“You know your choices affect everyone in the family, or have you forgotten your duty?”
“I understand my duty perfectly,” Garrett said evenly. “And Janessa’s father understands my need for privacy and the security issues that are at stake.”
Stefano opened his mouth, tempted to confide in his brother that everything had changed for both of them, but the words wouldn’t come. He took a deep breath and said simply, “I hope you know what you’re doing.”
“I do know what I’m doing,” Garrett insisted. “Stop worrying so much.”
“It’s my job to worry.”
“Sometimes you take your job a little too seriously,” Garrett retorted.
Stefano was man enough to recognize the truth in his brother’s statement and proud enough not to acknowledge it. He let out a resigned sigh and changed the subject. “You said you wanted a favor?”
Garrett didn’t respond, and Stefano guessed he too was calming his emotions.
“What is it you need?” Stefano asked, trying to erase the tension in his voice. “I’d welcome a distraction right about now to help ward off the boredom.”
“This will definitely give you a distraction,” Garrett began. “What do you have planned for this evening?”
* * *
Alora held hands with both of her boys as they descended the curving staircase behind Brenna and then crossed through the wide front entryway. Antique furniture dominated everywhere she looked, and already Alora worried that her boys might break something irreplaceable.
The rooms Janessa had given her made her feel like she was living in an alternate universe. Even though she had spent the past several hours unpacking her things, she kept expecting to wake up from this dream. After spending the past two years sleeping on a couch so her children could share the single bedroom in their old apartment, she had been admittedly excited about having privacy again, but nothing could have prepared her for this new reality.
Her bedroom was incredible. Tall windows on one wall offered the same view her children enjoyed of the expansive front lawn. On the adjoining wall, French doors opened to the balcony overlooking the beach. A small sitting area separated the large walk-in closet and the private bathroom, and the sleeping area boasted an oversized, four-poster bed and elegant touches, such as a gilded mirror on the wall and silk flowers on the antique dresser.
She drew in a steadying breath, nerves dancing in her stomach as she considered that perhaps this move had been a mistake. She glanced down at her simple white button-up and pencil skirt and knew she didn’t belong here. Part of her wanted to believe she could live in this fairytale, that she would be able to make a home here for herself and her children. But another part of her dreaded the possibility that the royal family would quickly tire of having two young children running around the grounds.
Alora needed her children to have that, the opportunity to play outside and explore their surroundings. Though her apartment in Italy had been tiny, she had still managed to take the boys to the park several times a week, even though it had required a mile’s walk each way.
She so wanted to encourage their inquisitive natures, yet she also knew they needed to understand that rules and boundaries were necessary in life. Her boys were simply everything to her, and she dreaded the possibility of them creating problems for Janessa. Even worse would be the moment they would have to leave this place to go back to reality.
She had agreed to come here and stay for at least a year until Janessa and Prince Garrett married. After that, Alora could decide if she wanted to continue working as Janessa’s assistant. Even if she decided not to stay in Meridia after Janessa’s wedding, she hoped the prestige of working for Meridia’s royal family would lead to employment that would allow her to support herself and her children. Sometimes she even dared hope that she would be able to buy a little house for them, someplace they could call their own.
Alora’s thoughts were interrupted when Dante tried to pull his hand free from hers as they continued through the parlor and entered the enormous dining hall.
“Wow.” Giancarlo breathed the word with awe.
Alora squeezed both boys’ hands automatically. Three exquisite chandeliers hung from the ceiling over a table that looked like it could easily seat fifty people. The evening sun splashed through tall windows onto the polished wooden floor.
“Please be seated.” Brenna motioned to the near end of the table where four places were set. Alora barely had time to wonder why there was an extra place setting on the table when Brenna added, “Prince Stefano will join you shortly.”
“I’m already here.” Prince Stefano stepped into the doorway, and Alora caught the musky scent of his cologne as she fought to keep her jaw from dropping open. Her heartbeat quickened, and she found herself intimidated all over again. He was dressed in what she would normally consider church attire, but the left sleeve of his jacket hung loosely over his shoulder.
Prince Stefano continued into the dining hall, and Brenna dipped into a curtsy. “I will inform Patrice that you are ready for dinner to be served.”
“Thank you, Brenna.” Prince Stefano reached for a chair next to the one at the head of the table. He pulled it out and motioned for Alora to take her seat. “Please, sit down.”
Bound by protocol she barely understood, Alora let go of her children’s hands and took the seat Prince Stefano held for her. Never had she dreamed that she and her children would be dining with the prince, and she wasn’t quite sure what to do about the fluttering in her stomach. She looked up into his dark, serious eyes and managed a smile. “Thank you.”
She turned to instruct her children to sit down, but they were already scampering into their seats, Dante in the chair beside her and Giancarlo in the seat across from her.
Gingerly, Prince Stefano sat down at the head of the table.
Alora’s eyebrows lifted with concern. “Are you okay? You look like you’re in pain.”
“I’m fine, thank you.” Stefano nodded. “Just some lingering pain from a recent automobile accident.”
