“Then the Lanconian government would have to sign the papers.”
“The vanadium is on land personally owned by the king’s family.”
J.T. was torn. He wanted to help his country and make sure it got the vanadium but he wanted to get away from the intrigue. Most of all, he wanted to get away from Aria, the woman who had made such a fool of him. Everything she had done in America, the lovemaking on the stairs, the grilled hamburgers, the being nice to his friends, it had all been to get his money for her country. All of it had been false.
“I will stay in this country for twenty-four hours more and that’s all.”
The ambassador gave a weak smile and held out his hand to J.T. but J.T. ignored it.
Chapter Fifteen
AT eight A.M. tea had been brought to Aria’s room on a tray, served in a Lily set of Limoges china. All morning, as close as possible, her life in the palace had been duplicated. She could feel herself slipping back into the former pattern of her life. She allowed the ambassador’s wife to help her dress; she sent the strawberries back to the kitchen; she complained because her shoes had not been polished during the night
; she berated the maid for not putting toothpaste on her brush. Part of her didn’t like what she was doing but another part of her seemed to have no control.
At twelve forty-five she hurried down the stairs, eager to greet Lieutenant Montgomery. When she saw him, she could feel her petulance falling away, and she began to think of beach cookouts and Tommy Dorsey’s band.
But J.T.’s expression was one of controlled rage. He pulled her into a reception room. “So,” he said, his eyes black with fury, “you double-crossed me. You never meant for there to be an end to our marriage.”
There was no need to ask what he was talking about. “It’s the only way your government would help me. I had to agree to make my American husband prince consort.”
“King,” he snapped.
She looked at him.
“So, you lied to me and lied to them as well. I’ve always viewed this marriage as temporary.”
She didn’t answer him.
“When did you plan to tell me about this? Some night when we were in bed, you’d say, ‘By the way, you have to live in this godforsaken country the rest of your life’? ‘You have to give up your family, the sea, ships, and everything in America so you can ride around in a broken-down horse and buggy and wave at a bunch of people who’ll hate you because you’re an American’? Is that what you expected of me?”
“I never considered you at all. I thought only of my country.”
“You thought only of what you wanted. Let me tell you that I’m an American and I plan to stay one. I don’t want to live here and I sure as hell don’t want to be a wind-up toy king. I’m not trading my freedom to live in a cage. I’m leaving for home today. The army’s deal was with you, not me. I’ll have our marriage annulled as soon as I return. It’ll be like it never existed and you’ll be free to once again dupe some other sucker into being a half-king.” He grabbed her arm. “Now let’s get this over with.”
Aria’s body was so rigid, it’s a wonder she didn’t snap in half. She relied completely on her royal training to get her through that long, silent walk back to the hotel and into the dining room. “I believe we are to argue,” he said coolly as soon as they were seated.
“I do not feel like arguing,” she answered haughtily.
“So, the princess has returned. I guess you got tired of pretending to be an American. You’ve returned to being the spoiled brat I met on the island. Am I supposed to bow to you? Kiss your hand? Lady, you should be given an Academy Award for your performance in Key West. You’ll have some great laughs when this is all over. Will you tell your royal relatives what fools we were, how we believed your act? Will you do your imitations of Dolly and Bill and the rest of us for your bluebloods? Will you tell your new husband of the sexual acts you had to perform with me in order to get your country back?”
Aria went from stunned to hurt to a feeling of wanting to protect herself all in a few seconds. “I love my country as much as you do yours and one does what one must.”
He glared at her. “Well, you lost out on this one. I’m returning to America tonight and I’ll have the marriage annulled immediately. You’ll never touch Warbrooke Shipping.”
She had no idea what he was talking about but she wasn’t going to let him know that. “I can do without it.”
“You’ll have to, baby.”
“It is Your Royal Highness,” she said, looking down her nose at him.
He started to say something else but the waiter arrived and J.T. didn’t speak.
Aria began to chew as if she had gum in her mouth. “So! You’d rather have fat little Heather Addison than me,” she said loudly for the waiter’s benefit.
“I’d rather have anybody than you,” he said, his eyes deadly serious. “You are a liar, a money-grubbing little bitch, and besides that you’re the worst in bed I’ve ever had.”
There was no need for Aria to fake the tears in her eyes. “Really?” she whispered.