Marcello & Grace (Royals of Valleria #2)

by Knightly, Marianne

  “Naturally,” Joseph said. “However, were you and Valleria to agree to help us, what would you require for a successful mission?”

  “Danica arranges the meeting,” Marcello said and saw her brow quirk in surprise. “Danica and Joseph would attend the meeting, while Gregory sent another in his place.”

  “Now, just wait a minute,” Gregory spluttered, sending bits of spit and coffee flying. As people glanced in their direction, Marcello simply held up a finger and he quieted.

  “I’ll see to the arrangements,” Marcello said. “And I’ll be bringing my own people as security, no exceptions.”

  “Is that all?” Gregory sneered.

  “No,” Marcello said in the same even tone he had used through the whole conversation. “Valleria gets the credit for any agreements brokered between the parties.”

  “Our people will never agree to that,” Joseph said.

  “Then neither will mine,” Marcello quipped.

  “Why can’t I go along?” Gregory asked again. “It’s simply preposterous not to let me.”

  “We’ll move faster if you don’t come along,” Marcello said. He hated to point out the obvious, but he’d had no choice.

  “What the hell does that mean?” Gregory said a little too loudly and faces in the lobby turned towards them once more.

  “It might behoove you to lower your voice,” Marcello said calmly. “It also might behoove you to think about where we would be going, should this meeting take place and should Valleria decide to assist you.”

  “What do you mean?” Joseph asked, his brows furrowed.

  “Vlad would never welcome the meeting with open arms. He’d never agree to hold the meeting at a neutral location, so it would be in Gardar Rus. Not only that, he will likely insist we meet in some remote location, not easily accessible by plane, and likely not even accessible by car. If you’re prepared to hike some miles through likely dense forests, you are more than welcome to come along.”

  Gregory adjusted the silk tie of this very expensive suit. Though the man’s health and girth would pose problems, it was the fact that Gregory hated getting his hands dirty that applied here. He always sent minions to do his bidding, unless the meeting was high-level enough, as this conference was.

  “Fine,” Gregory said as he stood and made his way around the coffee table in front of them, his girth jiggling as he did so. He pulled his pants up again and said, “Give him what he wants so we can get on with it. If we want to meet with Gardar Rus’s representative at the conference to arrange this, we will have to move quickly.” Then he turned and walked away with a scoff.

  “Cheerful fellow, isn’t he?” Joseph said to no one in particular. Then, to Marcello, he said, “I’ll need to vet the deal internally. I cannot guarantee that it will be approved as is.”

  “Nor can I,” Danica chimed in.

  Marcello merely shrugged. “Nor can I. If you’ll recall, I do answer to a king.”

  Joseph and Danica nodded. “Are you attending the conference the full week or are you leaving early?” Joseph asked.

  Unbidden, the image of Grace he had seen in a photograph with Catharine came to his mind. Her fair hair and easy smile seemed like a breath of fresh air, something he desperately needed after the stifling confines of the conference and the potential for a dangerous mission ahead.

  “No,” Marcello finally said. “I’ll only be here for one more day. If you come to a decision by tomorrow evening, then fine. If not, we’ll speak when you do. I would only add that Valleria’s services, if agreed to by the king, are only available for a limited time.”

  With that, he rose and walked away, this time down a hallway and through a side door where he left the hotel entirely. The room he had booked upstairs was all for show. Over the years, he had learned not to stay at the same hotel where an intelligence and security conference was being held, not unless he could learn to sleep with one eye open.

  Chapter 4

  Once late afternoon hit, Grace situated herself in the parlor downstairs, nearest the front door. After taking some tea, which did not calm her nerves as she had hoped it would, she began to lightly pace the room in anticipation. Catharine would be arriving soon, as long as the darkening clouds held back their downpour.

  After another turn about the room, Grace stopped at a mirror situated happily on one wall; the mirror was a recent addition as well. She fluffed her hair, which hung in long, soft waves down her back. Daniel had never liked her to have very long hair. In fact, he had often cut it off himself when he was in a rage. So now, she was keeping it long and lovely.

  Her outfit, a fitted knee-length dress the color of spring grass with matching shoes and a white sweater, was a color Daniel had also not approved of. As Grace turned this way and that in the mirror, she decided that she rather liked the color. Quite a lot, in fact.

  No one would ever guess the scars that lay hidden beneath the bright color. Ever since one of Daniel’s rages almost two years ago, she had never been able to wear anything completely sleeveless or shorter than her knees. Swimsuits and swimming were completely out of the question.

  After assuring herself for the fiftieth time that she looked presentable - Daniel had never let her leave the house until he had approved her day’s ensemble - she began to lightly pace again. When Grace felt a chill run through her, she rubbed her arms through the light sweater she wore. Though it was only September and summer had barely ended, fall was settling in quickly with the rains so she’d had a fire lit in the grate. Bright orange and red flames danced against the canvas of the room.

