Page 66 of Trapped with the Undercover Prince

“Zar, you don’t know each other,” his mother said, and for the first time, he heard a tentative tone in her voice.

“I know enough to know that if I let her get away, I’ll be the stupidest man alive.”

“We have to keep you alive long enough to convince her to say yes when you really do ask her to marry you,” Estelle said. “How are we going to catch the terrorists?”

“We don’t have to catch the terrorists,” Zar said. “The person we have to catch is the one close enough to me to leak my schedule and plant explosives in restricted areas concerned with transportation.”

“You have a plan?” Brigette asked.

He gave his family a toothy grin. “I have a plan. But it’s not without danger.”

***

Anna followed Gabbyto the wing of the castle that had the royal family’s personal suites. The queen mother had a suite that looked out into a beautiful garden that had as many trees and shrubs as it did flowers.

Zar’s grandmother gestured at the loveseat next to her. With so much greenery outside the bay window behind and around her, she almost felt like she was outside.

“Your sitting room is beautiful,” Anna said after letting out a deep breath.

“Thank you. I have always loved this room with its view of the garden.”

“I’m sorry, Grandmother, Anna,” Gabby said. “I have to meet with some people about dress shopping.”

“That’s fine, dear,” the older lady said, tilting her face to ask for a kiss on her cheek. Gabby grinned and kissed her grandmother before stepping out of the room and closing the door behind herself.

“Tea?” the queen mother asked.

“Please. And after the day I’ve had, with cream and sugar, too.”

The older lady poured the tea, Anna added the cream and sugar, then took a sip. “Lovely,” she said.

“You look a little peaked, dear. Have a sandwich and tell me about your day.”

Anna ended up eating four of the cute little sandwiches that had cucumbers and tomatoes and a sauce that brought back her childhood. She told the other woman about the mistaken proposal pictures and how she was having a difficult time dealing with so many people watching her when she was with Zar.

“It’s difficult to be a public figure,” Zar’s grandmother said. “So many responsibilities, demands on your time, and the often unrealistic expectations of other people.” She sipped her tea. “But, one does get used to it.”

There wasn’t time for her to get used to it. She’d be leaving in just a few days.

“Did you find any information on your family?”

“No, the name my grandmother gave me wasn’t in any records.” She relayed the librarian’s theory about the name change being deliberate, to protect her family. “That just means I’ll never know the truth about my grandmother. She sent me here. Why would she give me a false name?”

“What name did she use?” Zar’s grandmother asked.

“Cosette Schwitz.”

“Cosette Schwitz?” the old lady asked slowly, her eyes widening. She stared at Anna, searching her face for something.

One trembling hand came up to cup one side of Anna’s face. “Oh dear.” A tear rolled down her cheek.

“What’s wrong?” Anna asked.

“Nothing,” the queen mother said, pulling out a handkerchief and wiping her face with it. She gave Anna a watery smile. “I’d like to show you something.” She found her cane and used it to get to her feet.

Anna stood and offered the older lady her arm. “Where are we going?”

“Not far.” Zar’s grandmother kept on smiling.

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