“And in those two years, you’ve proven yourself to be very useful.” He rose now and retrieved the envelope on his desk. “You brought this to me, I assume?”

“I did.” She swirled her brandy. “Though I found the method with which it was delivered irksome.”

“My apologies. This information is interesting, Lady Hannah, but I fear, incomplete.”

She crossed her legs and relaxed back in the chair. “A woman who writes everything she knows on paper loses her value quickly. What isn’t there, is in here.” She laid a finger against her temple.

“I see.” He admired an employee who knew her own worth, and guarded it. “If we say I’m interested in the security systems of the Royal Palace, the Fine Arts Center, the museum, for the purpose of emulating such systems for my own use, you would be able to fill in the blanks?”

“Of course.”

“And if I asked how you came by such information?”

“This was the purpose of my visit to Cordina.”

“One of them.” Intrigued, he tapped the envelope on his palm. “It was fortunate that you were able to become close to Princess Eve.”

“Fortunate, but not difficult. She was lonely for female companionship. I’m accommodating. I fuss over her daughter, listen to her fears and complaints. By easing some of her workload, I also earn the gratitude of Prince Alexander. He worries that his wife will tire herself while carrying his child.”

“And you are trusted?”

“Implicitly. And why not?” she added. “My family is well respected, my breeding without mark. Prince Armand sees me as a young cousin of his dead wife. Your pardon, monsieur, but aren’t these the reasons you enlisted me to find a place at the palace?”

“Yes, they are.” He sat back. She pleased him, but he was a long way from giving her his full confidence. “I have word that the young prince is interested in you.”

Something inside her froze at that. “Your network of information is admirable.” Hannah glanced at her empty snifter, then tilted it in question. Deboque rose immediately to refill her glass. It was just enough time to regain her composure.

“Bennett is, as I’m sure you’re aware, invariably interested in the female closest at hand.” She gave a low laugh and tried not to hate herself. “He’s really only a boy, and spoiled at that. I’ve found the simplest way to handle him is to act disinterested.”

Deboque nodded slowly. “Then he pursues.”

“Such men are always more—accommodating under those circumstances.”

“I beg your pardon if I seem to be getting too personal, my dear, but how accommodating?”