Page 13 of Revelations of A Secret Princess

CHAPTER THREE

‘NO,NO,EVERYTHING’Sunder control, Mr Maynard. The young lady is excellent with her. It’s good to see your niece smiling.’ Jake heard the relief in Lotte’s voice over the house phone.

Because, with a temporary nanny here, she had time to get on with her own work uninterrupted? No, that wasn’t fair. Lotte had a soft spot for Ariane. He knew she was pleased to see the little girl happy.

As he was. Even if he wished Ariane responded as enthusiastically to him as she did to this stranger she’d only known a few hours.

Catching his thoughts, Jake scowled. He wasn’t jealous. The idea was preposterous. He thanked Lotte and hung up.

‘Dramas?’ Neil looked up from his laptop.

‘Apparently not.’

His secretary nodded. ‘I thought so. I had a hunch about her—’

‘So you said. But you’ll forgive me if I refuse to rely on hunches where Ariane’s concerned.’

Jake wanted solid evidence that the woman would be good for his niece. A couple of hours keeping her content wasn’t enough to tip the scales in her favour. Not against the other applicants.

‘You don’t like her?’

Put that bluntly, Jake felt almost ashamed to realise hewantedCaro Rivage to fail. Because of some inexplicable hunch of his own.

He shook his head. He trusted his instinct. It had saved his life in his long-ago army days. Listening to it had proved invaluable since moving into finance too, where sometimes the truth behind a too attractive investment could have sunk him if he hadn’t raised questions.

‘I’m reserving judgement.’

He told himself it was true. He summed up people quickly, not having time to waste. But with this woman he found himself still guessing. Perhaps his inability to read her made him suspicious?

Usually women were easily read. They liked his money, his power, his body, or perhaps all three.

Jake’s mouth twisted. How had he ever thought Fiona, his last lover, different? Because she’d lasted longer? It wasn’t much of a recommendation. He didn’t miss her and felt a judder of distaste when he thought of her. Her attitude to Ariane had sealed her fate. Now she was back in England with her privileged friends or perhaps cruising the Riviera, searching for his replacement.

Amazing that he’d considered even for a second being with her long term. Her double-barrelled surname and cut-glass accent, her knack of knowing anyone who was anyone at society events, should have pressed every hot button. He despised trust fund hangers on, expecting life to give them what they wanted. But she’d seemed so natural, down to earth and appealing. He’d been blinded by her quick mind, sense of humour and great sex.

Maybe his sister had been right and he’d begun to hanker after more than casual affairs. Fiona had been on the same page with that. She’d had the nerve to talk about Ariane being an unnecessary encumbrance when he, they, started a family.

The Honourable Fiona Petrie-Mathieson was a snob. Instead of helping when he found himself responsible for a grieving child, his lover had focused on the fact Ariane was adopted. She’d called her an anonymous baby, saying she could have been anyone’s. The Honourable Fiona didn’t want to pollute herself with ties to a child who didn’t come from class or money. She’d suggested Ariane would be better with others ofhersort, at an orphanage school Fionahappenedto hear about.

As if Ariane weren’t his sister’s child and his only living family.

‘No need to look so fierce, boss.’ Neil raised his hands in mock surrender.

‘Have I been giving you a tough time?’ Jake leaned back and raised one eyebrow.

His secretary grinned. ‘On a scale of ten? Let me think...’

Jake grunted out a laugh. They’d worked together for years. Neil could take anything he dished out and was no pushover. He also had a quick, analytical brain.

‘Doyoulike her?’

‘I told you she’d be good for the job.’

‘Not what I asked. Do youlikeher? Trust her?’

Neil’s amusement faded. ‘You reallyareconcerned!’ He paused. ‘I’ve barely spoken to her. She seemed...nice. Trying not to show she was nervous while she waited for the interview. But I felt she was genuine, not ignoring me because I’m a lackey nor buttering me up for information about you. And she has a sweet smile.’

Jake shook his head. ‘A sweet smile? Good thing I’m hiring the nanny, not you.’

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