The Spanish Aristocrat's Woman (10 page)

Gui’s mobile phone rang and he glanced at the caller ID. It was an official number from the palace. “De Cuaron.”

“Count de Cuaron, this is Señor Montoyes. There has been an accident.”

He hit the brakes and pulled over to the shoulder. “Is my brother okay?”

“We’re not sure yet, Count.”

“When will you be sure?”

“Shortly. Will you be at your residence?”

“Yes. I will be at my residence.” He took a long breath. “Where was the accident?”

“Outside of Paris. The royal family’s jet has crashed.”

“Survivors?”

“We don’t know yet.”

“What do you know?”

“Only what I’ve told you. We wanted to get word to the family before you heard it on the television.”

“Thank you, Montoyes. Call me as soon as you hear something.”

“Of course, I will.”

He hung up the phone and realized he was shaking. He couldn’t imagine a world without his older brother in it. Goddamn. He pulled back into the slow-moving traffic, then maneuvered his car off the motorway and found a quiet side street on which to stop the car.

He took several deep breaths and tried to figure out something he could do. But nothing immediately came to mind. He dialed Kara’s cell phone number.

“Gui?”

“Si.”

“Did the Palace reach you?”

“Si.”

“Oh, my. I’m so sorry. I don’t know what’s going on, but I have a call in to Katie, who has an office in Paris. And I’ve got every TV in the house tuned to a different news channel. The Americans aren’t covering it yet, but the French channel is, as is Skye TV in the UK.”

“What are they saying?”

“Just that a jet carrying the Enfanta and her entourage has crashed. That’s it. They don’t even know right now if there are survivors.”

He tightened his grip on the phone. He breathed through his nose, refusing to give in to the emotions that were threatening. He wasn’t a man given to tears, but to lose his brother and sister-in-law would be a hard blow.

“Where are you?”

He glanced up and down the street. “I have no idea.”

“Do you have your GPS on?”

“What? Yes, I do.”

“Give me the address and I’ll send Vincent for you. I don’t think you should drive right now.”

“Don’t be ridiculous. Of course I can drive. I’ll be home in—” he glanced down at the GPS directional unit and saw that he was very close to his house “—in a few minutes. I’m going to need to get on the phone when I get there.”

“I know. I’ll help you in any way I can.”

“Have my parents been notified?”

“Yes. I spoke to Anika a few minutes ago. Everyone is gathering at your parents’ house if you want to go there.”

“Thank you, Kara.”

“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.

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.”

She swallowed hard and knew that this was one of those moments that would divide her life. Like her mother’s death had. There had been the years with her mom, and then the years without. And this was going to be the dividing line between when she’d been engaged to Gui and whatever happened afterward.

A part of her knew she was borrowing trouble, but another part was convinced that Juan’s death and Gui’s absence at home were tied to each other.

“I’m not sure that the wedding will take place as scheduled. Especially since there will be a funeral to attend.”

“I hadn’t thought of that. Let me know if you need me to do anything.”

“I will.”

“I mean it, Kara. This is probably going to be a hard time for Gui and his family, and I know how you try to take care of everyone. Lean on me if you need to.”

“Seriously, Katie. If I feel like I need someone, I will call you.”

“Good. Now go have a drink and try to unwind. Please give my condolences to Gui and his family.”

“I will. Thanks again for helping me out.”

“No problem, hon.”

Kara started to disconnect the line.

“Is everything else okay? With you and Gui?”

She took a deep breath. Intensely private, she kept most of the details of her personal life even from her friends. And right now, when she had a bunch of doubts and fears racing around her mind about Gui, she didn’t want to talk to anyone. Even Katie.

“Yes, everything’s fine. Just a little wired from the news of the crash and worrying about it being Gui’s brother. I met him last week.”

“I heard. Gossip has it that you charmed everyone in the royal family.”

“Well, I don’t know if that’s true, but I did have a good time.” Eventually.

“I’m sure it is true. You can be very vivacious when you forget to worry.”

“Is that a compliment?” she asked her friend, relaxing a little as they bantered back and forth. This was what she needed. Madrid was fine and a nice place to live when she had Gui by her side but she needed her girlfriends.

“Yes, it is. You need tough love.”

“Ha. You have a razor-sharp tongue, which is why you work in the gossipmonger industry.”

“Oh, so you’re going to hit me there after I just used my gossipmongering ways to help you out?”

“You know I was kidding.”

“Yes, I do.”

Kara wandered down the hallway to Gui’s den and stood on the threshold of his private sanctuary before going inside. She didn’t turn on any lights, just let the illumination from the hallway lead her way. She walked to his big leather chair and sat down in it.

“Kara?”

“Hmm?”

“Are you sure you’re okay?”

“Yes. I’m fine. The entire last two weeks of my life have been so fast. You know?”

“Yes, I do. You’re not really a speed of light kind of person.”

“Normally I’d agree, but with Gui…”

“Do you love him?”

She sighed. “Would I be marrying him if I didn’t?”

