Free Falling For Jack by Christina Carlisle

the difficulty that had arisen.
    “Hello, sir.”
    “Lara.” His voice was so clear it was as if it was in the next room. “Your mother and I have been very disturbed by this incident. Arrangements have been made for you to fly home tomorrow and remove you from the mess you’ve created.”
    “It’s all been a terrible mistake, Daddy.”
    “So I understand. We have received the police report and it would appear this man Jack Lucas meant you no harm. But, you were at fault, Lara. You should never have placed yourself in that compromising position. I’m very angry with you.”
    “But, I’ve been in Australia for years and have never caused as much as a ripple of scandal.” She was flustered as the clipped voice of her father continued, riding over the top of her explanation.
    Then her mother’s voice came on the line and Lara’s eyes filled with tears as the soft concern cocooned her. She experienced a huge lurch of homesickness.
    “Darling, are you sure you’re all right?”
    “Yes, I’m fine. Mummy, please tell my father it wasn’t anyone’s fault. In fact, no one would give it a second thought if it wasn’t for who I am.”
    “He knows that, dear but we have always trusted you to be so sensible and you have been until now. I really shouldn’t have allowed you to go away on your own.”
    She gripped the receiver, struggling to breathe. She had fought so hard with her parents to be allowed to lead an almost normal life, first as a school student and then at university. But, she had been aware she was constantly watched and protected against harm. Her first bid for freedom, just for a few days, had gone disastrously wrong.
    “However, we have had this man checked out and he seems harmless enough. I assume he behaved like a gentleman?”
    She cringed at her mother’s words, her throat going dry as she thought of Jack and how she had begged him to make love to her. “Yes, he did.”
    There was silence for a few seconds and her heart began to pound. Her mother was very shrewd and knew her daughter well. Would she pick up the vibes?
    Her mother’s next statement said it all. “Something happened between the two of you, didn’t it?”
    She swallowed. She had always found it impossible to lie to her mother. “Yes.” Her voice was almost a whisper.
    “Did he force himself on you?”
    “No. God. No. We made love. He became my lover.” The words tumbled out before she could stop them. She couldn’t bear her mother to think that Jack had attacked and raped her.
    “Did he use protection?”
    She gasped at the bluntness of her mother’s question. They had always enjoyed a close relationship but never conversations like this. Lifting a trembling hand to her forehead, she found it impossible to form the words to reply.
    “Very well. Your silence has said it all. When the king and I heard about your situation, we took this possibility into consideration. We know that for all your independence, you are naïve when it comes to matters of men and sex and this man has taken advantage of you. Mr. Lucas will be invited to fly back with you to be our guest at the palace so we can sort this matter out.”
    “Mummy, he won’t accept. You can’t embarrass me in this way.”
    “Don’t interrupt. He will stay until the test can be done to find out whether you are pregnant or not. If you are, we will then discuss the next step.
    “Meanwhile, the press office will issue a statement to the internationalmedia to explain that Mr. Lucas is a friend of the royal family and you stayed with him in that capacity. Do you understand?”
    Lara had never known her mother to be so tough. Her parents, and probably their close advisors at the palace, had worked it all out. What would Jack say? That it was all a lie? And he’d be right, she thought dismally. He knew she couldn’t be pregnant because he’d made sure of that.
    What if he refused to come with her? She dreaded to think what might happen. Between the palace and the