Colonel McKinney was apologetic. “Believe me, Madam Ambassador, I’m just as upset about this as you are. I’ll double the guard in the corridor and see that there’s a twenty-four-hour watch outside your office door.”
Mary was not mollified. Someone inside the embassy was responsible for what was happening.
Colonel McKinney was inside the embassy.
Mary invited Louis Desforges to a small dinner party at the residence. There were a dozen other guests, and at the end of the evening when the others had departed, Louis said, “Do you mind if I go up and see the children?”
“I’m afraid they’re sleeping by now, Louis.”
“I won’t awaken them,” he promised. “I would just like to look at them.”
Mary walked upstairs with him and watched as he stood in the doorway, silently staring at Tim’s sleeping figure.
After a while, Mary whispered, “Beth’s room is this way.”
Mary led him to another bedroom down the hall and opened the door. Beth was curled up around the pillow, the bed covers twisted around her. Louis walked quietly to the bed and gently straightened out the bedclothes. He stood there for a long moment, his eyes tightly closed. Then he turned and walked out of the room.
“They’re beautiful children,” Louis said. His voice was husky.
They stood there, facing each other, and the air between them was charged. He was naked in his need.
It’s going to happen, Mary thought. Neither of us can stop it.
And their arms were tightly around each other, and his lips were pressed hard against hers.
He pulled away. “I shouldn’t have come. You realize what I’m doing, don’t you? I’m reliving my past.” He was quiet for a moment. “Or perhaps it is my future. Who knows?”
Mary said softly, “I know.”
David Victor, the commerce consular, hurried into Mary’s office. “I’m afraid I have some very bad news. I just got a tip that President Ionescu is going to approve a contract with Argentina for a million and a half tons of corn and with Brazil for half a million tons of soybeans. We were counting heavily on those deals.”
“How far have the negotiations gone?”
“They’re almost concluded. We’ve been shut out. I was about to send a cable to Washington—with your approval, of course,” he added hastily.
“Hold off a bit,” Mary said. “I want to think about it.”
“You won’t get President Ionescu to change his mind. Believe me, I’ve tried every argument I could think of.”
“Then we have nothing to lose if I give it a try.” She buzzed her secretary. “Dorothy, set up an appointment with President Ionescu as quickly as possible.”
Alexandras Ionescu invited Mary to the palace for lunch. As she entered she was greeted by Nicu, the President’s fourteen-year-old son.
“Good afternoon, Madam Ambassador,” he said. “I am Nicu. Welcome to the palace.”
“Thank you.”
He was a handsome boy, tall for his age, with beautiful black eyes and a flawless complexion. He had the bearing of an adult.
“I have heard very nice things about you,” Nicu said.
“I’m pleased to hear that, Nicu.”
“I will tell my father you have arrived.”
Mary and Ionescu sat across from each other in the formal dining room, just the two of them. Mary wondered where his wife was. She seldom appeared, even at formal functions.
The President had been drinking and was in a mellow mood. He lighted a Snogov, the vile-smelling Romanian-made cigarette.
“I understand you have been doing some sight-seeing with your children.”
“Yes, Your Excellency. Romania is such a beautiful country, and there is so much to see.”
He gave her what he thought was a seductive smile. “One of these days you must let me show you my country.” His smile became a parody of a leer. “I am an excellent guide. I could show you many interesting things.”
“I’m sure you could,” Mary said. “Mr. President, I was eager to meet with you today because there is something important I would like to discuss with you.”
Ionescu almost laughed aloud. He knew exactly why she had come. The Americans wish to sell me corn and soybeans, but they are too late. The American ambassador would go away empty-handed this time. Too bad. Such an attractive woman.