  She moved to stand near the fire, where hot flames flickered against her legs and body, providing needed warmth. She could feel one of her depressing moods threatening to take over. They came and went often enough, too often, really. She would pep herself up, become confident and active, and then just as easily, if she sat still too long, it would come creeping back.

  Well, she would not let herself be depressed this week. Catharine was coming, she reminded herself. It wouldn’t do to be depressed around royalty, though hopefully Cat would attribute it to the loss of a spouse and not anything else.

  Cat knew nothing of the horrors in Grace’s marriage, and Grace did not intend for her to find out.

  A flash of lights against the window let Grace know that a car had pulled up in front of the house. The butler answered the door and Grace saw a whirl of colour running inside just as the clouds released a torrent of rain. Cat looked around for a moment before catching Grace’s eye and a huge smile broke out across Cat’s face.

  Cat squealed and ran towards Grace, who was also smiling. As Grace’s grin widened, her face stretched at the movement that had come so rarely in recent years. Within moments, the pair were in each other’s arms and it was as though the years apart had passed by in only a moment.

  “Come in, come in,” Grace said to Cat as she led her into the room. Grace saw the butler and driver bring in the last of Cat’s luggage; both were now drenched from head to toe. “Both of you, please take some time and get yourselves warm. I wouldn’t want you to catch a chill.”

  “Yes, Miss Grace,” the capable butler said, his silver streaked hair now soggy and limp. “Shall we bring in some fresh tea for you and the Princess?”

  “Please ask one of the other kitchen staff to bring it up, so you both can rest.”

  “Yes, Miss Grace,” the man said with a smile, and led the driver through the house.

  When Grace reentered the parlor, she saw Cat huddled in a plush chair near the fire. “Are you too cold? Shall I get a blanket or some brandy?”

  “Oh, no, I’m perfectly fine. My body has simply forgotten how much it dislikes the cold and rain. Valleria’s still quite warm this time of year.”

  Grace laughed as she took the seat across from Cat; it felt so good to laugh. “Well, you’ll only have to put up with it for a week.”

  Cat took Grace’s hands. “I know. I wish I could stay longer.”

  “
Please don’t give it a second thought. I’m thrilled you were able to come at all. If things had been different, well, I might have made it over to see you instead, as I should have.”

  “None of that,” Cat said, giving their joined hands a squeeze.

  “I agree. Let’s focus on the future, not the past.”

  “A fine idea. A finer one is this tea. I’m aching for a cup,” Cat said as a servant brought in a tray.

  “Dinner should be ready in about an hour or so. If you’d rather take the tray up with you and rest before dinner, I can arrange it.”

  “No, no. I’ve only been in the car most of the day.”

  “And visiting with the royal family, I might add. How was it? How are they? I’ve never met any of them.”

  Cat sighed. “You know, when you’re royalty, you feel a sort of kinship with other royals because there are so few other people in the world who understand what you go through on a daily basis. We’ve always gotten along very well with your British royals, and the baby is just a doll. She’ll be as lovely as her mother, I think, when she’s older.”

  “I saw some snippets of your meeting with them on the news. I noticed your future sister-in-law also came with you and Alex this time.”

  “Oh, yes,” Cat said with a smile. “She’s great, isn’t she?”

  “She certainly seems so, but you would know better than me.”

  “I can’t wait for their wedding. It will be so much fun. You’re invited, of course.”

  “Oh,” Grace said, clearly surprised. She never expected an invitation to such an exclusive event. “Thank you. I feel very honored to be invited.”

  “Don’t be so formal,” Cat said lightly.

  “I’m English. I can’t help it.”

  Cat laughed. “Oh, I’d forgotten how much I missed you.”

  “So did I.” And wasn’t that the truth? “It’s too bad I won’t be able to see more of you or your family on this visit.”

  “Oh, my,” Cat said as she slapped a hand to her forehead. “I nearly forgot. One of my other brothers, Marcello, may be coming by.”

  “Oh?” Grace said, her voice rising an octave.

  “Yes, he actually flew over with us to attend a security conference. He messaged me on my way here that he’d like to come over tomorrow evening, if you don’t mind.”

  How do you turn down royalty? You just don’t. “Of course I don’t mind. I’ve more than enough room for all of you. Is there anything particular I should prepare for him, or be aware of?”

  “Oh, no. Marcello’s not fussy. Are you sure you’re all right having him over? You look a little worried.”

  It was actually nerves. Though Grace had met some of Cat’s sisters when they had studied together at university, she had not met any of her brothers. More than that, Grace was nervous about having a man in the house she did not know. “I don’t mind it all,” Grace reassured Cat. “I’ve just never had two members of the royal family in my house before, not even from my own country much less another’s.”

  “Don’t worry so much about it. We’re fairly normal, boring people once you look past the titles.”

  Grace chuckled. “If our time at school is any indication, ‘boring’ is not a term I would normally associate with you.”

