Royal Secrets (13 page)

“I’m curious, but I don’t want to pry.” She pointed at her boys who were impatiently waiting for them to catch up. “I look at my sons and see how hard it is for them to stay within the safety net I try to give them. I can’t imagine how restrictive your childhood must have been.”

“It wasn’t as bad as you might think,” Prince Stefano told her. “Security was always tight enough here and at the palace for us to feel like we had our freedom even if it was more illusion than reality. More than once the guards gave us enough rope to hang ourselves.”

Her eyebrows lifted, and humor lit her eyes. “Oh really?”

He chuckled. “You have two sons. I don’t have to explain to you what kind of mischief little boys are capable of.”

“No.” Alora shook her head, and laughter escaped. “No, you don’t.”

They continued to the top of the stairs, where the boys were waiting anxiously.

“Go ahead,” Alora told them. “But don’t go near the water.”

“Okay!” Both boys shouted in unison before scrambling down the dozen steps to reach the sand.

Alora caught the scent of his aftershave when Prince Stefano moved closer and took her arm to escort her down the stairs. Nerves fluttered in her stomach as his fingers touched her arm.

He didn’t speak until they reached the sand. Then he released her arm and asked, “What about you? What was your childhood like?”

“I grew up on a little farm outside of Zena, Italy. It was as close to a perfect childhood as anyone could ask for,” Alora said a little wistfully as she thought of her family. She caught herself before she let her memories go beyond her childhood. Instead, she motioned to her children who had stopped to stare out at a sailboat in the distance. “Now I’m doing my best to give my sons what my parents gave me.”

“I’m certainly no expert on children, but from what I’ve seen, you are doing an excellent job.”

Alora smiled fully. “Thank you.”

Chapter 16

Stefano walked into Janessa’s new offices and surveyed what needed to be done. The windowless reception area was painted stark white, a single painting of a stormy sea hanging on the wall. With a shake of his head, Stefano continued into the inner office. He couldn’t say that he had ever had much interest in interior decorating, but he liked to think he had a good eye for what worked and what didn’t. Although he would never admit it to his uncle, the dark, hunter-green paint, the dark shelves, and matching shutters definitely did not work.

He pulled the shutters open now. The wide window overlooked the fountain in front of the chateau and the lush foliage beyond. If he had to guess, he imagined that his uncle had chosen to hide the view as part of his temper tantrum for not getting the ocean view he felt he deserved.

His lips curved when he thought of the contrast between his uncle and the two women who would now call these offices their own. Even though Janessa had been officially associated with the royal family for only a few short months, she was already well thought of by those who knew her. Stefano could admit that he already had a fondness for his future sister-in-law, especially for her lack of arrogance. In contrast, his uncle had turned arrogance into an art form.

Although he admittedly didn’t know Alora well, he expected that she too was more likely to look out the window and appreciate the view rather than complain about what wasn’t there.

When Stefano heard a familiar aloof tone, he turned to see Elam standing in the doorway. As always, Elam’s voice was tainted with disdain. “That will be all, Martino.”

“Very well, Your Highness.” Martino’s tone was respectful, but Stefano didn’t miss the way the chateau manager’s lips tightened as he bowed and then left them alone.

“Uncle Elam,” Stefano said in the way of greeting. “What brings you to Bellamo?”

“I came to make sure you were recovering well,” Elam told him. “I’m glad to see that you are up and moving around.”

“I’m getting there.” Stefano waved him into the office that Elam had once called his own. “Come sit down and tell me how things are with you.”

“Busy as always.” Elam lowered himself into a leather chair the color of deep burgundy. “I had hoped my schedule would open up a bit more after Philippe’s wedding, but that hasn’t been the case.”

“I understand you are still actively involved with the Meridian Church.”

Elam nodded. “My involvement there has become somewhat consuming. I try to limit my time in the office to once a month, but lately it seems I find myself in my office twice that often.”

