"I still owe your father, but if my men have to risk so much, I want to be sure it's for a good reason." Keith said, and Jovana looked at him with admiration in her eyes.
"You are scarily sharp, Keith. Your tale is accurate in every way. I helped my father work on the original formula, but after he and my mother died. I had no reason or motivation to set foot in the lab again." Jovana said, and Keith nodded, urging her with his eyes to continue.
"But then, six months ago, I started to see in Eli some of the signs of my mother's illness. He is the one I have. I can't lose him, Keith." Jovana said, her voice thick with emotion. Keith nodded. Jovana could tell by his expression that he knew very well how far people go to save the ones they love. She continued, "When I came to you, I was desperate. I tested hundreds of variations on myself, but progress was too slow. That's when I came up with the idea of Serendipity. By adding a touch of glamor and spreading rumors among young nobles."
"You could have as many volunteers as you wanted and money to sustain the whole operation in secret." Keith remarked.
"Exactly. And believe me, I hate the idea of putting your shadows in danger of distributing this stuff, but I have no choice. I can't let my brother die. There is one more thing, Keith. The King put Caspian Clifford on our trail." Jovana said, and the color drained from Keith's face when he heard the name.
"He sent Caspian Clifford himself?" Keith asked in a trembling voice, and when Jovana nodded in silence, he said, "Good Heaven, watch over us all because we'll need all the help we can get."
"And there is more." Jovana said,
"More?!" Keith exclaimed.
"Remember how we spread all those rumors about Falcon Ridley being the creator of the Serendipity?" Jovana said, and Keith nodded.
"Yes, it was the perfect cover." Keith said.
"Well, I don't think he liked the advertising. I think he wants to find out who's behind all of this as well." Jovana revealed, and Keith shook his head.
"The situation is bad, Jovana." Keith mumbled.
"I know. But I've got a plan." Jovana said,
Keith raised his brows, and asked, "A plan?"
"Yes. I had a chance to connect with both Clifford and Ridley during the ball, and I intend to take full advantage of that. I will put myself on the spot and stay in contact with them as much as I can. And get any hint I can get about their moves." Jovana said, revealing her intention.
Keith looked at her, awestruck by her words, "Are you willing to put your honor on the line for this?"
Jovana's eyes blazed with determination as she replied, "I'm ready to put everything in the line if it can help to save my brother, Keith. Besides, there is no need to be so dramatic. I'll just spend some quality time with two gentlemen. No harm can come from that."
The next morning, Jovana and Elijah were having breakfast together. The ball and the sleepless nights were taking a toll on Jovana, but seeing her brother eating with an appetite was comforting. 'He must feel better this morning. I haven't seen him so energetic in a while.' she mused.
Elijah caught her glance and smiled back as he said, "Are you excited about today's event?"
"Today's event?" Jovana repeated, giving her brother a confused look.
"The debutante's picnic in the King's garden. I thought that was where your smile came from." Elijah said, and Jovana laughed nervously. She wasn't aware of that! But there was no way she would tell that to her brother.
"Oh, the picnic. Of course, I'm so excited!" She said, and said in her mind, 'The perfect place to keep an eye on my two targets: the Duke and the scholar. Who would have thought? For once, social obligations come in handy.'
"And, do you have any plans for the picnic?" Elijah asked, pulling her out of her thoughts.
"Well, jumping on the salmon canapés before they're gone sounds like a solid plan." Jovana said with a grin.
Elijah gave her a meaningful look and remarked, "Salmon is not exactly what I had in mind."
"I get it, you're a beef person. But I can assure you that salmon makes for a better experience all around."
Elijah shook his head, "No. What I meant is that usually girls like you run around with a schedule of events. And select those where they can meet the best spouse, but my darling sister seems to be more worried about salmon canapé."
"Oh, that is what you meant," Jovana said, and then shrugged, "Well, you know me. I like to think outside the box."
"That is to say?"
