§ § § -- September 18, 2004

Leslie whirled around and cried to Christian, "Did you see that?"

"Every bit of it," Christian said, scowling in mingled bewilderment and annoyance. He snagged another servant and barked out instructions to him in staccato jordiska; the servant gave a hasty acknowledgement and collared several more of the staff behind the buffet, all of whom climbed the dais near the back wall, dashed across and headed into the south wing's west corridor. He turned to Leslie and pulled her into his arms. "I told him about that person in the white clothing and where he or she went, and to find them if at all possible. I have a feeling there's been some attempted incident, but unless we can get in contact with the security people, we won't know what went wrong."

Anna-Kristina appeared beside them. "What happened? All I saw was the open door and then someone running into the south wing."

"We don't know, Kattersprinsessan," Christian said tensely, his gaze trained toward the south wing's west corridor. "If they find that person, we might get some answers."

The crowd milled around in confusion, though oddly, the level of alarm remained low and the men who had closed the door now stood in front of it like a line of defense. Leslie and Christian, standing huddled together near the edge of the dais where they had barely moved from the spot, both noticed Gabriella conferring urgently with Gerhard. Then Christian stiffened; Leslie looked up at him, noticed that he was staring down toward the other end of the great entry, and followed his gaze. Three of the men in front of the door had moved aside and were admitting two men in uniform, who immediately began to make their way up to the dais. People parted quickly for them, and Christian and Leslie hastily joined the family in the center of the dais, Christian alerting Gerhard that the security men were on their way up. Gerhard nodded, pulled Liselotta to his side and waited.

The security men climbed the dais and bowed to the royal family. "Your Highnesses and Your Majesty," one said. "We've managed to prevent what could have been an extremely tragic incident here. Someone opened the door from inside the great entry, and immediately a group of black-clad figures rushed it. We barely caught them before they would have overwhelmed us and gained entry into the castle. Some quick-thinking guests pushed the door closed again, and we had a chance to defend ourselves and the building. We apologize, but it was necessary to use extreme measures. There are two bodies outside—we have already notified the constabulary in Sundborg."

The royal family looked at one another; Leslie, feeling cold, pressed in closer against Christian. Gabriella demanded, "What did they look like?"

"We haven't touched the bodies, Your Majesty," the security man said. "Their faces aren't visible; they're dressed entirely in black and even the faces are covered."

Gabriella nodded, frowning heavily. Before she or anyone else could say anything, the servants who had chased the mysterious figure in the south wing returned, panting. They all bowed. "Our apologies, Your Majesty—we found no one anywhere in the south wing," said the servant to whom Christian had initially given orders.

"There was someone else?" the security man asked.

"Yes," Christian broke in, "at least three of us saw a person in white break out of the gathering just after the door was closed. Whoever it was ran into the east corridor of the south wing." He shook his dark head slightly. "So there were three of them, apparently, from the sound of it."

"More, I dare say, Your Highness," the security man said. "One of my men tells me he saw at least one person running away. In the confusion we were unable to get more details or pursue this person."

Gabriella waved it away. "The important thing is that everyone here is safe, and whatever plot was to have been carried out here was thwarted. Let me inform our guests." She stepped out to the front of the top tier and began to speak in jordiska, raising her voice; the security men moved out to stand behind her.

Christian said to the servants, "You've done what you could—go back to your stations, and thank you." The servants bowed again and left them, and he sighed and gave Leslie a squeeze that the others didn't miss.

"Your foreboding was right," Carl Johan said to her. "We must thank you, all of us, Leslie, for your sharing your worries with us. You allowed us to prevent something truly heinous happening here." He glanced between Christian and Anna-Laura. "Perhaps we dare continue the celebration, with the threat past us now."

"Are you sure it'll be all right?" Leslie asked. "I just hope the servants got the triplets back to our room before all this started."

"I'll send someone to check," Rudolf told her and went off to do so. Christian smiled and gathered Leslie in close.

"I think Carl Johan's right, my Rose," he said softly. "The threat's gone, the danger has subsided, and we're all safe. Why don't we try to get past this and put our guests back at ease, and take comfort in our happy ending?"

