Royal Secrets (26 page)

Before Eduard could respond, his office phone rang. As Eduard reached for the phone, Stefano’s cell phone also began to ring. Stefano glanced at the caller ID to see that it was Garrett calling. With a nod to his father, he stepped out into the hall to take the call. “Hello?”

“Janessa just called. There’s been a bombing at the naval base.” Tension vibrated through the phone. “The security building was leveled.”

His breath came out in a
whoosh
, and his chest tightened as he forced himself to ask, “Alora and the children. Were they still there?”

Garrett’s voice was suddenly unsteady. “I thought they were at the chateau.”

“I’ll call you back.” Stefano hung up abruptly and immediately dialed Alora’s number. The phone rang a half dozen times before going to the generic voicemail account. He hung up and hit the redial button. Seconds stretched out, and Stefano found himself praying to whatever god would listen that Alora and her children were unharmed.

Again, no one answered the phone. His hand trembled as he ended the call, and he had to force himself to draw a breath. He started down the hallway toward the closest stairwell. His idea to drive to Bellamo was quickly pushed aside. Instead, he fumbled with his phone and headed for the helicopter pad.

He was halfway down the stairs when his phone rang again. He looked at the caller ID, hoping to see Alora’s number. It was Garrett’s. “Any news?”

“They’re okay.”

Stefano’s grip tightened on the banister. “You’re sure?”

“Yes. I just talked to Enrico. They left for Calene before the bombs went off. They’ll be at the palace within the hour.”

“Thank God.”

“I already have.”

Chapter 33

Her breath caught when the palace came into view. The structure dominated the high cliffs that overlooked the village, the Mediterranean glistening below. White stone gleamed beneath the evening sun, turrets, towers and battlements spearing into the sky. Alora pointed out the window. “Boys, look.”

Giancarlo leaned toward the window, and his eyes widened. “Wow!”

“It’s a real castle.” Dante shifted closer. “Can we go there?”

Alora smiled. “That’s where we’re staying tonight. The palace is where Prince Stefano lives.”

“I thought he lived with us,” Dante said.

Alora felt his confusion and disappointment. “I think he lives here at the palace most of the time. He was only at the chateau so his arm could get better.”

Dante’s lower lip poked out. “But I want him to stay with us.”

“I know, sweetheart.” Alora ran a hand over his dark hair. “Don’t be sad. Hopefully you’ll see him in a few minutes.”

Instantly his mood brightened. “Really?”

“He might be in meetings,” she warned him and hesitated a minute before offering a promise she knew wasn’t hers to make. “But I’m sure Prince Stefano will visit with you for a few minutes.”

“I hope he’s not in meetings,” Giancarlo offered. “Meetings are boring.”

“They certainly can be,” Alora agreed. “Now, do you both remember how to act when you meet new people?”

“Yes, Mama,” both boys answered.

“Good.” She looked back out the window as they began their winding climb through thick trees and then emerged a few hundred yards from the castle gate.

Armed guards stood at attention. One moved into a guard booth when they approached, and another stepped toward them as the car came to a stop. Alora reached for her purse, fully expecting to need her identification. To her surprise, he only glanced in the backseat before saying something to Enrico. Then, apparently satisfied, he stepped back and motioned for another guard to open the gate.

She didn’t have time to wonder at the lack of a security check. She was too enchanted by the vision in front of her. Three uniformed servants stood at the bottom of the wide marble steps that ascended to massive wooden doors. Towers speared to various heights, giving the palace a mystical look. Two guards held position on either side of the entrance, and more guards were visible at the far corners of the building, as though poised for an attack.

The moment the car pulled to a stop, a servant opened the car door for them. Taking a deep breath, Alora stepped out and motioned for her children to follow. She slipped the strap of her briefcase over her shoulder and grabbed her sons by the hand to prevent them from running off the way they had when they’d first arrived at the chateau.

Two of the servants moved to the back of the car to collect luggage, and the one who had opened the car door for her motioned to the front door. “This way, signora.”

Her heartbeat pounded in anticipation. She tried to convince herself that it was because she was nervous about meeting the king and queen, but in the back of her mind, the thought took seed that she was more excited about seeing Stefano.

