“Yes, I’m very happy for them. Didn’t she look beautiful?”

“What’s she doing here?”

“Honeymooning, the paper said.”

“She didn’t tell you?”

“She mentioned nothing about a wedding the last time I talked to her.”

“You can’t see her. Joel’s too much in the spotlight.”

“I know that. I had no intention of going to see her.” She paused. “How’s Nicholas?”

“Fine.” He changed the subject. “And how do you like your new vocation?”

“Boring.”

“Well, day after tomorrow is Christmas. It won’t be much longer. But I don’t like Tania being here.”

“Neither do I. Good-bye, Jamie.”

N
ell shook her head as she hung up the phone. She hadn’t lied, but, as Nicholas had once said, omission was a cop-out.

The picture in the newspaper had scared her to death. She hadn’t expected Tania to issue that bold an invitation. She had even given the bastard her address.

The phone rang again.

“Did I not look beautiful in the picture?” Tania asked. “The suit is by Armani. Joel decided to stop in New York and buy me a complete wardrobe.”

“Gorgeous. You didn’t tell me you were going to be married.”

“Joel insisted we be married before we came. He seems to think it will control me in some way.” Nell heard a derisive grunt in the background. “Well, you do, Joel.”

“Where are you?”

“At the Carleton. It’s very elegant. Do you know that movie stars stay here during the film festival?”

“You sound happy.”

“Ecstatic. But not as happy as Joel. Which is only proper. I only got a testy, aging doctor. He got me.” She was giggling. “I must hang up. I think he’s going to attack me. I’ll keep in touch.”

She meant that she’d tell Nell when Maritz surfaced. Nell hadn’t the slightest doubt that the last sentence was the only one in the conversation that counted.

But Tania had sounded wonderfully happy, Nell thought wistfully. Gloriously happy, so happy that the cloud that hung over her had made no difference. Tania knew how to seize the moment.

And so did Nicholas.

She hadn’t heard from Nicholas in the three weeks she’d been in Paris, and he obviously hadn’t considered it important to talk to her when Jamie had called.

Well, what was there to say?

They were in waiting mode.

Nine days more.

“S
hall we go out to dinner and show off one of my new gowns?” Tania asked Joel as she turned away from the phone, after the conversation with Nell. “The pink one, I think. I shall look so splendid, the waiters will think I’m a movie star.”

“If you like.” He watched her as she crossed the room and threw open the French doors of the balcony. “How is Nell?”

“I gave her no chance to tell me. I love my pink gown. I love this hotel.” She breathed in the air. “I love the ocean.” She glanced over her shoulder. “And I love you, Joel Lieber.”

“Big deal. I’m last on the list.” He followed her out to the balcony and took her in his arms. “I think I should at least precede the pink gown.”

“But then you would have nothing to work for.” She nestled closer. “I wouldn’t want to rob you of purpose.”

“I have a purpose.” He buried his face in her hair. “To keep you from getting killed.”

Her arms tightened around him. He loved her. What a blessing. But he must not be involved, and it was going to be difficult to keep him out of it. “No talk of that. He may not come.” She kissed his cheek. “And you must now make wild love to me and convince me that I love you more than the pink gown.”

December 27

“I’ll let you come to the fest, Tanek,” Gardeaux said. “You will, of course, bring the sword.”

“I’ll have it.”

“That’s good. Because you won’t be permitted inside the front door until I see it.”

“You’re checking swords at the door? You sound like the sheriff of an old cow town.”

“Only your sword.”

“You can see it in full view of your guests. You can’t have it.”

“I’m to brandish a priceless stolen sword in front of four hundred people?”

“Tell them it’s an excellent copy. No one would suspect it’s authentic. You have such a sterling reputation.”

“And how will you stop me from taking it?”

“By embarrassing you in front of the prime minister and all the people you’re trying to impress with your
respectability.” He narrowed his eyes. “By telling them just what you are.”

There was a silence. “You’re not going to succeed in this, you know, Tanek. You’ve overreached yourself and should be punished. I’ve decided you should end up like your friend O’Malley. Do you remember how he suffered?”

He couldn’t forget. “I’ll see you in a few days, Gardeaux. Eleven o’clock.”

He hung up the phone and turned to Jamie. “It’s set.”

“I hope you know what you’re doing.”

“So do I.”

G
ardeaux sat looking at the telephone. He shouldn’t be worried; he had all the cards in his hands.

But Tanek was a man obsessed, and if he couldn’t find a way of destroying Gardeaux totally, he would do whatever damage he could. His threat of embarrassing Gardeaux in front of his guests had made him uneasy. He had built a life of power and prestige for himself at Bellevigne. If Tanek decided to attack him by unmasking him, his position might be made intolerable.

Nonsense. If his plan worked, he’d whisk Tanek away before he could say anything. Even if it didn’t, Gardeaux could deny Tanek’s words, laugh about them. Say Tanek was drunk or crazy.

But Tanek was a very plausible man and even a hint of trouble would displease those paranoid bastards in Medellin. They would say he’d indulged himself at their expense. As a front man, his image had to be pristine.

He would have to protect himself. He would make sure he had a way to nullify the damage Tanek might do his reputation.