Leslie hugged him, then smiled back. "I guess that's the best thing we can do," she agreed, then grinned. "Besides, I don't want to miss my chance to see Michiko."

"That's the spirit," chuckled Christian, kissing her quickly. The family laughed, then dispersed to mingle with their guests.

"How could it fail?? This plan, so carefully laid out—how could we have failed? I can take no more of this! We should have waited till she was alone and simply shot her!"

"She was never alone, you idiot! She doesn't leave the castle by herself, she's always with someone in the family. It was an impossible maneuver from the beginning—both of you had ideas, and the one was unworkable while the other simply failed. There's nothing more we can do now."

"It's time to give up and return home. It's true, we can do no more."

"I won't admit defeat. I'll never admit defeat as long as she can claim any happiness. I want her tosuffer! I want her to know a loss like ours before I end her life!"

"And how do you propose to carry this out? We have no money left."

"I've been creating my own plan against the likely failure of this one. I have access to all the resources we need. The only thing lacking is the two of you, and we have to do this together, for now we're all that remains. Are you with me?"

"Very well, we're with you. But if you fail this time, I'll end your life myself, with my bare hands. That's no threat, it's a vow. So this had better be good."

"It is. Shut up and listen to me this time. You'll see…"

Christian and Leslie had spoken with Errico and Michiko for a few minutes, told them they should definitely join the family for dinner since they were staying in one of the south-wing suites, and thanked them for coming. "And for surviving that scare with such good grace," added Christian jokingly.

Errico grinned. "A little reminder of one's mortality is good for the soul," he said. "I do wish you could remain long enough for a side trip to our little paradise and to attend Carlono's wedding. When he took the chance to get to know the Vallomoros heiress, he found her very much to his liking after all, even though he had been doubtful when he sought help from you and Mr. Roarke."

"I've gotten to know Seniça a bit," said Michiko. "She's gracious and poised, a perfect fit for royalty—but she has a wonderful sense of humor too. And Carlono's become quite the oenophile lately. He wants to help Seniça run the vineyard, but he insists that their main residence be in the palace. 'No royal Bartolomé lives outside the palace,' according to him."

"It's quite true, cari mie, we don't," Errico said, and Michiko rolled her eyes, making Christian and Leslie laugh. "Ah—there's Prince Frederick! I really did wish to speak with him…" He broke away, making a beeline for the prince of Denmark who stood some little distance away, and Michiko grinned apologetically, congratulated Christian on regaining his title and followed Errico.

"Well, well, cousin prince, it's a great pleasure to see you once more," said a voice, and this time Christian and Leslie found themselves facing Duke Sebastian Markelius. He was beaming at them. "You're back among the royal ranks again, then! My heartiest congratulations to you—and as well, on your triplets. I've seen little of them except on television and in the magazines, but they are certainly beautiful babies. I'm relieved they're unharmed after that little scare earlier."

"Thank you," Christian said and smiled, shaking hands with Sebastian.

"I'm told you brought Kurt," Leslie said.

"I did," Sebastian affirmed, "and he's quite the poised and polished young man. I've taught him to sail, to ride, to hunt…he turns out to be a talented fellow and very personable. He's modest, too, which I must admit you don't often find in our social circles. In fact, he even has a girlfriend—which, I'm sorry to note, is more than can be said for me." He smiled wryly in response to Christian and Leslie's laughter. "I had hoped to meet someone here, but it seems all your other guests came in pairs. I believe I had better plan a trip to that lovely island you two live on, so that perhaps I can get some professional assistance in finding a suitable lady. While I've made Kurt my heir and may not necessarily want more offspring, it has occurred to me that one day he'll marry and quite likely make his own home, and that will leave me alone once more. And I find solitude no longer agrees with me."

"Then you'll be welcome to the island," Leslie said. "Just let us know and we'll do all we can to accommodate you. To be honest, I'll be glad to get back."

"I'm of the same mind as Leslie," Christian said. "Perhaps there we'll finally have a little peace, and we can return to our quiet lives."

Sebastian smiled. "May it be so. A pleasant trip home, both of you, and many thanks." He moved off, and Christian and Leslie turned to the next well-wisher, both silently hoping that Sebastian's wish would be true.


What will happen back on Fantasy Island? The final installment will be coming soon, so stick around!