She felt the history exuding from the walls the moment she stepped inside the massive front hall. An impressive chandelier hung above them, but her eyes were drawn to a marble statue of two doves perched atop a birdcage situated to her left. A suit of armor was displayed at the hallway opening. A wide archway to her right revealed an enormous room, a second archway running through the center. The subtle scent of lemon and fresh flowers hung in the air.

“You must be Alora,” a woman’s voice called out.

Alora turned to see an elegant, dark-haired woman approach through the doorway to her left. She was dressed in trim beige slacks and a cream-colored blouse, and Alora caught the subtle appraisal as she approached. It wasn’t until the woman smiled and her eyes warmed that Alora saw the resemblance to Stefano and realized she was the queen.

“Yes, Your Majesty.” Alora curtsied, shifting her attention briefly to make sure her sons bowed as they had been instructed.

“And who might these two young men be?”

“These are my sons, Giancarlo and Dante.”

“I am delighted to meet you,” Queen Marta said kindly. “I imagine you are both hungry after such a long trip.”

Both boys nodded but didn’t speak.

“Eduard and Stefano have a dinner appointment, but I thought perhaps you would like to join me for dinner on the terrace.”

Alora recognized the queen’s tone, the same tone she had heard often when Stefano asked a question disguised as a command.

“It would be our honor to dine with you.”

“Excellent.” The queen turned her attention to the servant who had shown them inside. “Miguel, please let the kitchen know our guests have arrived and we are ready to eat.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

Marta motioned for them to follow her into the enormous room to their left. “This is our main salon, where we do most of our entertaining.”

Alora’s eyes were drawn to the ornate ceiling twenty feet above her head. A look of amazement lit her face when she looked back at the queen. “It’s incredible.”

“I’ve always loved this room. It gives me a feeling of permanence, maybe because it has changed so little over the centuries.” She motioned to the wall of windows interspersed with three sets of French doors that lined the far wall. “The terrace is right over here.”

Alora released Giancarlo’s hand when they reached the door, and he moved to open one of the doors for them.

The queen’s face lit up with a smile. “Why, thank you.”

“You’re welcome,” Giancarlo said, turning to give his mother a satisfied smile as the queen continued forward.

Alora and the boys followed the queen outside onto the stone terrace. The view captured her attention immediately. From high on the cliffs, she could see the rambling village on the hillside below, red-tiled roofs contrasting against the greenery of the native foliage. The evening sun shimmered off the Mediterranean, catching on the waves and the cliffs below.

“What a perfect view.” Alora stared for a moment until Dante started tugging her toward the table set up a few yards away. She glanced at the queen to see her smiling at her.

“I’ve always thought so myself.” She settled onto a cushioned seat and motioned for Alora and the boys to join her. “Now tell me, boys, how do you like living at the chateau?”

The simple question was all it took. Dante immediately launched into stories of his favorite horse to ride, and Giancarlo proudly informed the queen that he could now swim all the way across the pool by himself. As Alora watched Marta interact with her sons as if they were members of her own family, once again the reality crashed over her that her children would never know what it was like to have grandparents of their own.

* * *

Marta walked toward her husband’s office, considering what she had discovered over the course of the evening. Her curiosity had been piqued after learning that Stefano had escorted Alora to several events over the past few weeks. The photographs that had appeared after their visit to the museum exhibit together had provided little information other than the fact that she was attractive and poised even though she didn’t appear terribly comfortable in front of the camera.

At dinner, Marta had discovered Alora to be polite and engaging. She also noted how skilled she was in sidestepping topics she didn’t want to address. Her children were surprisingly well mannered for their ages, although Marta hadn’t missed the gleam in their eyes when they had walked by the pool. Undoubtedly, they could be a handful if they wanted to be, especially the younger one.

Stefano’s decision to have Alora hand-deliver the financial reports made her wonder if perhaps her son had developed more than a working relationship with the young widow. She knocked twice on her husband’s office door and then pushed it open without waiting for a response. As expected, her husband and their older son were deep in discussion.

“Are you two about done with this for the night?” Marta asked as both men stood when she entered. “I thought now might be a good time to meet with Alora about her financial analysis.”

