Royal Secrets (3 page)

“Have I told you lately how much I love you?” Garrett asked with a grin. “You may have just saved my sanity.”

“Oh really?”

“You could invite a toad to move in with us, and I would be thrilled, as long as it keeps Philippe out of our house. Besides, you don’t have to ask my permission to have a friend stay at the chateau. It’s your home too. She’s welcome to come and stay as long as you like,” Garrett told her. “We both know you need an assistant. You only have to tell Martino that she’s your choice to have her put on the payroll.”

“And we all know she’ll be worth every penny if she helps keep Philippe and Elaina from trying to move in,” Stefano added.

Garrett nodded. “Exactly.”

“Looks like they’re headed this way.” Stefano gave a subtle nod toward the bride and groom.

“Janessa, I’ve been hoping to talk to you.” Elaina leaned forward and kissed the air beside her cheek.

“You look lovely.” Janessa motioned to Elaina’s gown.

“I’m sure you will make an adequate bride when your time comes,” Philippe said as though he had rehearsed the words, his voice carrying a combination of arrogance and disdain.

Janessa gave Garrett’s hand a squeeze. “I was just talking to Garrett about plans for our wedding.”

“Really?” Elaina’s eyebrows lifted slightly. “Have you set a date?”

“Not yet, but I just returned from Italy yesterday. The friend I was visiting has agreed to act as my personal assistant. She will be moving into the chateau until after Garrett and I are married.”

“Oh.” Elaina’s Cupid’s bow mouth formed a perfect
O
. “Garrett and I were actually discussing the possibility of Philippe and me moving into the chateau.”

“Elaina, that is so kind of you to offer to sacrifice like that for us, but I couldn’t possibly let you do that,” Janessa said smoothly. “After all, you and Philippe have a life to start together, and you certainly don’t want to do that in someone else’s home.”

Before Elaina could respond, Garrett spoke. “Janessa, we really need to get going. Both of us have to be up early tomorrow.”

“You’re right.” Janessa nodded and then looked over at Elaina and Philippe. “Congratulations again on your marriage. I wish you both every happiness.”

“
Grazie
,” Philippe said stiffly.

Stefano banked down on his instant irritation with his cousin and wondered again how he and Philippe could be from the same family. With considerable effort, Stefano managed to smile at Philippe and Elaina as he exchanged his good-byes. Then he motioned to one of his guards and let himself be escorted to the door.

Chapter 3

Stefano urged his horse up the path, the sound of crashing waves growing stronger, the scent of the sea carrying on the wind. The palace was behind him now, barely visible through the thick foliage that covered the steep hills leading up to his home.

“Steady, Midnight,” he murmured to the black stallion beneath him as they slowed to a walk. They moved out into the grassy field near the ruins of the castle that had once housed Stefano’s ancestors. He didn’t know why he always felt drawn to this place: it could be that the last man to rule from the ancient castle was also named Stefano or that the ruins served as a reminder of his duty as the future king to protect the citizens of Meridia.

Only one wall of the castle was still intact, a remnant of an earlier time, a time when warring religions had nearly torn his country apart. He thought of his own brother’s fight for religious freedom, Garrett’s conversion to the LDS Church still weighing heavily on his mind. His family hadn’t attended church regularly in years, but he had never considered the possibility of any of them turning their backs on the religion that had been a constant in his family for centuries.

In medieval times, his family had appointed the archbishop, and the monarchy had been actively involved in nearly every aspect of the church. Those close ties had loosened through the generations, the most recent adjustments coming several years before his father took the throne.

Although the changes only occurred twenty years ago, the reasons behind them had already been reduced to a combination of facts and legend. According to the family stories, a falling out had occurred between Stefano’s grandfather, King Alejandro, and the presiding archbishop at the time. Frustrated that several clergy members in the Meridian Church were trying to influence state policy, King Alejandro had insisted that all state and church operations be separated. In an effort to make the transition run smoothly, he also created a liaison position between the royal family and the church.

