Rosara, Alyssa sat up late. She pretended she was collecting things to keep Ra’id occupied during the flight, but the idea of sitting in a tin can hurtling through the air thousands of feet above the ground had a lot to do with her sleeplessness. Only in the early hours of the morning did she finally give in and go to bed. She had barely closed her eyes when the alarm buzzed in her ears.
Ra’id was so excited about going back home he was a real handful, but Alyssa was determined he should behave. They ate a quiet breakfast together in the nursery wing, though she barely had an appetite. Then she marched him downstairs to the entrance hall. Lysander was already there, supervising the transfer and as smartly dressed as ever.
The moment he spotted her, he strolled over to meet them at the bottom of the stairs. Ra’id was delighted, but Lysander was more interested in Alyssa.
‘What’s the matter?’
‘Nothing, Lysander.’
‘I hope you are being a good boy?’ he warned his nephew.
The little boy blinked up at them both innocently.
‘He’s fine,’ Alyssa said quickly. ‘We’re getting used to each other, gradually.’
‘But there’s definitely something different about you.’ Lysander’s hand went out to her, but he brought it sharply back to his side before it went anywhere. ‘If you’re still worried about what happened on your first night here—’ he murmured.
If they had been alone, Alyssa knew he would have reached out to her, which could so easily have turned into something more. The urgent need to feel his touch again filled her until she couldn’t speak. All she could do was shake her head.
That wasn’t enough for Lysander. ‘So what is your problem?’
‘What problem?’
He gave up. ‘OK. I’m taking the lead car for the drive to the airport while you and Ra’id follow in the one behind, so I’ll speak to you again once we’re on the plane.’ Lysander rapped out the words like a warning.
Alyssa felt herself going green. Luckily, Lysander didn’t notice. He was distracted by a furious wail from Ra’id.
‘No! I want to go with you, Uncle Ly!’
Alyssa frowned. ‘You can at least ask properly, Ra’id. Now, we’ve been working on this. What should you have said?’
The little boy gazed at her for a few seconds, and then remembered.
‘Please, Alyssa, may I go in Uncle Ly’s car?’
She smiled gravely. ‘Well done, Ra’id, although it all depends on your uncle. Your Royal Highness?’
She looked up at Lysander, expecting only an answer to her question. She got a whole lot more. He was gazing down at her so intensely that, for a moment, every one of her fears vanished.
‘I think that would be a very good idea, Alyssa.’
She stood up again and bowed slightly. ‘Then I’ll arrange to have Prince Ra’id’s things moved into your car.’
‘There’s no need for that. I’ll ride with you in your car, instead.’
Alyssa felt her face relax in a smile of relief.
‘That’s better,’ he murmured to her as they all moved towards the front door. Alyssa thought she felt a slight touch on her arm, but when she looked down there was no trace of his hand. It didn’t matter. Knowing Lysander would be sitting in the same car with them was a welcome distraction. It would give her something other than the flight to think about on their drive to the airport.
As they got to the great front door of Combe House Ra’id broke away and frolicked out into the sunlight.
‘I want to sit next to the driver!’
‘I thought you might!’ Lysander laughed, with a quick sideways smile at Alyssa.
Unable to stop herself, she blushed. As they stepped out of the house the dazzle of bright sunlight reflecting off three highly polished limousines made her blink. It was the perfect excuse to look away from Lysander and hide her nerves. As their chauffeur settled Ra’id into the front passenger seat Lysander reached out and opened the rear door for himself. Alyssa couldn’t look at him directly, but made the most of the glimpse she got of his lean, golden-tanned hand. Suddenly, he stood aside.
‘After you, Alyssa. Since you’re trying to teach Ra’id to be a gentleman, I will of course lead by example! For tips on gentlemanly etiquette, you need look no further than me.’
There was a twinkle in his eyes that was downright wicked and it helped defuse the tension she was feeling, Alyssa smiled back at him in spite of herself and slid demurely into the car.
‘Now that’s more like it.’ He slid into the seat beside her and slammed the door. Pressing a button, he raised a partition that closed the passenger compartment off from where Ra’id was busy distracting their chauffeur.
The second they had complete privacy, Lysander lost his smile. Turning in his seat, he levelled a penetrating stare at her.
‘Joking apart, what is the matter, Alyssa? Are you ill? You’re as white as a sheet, and you look terrible.’
She managed to rally, but it was an effort. ‘Well, thank you very much! I thought you said you were a gentleman?’
Twisting her hands nervously in her lap, she steeled herself to tell him the worst. It had been preying on her mind, and now it felt like the most awful, enormous problem in the whole world.
‘You’re right. I am worried about something.’
‘Well?’ He narrowed his eyes. ‘Don’t tell me you’re having second thoughts? Watching you with Ra’id, it’s obvious you’re made for each other.’
She felt a wonderful rush of pleasure that made up for all her nervousness about travelling with him.
‘Thank you! Looking after him doesn’t feel like work to me. I love it so much, and everyone here is so friendly. I can’t believe I nearly missed the chance to work for you, Lysander. It’s turning out to be a dream job for me,’ she said, but he wasn’t taken in.
‘So what has stolen the roses from your cheeks?’ He raised one finger and started to trail it down the side of her face. Alyssa started. Her eyes flicked to where Ra’id and the chauffeur were deep in conversation, just the other side of the soundproof screen. Lysander raised an eyebrow, but dropped his hand. ‘Not me, that’s for sure. I can see by that blush.’
‘I keep telling you, Lysander, it’s nothing you need to worry about,’ she said in a dangerous voice.
He raised a sardonic eyebrow. ‘Well, have it your own way—but remember, if there’s ever anything I can do to help, just ask.’
‘Thank you. That’s very kind,’ she said as he offered her a drink from the car’s chiller. Pouring some freshly squeezed passion-fruit juice into a glass filled with ice, he handed it to her with a shrug.
‘One of the perks of “working for a prince”, that’s all,’ he said with a devastating smile.
When he looked at her like that, Alyssa saw why hordes of beautiful women flocked around him despite his easy-come-easy-go reputation. She also realised her body wasn’t as determined as her mind. It melted under the warmth of his gaze, despite what he said next.
‘And as Ra’id’s nanny, that means you’ll be travelling with him and me in the private quarters of the plane, apart from the rest of the staff. You should be quite comfortable as there is a lounge area aside from my office. While there are some matters I must attend to I want to reassure you that I intend to look after my nephew properly.’
‘Of course. That means we’ll all be able to get some work done,’ she said, trying to sound firm.
Lysander’s