LITMIR.BIZ

Скачать книгу

in the sink, she hung her apron and hair net on a peg in the back room. On trembling legs she made her way through the kitchen and dining room to the restaurant lobby.

      The reality of the lovely, vital woman with short silvery-gold hair and violet eyes who turned in Kellie’s direction surpassed her image of the princess in the newspaper photos. Yet in jeans and a knit top, Lee Mertier looked completely down to earth and approachable.

      As Kellie hurried past a line of customers to reach the other woman, she was so terrified to hear bad news about Philippe, she could hardly breathe.

      “Princess?” she said in a shaky voice.

      “Call me Lee.” She flashed her a sweet smile. “I knew you had to be Kellie. You’re more beautiful than the picture Philippe carries around with him.”

      “Maybe he did once,” she said in a tortured whisper. “I was about to tell you no news clipping could do you justice.”

      “Thank you.”

      “Please—” Kellie struggled to keep her emotions under control. “I know you wouldn’t be here if something weren’t seriously wrong with Philippe. Were his injuries from the car accident more severe than his sister led me to believe?”

      Shadows darkened Lee’s eyes, increasing Kellie’s fears. “He’s not dying, so let me put your mind at rest about that.”

      “Is there something wrong with the baby?”

      “Kellie?” she said quietly. “Can we go someplace to be alone and talk?”

      “Yes. Of course. Forgive my lack of manners. I—I admit I’m scared to death.”

      Kellie opened the door to the stairway, urging Lee to follow her up to the living room of the house.

      “Please sit down. Can I get you anything?”

      “No, thank you.” She found a place on the end of the couch. Kellie took a chair opposite her.

      The other woman spoke first. “I know my presence has alarmed you, but after discussing it with Raoul, we agreed this wouldn’t work over the phone.”

      “Did your husband come with you?”

      “No. I left him hosting an international bankers’ conference he’d already put off once before.”

      “But you’re barely home from your honeymoon, aren’t you? To think you had to leave him to fly this far—”

      “My husband loves Philippe like a brother. He’d do anything for him. I’m pretty crazy about your husband myself. The problem is, he’s not the same man who introduced me to Raoul in Zermatt. All traces of the dashing Frenchman who lost his heart to you have vanished.”

      Kellie’s head was bowed.

      “He’s in such a severe emotional crisis right now, my husband I are deeply concerned.”

      “I’m sure that being a new father, plus trying to help Yvette with their little boy must be—”

      “Kellie—” Lee interrupted. “Yvette died during the delivery.”

      “What?” she cried out aghast, unable to remain seated. Claudine hadn’t phoned to let her know. “I thought Philippe said she wasn’t injured in the car accident.”

      “Just listen,” Lee cautioned her in a gentle tone. “Her death resulted from eclampsia in labor. It’s very tragic. She had convulsions, then fell into a coma. Yvette passed away without ever seeing her son. That was a week ago. The baby wasn’t released from the hospital until after the funeral.

      “It was the grandmother who took him home with her. So far she has refused to let Philippe see his son because she blames him for her daughter’s death.”

      Kellie’s groan reverberated throughout the living room. She could hardly comprehend it, or the guilt he must be suffering unnecessarily. “My poor darling husband,” her voice shook.

      “He’s in agony, but he won’t talk about it.”

      “What do you mean?”

      “After you left him, he cut himself off from everyone. His family couldn’t get through to him. His brother Patrick left Paris to take over for him at the office.

      “Raoul is the only person Philippe has let into your apartment. My husband was shocked to discover he hasn’t been eating or taking care of himself for the last month. Apparently he’s lost at least ten pounds, maybe more.

      “But the thing that alarmed Raoul most was to learn from the maid that your husband was getting his climbing gear together. When Raoul asked him what was going on, he said he was planning an ascent of the Matterhorn this weekend.”

      “He can’t!” Kellie blurted in anguish. “Claudine told me he’s still recovering from surgery on his knee.”

      “She’s right. But he’s beyond listening to reason. Somehow Raoul managed to get him to agree to wait until the bankers’ conference was over so he and Roger and Yves could go with him.

      “The guys have a plan to do everything in their power to prevent him from trying anything dangerous. Unfortunately my husband hasn’t ever seen Philippe like this before. He isn’t sure they’ll be able to stop him.”

      At this point Kellie’s whole body was trembling. “I’ve got to go to him! It was only because of Yvette’s love and need for him that I initiated the divorce. Nothing could keep me away from him now. I love him so desperately you’ll never know.”

      “I think I do. Raoul and I feel you’re the only one who can make a difference. That’s why I came. To fly you back to Switzerland with me tonight in Raoul’s private jet. I rented a car at Sea-Tac airport. We can drive to Seattle whenever you’re ready.”

      What wonderful people they were.

      “Thank you for your generosity, but I couldn’t accept your offer,” she whispered, fighting tears. “I’ll arrange for a commercial flight just as soon as I let my family know.”

      Lee got to her feet. “Kellie? Before you turn me down, there is one more thing you should be aware of.”

      Sickness welled up in Kellie’s throat. “What is it?”

      The princess seemed almost hesitant. “Philippe has changed.”

      “In what way?”

      “He wants the divorce now.”

      She was trying to understand. “Now? But if Yvette’s no longer alive…”

      When Lee didn’t say anything else, the significance of her words started to sink in.

      Kellie felt the room tilt. She clung to the first available chair. Lee was at her side in an instant.

      “You look ill. Sit down.”

      When Kellie was seated, Lee knelt next to her. She stared into her eyes. “Tell me what caused you to almost pass out. Surely you must have realized what your continual rejection was doing to him? Sending Philippe those divorce papers absolutely shattered him.”

      Lee’s gentleness and sincerity slipped past her defenses. Tears gushed down her cheeks.

      “I was t-trying to bow out so he could do the right thing for Yvette and his baby. Now to hear that she’s gone, a-and he doesn’t want me back—you see I’ve just learned that I’m pregnant with his baby.”

      It was Lee’s turn to let out a soft gasp before putting her arm around Kellie’s shoulders. Several minutes went by while Kellie tried to come to terms with what the princess had told her.

      “D-do you know if he’s already signed the papers?”

      “Not yet. Raoul talked him into waiting until after they’d made their supposed climb, when he had a clearer head.”

      “Oh,

Скачать книгу