She saw it then, a flash of white beneath his jacket that she recognized as a sling. “I’m sorry. I hadn’t heard about that.”
He smiled, and Alora was surprised to see humor light his face. “It’s refreshing to know there are still people in this world who don’t spend their days reading the tabloids.”
Alora smiled despite her nerves. “I’m afraid I’ve never had time for that type of reading.”
“What’s a tabloid?” Giancarlo wanted to know.
“A kind of magazine,” Alora told him, silently praying that her children would behave during dinner. “One that tells stories about famous people.”
“Oh.”
“Giancarlo and Dante, how do you like your new room?”
“Aunt Janessa gave us a new train set!” Dante shifted up onto his knees so he could lean forward on the table. Alora tapped him on the back and motioned for him to sit back down in his seat.
“Did she now?” Prince Stefano nodded thoughtfully. Then he turned to Alora. “That reminds me. I spoke with Janessa earlier this evening. She asked me to convey her regret that she wasn’t here to greet you when you arrived. She and my brother expect to return on Wednesday.”
Alora nodded. “I look forward to seeing her again.”
“Might I be so bold as to ask how you two met?”
“We went to church together when we were all living in Paris,” she told him, censoring her answer out of habit.
“Paris?”
“Yes.” Alora reached out and caught Dante’s glass before it toppled over. “That’s where we lived until a few years ago.”
“Then you speak French?”
She smiled now. “Yes. I served a mission for my church in the South of France before I got married.”
Surprise lit his eyes. “You were a missionary?”
“I was.”
“I’m going to be a missionary too,” Giancarlo announced proudly.
“Me too!” Dante added.
“I see.” Stefano nodded thoughtfully. “Aren’t you two a bit young to be missionaries?”
Giancarlo rolled his eyes. “We aren’t going to go on our missions yet. We have to turn nineteen first.”
“Oh, is that how it works?”
Alora thought she sensed humor in the prince’s tone, but still, she opened her mouth, an apology ready to roll off her tongue. Before she could get any words out, Brenna walked through the door.
“Dinner is served.” Brenna set one plate in front of the prince and another in front of Alora. She looked down at the shrimp pasta dish colored with peppers and mushrooms. Immediately, she turned to see what her sons thought of the unfamiliar cuisine, but to her surprise, their plates were laden with spaghetti and meatballs instead.
When she glanced up at Brenna, she saw her smile of understanding. “Patrice thought your children would be more comfortable with familiar food on their first day here.”
“That was very thoughtful of her. Would you please tell her thank you for me?”
“Of course. Enjoy your dinner.” Brenna stepped back from the table and positioned herself unobtrusively near the door.
“Mama, is it my turn to say the prayer?” Giancarlo asked, his dark eyes lifting to meet hers.
Alora felt her cheeks color as Prince Stefano looked at her inquisitively, his fork already lifted halfway to his mouth. She briefly entertained the idea of skipping the blessing just this once, but she quickly dismissed it as she realized it would be easier to ask the prince to indulge them in their religious traditions rather than try to explain to her sons why it was sometimes easier to break them.
Still feeling terribly awkward, she shifted her gaze from Giancarlo to Prince Stefano. “Would you mind terribly if Giancarlo blesses the food before we eat?”
The prince was silent for a moment, but then he shook his head and lowered his fork to his plate.
Alora offered the prince a timid smile and turned back to her oldest son. “Go ahead, Giancarlo.”
After Giancarlo offered a simple blessing, Alora turned back to look at Prince Stefano. “Thank you.”
Prince Stefano nodded. “Tell me, are your accommodations to your liking?”
“Our rooms are wonderful.” Alora’s eyes lit up. “I have never lived anywhere so grand, and everyone here has been so kind. I feel bad that our early arrival has created a hardship on all of you.”
“It’s not a hardship to have you here.” Prince Stefano offered her a charming smile, but a touch of sadness lit his eyes. “In fact, if anything, having children here has been a breath of fresh air already.”
Alora studied the man beside her, sensing a vulnerability in him she hadn’t expected. “I’m glad you feel that way. And I do appreciate you making us feel so welcome in your home.”
“It has been my pleasure.”
Chapter 12
Stefano stepped out onto his private balcony and stared at the moon’s reflection in the Mediterranean. The pain from his injuries was barely noticeable now that his medication had taken effect. He was pleased that he had already been able to downgrade from the prescription pain killers to the over-the-counter variety. If all went as he hoped, he expected he would be able to start working from the chateau within the week.
For now, he could admit that he needed some time away from his duties and obligations, some time to adjust to his new reality. Staring out at the water, he thought back to his dinner with Janessa’s guests. He hadn’t expected to enjoy himself, especially knowing that he would be spending time with someone else’s children only a day after discovering that he would never have any of his own.
Surprisingly, he found himself amused by the two young boys. He had never considered himself particularly good with children. He had rarely had the opportunity to associate with them, even when he had been one. Now that he had been exposed to their rare innocence and honesty, he found himself looking forward to his next encounter with Giancarlo and Dante.
