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‘Thatdoesseem to cover pretty much everywhere. What time is it?’
‘Just after one.’
‘And they are one-day passes?’
‘Yep.’
‘Then we have no time to waste.’ She whirled around to look at a nearby sign with a city map displayed on it. ‘Okay. We need to approach this strategically. What is the nearest attraction?’
Akil stared at her, clearly bemused. ‘You want to do itall?’
‘Well,’ she conceded. ‘Maybe notboththe theatre and the opera house, and obviously trying all the restaurants and all five of the walking tours would be a stretch, but let’s try and do as much as we can before midnight when the tickets run out.’
‘Is this a challenge?’
‘Are you up to it?’ She removed her sunglasses and met that cool amused gaze, her mouth responding automatically to the smile in his eyes.
‘I’m an Ortiz. I never turn down a challenge.’
‘Good to know. Okay, where shall we start? Where’s nearest?’
‘The castle.’ He paused. ‘Are you comfortable with that? Your father doesn’t make a habit of crossing over into the public areas, but you never know. This might be the day he makes an exception. It could be awkward if you bumped into him in public.’
Clem bit her lip as she considered it. The castle was a much rebuilt and redesigned fortress perched on the edge of the valley overlooking the mountain pass that had once been the only way into the city. Most of it was now open to the public, who could tour the old staterooms, the rooms occupied by long-dead royalty, the courtyards and gardens, as well as the dungeons and defensive walls showcasing the country’s often violent history.
But well away from the public areas were the royal apartments and the offices of the court, with a private entrance to parliament, whose equally impressive medieval building was right next door.
The royal apartments comprised living quarters for the King and his family as well as rooms for courtiers and staff and reception rooms for ambassadors and other dignitaries, plus rooms of varying sizes for official events.
As it was the parliamentary recess most parliamentarians and the aristocrats who made up the upper chamber were at home in their country estates or their seaside retreats. But the King, as Clem knew too well, rarely returned to the Palais d’Artega, staying at Court year-round. Which meant he might well be in the castle right now and she would be in the same building as him for the first time in almost a decade. But as a tourist she’d be as removed from him as she was when she was at home in Cornwall.
‘He knows I’m here,’ she said, trying to keep the bitterness from her voice. ‘But to be honest he hasn’t seen me for so long he’d be more likely to recognise you than me. Let’s do it. I’ve always wanted to visit.’
She shook the lingering sadness off and consulted the map in front of them, tracing the routes with her finger. ‘Okay, I propose we spend an hour in the castle, half an hour each in the cathedral and the city museum, get the cable car up the mountain and the funicular down and then take the railway to the zoo for the hour before closing time. If we leave promptly we should make the evening walking tour, which possibly gives us time for tonight’s concert at the opera house. We’ll need refreshments so a snack after we’ve gone up the cable car and dinner after the concert. What do you think?’
Akil pretended to sag against the post, holding the map. ‘I’m exhausted just listening to all that.’
‘Too much for you?’ She turned to face him, hands on her hips, allowing a flirtatious challenge to enter her voice, even as she acknowledged to herself that she was skating on very thin ice. This wasn’t a date. But that didn’t mean she couldn’t enjoy it.
He held her gaze, suddenly serious, and Clem felt the air suck out of her lungs.
‘Too much for me? Not at all. But I’m worried about you, my lady. Can you handle it?’
‘It’s my suggestion, remember. Come on, we’re wasting precious time.’ Clem rammed her sunglasses back onto her face, glad to break the disturbingly intense connection, and marched away, knowing he was right behind her, laughing as she strode as fast as she could as he effortlessly matched her stride. It was companionable. Nice.
She just needed to dial the flirting down to zero.
The castle was as fascinating and informative as Clem had hoped, and far more macabre than she’d expected, especially the dank underground rooms full of terrifying-looking devices.
‘Nice types, my ancestors,’ she muttered as she took in the rusted manacles stained with what she fervently hoped wasn’t blood.
Akil nodded. ‘Mine too. Before they dominated parliament they were generals and military leaders. I bet they condemned a lot of people to these rooms.’
‘What does that do?’ She wandered over to a tall, beamed contraption hung with ropes to read the horribly visual interpretation board and shuddered. ‘I could have quite happily lived without ever knowing that.’
‘What kind of mind even invents something like that?’ Akil was standing right behind her. At least two inches separated them, but she was acutely aware of every part of him, the proximity between them lighting up every nerve.
‘No wonder they put this bit before the Crown jewels. We’ll need all the glitter and pomp to wipe this out of our minds. If I never come down here again it’s too soon.’
