Free Royal Secrets by Traci Hunter Abramson

resignation. “Yes, Mama.”
    Moving much more slowly, they turned to head back the way they had come just as a delicately built woman hurried around the corner. Stefano’s first impression was that this could not be the mother of two children.
    She pushed her dark hair behind her shoulders, her attention so focused on the boys that she didn’t notice Stefano standing in the doorway.
    She gripped each of the boys by the arm as she squatted in front of them so she could look them in the eye. “Didn’t I tell you two not to run off?”
    “Sorry, Mama. We just wanted to look around.”
    “I know, but for now, we need to go find out where we’re staying, and I’ll need your help while I unload.” She started to usher the boys back to the front of the house. Then she noticed Stefano and froze. “I . . . I’m so sorry. I didn’t see you standing there.”
    Stefano stepped forward, oddly amused to see the blush creeping into the woman’s cheeks, her dark eyes cautious. “You must be Alora.”
    She nodded, her blush deepening as she dipped into a curtsy. “I’m sorry if my children disturbed you. I went to knock on the front door, and when I turned around, they were gone.”
    Stefano looked down at the two boys, who were studying him openly. “Looking to explore the place, are you?”
    Both boys looked up with wide eyes and nodded, all their mother’s instructions on protocol forgotten.
    The older one stared for a moment and then asked, “Are you a prince?”
    Stefano’s lips curved up. “As a matter of fact, I am.” Stefano ignored the twinge of pain in his ribs as he reached out and shook the little boy’s hand. “Prince Stefano Fortier, at your service.”
    Both boys giggled.
    “And you are?”
    “I’m Giancarlo, and this is my little brother, Dante.”
    “It’s a pleasure to make your acquaintance,” Stefano told him and then shook hands with Dante in turn. He straightened and noticed the chateau manager standing in the open doorway behind him. “Martino, our guests have arrived.”
    The dark-haired older man stepped outside onto the terrace, carrying with him an air of formality. “Welcome, signora. If you would like to come with me, I will show you your quarters.”
    “Thank you.” Alora motioned to the boys. Then she bowed slightly to Stefano. “It was a pleasure meeting you, Your Highness.”
    “The pleasure was all mine,” Stefano said, his heart lifting fractionally as he watched both boys bound up the steps toward the door.
    Alora stepped back awkwardly and then, with a glance over her shoulder, followed her children inside.
    * * *
    Garrett climbed out of the limousine that had picked them up from the airport, gravel crunching under his shoes and the sweet aromas of hay and apple pie scenting the air. As Janessa stepped beside him, he turned to look at the fields spreading out from the large white farmhouse in front of them.
    A new pickup truck and an old tractor were parked next to the faded red barn across the yard. A large silo cast its shadow over what appeared to be some kind of shed beside it. Several horses grazed in a nearby field behind split-rail fences; rows of corn dominated the fields to the west.
    Janessa slipped her hand into his, giving encouragement as well, he was sure, as receiving it. He still couldn’t believe what she had told him on the plane. For the past three years, she had been lying to the people closest to her about her profession.
    He supposed he should have expected it. After all, he’d seen enough spy movies over the years to know that protecting one’s cover was paramount for an undercover operative. He just never considered that Janessa would follow that example.
    Now he was beginning to understand the source of Janessa’s nervousness. Over the past few months, her photograph had been splashed all over newspapers and magazines around the world as her name had been linked to his. For media purposes, they’d announced they had been dating for two