“I guess not. You aren’t the kind of person to marry because it makes sense.”

Funny that Katie had summed up the lie she’d been telling herself since she’d agreed to be Gui’s fiancée. Why was it that her friends could see the obvious and she couldn’t?

She heard the front door open and Gui’s deep voice downstairs. “Gui’s home, Katie. I’ll call you back later.”

“Okay, Kara.”

She rang off with her friend and started out to the hallway, but heard another voice in the foyer. A feminine voice. Gui hadn’t come alone. And she had a sinking feeling that he’d brought Elvira with him.

He’d talked to his brother and felt deep relief that he was okay. But now he had Elvira in his home and had no idea what he was going to say to Kara. Vincent had a look in his eyes that Gui knew meant his secretary didn’t approve. But the other man had been with Gui long enough to know better than to say anything.

“Where is Kara?”

“Upstairs, Count. Should I send one of the maids to find her and let her know you are here and that we have a guest?”

“That’s not necessary, Vincent. Please see that Countess de Perez is settled in the Green Room.”

“Yes, Count.”

“Guillermo,
querido,
you can’t leave me,” Elvira cried.

“Just for a few moments, Elvira. You’ll be fine. Your maid will be here soon. In the meantime Vincent will assign someone to draw you a bath.”

“Yes, Count.”

“Gui…I need you.”

“I know you do, Elvira. And I’ll be back to check on you in a few moments. I need to call my parents and make sure they are fine.”

“Why should you worry about them? They haven’t lost anyone…I’ve lost my Juan. How will I live without him?”

Elvira had been asking the same questions over and over again. And Gui had no answers. He felt bad for her. Had felt her pain as she’d cried over losing her husband. He could only guess there was more love between her and Juan than he’d assumed.

But he needed to talk to his mother. He knew that his mom would be upset about Juan and the near miss for everyone else. He nodded to Vincent and went up the stairs two at a time. He entered his den and immediately knew that Kara was there.

Her flowery perfume was a scent on the air. “Kara?”

“Sorry. I came upstairs to take a call from Katie,” she said from deep inside the room. He couldn’t make out even her outline.

“You’re welcome in my den. Why are the lights off?” he asked as he entered the room.

“I wasn’t sure what the news would be. Did you hear that Alonzo and the Enfanta are both okay?”

“Yes, I did,” he said. He turned on one of the lamps on the side table. She was standing near the desk. Seeing her didn’t offer any clues as to what was going on in her head.

“I’m sorry to hear about Juan.”

“Thank you. I’m going to call my mother now.”

She nodded. “I’ll leave you to it…”

“Was there something else?” he asked when she hesitated in the hallway.

“Did I hear someone with you downstairs?”

“Yes, you did. I invited Elvira to spend the night here. Her house was overrun with media and she had only servants at home.” He realized he was explaining himself, something that he never did.

“Didn’t you think to ask me first?”

“She’s grieving, Kara. And she’s an old friend. I couldn’t turn her away.”

“Of course not,” she said, walking toward the doorway.

“I don’t answer to you. Even after we are married.”

“I know that,” she said. Her big eyes were wide and she kept blinking. He had the feeling she was fighting back tears and he felt like a total jerk.

But this hadn’t been the easiest day for him. And he still had to talk to his parents. And then finish getting Elvira settled in.

“I’m sorry,” Kara said. “We can talk about this in the morning. But please remember what we talked about when I agreed to be your fiancée.”

“What was that?”

“That neither of us would hold the other to this marriage, or engagement, as the case may be, if the other found love.”

He wanted to curse. “I can’t deal with jealousy right now, Kara. My family has just had a bad scare and I need to make sure that they are okay. I’ll deal with you when I have more time.”

She took a deep breath and then walked back into the room, closing the door behind her. She didn’t stop until less than a foot separated them.

“First off, I’m not jealous. You told me there was nothing between you and Elvira and I believed you.”

“Very well. Then what is this about?”

“This? Gui, you called me over three hours ago and said you’d be home in a few minutes. Your family has called looking for you, and I had to say I had no idea where you were. Then I get the news from Katie that the husband of your old lover is dead, and you show up with her in tow. What do you think is wrong?”

He leaned back against his desk, crossed his arms over his chest. He’d been hoping for the peace that Kara always brought to him and instead tonight he was finding more chaos than he wanted to deal with right now.

“It sounds like jealousy.”

“Stop saying that. I’m not jealous. I was worried about you. I thought something might have happened to you, or perhaps you’d learned bad news about your brother and that you needed me, Gui. I was worried because I wanted to be by your side and help you through this.”

“I don’t need that.”

“You don’t? What
do
you need then? Because I’ve tried everything I can think of to be what you need, and I still can’t figure it out.”

“I need a woman who knows when to give me space. I need a woman who will realize that in the middle of a family crisis, I can’t deal with her and her petty jealousies.”

“Is that really what you need?”

“Yes, it is.”

“Then I guess you don’t need me.”

She pivoted on her heel and walked to the door, and he let her go.