Only years of training kept Stefano from pointing out that one or two days a month was hardly a full-time job. He managed to smile, and his voice was diplomatic. “I’m sure the archbishop appreciates all your efforts.”

“One would hope,” Elam agreed. He motioned to the bookcases lining the far wall. “Garrett mentioned you were preparing my old offices for his fiancée. I remembered I left some things here I have been missing for some time. I thought perhaps you would give me the opportunity to pack up a few of my personal items before you start your redecorating.”

“Of course. I have a few phone calls to make, so I will leave you to it.” Stefano stood and moved toward the door. “If you need any help, I’m sure Martino can send someone to assist.”

Elam simply nodded, apparently content to search his office alone.

* * *

“That didn’t take long.” Garrett tried to bank down his frustration as he stared at the front page of the local newspaper. A photograph of him and Janessa walking out of the LDS chapel was centered on the page, the caption stating simply, “Prince Garrett of Meridia attends Mormon Church with bride-to-be Janessa Rogers.”

“Someone at the airport must have tipped off the paparazzi that we were here in Iowa.” Janessa lowered herself onto the porch swing beside him and laid a hand on his arm. Her voice was gentle as she added, “We both knew it was only a matter of time before the press saw you attending church with me.”

“I know, but I had hoped it would take at least a few more weeks before this came to light.” Garrett skimmed the article, his stomach churning when he reached the second paragraph in which the reporter speculated whether the prince was considering joining The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. He pointed down at it. “Look at this.”

Janessa took the time to read the article before looking up at him. “It will all die down,” she assured him. “You’ve said before that the press has the attention span of a two-year-old. Within a couple weeks, the idea of you going to church with me will be old news.”

“You’re probably right.” Garrett let out a sigh. “I guess as long as I don’t do anything to draw attention to the fact that I’m already a member, the attention will fade.”

She shifted to face him more fully. “What are you going to do when you’re asked to serve in a calling?”

Garrett’s eyebrows drew together. “I don’t know. I hadn’t really thought about it.”

Janessa hesitated a moment as though gathering her courage. “It was hard for me yesterday to watch my niece being blessed and know that even if you could have been in the circle, you might have chosen not to because of what others might think.”

Garrett didn’t deny the truth of her statement. Hadn’t he considered himself lucky that the choice hadn’t been his to make? “It won’t always be like this.”

“When is it going to change? Garrett, how long is it going to take before you’re comfortable with people knowing you’re LDS?” Janessa pushed off the swing and walked across the porch. She turned back to face him, crossing her arms as she leaned back against the railing. “Are you planning on sneaking into the temple on our wedding day? What about when we have children? Are you going to be afraid to bless them in front of the congregation?”

“It wouldn’t be like that,” Garrett said gently. “I don’t know if we can keep it to ourselves until we get married, but I would like to try. It’s safer for both of us.”

“People will know you’re LDS the minute you walk into the temple.”

“The Mormons will know, but most people in Meridia don’t understand what is required to enter the temple,” Garrett told her. “We’ll make it work.”

Janessa was silent for a moment. Then she took a deep breath, and her eyes met his. “The CIA knows you were baptized.”

“
What?
” Garrett’s eyes widened. “How did they find out?”

“Someone at your baptism was an employee at the embassy and mentioned it. Director Palmer believes the information is still contained, but the fact remains that at some point the news is bound to get out.”

Garrett dragged a hand through his dark hair. “I can’t believe this.”

Janessa let out a sigh. “Assuming by some miracle we’re able to get sealed in the temple without the press getting wind of your religion, then what?”

“We’ll have to issue a formal press release eventually, but I know my family is hoping we can put it off until after we get back from our honeymoon.” Garrett closed the distance between them. “Whenever we release the information, we’re just going to have to pray for the best. Hopefully the public will come to accept the fact that you are Mormon during our engagement, and it won’t be such a difficult transition to know that I am no longer a member of the Meridian Church.”

“I didn’t expect this to all be so complicated.” She stared out at the fields in the distance before turning her attention back to him. “Every time I think I finally understand what it’s like to be royal, I realize how wrong I am.”