He picked up the telephone and quickly dialed a number.

December 28

“Look, Joel. Is that not a lovely scarf?” Tania said. The silk scarf printed with an Egyptian motif hung in the window of a small boutique. “I like Egyptian things. They have a sort of lasting grace.”

“Well, our reservations won’t last if we don’t get to the restaurant in five minutes.” Joel smiled indulgently. “You’ve stopped at every shop along the street and not let me buy you a thing.”

“I don’t have to own. Looking is good too.” She linked her arm through his. “I think you would have done very well in ancient Egypt. They knew a great deal about surgery, you know.”

“I prefer modern instruments and medicines.”

“Well, I wouldn’t like to have brain surgery without a potent anesthesia, but there’s something—”

Joel looked at her inquiringly when she stopped speaking. “What is it?”

She smiled at him. “I think I really must have that scarf. Would you run in and buy it for me? I want to look at the purses in that store next door.”

Joel shook his head resignedly. “We’ll never make it on time.”

“Yes, we will. I promise I’ll not look in another window until we get to the restaurant.”

“Promises. Promises.” He went into the shop.

Tania’s smile vanished.

He was here, watching her.

No question. Her instincts were screaming and she wouldn’t make the mistake of doubting them again.

She permitted herself one look over her shoulder.

She hadn’t expected to see him. Maritz was good at this.

But he liked to know she was aware of him. He liked to watch her sweat, to know she was afraid.

She had to strike a balance. She must let him have his fun and not let Joel know Maritz had surfaced.

She moved to the handbag shop next door and looked in the window.

She quickly glanced over her shoulder again.

Does that please you, bastard?

Get your kicks. It’s going to be different this time
.

“Y
ou’re scaring me to death,” Nell said.

“Nothing to be afraid of yet. I’m being careful and he’s in no hurry. He wants to savor it,” Tania said. “Do you have a place?”

“The seaside cottage Nicholas rented. It’s isolated and would be very tempting to Maritz. Jamie and Nicholas are still there, but that will change soon.” She gave her the address and directions. “You’re sure Maritz is on the scene? You didn’t see him.”

“I’m sure. I don’t have to see him. We’re closer than Siamese twins. I’ll call you when he’s ready to be drawn into the net.”

“I leave for Bellevigne day after tomorrow.”

“That’s right, it’s almost the new year. Happy New Year, Nell.”

December 30
Paris

“You’re thinner,” Nicholas said as soon as she opened the door. “Have you been ill?”

She shook her head. “It seems I was ‘abominably fat’
and had to shed a few pounds. Madame Dumoit should have seen me before Medas.” He looked the same—hard, fit, keen-edged.

He lifted a brow. “May I come in?”

“Oh, of course.” She hurriedly stepped aside. She had been staring at him as if she’d never seen a man before. “I wasn’t sure you’d be here tonight.”

He shrugged out of his coat and threw it on a chair. “I told you I’d be here.”

“That was a month ago.”

“We’ve both been busy. But I’d hardly let you go in without a plan.” He raised a brow. “Coffee?”

“It’s already made.” She went into the kitchenette and poured the coffee. “Have you heard from the ranch?”

“I called Michaela last week. Peter is fine. He’s moved into the Bar X permanently. I told Michaela to give him your best.”

“How’s Jamie?”

“Well.”

“Is he still at the cottage?”

“No, he came with me to Paris. He’s at the Inter-Continental Hotel.”

She handed him his cup. “Will he be going with you to Bellevigne?”

He shook his head. “That wasn’t in the deal with Gardeaux. I go to Bellevigne alone.” He inclined his head to her. “Except for you, madam.”

He took the coffee and carried it into the sitting room. He walked over to the mantel and peered down into the fireplace. “Gas?” She nodded, and he bent down and lit the logs. “That’s better. I hate wet, chilly nights.”

She nodded again. What was wrong with her? She couldn’t take her eyes off him. “Sit down.” She took her cup and followed him to the couch in front of the
fireplace. She knew what was wrong with her. She had missed him.

“Jamie told me Tania is here.”

She stiffened. “Not in Paris.”

“You haven’t seen her?”

“Hardly. She’s on her honeymoon.”

He gazed at her, and she instinctively tensed. There had been moments when she had felt as if he could read her mind. He must not read it now.

He dropped the subject. “When is Dumoit’s fashion show?”

She tried to keep the relief from her expression. “At one in the afternoon. We’re being driven down to Bellevigne early tomorrow morning. After the show we’re supposed to mix with the guests and show off Dumoit’s gowns.”

“All day?”

She nodded. “And we change to other gowns in the evening for the party.”

“Good.” He knelt before the fireplace, took a folded piece of paper from his coat pocket, and spread it out on the floor. “This is the layout of Bellevigne.” He pointed to the central floor plan of the detailed schematic. “This is the main house, where most of the action will be going on during the fest. I’ll be arriving at eleven at night. The party should be in full swing by the time I get there.” He tapped a long rectangle to the side. “And this is the private auditorium where the fencing matches take place. The last one is at three in the afternoon, and the awards given out at six, so it will be deserted by evening.”