Sweet Revenge

I.”
    “Then it’s fortunate that we’re both retiring after this. Addy, I’d feel better if you weren’t so tense.”
    “I’d feel better if you were in London.” She held up a hand before he could speak. “We may not have a chance to talk this through again. If anything goes wrong, if it looks like something’s going wrong, I want you to bail out. Promise me.”
    “You won’t.”
    “Can’t. There’s a difference.”
    “You still don’t understand, do you?” He caught her chin in his hand, fingers tense. “It still isn’t getting through. You can make noises all you want about not believing in love, not being able to feel it or accept it, but that doesn’t change the way I feel about you. There’s going to come a time, Addy, when this is behind us and it’ll be just you and me. You’re going to have to deal with that.”
    “This is a job, it has nothing to do with love.”
    “Doesn’t it? You’re in this as much because you loved your mother as because you hate your father. Maybe more. I’m here because everything you are and feel is important to me.”
    “Philip.” She put a hand lightly to his wrist. “I never know what to say to you.”
    “It’ll come to you.” Always one to take advantage of the moment, he drew her closer. “Are you going to invite me back to your room?”
    “I’d like to.” She closed her eyes and enjoyed the kiss. “But I can’t. How about a raincheck?”
    “As long as it’s soon.”
    She turned away to fit the key into the lock again. Her ears were tuned to hear the slight grate of metal on metal where it didn’t slide true. “I can’t risk unlocking it now. The more detailed filing has to wait until the alarms are off. But I think …” She slipped the key in, then out again. “It’s going to be close.” She stopped, and with the key still warm in her hand stared at the door. “It’s just beyond there, only a few feet away. I’m surprised we can’t feel the heat.”
    “Have you ever considered keeping it?”
    “When I was young. I’d imagine it—imagine putting it around my mother’s neck and watching the life come backinto her face. I imagined putting it around my own and feeling …”
    “Feeling what?”
    She smiled a little. “Like a princess.” She dropped the key back into its pouch. “No, it’s not for me, but for all the tragedy that’s followed it over the years, this time there’ll be some good.” She shrugged, feeling foolish. “I suppose that sounds idealistic and stupid.”
    “Yes.” He brought her hand to his lips. “But you see I only lusted after you before I knew you were idealistic and stupid.” He kept her hand in his as they walked to the door. “Addy, be careful. I mean with your father.”
    “I rarely make the same mistake twice, Philip.” She put the listening device against the door and waited until she was greeted with only silence. “Don’t worry about me, I’ve been playing princess for years.”
    He caught her before she could slip out of the door. “Adrianne, you don’t have to play at what you are.”

Chapter Twenty-Five
    She wasn’t convinced he was right. Over the next few days Adrianne had to call on all her poise, all her control. Part of the ability may have been a matter of her royal blood. As far as Adrianne was concerned, the bulk of the talent had been inherited from a Nebraska girl who had once taken Hollywood by storm.
    She attended parties—countless luncheons and buffets hosted by various female relatives, where the talk was invariably the same. She listened to advice and answered questions any bride-to-be might expect. She saw Philip in snatches, and never alone. Hours were spent in fittings, more still shopping with aunts and cousins.
    Gifts were already pouring in from all over the world. That was one aspect of the deception she hadn’t anticipated, but which she’d turned to her own advantage. Gold plates, silver urns, Sung vases from heads of state and royal allies. Revenge that had once been intensely personal had spread to encompass friends as well as strangers. Though they were unaware, princes and presidents had become part of the game.
    As was expected, she acknowledged the gifts herself. Time was eaten up writing letters and receiving guests who were flown in for the ceremony.
    But there was one, one very important gift that had been sent from New York. It had been Philip’s job to call Celeste and request it. Now it sat among the others, a beautifully