Free [Montacroix Royal Family Series 02] - The Prince & the Showgirl by Joann Ross

reflect the movement onstage, surrounding the audience with dramatic action.
    Behind the scenes, the stage machinery consisted of an ancient yet still operating system of thick, hand-hewn beams and elaborately designed contraptions of block and tackle and cables. Fortunately, Sabrina discovered over the next three days of rehearsal, the architect of this fairy-tale theater had been ahead of his time when it came to acoustics—they were remarkable. And the lighting, while far from state of the art, was more than adequate for their purposes. The one glitch was the need for additional power to run the computerized video equipment.
    Following the lead of Natalie Cole, who'd achieved unprecedented success by singing duets with old televised performances of her fattier, Dixie had come up with the idea of Sonny Darling's three daughters singing along with him, in the same way they had when they were girls.
    Although the idea of having the Darling sisters perform in Montacroix had been Chantal's idea, Sabrina quickly noticed that it was Noel who provided the upcoming concert's adept organizational skills. She was a paragon of quiet efficiency.
    On the afternoon of her fourth day in the principality, Sabrina was in the theater, rehearsing with her sisters and the musicians when the lights flickered over-head and went out. The enormous screen darkened; Sonny's larger-than-life picture faded from view. "We've obviously overloaded the electrical system," Raven decided, her voice echoing in the empty, cavernous, turn-of-the-century theater.
    "I'd say that's a distinct possibility," Noel, who'd been watching from the wings, agreed. She picked up the cellular phone she seemed never to be without and made the call to the director of palace maintenance. "An electrician will arrive momentarily."
    "It's just as well the power went out," Ariel decided. "My throat's a little scratchy. I think I'd better have some tea."
    "With honey and lemon," Noel said knowingly. "I've a thermos right here."
    Having watched her in action for the past three days, Sabrina was not surprised that Noel not only knew of Ariel's preferred throat-soothing drink, but also had it on hand.
    "I think I'll take a walk while we wait for the power to come back on," Sabrina said. "All the coffee I've had this morning has left me a little edgy."
    She was not about to admit that it had been too many sleepless nights that had her nerves on edge— nights spent gazing out her window toward the lighted garage and picturing Burke hunkered over his beloved race car.
    She hadn't seen him since their conversation in the gardens. He'd not shown up for breakfast or dinner, and during the day, she had immersed herself in rehearsals, while Burke was occupied with time trials and the whirl of social events that were part of every Grand Prix event.
    Sabrina told herself that she should not care what Burke was doing. She assured herself that she had absolutely no interest in the playboy prince.
    So why, she had asked herself innumerable times during the past three days, did her mind continually drift toward Prince Burke? And why had she found the picture of him in this morning's paper, with Monaco's glamorous Princess Caroline, so disturbing?
    Sabrina had never experienced such a surge of hot, feminine jealousy as that caused by the sight of Burke's devastating smile directed the princess's way. Not even on that fateful day when she'd returned home early from the doctor and discovered her husband in bed with his mistress.
    She left the stage and was halfway down the center aisle, headed toward the towering doors at the back of the theater, when a lone figure rose from one of the lush red chairs on the aisle.
    "Oh!" The exclamation escaped her lips on a quick, surprised rush of breath.
    "I seem to have an unfortunate knack of startling you," Burke said as his gaze skimmed over her.
    The first time he'd seen Sabrina Darling, she'd reminded him of a gypsy. Today she was wearing a black-and-white