He glanced back over his shoulder. "But, of course, it can't compare to the life you lead now. I'm told Continental Trust's European headquarters is in Paris."

"Yes, it is."

"And it must be pleasant being able to visit places like this. Luxuries can be very important."

"Can they?"

"I was speaking to your husband earlier in the evening. I'd judge permanent life in a palace would suit him very well indeed."

"He works hard to earn any luxuries we enjoy." His idle probing was beginning to annoy her. He couldn't really be interested in either Richard or her. She changed the subject. "Are you in banking, Mr. Tanek?"

"No, I'm retired."

She stared at him, puzzled. "Really? You're very young."

He chuckled. "I had enough money and decided not to wait for a retirement party and a gold watch. I now own a ranch in Idaho."

He had surprised her again. She would never have thought he was the type to wander far from the urban life. "You don't seem-"

"I like the solitude. I grew up in Hong Kong, surrounded by people. When I was in a position to choose, I opted for wilderness."

"I'm sorry, it's none of my business."

"No problem. I have nothing to hide."

She would wager he had a great deal to hide, she thought suddenly. He was a man who buried everything beneath that smooth surface. "From what business did you retire?"

"I dealt in commodities." He asked, "Which door?"

"Oh, the last one on the left."

He moved swiftly down the corridor and stopped before the suite.

"Thank you. It wasn't necessary, but I-"

He had opened the door and was striding in, she realized in astonishment.

The Greek maid hurriedly sat upright in the chair.

"That will be all," Nicholas Tanek said in Greek. "We'll call you when we need you."

The maid walked out of the suite and closed the door.

Nell stared at him, stunned.

Tanek smiled. "Don't be alarmed. My intentions are above reproach." He winked. "Well, unless you call avoiding a very boring party reproachful. I saw you bolting out the door and I needed an excuse to get away for a while."

"Mama, did you bring-"Jill stood in the doorway, her gaze on Tanek. "Who are you?"

He bowed. "Nicholas Tanek. You're Jill?"

She nodded warily.

"Then this is for you." He presented the tray with a flourish. "Mead and ambrosia."

"I wanted eclairs."

"I believe we have those too." He swept toward her. "Where will we dine?"

Jill studied him for a moment and then capitulated. "Mama and I are going to have a picnic. I put a blanket on the floor."

"Excellent idea. You're obviously ahead of us." He started setting the paper plates down on the blanket. He said over his shoulder, "You forgot the napkins. We'll have to improvise." He disappeared into the bathroom and returned a minute later with a pile of tissues and two embroidered hand towels. "May I, madam?" He draped the hand towel around Jill's neck and tied it in the back.

Jill giggled.

Nell felt a ripple of resentment as she saw that Jill was enjoying the novelty of attention from a stranger. This was supposed to be her time with her daughter and he was spoiling everything.

"Thank you for helping me with the tray, Mr. Tanek," Nell said formally. "I know you want to get back to the party."

"Do I?" He turned to her, and the smile faded from his lips as he searched her face. He nodded slowly. "Yes, perhaps I should return." He bowed to Jill. "But I'll wait to take back your tray, madam."

"Don't bother," Nell said. "The maid can get it in the morning."

"I insist. I'll wait in the sitting room. Call me when you're ready." He strode out of the bedroom.

"Who is he?" Jill whispered, her gaze on the half-open door.

"Just a guest." She was surprised that Tanek had given up so easily. Well, he had not given up entirely. It was clear he didn't want to return downstairs and was using the suite as a haven. Whom was he avoiding? A woman, probably. He was the kind of man who would have women chasing him. Well, she didn't care as long as he stayed out of the way and didn't bother them.

"I like him," Jill said.

Nell didn't doubt it. Tanek had made sure Jill felt like an empress in those short minutes.

Then Jill's gaze fastened eagerly on the crystal goblet, and she instantly forgot about Tanek. "Wine?"

"Champagne." Nell dropped to the floor and crossed her legs. "As you commanded."

Jill's radiant smile lit her face. "You brought it."

"It's a party." She handed her the glass. "One sip."

Jill took a huge swallow and then made a face. "Sour. But it's kind of warm and bubbly going down." She lifted the glass again. "Jean Marc says that-"

Nell snatched the glass from her. "Enough."

"Okay." Jill reached for the eclair. "But if it's a party, we should have music."

"Right." Nell crawled over to the nightstand, reached for the music box, and wound it. She set it down on the blanket, and they watched the two panda bears spinning slowly on the lid. "Much better than the orchestra downstairs."