Since Stefano’s father, Eduard, was already actively involved in the politics of Meridia, King Alejandro had appointed his youngest son, Elam, to serve as the liaison. Stefano couldn’t be sure if Elam had ever been anything more than a figurehead, but regardless, the public perception was that the Meridian Church was still very much integrated in state affairs.

Stefano turned his horse toward the cliffs on the west side of the ruins, dismounting when he reached the spot where the grass gave way to rock. The salt-scented wind whipped through his dark hair as the waves of the Mediterranean crashed beneath him. Stefano looked out over the water, his eyes lingering on the dark rain clouds in the distance. A storm was coming, but it wasn’t the rain he feared. Rather, he worried about the political tempest most surely brewing on the horizon.

The ruling council could be fickle at times, and the presence of U.S. naval vessels in Meridian waters had already caused some ripples of dissent among them. Didn’t they see that his father was taking this country into a new era while still preserving centuries of tradition? The exploration of oil in the mountains had given Meridia’s citizens a new industry without impeding the stunning coastlines that had made the country a popular tourist spot for Europeans for decades.

His parents had used much of their increased wealth from their oil profits to invest in both the country’s infrastructure and local businesses and the arts, yet the villages that dotted the countryside continued to maintain their culture and charm. Traditions ran deep in Meridia, and change was rarely easy.

Glancing back at the ruins behind him, Stefano couldn’t help but worry about what would happen when his brother’s baptism into the LDS Church came to light. Only a handful of people knew of his brother’s conversion, all of them Mormons except for his immediate family. He was amazed that these relative strangers were protecting his brother’s privacy so fiercely. Stefano wished he trusted his extended family as much as he had come to trust Garrett’s newfound Mormon friends. Unfortunately, he knew his Uncle Elam and Aunt Victoria to be narrow-minded in most things. Their only child, Philippe, was simply self-absorbed.

Stefano imagined that, given the opportunity, his cousin and his new bride would be more than happy to see Garrett banished from the royal family so they could step in and take his place. It wouldn’t happen, of course, but Stefano’s distrust of his extended family was cause for concern. The news was bound to become public eventually, and the family needed to be unified to keep Garrett’s religion from becoming a spark for political unrest.

Midnight shied back from the edge, and Stefano patted his neck, murmuring soft reassurances. He swung himself back into the saddle and wondered what the future would hold for this little piece of earth his family had ruled for centuries.

* * *

King Eduard settled back on the couch beside his wife as their sons and Janessa walked into their sitting room. He motioned for them to sit and then addressed his future daughter-in-law in his native Italian. “I know you prefer not to work on Sundays, but I felt it prudent for all of us to meet before you and Garrett return to the chateau tomorrow.”

Janessa’s eyes lit with humor as she sat on the loveseat across from him. “Believe me, I am not a stranger to having family meetings on Sundays.”

“Is everything okay?” Garrett asked.

“I’m not sure.” Eduard lifted a file from the table beside him. “I was looking over our monthly financial reports earlier this week, and I’m concerned that there may be some unexplained irregularities.”

“What kind of irregularities?” Stefano asked.

“The first thing that caught my attention was the expense report for the gala.” Eduard passed copies of the report to everyone. “Look at the amount listed under security for the event.”

Garrett’s eyebrows lifted. “Two hundred thousand euros?”

“That can’t be right.” Stefano shook his head. “The basic security staff is funded through the regular household budget at the chateau, and most of the other security personnel were on loan from the U.S. government. Any reimbursement we sent would have posted as a foreign funds transfer.”

“Exactly.” Eduard nodded. “So where did this charge come from? I estimate our share of traditional costs would have been less than twenty thousand.”

“Could it be a posting error?” Janessa asked. “One extra zero and you would go from twenty thousand to two hundred thousand.”

“That’s what I first thought had happened, but then I started looking at some of our other accounts. A similar problem occurred for the Christmas party at the winter villa last year.”

“How much was it over?”

“I would estimate about forty thousand, although some of the other expenses looked high as well,” Eduard told them. “My concern isn’t only about the possibility that someone is skimming funds from our accounts but also that our quarterly audits have not revealed any problems.”

