Mankel cut her off abruptly. “Don't think about that ever again. My walls are patrolled twenty-four hours a day and I have a full security detail at all times. I dare to say we are safer here than the president of the United States. Besides, tomorrow you'll be leaving.”
“Leaving?”
“Yes, the senator is flying in on his private plane. You'll beescorted to the airport and before you know it you'll be out of this country.”
“Does Caroline know?”
Mr. Mankel straightened to his full height, a good foot taller than her. A man like that was too big for a suit, but he seemed to wear it like a second skin. Even more strange was his black hair and black eyes, the only evidence of his age the bright silver at his temples. “She does, I had the pleasure of delivering the news myself.”
“Can you take me to her? A’idah said you have to escort me. I need to see her.” Celine didn't bother trying to hide her desperation. Caroline had become part of her, more than a friend. She needed to talk to her.
Mankel's lips turned out into a slight frown. “I'm afraid she's already turned in for the night. She seems to be having a bit slower recovery than yourself.”
Celine blinked away the sudden onset of tears at the helplessness of her situation and stared out at the last rays of sunset over the horizon. God, she hated this godforsaken country and its archaic rules. If she were at home, she'd march down the hall herself. She would already be with Caroline because no one would have stopped her. But here, she needed a male escort and to be covered from head to toe just to walk down the hall.
“I'll put on a head scarf. I promise I won't disturb her; I just need to see her.” She couldn't look at him as she swallowed what little pride she had left and begged.
“Not tonight. Tomorrow morning. I have some business to attend to and I'll make sure I'm free to escort you.”
She managed a nod, feeling like she was some sort of little girl asking her father for permission to go play and being told no. She would never, ever take her freedoms for granted again.
“Good, now tell me a little bit more about yourself. What'sbeen your education? Any foreign languages? College?”
Celine startled at the abrupt change in conversation. “I had a little French in high school. No college. I went into business for myself, opened my own shop back home.” She couldn’t bite back the pride that filled her when she talked about her studio.
“An entrepreneur. I knew I detected a stern nature. That’s good. And what about family? Brothers and sisters?”
“No.” No one that cared, anyway. “My mom disappeared when I was little.”
“Disappeared? As in, she was kidnapped?”
A hot blush stole up her neck. “No, she got addicted to drugs and ran off with someone else.”
Mankel cleared his throat and said, “I’m sorry.”
She shrugged, the hurt at her mother’s betrayal had stopped affecting her years ago. “It’s happened to lots of families. I survived just fine without her.”
Mankel paused, as if in deep thought and then continued. “Your dad?”
She shrugged, pretending that his choosing his new wife over his daughter didn’t really hurt that bad. “He got a new wife and didn’t like having the responsibility of raising a teenage daughter.”
“And what about a husband or a boyfriend?”
“No, there's no one.” Bitterness crept in, catapulting her next words out of her mouth. “And what about you? Do you have a wife or girlfriend? Family besides your daughter? Did you go to college?”
Mankel gave a short laugh that didn't quite reach his eyes. “I apologize; I wasn't trying to interrogate you.”
For some reason she didn't believe him.
“I had a wife who died in childbirth, along with Solana's twin sister. I've been roaming ever since and unfortunately for my daughter, dragging her along with me.”
His words took the wind out of her suspicion. She neededmore rest; yes, that was it. She needed sleep. Here she was, imagining all sorts of vile thoughts about the man who saved her and put her up in a palace. A legitimate palace. “I'm so sorry. I think these past couple of weeks might be affecting my brain.”
Idiot. Her dad had been right about one thing - Celine's big mouth would land her in trouble at some point in her life.I bet dad never imagined this.
“Don't apologize, I was asking too many questions. Besides, you should be resting, not standing here chatting with an old man. Let me help you back to the couch.” Mankel held out his arm expectantly.
Celine took it, not wanting to offend him more. “Thank you.”
