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Bile threatened and she sucked in some deep breaths to dispel it. Most other woman would be singing high notes at their good fortune, butthiswasn’t home. She wished instead to be walking down the streets of London, laughing with her friends while the delicious scents of pub food wafted in the air.
“Just one thing,” Arabelle murmured.
The male servant paused. “Of course, Your Highness.”
Arabelle focused on him. “What is your name?”
“Raheesha.”
Well then…thank you, Raheesha, for your assistance today.”
“I’m glad to be of service, Your Highness. Day or night.”
It wasn’t until he left that she turned to Estelle and said, “I think I’ll have a shower and a lie down.”
“Allow me to help you undress and lay out your evening attire.”
Arabelle shook her head. “No, thank you. I prefer to do those tasks on my own.” At the woman’s shocked face, Arabelle added, “I would enjoy an early dinner though out on the balcony.”
Estelle’s lovely face broke out into a smile, her nut-brown eyes crinkling at the corners. “Of course, Your Highness. Any requests for dinner?”
Arabelle nodded. “Actually, yes. Something…British.”
Estelle’s eyes flashed disapproval, but she covered it well as she bowed and said, “As you wish,” then withdrew from the suite, as quiet as a shadow.
Arabelle picked up the new cell phone, surprised to find her contact list had not only Mahindar’s number, but her mom and dad’s, too. She rang all three, not surprised when none of them even connected. One of the first things to go in war was power and phone connectivity.
There was nothing she could do from here and she’d never felt so helpless or inadequate. Not even a shower improved her frame of mind. But climbing into bed, with Mahindar’s faint amber scent filling her nostrils, she hugged one of his pillows and inhaled deeply, taking comfort from his familiar smell and falling into a deep sleep.
It was the clink of cutlery that woke her a few hours later. The scent of roast lamb dragged her fully awake.
She sat up and blinked. Through the opened glass sliding doors she could see Estelle setting the balcony table. The servant stepped back inside and smiled. “Your Highness. You woke just in time. Your lamb roast with vegetables is served. If there is anything else—“
“No, thank you. You may go now and…retire.”
Arabelle resisted snorting. She’d have to get used to the right words to use for servants.
But if Estelle thought her word choice odd, she didn’t let on. She bobbed her head and said, “I’ll see you in the morning.”
Arabelle smiled wryly. “I’m sure you will.” She glanced at her luxurious prison. “It’s not like I can go anywhere.”
Estelle’s gaze turned speculative, her eyes glinting oddly. But then the woman smiled shyly, her voice full of understanding as she said, “You will be happier when His Highness returns.”
Arabelle nodded, and looked down at the huge bed that dwarfed her. “I will,” she acknowledged. Looking back at Estelle, she was surprised to find she’d already disappeared.
Chapter Twenty
The next four days became something of a routine. She had breakfast on her balcony, then swam for an hour in the lap pool before taking a shower and exploring the huge palace. She needed a GPS to find her way around after getting lost a couple of times in the maze of rooms and corridors.
She ate lunch on the balcony, then religiously rang the three numbers on her contacts list. Nothing. After lunch she wandered into the massive library and lost herself in books for the afternoon. The last three nights she’d then followed the lush scents into the huge industrial kitchen, where she watched the hustle and bustle of the cooks and chefs.
Not tonight, though. She sensed how uncomfortable she made the kitchen staff and decided to instead wait for Estelle to bring her dinner once again. Afterwards Arabelle planned to go to the cinema she’d found yesterday. Estelle had already organized the latest blockbuster to watch that night.
She smiled as Estelle stepped through the glass doors onto the mosaic-tiled balcony. What would she have done without her? Estelle had proven herself indispensable in so many ways.
Estelle set the tray down. “The chef thought you might enjoy British food again tonight.”
Arabelle smiled and inhaled the heady aroma of a meat pie, gravy and potato mash. “Thanks Estelle, I appreciate everything you’ve done for me last few days.”