“Is it possible that the auditors are involved?”

“I don’t know. We’ve been using the same company for more than a decade. Either they’re involved or someone has faked the documentation adequately enough that the auditors missed the discrepancies,” Eduard explained. “Had I not personally approved the budget for security for both of these events, I never would have noticed the irregularities.”

“It sounds like we may need to bring in another auditing firm,” Stefano said.

Eduard shook his head. “If we bring in new auditors now, we may never find out who’s behind this. If it’s someone within the family, I want proof before I make any accusations.”

Garrett’s eyes widened. “You think it might be Uncle Elam or Aunt Victoria?”

“Or Philippe.” Eduard nodded, his expression solemn. “I hope that isn’t the case, but the fact remains that all of them at one time or another have had access to family funds. They have also been living beyond their means for some time. I was asked several times to help with the cost of Philippe’s wedding. While we did make a modest contribution, I don’t see how they were able to afford it without some help.”

“Did the audit reports for the Meridian Church show any problems?” Stefano asked now. “If Uncle Elam is the one skimming funds from the various accounts, it’s possible he’s been dipping into church funds as well.”

“I was wondering the same thing,” Eduard said. “The new reports are due next week. Stefano, you’ve always had a good eye for finances. I hoped you might look them over and let me know if you see anything unusual.”

“Of course, Father.”

“Is there anything I can do to help?” Janessa asked.

“I would like to keep this matter private, but if there is any way you can access your agency’s reports on my family, I would appreciate it.”

“You want me to see if the CIA has been spying on your family?”

“Janessa, I am perfectly aware that all intelligence agencies keep dossiers on the ruling classes of various countries,” Eduard stated in a matter-of-fact tone. “What I want to know is if the CIA has uncovered anything that might explain these anomalies.”

“I will certainly see what I can do.” Janessa started to lean back in her seat, but then awareness lit her eyes. “There is one more thing I might be able to offer.”

“What’s that?”

“My friend Alora has agreed to move to Bellamo. I asked her to assist me in my wedding plans and serve as my assistant.”

“Yes, you mentioned that last night,” Stefano commented.

“I think I also mentioned that she worked in accounting before her husband died,” Janessa reminded him. “She might be a valuable resource if you decide you want someone to look into the financial reports without conducting a formal audit.”

Eduard considered this newest information and gave a noncommittal nod. “We’ll certainly keep that in mind.”

Beside him, Marta laid a hand on his arm. “Now, if we have this business taken care of, can I interest all of you in some lunch? After spending last night socializing, I would love nothing better than to enjoy some time alone with my family.”

Eduard took his wife’s hand in his and brought it to his lips. “I think that is one request we are all happy to grant.”

Chapter 4

Janessa entered the kitchen in the chateau, her stomach grumbling as she breathed in the aroma of fresh bread. Her mood instantly brightened when she saw Patrice pulling a batch of fresh croissants out of the oven. Janessa spoke in French, Patrice’s native language, and smiled at the older woman. “
Bonjour
.”

“Giannessa.” Patrice’s smile was instant. “I didn’t know you were back from Italy.”

“Garrett and I came home late last night.”

Patrice’s eyebrows lifted. “Did you go to Philippe’s wedding on Saturday?”

“I did.” The corners of Janessa’s lips lifted slightly. “In fact, Elaina approached Garrett at the reception about moving in here until after our wedding.”

“What?” Patrice’s face showed alarm. “You aren’t going to let those people live here, are you?”

Janessa laughed and shook her head. “No. Garrett wasn’t any more excited about the idea than you are.”

“Thank goodness.” Patrice let out a sigh of relief as she transferred the fresh croissants into a basket. “I don’t think I could keep up with them, especially while Enrico is still recovering.”

“How is your husband doing?” Janessa asked. Enrico typically served as the driver for the chateau, but a serious injury had kept him from his duties the past several weeks.

“Better, but the doctor said it will be a few more weeks before he can return to work.”