not signing anything,” Benjamin said. “You’re in my house and you’re wasting my employee’s time and mine, too.”
Mr. Shaw looked nervous and perplexed. “Then I must beg of you to keep what we are about to tell you in the strictest confidence.”
Benjamin lifted one shoulder in halfhearted agreement. “Still waiting.”
Mr. Forno waved his hand. “Allow me to introduce ourselves, Mr. Garner. I am Paul Forno and this is my associate, Gerald Shaw, with the House of Devereaux. Perhaps we should sit down.”
Impatience simmering from Benjamin, he sat down. The others followed.
“As I said, we are representatives of the House of Devereaux,” the man began.
“What is that?” Benjamin asked.
Mr. Shaw blinked. “The royal House of Devereaux. The ruling family of the country of Chantaine.”
“Never heard of it,” Benjamin said.
Mr. Forno looked at Coco and she shrugged. “Sorry. Neither have I.”
“Oh, my,” Mr. Forno said. “Chantaine is a small, but beautiful island country off the coast of Italy. The Devereau family has ruled the country for centuries.”
“And what does this have to do with Coco?”
Mr. Forno sighed. “Your birth mother was Ava London. She had a long-term relationship with Prince Edward of Chantaine and you are—” He cleared his throat. “A product of that relationship.”
Coco frowned, blinking at the man’s announcement. Her birth mother? Her birth father? After all these years, she would learn who they were? She shook her head in amazement. “Are you saying that Ava London and Prince Edward are my biological parents?”
“Yes, they are,” he said.
She was so stunned she couldn’t comprehend it all. “My father is a prince?”
“Yes, he was,” Mr. Forno said.
“Was?” she echoed, her heart racing. “Oh, my goodness! Is he alive? Is my birth mother alive?”
“Unfortunately, no. His Royal Highness passed away several years ago, and his son, Stefan, has since ascended the throne. Your birth mother passed away just over a week ago,” he said.
“Oh,” she said, feeling a surge of sadness. Since her mother had died, she had felt so terribly alone. She’d had no close relatives, no siblings.
“What does this mean for Miss Jordan?” Benjamin asked.
“Well, the House of Devereaux wishes to extend an invitation for you to visit the country of Chantaine and also to meet the Devereau family,” he said brightly.
“Visit Chantaine? But how?” Coco asked.
“The usual way these days,” Mr. Forno said, continuing to smile. “A transatlantic flight.”
Her mind whirling, she looked at Benjamin and she immediately knew she couldn’t go. He was counting on her. Emma was counting on her. She shook her head. “Oh, I couldn’t. I’ve just started working here and Emma needs me. Thank you for the invitation, though,” she said.
The men looked surprised. “You’re turning down the invitation to meet the Devereaux.”
“It’s not a good time for me or my employer,” she said, glancing at Benjamin, who was wearing an expression of shock.
“Are you sure about this?” he asked.
“Of course I’m sure. I’ve made a commitment. I have every intention of keeping it,” she said and stood. All three men were gaping at her as if she’d grown an extra head. Her mind was racing. She finally knew who her biological parents were. She also knew they hadn’t wanted her. She had a brother, a prince, who probably wasn’t thrilled with her existence. “Are there other Devereaux? Do I—” She stopped at the insane thought. They weren’t her full brothers and sisters, yet she couldn’t tamp down her curiosity. “Did Prince Edward have other children?”
“Yes, he did,” Mr. Shaw said. “There’s Prince Stefan, Princesses Valentina, Fredericka, Bridget, Phillipa and Prince Jacques.”
Mr. Forno and Mr. Shaw exchanged a look. “Prince Edward also fathered another child with your birth mother. A son.”
“Another,” she said, disbelief racing through her. “My, he was quite the busy one, wasn’t he?”
Mr. Shaw cleared his throat, but didn’t respond.
Benjamin gave a low laugh. “I have to agree.”
His chuckle distracted her from her own state of shock for just a few seconds. “Now, let me get this right. You’re telling me that my birth father has six—no, wait, seven—other children. And one of these is my full biological brother. I have a real brother? Where is he?” she wanted to know. “Who is he?”
“He’s currently in Australia. An engineer. He’s been quite difficult to reach,” Mr. Shaw said. “We aren’t at liberty to give any more information about him. However, the news could break at any moment.”
“News?” Benjamin repeated. “I thought you said this was a confidential matter.”
“It is, but we fear the news of Prince Edward’s newly discovered children could be leaked to the press any day,” Mr. Shaw said.
“That’s why you’ve been so determined to get to Coco,” Benjamin said. “Why you’ve invited her to Chantaine. Control Coco and you can control the spin.”
“It’s quite understandable that the Devereaux would like to have an opportunity to meet with Miss Jordan,” Mr. Shaw said in a snippy voice.
“Hmm. Well, this is a lot for Miss Jordan to take in, so I’m sure you don’t mind giving her some time to process it.”
“Of course,” Mr. Shaw said. “If she would just sign a release stating she won’t discuss the matter with the press—”
“She’s not signing anything without an attorney looking at it,” Benjamin said.
“Sir, it’s in her best interest not to discuss this publicly. Once the story breaks, she’ll be flooded with requests from the paparazzi. Signing this document will provide her with an easy excuse to avoid interviews.”
“She won’t need an excuse,” Benjamin said and rose to his feet. “Now, as long as she has your contact information, I think we’re done for the day.”
Both men appeared disappointed. “Call us if you change your mind about the release or visiting Chantaine,” Mr. Forno said to Coco.
Her mind was reeling with all the information, and Benjamin was right. It was going to take some time for her to digest it. “I don’t think I’ll be changing my mind, but I have your phone number,” she said and watched as the two men walked out the front door.
She
