"I hope I'm not tardy," Antoinette said by way of an apology. "I found myself stopping every few minutes to admire the artworks on the walls. You have a lovely home."
Queen Sofia gave her a pleased smile as she held out both hands. "Welcome to it." She squeezed Antoinette's hands before letting go. "And I was early. I always enjoy a pre-dinner drink before I eat. I hope you'll join me."
"Of course. I will have what you're having."
The woman nodded towards the hovering maid.
"Sit, please. I hope you had time to take a nap. I know the journey had to be taxing."
Antoinette selected a silk-covered, curved-back chair and sighed as it enveloped her frame. She had decided on black dress pants and a champagne-colored cashmere sweater and left her hair loose.
"I enjoyed the trip, especially when I landed. This place was well named. Thanks." She accepted the glass of wine from the maid and took a sip.
Queen Sofia laughed softly as the young woman's eyes widened in pleasure.
"What do you think?"
"It's..." Antoinette took another sip and savored the taste on her tongue. "It's like sipping liquid gold. It tastes wonderful. Not too sweet and certainly not dry. Just perfect."
"Perez Sunset." The queen took a sip of her own and nodded. "And you should be the one writing the ad for this vintage. It's something new. We've been fine-tuning it for several years now and we feel it's just right."
"It certainly is," Antoinette agreed, taking another sip.
"I heard you had an altercation with my son."
Antoinette jolted, wondering if this was where she was going to be told that her services were no longer needed. But instead of censure, there was an amused expression on the woman's face.
"I'm afraid so." She set the wine aside and stared at the woman squarely. "I suppose we got on the wrong side of each other."
"He wants me to fire you."
Antoinette's eyes flashed. "I see. And will you?"
The woman laughed softly, eyes glimmering with mirth. "I told him no and he slammed out of my room with fire in his eyes. My son is entitled." She sipped her wine musingly. "He's also well known for his mild behavior. Nothing much nettles him, except you, something I find very interesting."
"I get the feeling he does not think very highly of Americans," Antoinette said dryly.
"He doesn't."
"Which leaves me to wonder why I was hired."
"Your qualifications were excellent and I don't happen to share his opinion regarding your country. I told him I will have to form my own opinion of you." Sofia eyed the young woman thoughtfully and realized the photo did not do her justice. She had a flawless cocoa brown complexion and an exotic-looking face, with all that gleaming hair tumbling down her back. And she wore her clothes well, for someone her size.
"So, I'm still hired?"
"You most certainly are."
"I can always apologize--"
"Please don't," Sofia said quickly. "I think it's time my son learns that he can't get everything he wants. Shall we move towards the table?"
*****
"You're not in the best of moods," Gabriella pouted as he continued to sip his wine and stare over the hilly terrain in silence.
Stirring himself, Prince Tomas offered a forced smile and tried to dispel the gloom that had settled inside his chest since he met that woman this afternoon. The argument with his mother had only made things decidedly worse. He was not good company, but he was bloody well not going to go home and chance running into either of them. His mother had betrayed him, and he would not soon forgive her for it.
"I have a lot of things on my mind."
