The Princess - Jude Deveraux by The Princess

Author:The Princess [Princess, The]
Language: eng
Format: epub, azw3
Tags: Contemporary Romance
Publisher: Pocket Books
Published: 1991-04-30T07:00:00+00:00

Chapter Thirteen

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On Monday morning J.T. received a telegram from General Brooks saying that all was arranged and the two of them would be shipped out to Lanconia on Tuesday.

"The beginning of the end," he murmured as Bill entered his office.

"Something bothering you?" Bill asked.

"The princess and I leave for Lanconia tomorrow."

"I'm going to miss her, and Dolly's not going to be fit to live with. Those two have become as thick as thieves. And the merchants around town are going to cry too."

J.T. crumbled the telegram in his hand. "I better call her so she can pack," he said solemnly.

"And I'll call Dolly so she can help."

Later that day Dolly called J.T. and said she was inviting everyone to a cookout on the beach. "A farewell party for her," Dolly said, and there was a catch in her voice.

You aren't going to miss her more than I will, J.T. thought.

It was a subdued Aria who met him at the beach. He took her hand in his. "Cheer up, baby, you're going home."

"I shall miss America," she said softly. "I shall miss its freedom and its music and its feeling of progression."

Not to mention missing me, he thought with some anger. "I guess I'm to catch the lobsters."

"Yes," she said disinterestedly. "Probably."

Aria couldn't cheer up, no matter how hard she tried. And Dolly was as bad as she was. A princess never shows her emotions in public, Aria chanted.

J.T. brought back lobsters and the men put them on the grill.

"Oh no," Dolly said. "Look what the cat dragged in."

Aria looked up to see a plump Heather Addison on the arm of Mitch. "Good evening, everybody," Mitch called, then looked at Aria. "You look lovely, as usual. J.T. taking better care of you?"

"I take great care of her," J.T. said, holding a barbecue fork as if it were a weapon.

Heather gave a contemptuous look at Aria then wiggled over to J.T. She took his arm and snuggled her breasts into his side. "J.T., honey, I haven't seen you since Washington. Remember the night we did the town? The day after you got married?" she added loudly.

"Just what we need—fireworks," Gail groaned. "J.T., let's make this evening pleasant, okay?"

Mitch went to sit by Aria. "I hear you're shipping out tomorrow. We're going to miss you. J.T. going too?"

J.T. turned around. "She's going with me, not the other way around. This country of Lanconia needs some shipbuilding advice, and I'm giving it. My wife goes with me."

Mitch moved closer to Aria. "I hear Lanconia is very pretty with long, cool nights, nothing but cowbells ringing."

"True," Aria said sadly. "No McGuire Sisters, no garbage trucks at three a.m., no honkytonks, no beach parties."

"You've been there?"

"No," J.T. and Aria said in unison. "We've just been reading about it," J.T. added.

"J.T., honey, I left my wrap in the car. Would you get it for me?" Heather asked.

"Somebody watch the grill," J.T. called, and stepped away from the light of the fire and into the darkness.

Heather lost no time in following him.

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