  Cat playfully swatted Grace’s arm. “You are bound by the secrecy of friendship, Lady Grace Raynott-Nithercott, and I would ask that you remember that when my brother arrives. It’s hard enough hiding things from the man who’s in charge of the country’s security and my own. I certainly don’t need a little brother who knows all my secrets, too.”

  Grace stomach flipped at the sound of her name and title. For some reason, in that one moment, the past came rushing back. Feigning a need for another cup of tea, Grace stood on wobbly legs and walked over to the table where the tray sat and fussed with the sugar and cream.

  “You don’t have to worry about me,” Grace said, pleased that her voice was smooth and clear, even if her feelings weren’t. “I won’t say a word.”

  “Good,” Cat said as she stood up. “You know, I think I will go freshen up before dinner. Which way to the rooms?”

  “I’ll show you myself,” Grace said. “They’re just up one floor, but the corridors can be quite confusing.”

  “You forget I live in what may be the most confusing royal palace of all time.”

  Grace smiled, and her face smoothed into the gesture a little more easily this time. They chatted amiably on their way up the sturdy, centuries old steps, and down the wide halls. Cat admired the views and the furnishings as they made their way.

  “It sounds as though you’ve been doing quite a lot of renovation,” Cat said.

  “Yes,” Grace said, and prepared herself for the lie she had designed before Cat arrived. “In fact, my own rooms are undergoing change as well, so I’ve been staying in one of the guest rooms. I hope you don’t mind having a neighbor.”

  “Not at all,” Cat said as she linked her arm through Grace’s. Cat’s warm, familiar touch felt comforting. “We’ll end up having just that much more fun.”

  “I’m glad you see it that way. Well, here it is,” Grace said and opened the door. Cat stepped inside and began heralding the beauty of the room.

  “I’m so glad you like it,” Grace said, her hands clasped together in front of her. “My room is actually just through there. There’s a shared sitting room, and my door’s just on the other end.”

  “What fun we’ll ha-ha-have,” Cat said just as she sneezed. And sneezed again, and again, until Grace grabbed some tissues from a nearby dispenser and handed them to Cat.

  “Oh, thank you,” Cat said with a slightly stuffy nose. “I don’t know what’s come over me,” she said and sneezed twice more.

  “Are you allergic to something in the room?” Grace asked as her eyes, now worried, scoured the room for possibilities.

  “I don’t think so,” Cat said as she, too, surveyed the room. A moment later, with wide eyes, Cat asked, “What cleaning products did you use while cleaning the rooms?”

  “I’m not sure, but I’ll check,” she said as she rang the bell for the maid. “Are you allergic to anything in particular?”

  “Ammonia.”

  Just then, one of the maids, Jenny, assigned to Cat’s room arrived and dropped into a curtsy. “Good evening, Your Highness, Miss Grace. Is everything to your liking?”

  “Jenny,” Grace started. “The Princess seems to be allergic to ammonia. Do you know if her room, or any of the others were cleaned with products containing it?”

  Jenny gasped. “Yes, Miss Grace, they were. We ran out of the usual cleaners and had to substitute something for the Princess's room, but they only contain trace amounts of ammonia.”

  “Were any other rooms cleaned with the same products?”

  “Yes, Miss Grace,” Jenny said. “The guest rooms were. Well, all except for the Orange Room, which they’ve just finished redecorating at the other end of the hall.”

  Daniel had beaten her once in the Orange Room, something that Cat need never know. “Quickly prepare the Orange Room for the Princess, and don't be afraid to ask the other maids for help if you need it,” Grace said to Jenny who curtsied to Cat and scurried away. “I’m so sorry about this, Cat. I just didn’t recall your allergy.”

  “Don’t worry about it,” Cat said. “It wasn’t nearly this bad back in school. Besides, it has been over ten years since we’ve seen each other. I’m only sorry that I’ve inconvenienced all of your plans and arrangements.”

  “Please don’t think anything of it.” Though Grace knew she would think of it, and often. She had been trained to dwell on her mistakes, after all, and such training took time to undo.

  “I do need to freshen up, though.”

  “Do you think you’ll be all right with the bathroom here? Or do you want to try and use mine?”

  Cat sneezed again. “I’ll use yours, if you don’t mind. I shouldn’t be long.”

  “It’s just through
here,” Grace said as she led Cat through the adjoining doors and towards the bathroom.

  “How long have you been living in this room?" Cat asked. "The renovations must be taking quite a while.”

  “Yes,” Grace said with a slight smile. “Don’t these things always end up taking longer than they’re supposed to?”

  “That’s often true,” Cat said, though now her look was speculative rather than indulgent.

  After making sure Cat had everything she needed, Grace exited her bedroom and sagged against the door a little; she had forgotten how much energy it took to pretend everything was okay and speak half-truths all the time. She did not like having to act this way again, and wondered if it was perhaps time she told Cat the truth.