Chapter Thirty-Five: The Pirate Queen
"It's like this, Sally. I don't think you should be quite so free with your hands and . . . and I think you should stick to your duties as my personal assistant!" Mary's cheeks were flushed and her voice a bit shaky, but she mustered all her will-power and forced herself to look the slim and sexy blonde directly in the eye.
"Very good, mum." Sally didn't even blink. Now that the two of them were back in London, and both living at the royal palace, Mary's companion had switched over to a plain black dress, and the white lace cap and apron worn by all the female attendants.
"Of course I want to keep you with me," the Tudor princess said, nervously looking around for the big and showy diamond necklace she always wore to public charity events. "I'll speak to the queen's secretary in the morning about adding you to the official list of servants within the royal household. You'll be paid more money!"
"Thank you, mum. But there's no need to bother. Her Majesty has already secured my permanent appointment to her household." Sally kept her hands quite brisk and businesslike as she hooked the showy necklace around Mary's neck and helped her into the big fur wrap that went with the stunning dark blue evening gown. "Now off you go, mum. Enjoy your evening with Jamil Khan. Everyone in London is whispering about the two of you, wondering when you'll finally set a wedding date!"
Mary made herself smile, ignoring the faint flicker of curiosity in Sally's bright blue eyes. Jamil Khan was a dear friend, but tonight was not about marriage. All of London would just have to wait!
"Mary! You look sensational, as always. Are those real diamonds?" Jamil Khan greeted her casually at the movie premiere, kissing her cheek like an old friend and nothing more. Yet cameras were flashing and everyone was looking their way.
"Yes, well I had to dress up to celebrate your return to London!" Mary's bright smile wasn't just an act. Jamil was a very old friend, even if she didn't like the idea of a political marriage binding them together for life. She took his arm as they walked down the red carpet together, the cameras winking and flashing just like the glittering diamonds she wore around her neck.
"I'm glad you're back," Jamil confided, when they were ensconced in the royal box at the theater. "I missed you even while I was busy setting things in order in my own country. Still I hear you had a good time touring the Caribbean, swimming with Sally and meeting all those environmental people. Look at that suntan!"
"That was business." Mary fanned herself vigorously as the lights dimmed and the movie started. That wild fling with her personal assistant was none of Jamil Khan's business. Mary was proud of the way she'd put a stop to things before they went too far. Still, sitting with Jamil she found that she already missed Sally's knowing touch. Her outspoken personality and that cheeky smile. And those hands . . .
"Bridget O'Flaherty's going to be at the reception after the movie," Jamil whispered, breaking in on her private thoughts. "She's a smart woman, and a huge supporter of environmental causes!"
"I know," Mary whispered back. "Let's watch The Pirate Queen!"
Watching Bridget O'Flaherty on the big screen gave Mary a chance to forget her own troubles for a while. The gorgeous redhead had a starring role, playing a daring lady pirate in the seventeenth century. It was great fun to watch her firing off all her cannons, boarding enemy ships and freeing boatloads of women from slavery. The only part Mary didn't like was watching the pirate queen surrender her heart (and her treasure) to a bold British naval commander at the very end of the movie. Why couldn't she have gone on living life in her own way?
"How do you do, Princess Mary?" Bridget was a different person offscreen. Instead of being wild and outrageous she smiled politely and held out her hand, her husky voice soft and polite.
"That was a very exciting movie!" Mary felt a bit breathless, squeezing Bridget's hand and blushing as she looked into her eyes. How could the famous Irish actress be even more beautiful in person than she was on the movie screen?
"The princess has been a fan of your work for a long time, Bridget. Mary is a real climate change crusader, just like you!" Jamil Khan's black eyes held a knowing gleam, as though he totally understood Mary's pink cheeks and the way her shy gaze lingered on Bridget O'Flaherty's heart-stopping figure. "Why don't you two get acquainted while I pay a little visit to the buffet table? I haven't eaten all day and I'm absolutely starving!"
Jamil Khan was beaming at both women, and they smiled back. But the moment he was away from them the look on his darkly handsome features changed to one of grim determination. He took out his cellphone and punched in a series of numbers.
"The plan is a go," he snapped, giving the clipped words an almost sinister emphasis. "Repeat, the plan is a go!"