Jill inched closer, lifted Nell's arm, and fitted herself beneath it. As she munched on the eclair, pastry flakes fell on Nell's blue lace gown, and Nell knew that before Jill was through, chocolate icing would be all over both of them.

She didn't care. To hell with the gown. Her arm tightened around her daughter's small, warm body. Moments like this were rare and precious.

And might become even rarer.

No, she couldn't let them do it. Richard was wrong and she must convince him that Jill needed her.

But what if she couldn't convince him?

Then she would have to fight him. She felt panic and despair rise at the thought. Richard always made her feel as if she were being both unreasonable and cruel when she disagreed with him. He was so certain of everything and she wasn't sure of anything.

Except that it was wrong to make her give up her daughter to a faceless stranger.

"You're squeezing me too tight," Jill said.

She loosened her hold but kept Jill close. "Sorry."

"S'okay." Her mouth full of pastry, she rubbed against Nell forgivingly. "Didn't hurt."

She had no choice. She would find the strength somewhere. She must fight Richard.

He had come for nothing, Nicholas thought in disgust as he gazed down at the surf crashing on the rocks below. No one would want to kill Nell Calder. She was no more likely to be connected with Gardeaux than that big-eyed elf she was now lavishing with French pastry and adoration.

If there was a target here, it was probably Kavinski. As head of an emerging Russian state, he had the power to be either a cash cow or extremely troublesome to Gardeaux. Nell Calder wouldn't be considered troublesome to anyone. He had known the answers to all the questions he had asked her, but he had wanted to see her reactions. He had been watching her all evening, and it was clear she was a nice, shy woman, totally out of her depth even with those fairly innocuous sharks downstairs. He couldn't imagine her having enough influence to warrant bribery, and she would never have been able to deal one on one with Gardeaux.

Unless she was more than she appeared. Possibly. She seemed as meek as a lamb, but she'd had the guts to toss him out of her daughter's room.

Everyone fought back if the battle was important enough. And it was important for Nell Calder not to share her daughter with him. No, the list must mean something else. When he went back downstairs, he would stay close to Kavinski.

"Here we go up, up, up High in the sky so blue.

Here we go down, down, down Touching the rose so red."

She was singing to the kid. He had always liked lullabies. There was a reassuring continuity about them that had been missing in his own life. Since the dawn of time, mothers had sung to their children, and they, would probably still be singing to them a thousand years from now.

The song ended with a low chuckle and a murmur he couldn't hear.

She came out of the bedroom and closed the door a few minutes later. She was flushed and glowing with an expression as soft as melted butter.

"I've never heard that lullaby before," he said.

She looked startled, as if she'd forgotten he was still there. "It's very old. My grandmother used to sing it to me."

"Is your daughter asleep?"

"No, but she will be soon. I started the music box for her again. By the time it finishes, she usually nods off."

"She's a beautiful child."

"Yes." A luminous smile turned her plain face radiant once more. "Yes, she is."

He stared at her, intrigued. He found he wanted to keep that smile on her face. "And bright?"

"Sometimes too bright. Her imagination can be troublesome. But she's always reasonable and you can talk to-" She broke off and her eagerness faded. "But this can't interest you. I forgot the tray. I'll go back for it."

"Don't bother. You'll disturb Jill. The maid can pick it up in the morning."

She gave him a level glance. "That's what I told you."

He smiled. "But then I didn't want to listen. Now it makes perfect sense to me."

"Because it's what you want to do."

"Exactly."

"I have to go back too. I haven't met Kavinski yet." She moved toward the door.

"Wait. I think you'll want to remove that chocolate from your gown first."

"Damn." She frowned as she looked down at the stain on the skirt. "I forgot." She turned toward the bathroom and said dryly, "Go on. I assure you I don't need your help with this problem."

He hesitated.

She glanced at him pointedly over her shoulder.

He had no excuse for staying, not that that small fact would have deterred him.

But he also had no reason. He had lived by his wits too long not to trust his instincts, and this woman wasn't a target of any sort. He should be watching Kavinski.

He turned toward the door. "I'll tell the maid you're ready for her to come back."

"Thank you, that's very kind of you," she said automatically as she disappeared into the bathroom.

Good manners obviously instilled from childhood. Loyalty. Gentleness. A nice woman whose world was centered on that sweet kid. He had definitely drawn a blank.

The maid wasn't waiting in the hallway. He'd have to send up one of the servants from downstairs.

He moved quickly through the corridors and started down the staircase.

Shots.

Coming from the ballroom.

Christ.

He tore down the stairs.

Explosions.