“They’re here?” Stefano asked, relief tinting his voice.

Marta nodded, her suspicions heightened. “If you can find a stopping place, I can have Miguel send for Alora.”

Stefano shook his head and spoke hastily. “I can go get her.” He looked over at his father. “That is, if you don’t mind taking a short break. I’d like to say good night to the boys before they go to bed.”

“Go ahead.” Eduard nodded. “We can finish this in the morning, and I’m anxious to hear what this Alora has found that everyone else seems to have missed.”

The moment Stefano left them alone, Eduard looked at Marta, his eyebrows furrowed. “What was that all about?”

“I think our son is smitten with Janessa’s new assistant.”

Eduard shook his head. “He probably just wants to see for himself that she’s okay.”

“Why wouldn’t she be?”

“Two bombs went off today in Bellamo, one of them at the naval base and another at a remote cabin. Nine people were killed and thirty-four more were hospitalized.”

“That’s awful.” She moved closer to lay a hand on his arm. “Do you know who did it?”

“Not yet.” Eduard shook his head. “I hope I didn’t make a mistake by allowing the United States access to our waters.”

“You can’t let an isolated incident undermine your decisions.”

“I hope it was an isolated incident.” Eduard shook his head. “I feel like every time we turn around, everything is falling apart.”

“Hold on a little longer. We’ll make it through this just like everything else we’ve faced.”

He reached out and pulled her close. Marta linked her arms around his neck and prayed that their country would be able to weather this latest storm.

Chapter 34

Stefano knocked on the door to Alora’s guest quarters. He could hear muffled voices followed by rapid footsteps. Then the door flew open, and Dante launched himself into Stefano’s arms.

“You’re here!”

Relief shot through Stefano. He drew Dante close and breathed in the lingering scent of chlorine and kid shampoo. “I am here.” He caught a glimpse of Alora out of the corner of his eye, and his heartbeat quickened, but he kept his focus on Dante. “Are you being good for your mama?”

“Uh huh.” Dante nodded rapidly. “We got to ride in a mimosine.”

“A limousine,” Stefano corrected him gently as Giancarlo reached for his free arm and pulled him into the room.

“Mama let me bring my Legos with me. Do you want to come play?”

Stefano lowered Dante back down to the floor before speaking to Giancarlo. “I would love to play, but I’m afraid your mama and I have some work to do.”

“Oh, okay. Maybe you can play tomorrow.”

“We’ll see,” Stefano agreed, wishing his life could be so simple again. He looked up to see Alora staring at him with a carefully guarded expression. He fought the urge to cross to her and gather her close. “Are you ready to meet with us?”

“Yes.” Alora picked her briefcase up off a chair and turned to Brenna, who was sitting on the couch. “Brenna, I’m not sure how long this will take. Could you please make sure the kids are in bed by eight if I’m not back by then?”

“Yes, signora.”

“Thank you.” Alora reached out and gave Dante a hug and then kissed Giancarlo’s forehead. “You boys be good for Brenna.”

After exchanging good-byes with the boys, Stefano escorted Alora into the hall. He reached for her arm and felt her stiffen. Though he ached to draw her close, he forced himself to remain as he was. Her expression wasn’t readable, and he couldn’t tell if she had stiffened because she didn’t want to be near him or because she did. The silence between them grew heavier as he guided her down the hall. Stefano stopped a few yards from his father’s office and turned to face her. “Is something wrong?”

She shook her head, but her eyes didn’t meet his. “No, nothing.”

“Alora . . .” Stefano stared at her until reluctantly she looked up at him. “What’s wrong?”

“Why should anything be wrong?” Alora asked. She waved a hand to encompass the palace, and her shoulders lifted. “I’m staying in a beautiful palace. My children got to ride in a limousine today and then have dinner with the queen of Meridia. Everything is great.”

“And?”

“You didn’t say good-bye.” She blurted out the words and then paled as though she didn’t mean to say them. She drew a breath, and when she spoke again her voice was calm, edging toward professional. “I thought we were . . . friends. I didn’t appreciate finding out secondhand that you had decided to leave the chateau.”