the sitting room.
“I hope you find your accommodations acceptable,” Garrett said as he moved into the room and closed the door to ensure some privacy.
“I was just admiring the view. It’s spectacular,” Janessa replied. She wondered if he had chosen to speak in English out of habit or if he had forgotten she spoke Italian.
Garrett motioned for her to sit down, settling himself in a chair once she was seated. “My father asked me to thank you for agreeing to assist my country during this difficult time.”
“It’s my pleasure,” she responded, somewhat surprised by the formality of his tone.
“Now that you are here and I don’t have to worry about anyone eavesdropping on our conversation, can you tell me a little about what you do for your government?” He shifted in his chair. “The information my father gave me was rather vague.”
Janessa smiled. “I’m not even sure I know what I do for my government.”
Garrett’s eyebrows rose. “I thought you were some sort of security officer.”
“Officially, I’m a linguistic specialist.” Janessa shrugged. “Unofficially, I use my knowledge of languages to gather information.”
“You’re a spy?” Garrett laughed.
“Not exactly.” Janessa replied, not at all offended by the prince’s reaction. “When I was working as a linguist for the State Department in Madrid, I happened to overhear an important conversation. A few weeks later the Central Intelligence Agency recruited me.”
“Forgive my laughter, but I find it hard to picture you as an intelligence officer.”
“Which is exactly why I’m good at my job,” Janessa stated confidently.
“I hope so, for all of our sakes.” Garrett stood now. “I’ll let you get settled in. Dinner is at seven.”
“Oh, I almost forgot.” Janessa stood as Garrett started toward the door. She moved into the bedroom for a moment and returned carrying both boxes of doughnuts. Holding them out, she smiled. “Enjoy.”
Surprise followed by humor lit his eyes. Then he grinned, and the formal air melted away. “I didn’t think you would actually bring them.”
“Then why did you ask?” Janessa laughed, for the first time feeling like she was talking to the same man who had called her on the phone. “One dozen for you, and another dozen to share.”
Garrett was still grinning when she shifted the boxes into his arms. “Did you want one?” he asked.
She shook her head and patted her stomach. “I’d better not.” She lowered her voice as though sharing a secret. “There were three boxes when I got on the plane.”
Garrett’s laughter rang out. “I’ll see you tonight.”
Janessa’s smile stayed in place as she watched him leave the room. Then she turned from the door and focused on the pressing matter of what to wear.
Chapter 7
Janessa studied the other guests while listening halfheartedly to the woman standing next to her in the parlor. The excitement level in the room was high, as this was the first official function at the chateau for several months.
Uniformed waiters moved through the room carrying trays of hors d’oeuvres and glasses of champagne. Every lesson in protocol and etiquette ran through Janessa’s mind as she accepted a miniature quiche and declined the champagne. She tried to convince herself that she belonged here amid the wealth and glamour, but she couldn’t help feeling a little out of her league. Still, she hoped that the last few years of pretending to be something she wasn’t would help her appear comfortable in this formal setting.
Across the room, Prince Garrett stood near the terrace doors greeting several of his guests. Laughter rang out as a young woman moved closer to Garrett, laid a hand on his arm, and held on.
Three women clustered behind her spoke of the latest tabloid article about Prince Garrett. Though Janessa had never read more than an occasional headline, she was well aware of Garrett’s many exploits during his naval career. Of course,
“I hope you find your accommodations acceptable,” Garrett said as he moved into the room and closed the door to ensure some privacy.
“I was just admiring the view. It’s spectacular,” Janessa replied. She wondered if he had chosen to speak in English out of habit or if he had forgotten she spoke Italian.
Garrett motioned for her to sit down, settling himself in a chair once she was seated. “My father asked me to thank you for agreeing to assist my country during this difficult time.”
“It’s my pleasure,” she responded, somewhat surprised by the formality of his tone.
“Now that you are here and I don’t have to worry about anyone eavesdropping on our conversation, can you tell me a little about what you do for your government?” He shifted in his chair. “The information my father gave me was rather vague.”
Janessa smiled. “I’m not even sure I know what I do for my government.”
Garrett’s eyebrows rose. “I thought you were some sort of security officer.”
“Officially, I’m a linguistic specialist.” Janessa shrugged. “Unofficially, I use my knowledge of languages to gather information.”
“You’re a spy?” Garrett laughed.
“Not exactly.” Janessa replied, not at all offended by the prince’s reaction. “When I was working as a linguist for the State Department in Madrid, I happened to overhear an important conversation. A few weeks later the Central Intelligence Agency recruited me.”
“Forgive my laughter, but I find it hard to picture you as an intelligence officer.”
“Which is exactly why I’m good at my job,” Janessa stated confidently.
“I hope so, for all of our sakes.” Garrett stood now. “I’ll let you get settled in. Dinner is at seven.”
“Oh, I almost forgot.” Janessa stood as Garrett started toward the door. She moved into the bedroom for a moment and returned carrying both boxes of doughnuts. Holding them out, she smiled. “Enjoy.”
Surprise followed by humor lit his eyes. Then he grinned, and the formal air melted away. “I didn’t think you would actually bring them.”
“Then why did you ask?” Janessa laughed, for the first time feeling like she was talking to the same man who had called her on the phone. “One dozen for you, and another dozen to share.”
Garrett was still grinning when she shifted the boxes into his arms. “Did you want one?” he asked.
She shook her head and patted her stomach. “I’d better not.” She lowered her voice as though sharing a secret. “There were three boxes when I got on the plane.”
Garrett’s laughter rang out. “I’ll see you tonight.”
Janessa’s smile stayed in place as she watched him leave the room. Then she turned from the door and focused on the pressing matter of what to wear.
Chapter 7
Janessa studied the other guests while listening halfheartedly to the woman standing next to her in the parlor. The excitement level in the room was high, as this was the first official function at the chateau for several months.
Uniformed waiters moved through the room carrying trays of hors d’oeuvres and glasses of champagne. Every lesson in protocol and etiquette ran through Janessa’s mind as she accepted a miniature quiche and declined the champagne. She tried to convince herself that she belonged here amid the wealth and glamour, but she couldn’t help feeling a little out of her league. Still, she hoped that the last few years of pretending to be something she wasn’t would help her appear comfortable in this formal setting.
Across the room, Prince Garrett stood near the terrace doors greeting several of his guests. Laughter rang out as a young woman moved closer to Garrett, laid a hand on his arm, and held on.
Three women clustered behind her spoke of the latest tabloid article about Prince Garrett. Though Janessa had never read more than an occasional headline, she was well aware of Garrett’s many exploits during his naval career. Of course,
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