“What do you mean?”

“Up until a few months ago, the public didn’t have any idea who I was, didn’t care to know. Now I’m faced with the fact that personal decisions we make can impact people we’ve never even met.”

Garrett shifted. “I know this is an adjustment, but you need to trust that I’ve prayed about this and that I’m trying my best to do what feels right. Please don’t make this any harder than it already is.”

“I’m not trying to make any of this more difficult for you, but you have to understand that I don’t want the kind of happily ever after that people read about in storybooks. I want the one that ends with a happy, eternal marriage.”

He took her hand and nodded. “Believe me. That’s what I want too.”

* * *

Alora stepped into the outer office and tried to focus on the work to be done rather than on the man beside her. She looked up, appreciating the ten-foot ceilings and open space. A single antique desk was the only furniture left in the room. Whatever chair might have once accompanied it was missing, but the polished honey oak would be easy enough to match.

Prince Stefano led the way into the inner office, where a workman was patching some holes in the wall by the window, presumably from where shutters had once been. The man fumbled with the small plastic tub of spackling when he saw Prince Stefano. He bowed and then quickly gathered his supplies.

“I’m all done in here, Your Highness.” He snapped the lid onto the spackling bucket and motioned to the smears of white against the dark green paint. “It should be dry within three hours.”

“Thank you.” The prince nodded his approval as the workman placed his tools into a box and left the room. His eyebrows drew together as he focused on a side wall where another thick patch of spackling was visible. Based on the size of it, Alora guessed that someone had knocked a hole in the wall that had needed to be repaired.

“Is something wrong?”

“I just don’t remember there being a hole in the wall there.” He shook his head. “It was probably from one of the workmen who was taking out the shutters.” He turned and picked up a stack of papers off an ugly mahogany desk. “This is the list Martino put together for you of approved contractors and suppliers. If there is anything you need beyond what is here, give him a call, and I’m sure he can offer you some guidance.”

“Are you sure your brother doesn’t want Janessa to have a say in the decorating of her own office?”

“He said he wanted it to be a surprise. I think he’s trying to prove that he’s capable of surprising her twice in one week.”

Humor lit her eyes. “In that case, I’d better see how soon we can get painters in here.”

“Remember that you are representing the royal house of Meridia now. You should expect your wishes to be met without resistance,” Prince Stefano told her before stepping toward the door. “I have a few things I need to see to this morning, but I should be able to come back in about an hour to help. If you run into any problems, let me know. I’ll be across the hall in my office.”

“Thank you.” Alora nodded. “I’ll see what I can get done before my children wear Brenna out.”

“I wouldn’t worry too much about that. If they’re anything like my brother and me, they’ll spend half the day playing on the beach and the other half tracking sand through the gardens while they play hide and seek,” he said knowingly. “Besides, I heard Patrice talking about making cookies today. The promise of a treat should make them easy enough to handle.”

“It sounds like you understand children better than you admit.”

The light in his eyes dimmed, and his voice became stiff. “I don’t know about that, but I do remember my own childhood well enough.” He stepped toward the door. “I’ll see you back here in about an hour.”

Alora nodded and watched him leave, wondering what she could have said to cause his mood to shift so suddenly.

Chapter 17

Stefano’s cell phone rang as he entered his office. He answered it to find his father on the other end. “I didn’t expect to hear from you until this afternoon.”

“I wanted to let you know I received the final accident report this morning,” King Eduard began. “The police found no evidence of foul play.”

“You don’t sound convinced.”

“I’m not. I am adding an additional guard to everyone in the family for the time being, but I think it’s time we try to return to our normal schedules.”

“When did you want me to come back to the palace?”

“There isn’t anything pressing here that can’t wait a few weeks,” Eduard told him. “I did, however, want to see if you would still be able to attend the opening for the new exhibit at the museum in Bellamo tonight. After the problems at the gallery last month, I think it is important that we have a representative there.”