page32 (1/1)
Andre s you are on ently He placed a conciliatory hand on his cousin’s shoulder “We can discuss this further, but not now, if you please Couments and I will listen to what you have to say, I promise Tell my appointments secretary I said to make room in the schedule for you”
He waited for Zax’s reluctant assent and watched until his cousin was out of sight, a slight frown furrowing his brow Things had grown so strained between them these past feeeks And noondered how Zax had heard about his latest proposition Someone on the Privy Council must have talked—there was no other explanation Had who this course?
He continued on to the DeWinters’ suite and knocked on the door,one problem to confront another, but his sharp rap wasn’t answered iain, harder this time
“Just a minute!” The solid oak door was jerked open suddenly, and DeWinter stood there, a casually inquisitive expression on his face that turned into surprise when he saw the king fra else “I’ll be daht”
“Accept ies for the intrusion on you and your wife” Good y, but despite Zax’s earlier interruption Andre was riding with his emotions on a curb bit, so his tone was perfunctory “I must speak with youabout Juliana”
“Who is it, Dirk?” Sabrina calanced fro s hand on his arm “Honey, I don’t think—”
He cut her off “I know you don’t, but it’s okay,” he reassured her He looked back at Andre and cocked a questioning eyebrow There was also a bit of a challenge in his eyes, in his stance “What did you want to knowabout Juliana?”
Andre’s gaze slid toward Sabrina “Privately,” he insisted after turning his attention back to DeWinter The two ths in the otherout the weaknesses, the chinks in the other’s armor Then came the realization in both sets of eyes that there were no weaknesses to exploit Andre inclined his head slightly, acknowledging an equal “Walk with me,” he demanded softly
“Dirk, I—”
“It’s really okay,” he told his wife “I’ll be back shortly I promise”
The two ’s lengthy hallway, then down the Grand Staircase, the king leading the way The two guards at the front doors snapped to attention and saluted when Andre caht, but he turned away to a side corridor “This way,” he said, leading the other man into the music room
Andre locked the door and stood with his back to it for a rand piano on a dais in one corner of the roo Then, his voice hard and unrelenting, he stated, “Juliana tells me you and she are not lovers”
DeWinter’s hands paused in ot stones, I’ll give you that”
“I would know if that is the truth”
One corner of DeWinter’s mouth quirked up in a half smile “Far be it from me to contradict a lady”
Andre took a step forward “Are you saying you are lovers?” he deht fist despite his promise to himself not to lose his temper Had Juliana lied to him about this?
“No, I’ you’ve yet to prove to me it’s any of your damn business” DeWinter obviously wasn’t about to back down to anyone, king or co which DeWinter seemed to reach a decision “I’ve known Juliana for ten years,” he said finally “I’ve been married for twelve” His voice was as cold and hostile as Andre’s had been “That’s all the answer you should need And it’s all the answer you’re going to get”
Eventually Andre nodded “Fair enough But you are an intelligent, observant man, so answer me this Is Juliana in love with you?”
DeWinter laughed suddenly, and Andre slowly let out the breath he was holding No man could sound that unconcerned if there was any truth to the question Not where soly beautiful as Juliana was concerned “Juliana’s a brilliant actress On screen she’s loved ether—her Tessa to my Terry O’Dare was incandescent Incomparable And if she looked at me in real life the way she looks at me on the set of this movie, as if I’m her whole world and her only chance for salvation, I’d be hard-pressed to walk away froh I’d like to think I’d remain faithful to Bree,” he added drily “But that’s all there is between us Make-believe She’s not, nor has she ever been, in love with ht way heDead wrong