The corners of his lips lifted into the beginnings of a smile when he remembered the look on Alora’s face when Giancarlo had asked about the blessing on the food. She had been so flustered, yet she had handled herself well. Diplomatically, even. The tradition might not be one he was personally accustomed to, but he had been around Janessa enough that it wasn’t foreign to him either.
The need for religion had never tugged at him the way it had Garrett. He was practiced in the traditions and beliefs of the Meridian Church and well schooled in the beliefs of many other religions. As the future ruler of Meridia, understanding the cultures of his allies and his enemies was often just as important as understanding their politics. Now that he faced such uncertainty in his personal life, Stefano could only ask why any god would want him to suffer this way.
From his first breath, he had been groomed to someday take over as king. He had worked hard throughout his school years and during the time he served in his country’s navy, always working to establish the groundwork for the day that the burden of leadership would become his. Though his responsibilities were many, at the core, he only had two duties to his country. First was to rule justly and serve the people of Meridia. The second was to produce an heir.
In the past, he had never considered failure to be an option in any aspect of his life. Now he was faced with the reality that in this one area he had always taken for granted, success wasn’t possible. Before meeting with Dr. Casale, he had naively assumed that someday he would meet a suitable woman who would be able to share the burden of leadership with him.
He thought of his dinner companions once again. A beautiful woman, two delightful children. Why had he never cared about having such things for himself until now—when he knew it could never be? His heart heavy, he turned from the water and wished for the miracle that would never come.
* * *
Alora guided her children down the hallway that appeared to lead to the kitchen. She hadn’t made it out to the grocery store yesterday, and unfortunately, the boys had already polished off the food Patrice had brought them. She supposed she should have taken a trip into town before dinner, but she and her boys had needed a little downtime after their long drive and the hours of unpacking.
They had taken a walk together yesterday afternoon, and Alora could admit she had delighted in the experience as much as her sons had. The gardens were simply stunning, and the rambling paths through them were a trove of unexplored treasure.
Excitement fluttered in her stomach as Alora thought of dinner last night. The prince hadn’t seemed to mind having her children there, had even made a sincere effort to speak with them. That shared meal had done more than he could possibly realize to help her believe she could stay here indefinitely like Janessa hoped.
Now if she could just find the kitchen, she hoped to fix the boys something for breakfast before heading into town for some basic supplies.
A maid turned the corner and approached them. She smiled down at Giancarlo and Dante before asking Alora, “Are you looking for the kitchen?”
“We are. Are we heading in the right direction?”
She nodded. “It’s the next door down on the right.”
“Thank you.” Alora moved to the door and pushed it open to find a huge kitchen that looked more like it belonged in a restaurant rather than in a home. Patrice was standing at a stove frying bacon, and Alora instinctively grabbed both of her boys by their arms to keep them away from the splattering grease.
Patrice turned and smiled at them. “Buon giorno! Are you ready for some breakfast?”
Both boys nodded eagerly, and Alora shrugged awkwardly. “I was going to go into the store a little later for supplies, but I was hoping to feed the boys first.”
“I’d be happy to show you around town after breakfast,” Patrice offered. “But for now, why don’t you tell me what you would all like to eat. How about waffles and bacon?”
“Anything would be fine. Thank you.”
/> “Okay then. You go right through there into the breakfast room.” Patrice motioned to the door on the far side of the room. “I’ll bring your food in to you in just a minute.”
“Thank you.” Alora followed the boys into the breakfast room, where a dozen chairs surrounded a large, square table. Her eyes widened when she saw Prince Stefano sitting in one of them, trying to butter a croissant one-handed.
He looked up, a brief moment of surprise registering on his face. Alora froze in place, not sure whether to continue to the table as Patrice had instructed or to usher her children back out of the room so they could leave the prince alone. The surprise on his face melted away, replaced by an unexpected look of frustration.
“I don’t suppose I can get you to help me with this? I’m afraid I’m not very good one-handed.” He looked unexpectedly sheepish as he held out the croissant and motioned to the butter dish.
“Of course.” A smile tugged at her mouth as she considered the absurdity of the situation. Here she was about to dine with a prince for the second time in less than a day while others prepared her food and waited on her and her children. Alora motioned for her boys to sit down as she slid into the seat next to Prince Stefano. She took the croissant from him, sliced it in half, and spread butter inside before handing it back. “Here you go.”
“Thank you.” He passed her a basket filled with croissants and offered her a wry grin. “This injury is making me feel like I’m their age again.”
Alora’s smile broke free. “I imagine it isn’t an easy adjustment.”
“A loss of independence is never easy,” he agreed.
Alora buttered another croissant, broke it in half, and handed a piece to each of her boys. She caught the amused look on the prince’s face when both boys set their food down on the table in front of them and folded their arms. A little flustered, Alora instructed Dante to say the blessing. As expected, his prayer was short and sweet, and the boys quickly busied themselves with the food she had given them.
Before serving herself, Alora gathered her courage to ask, “How long do you have to wear the sling?”
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