job.
He wanted to confide in her, to share his beliefs, and to take another step toward what was developing between them. He also knew it was essential that Janessa be given every opportunity to do her job to protect those dear to him. Something squeezed at his heart as concern for his family outweighed all else. With a great deal of effort, he nodded, opened the door for her, and said nothing.
Chapter 12
Queen Marta tapped a perfectly manicured nail on her antique desk and made the final adjustments to the seating chart for the upcoming dinner. What had begun as a quiet family affair had expanded to include several members of the ruling council and their wives.
Only the members of the royal family knew who Janessa Rogers really was, with the exception of Martino, the chateau manager who had been assigned to assist her, and Enrico, the chateau driver. Marta had hoped for a quiet dinner and a chance to assess the woman who would be coordinating so many details for the gala. Now she would have to wait until morning to meet with Janessa privately.
Marta reached for one of the magazines her assistant had given her. On the cover, her youngest son was kissing Janessa Rogers. A sigh escaped her. She wasn’t sure she wanted her son to voluntarily put his private life—however fictitious—so firmly in the public light.
Of everyone in her family, Garrett was the one who was the least comfortable in front of the press. He had been trained to handle the reporters and photographers, but he always looked forward to getting out of the spotlight. Marta understood how he felt. She could remember a time when she too had shied away from the cameras, especially during the early days of her courtship with Eduard.
As the daughter of a Meridian councilman, Marta had grown up around cameras, but they had rarely been aimed at her. But when the press learned that her childhood friendship with Eduard had bloomed into a full-blown romance, they had been relentless. She had just turned twenty-one when her photograph began appearing regularly with Eduard’s.
Eduard had been protective of her when dealing with the press in those early days, but he didn’t quite understand Garrett’s discomfort in front of the media. Though Marta was annoyed that Eduard had put his current plans in motion before consulting with her, she understood
his reasons. After nearly thirty-five years of marriage, she knew her husband was just protecting what was his. She also understood that Eduard needed Garrett to start acting more like an active member of the royal family.
He had been gone too long, first at sea and then at law school. The year he had spent at home before leaving for school had been much too brief and felt so long ago. He had always been restless, even as a child. She had hoped he would find what he was looking for in the Navy, but while four years in the service had helped him transition from boy to man, he still hadn’t found his peace.
For a while, she thought that he had found contentment while at law school, but something had been troubling him since he had returned home, something she had yet to identify.
Perhaps once they moved past this current crisis, she would finally have some time to spend with both of her sons.
* * *
Janessa fiddled with the ring on her finger, still adjusting to the new weight there. She hated to admit it, but she loved how the diamond sparkled in the sunlight, even if the engagement itself was a sham. During the two-hour ride from the chateau, she and Garrett had hardly spoken a word except for a brief conversation about the upgraded security at the chateau. Their relationship had once again taken on a professional air.
Janessa could only assume that the brief interest he had shown in her had been extinguished by her revelation that their religious differences were an impassable roadblock. She convinced herself she was relieved that the spark of attraction between them was little more than an obstacle to overcome
He wanted to confide in her, to share his beliefs, and to take another step toward what was developing between them. He also knew it was essential that Janessa be given every opportunity to do her job to protect those dear to him. Something squeezed at his heart as concern for his family outweighed all else. With a great deal of effort, he nodded, opened the door for her, and said nothing.
Chapter 12
Queen Marta tapped a perfectly manicured nail on her antique desk and made the final adjustments to the seating chart for the upcoming dinner. What had begun as a quiet family affair had expanded to include several members of the ruling council and their wives.
Only the members of the royal family knew who Janessa Rogers really was, with the exception of Martino, the chateau manager who had been assigned to assist her, and Enrico, the chateau driver. Marta had hoped for a quiet dinner and a chance to assess the woman who would be coordinating so many details for the gala. Now she would have to wait until morning to meet with Janessa privately.
Marta reached for one of the magazines her assistant had given her. On the cover, her youngest son was kissing Janessa Rogers. A sigh escaped her. She wasn’t sure she wanted her son to voluntarily put his private life—however fictitious—so firmly in the public light.
Of everyone in her family, Garrett was the one who was the least comfortable in front of the press. He had been trained to handle the reporters and photographers, but he always looked forward to getting out of the spotlight. Marta understood how he felt. She could remember a time when she too had shied away from the cameras, especially during the early days of her courtship with Eduard.
As the daughter of a Meridian councilman, Marta had grown up around cameras, but they had rarely been aimed at her. But when the press learned that her childhood friendship with Eduard had bloomed into a full-blown romance, they had been relentless. She had just turned twenty-one when her photograph began appearing regularly with Eduard’s.
Eduard had been protective of her when dealing with the press in those early days, but he didn’t quite understand Garrett’s discomfort in front of the media. Though Marta was annoyed that Eduard had put his current plans in motion before consulting with her, she understood
his reasons. After nearly thirty-five years of marriage, she knew her husband was just protecting what was his. She also understood that Eduard needed Garrett to start acting more like an active member of the royal family.
He had been gone too long, first at sea and then at law school. The year he had spent at home before leaving for school had been much too brief and felt so long ago. He had always been restless, even as a child. She had hoped he would find what he was looking for in the Navy, but while four years in the service had helped him transition from boy to man, he still hadn’t found his peace.
For a while, she thought that he had found contentment while at law school, but something had been troubling him since he had returned home, something she had yet to identify.
Perhaps once they moved past this current crisis, she would finally have some time to spend with both of her sons.
* * *
Janessa fiddled with the ring on her finger, still adjusting to the new weight there. She hated to admit it, but she loved how the diamond sparkled in the sunlight, even if the engagement itself was a sham. During the two-hour ride from the chateau, she and Garrett had hardly spoken a word except for a brief conversation about the upgraded security at the chateau. Their relationship had once again taken on a professional air.
Janessa could only assume that the brief interest he had shown in her had been extinguished by her revelation that their religious differences were an impassable roadblock. She convinced herself she was relieved that the spark of attraction between them was little more than an obstacle to overcome
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