Page 41 of Her Spanish Scandal

“You don’t have to thank me. This is what being part of a couple is all about.”

He hung up and started the car again. Kara’s words rang in his head. Being a couple was one thing; being concerned for each other’s well-being was different. This was the reason he’d been reluctant to marry for so long. How could he have forgotten that?

Marrying because Christos and Tristan had wasn’t good enough. Marrying because it was past time that he got over Elvira wasn’t valid either. He had avoided marrying because when he lived alone he could deal with things the way he wanted to. And right now, he wanted to point the Bugatti in any direction that would take him out of Madrid and away from the situation with his brother.

God, how had Christos borne the death of Stavros, his older brother? His friend had been estranged from his brother at the time of Stavros’s death but, all the same, he must have felt the same gaping hole in his life that Gui felt at this moment.

His mobile rang again. No number was displayed on the caller ID. He answered it and heard a ragged sob on the other end of the phone.

“De Cauron.”

“Gui, querido. Can you come to my house?”

“Why, Elvira?”

“Juan was traveling with the Enfanta and I just had news that he’s dead.”

“Who called you? Have they confirmed that anyone else is dead?”

“Just my Juan. I need you, Gui. Come to me,” she said. Her sobs echoed over the line, and then they were cut off. Gui dialed the Palace office and got a busy signal. He called his home and got Vincent, who told him he hadn’t heard anything else about Alonzo.

Gui was torn between wanting to go home and going to Elvira. For ten years he’d waited for her to need him and now she did, and he wondered why he was even contemplating going to her, but he turned the car in the direction of her home and drove to her house.

Kara was sick with worry when Gui didn’t show up at the house. Three hours later, she realized he must have gone somewhere else. Vincent hadn’t spoken to him and she’d tried to call only once and got his voice mail. She had left a message and knew she couldn’t call back. She didn’t want to nag him or be a pest.

But she was concerned about him. And she had no idea what she should do. Should she stay at his house and wait for him or head over to his parents’ house where the rest of his family was? And was she part of the family now? They weren’t even married yet. She really needed Gui here to tell her what to do.

Her cell phone rang and she almost dropped it trying to answer it quickly. “This is Kara.”

“It’s Katie.”

“What’s up? Did you hear any more news?”

“Yes. Alonzo is fine, as is the Enfanta.”

“That’s a relief. I can’t wait to tell Gui.”

“Where is he?”

“Not home yet.”

“Um…there was one death, Kara.”

“Who?”

“The Enfanta’s cousin, Juan de Perez.”

Did Gui know that? She rubbed the back of her neck, feeling way too tired to try to figure out anything else tonight. “Thanks, Katie, for getting this information for me.”

“You’re welcome. It’ll be showing up on the television pretty soon. We just had everything confirmed and we’re running the story.”

“Do they know what happened to the plane?”

“Not yet. There’s been speculation that it was some kind of mechanical failure.”

“Right.” She didn’t know what else to say. She wanted to talk to her friend about Gui and how their relationship had been strengthening, but tonight she wasn’t sure that was still the case.

“I can’t believe you’re getting married in less than a week.”