"That I'll marry the guy I will fight against over the last salmon canapé." Jovana joked, and both of them started laughing. She couldn't remember the last time she saw her brother laughing so hard.
"Oh, Jovana. I don't know how in heaven you'll manage to meet the right husband, but he will be a lucky man." Elijah commented, looking at his sister with affection in his eyes.
"Did someone say husband?" Xena said, barging into the room like a whirlwind, spinning an open work umbrella and flaunting her picnic outfit. She posed like a model waiting for judgment. "I need both your opinions. How much would you marry me right now?"
At her question, Elijah almost choked himself with a piece of toasted bread, but he managed to keep his flawless composure, "I really like your umbrella, Xena. Beautiful touch. It's a solid ten out of ten marriage."
Xena blushed, as she averted her eyes from Elijah, and turned to look at Jovana, "And what about my beloved? What in the world are you wearing?" She said, looking at Jovana's faded jeans and blouse.
"My 'Salmon canapé party' outfit?"
"No, dear. That could be your 'I sell salmon for a living' outfit, at best." Xena said,
"But."
"No 'buts.' no protest. No nothing, Jovana. Put down that toast and let's go upstairs. We have a lot of work to do before leaving the house." Xena said, and Jovana sighed as she stood up, and followed after Xena.
At the picnic, planned activities aside, it was very easy for Jovana to find a quiet corner to enjoy a relaxing afternoon. With Xena away, lost in some advanced gossip, and Elijah busy representing the family, Jovana could gracefully lie on a blanket and enjoy the sun.
'After the ball and the night working in the lab, this is exactly what I need.' Jovana mused, as she closed her eyes and relaxed, welcoming the pleasant warmth on her body. Jovana was so tired that she didn't even realize that she was dozing off. At least until a familiar voice cut through her growing numbness.
"All the ladies of the kingdom come to the gardens to hunt for men, and Jovana sleeps under a tree." The remark woke Jovana up immediately, and when she rose onto her elbows, she realized she was in the shadow of a tall and devilishly handsome man.
"I can't help but wonder if you're showing confidence or impudence, Lady Stafford." Caspian said, looking at her with a sharp smile.
'Oh my! Did he just come here to poke me?!' Jovana mused, as she gathered all the aloofness she had stored and showed it off to the Duke with a confident smile.
"Let those girls run around, Duke Clifford. They're struggling for no reason." Jovana said, and the Duke curled his lips into a smirk.
"I think the reason is getting married. That's why they're hunting," Caspian remarked.
"I know, but men aren't quail. I mean, some of them are, but who likes quail?" Jovana said,
"Empty-headed and boring people?" Caspian said, and Jovana grinned at him.
"Exactly. I like apples."
"I see. So, you decided to lie under a tree and wait for a man to fall over your head?" Caspian said,
Jovana smirked, as she squinted her eyes in the sun, and looked at him with a broad smile, "Well. I dare say that at least one did. Am I wrong, My Lord?"
Seeing Caspian Clifford at a loss for words doesn't happen every day, but that's what happens when he realizes he's the apple. As he looked at Jovana, his surprise turned into a very pleased smile, "Well played, Lady Stafford. I thought you were different when I saw you the first time. Now I know I was right."
"To be honest, Lord Clifford. Seeing the competition, I don't feel the equation is fair." Jovana commented, and the Duke cocked his brows at her, an amused smile forming on his face.
"Oh, so there is some pride under that flawless skin." He said,
Jovana raised her chin up, and responded, "Of course, My Lord. Don't you know? Pride is what keeps you young and beautiful."
The Duke nodded, "To our next encounter, Lady Stafford." he remarked, and walked around the edges of the trees to keep his presence out of sight. But he couldn't help but stop and turned around to look at Jovana one more time. He watched her waking up, stretching in the sun and straightening her clothes discreetly.
'Such a natural beauty that she doesn't even have to try to get noticed. But it can't be just that. There must be something more about Jovana Stafford because I never looked at a woman twice before. And yet I am incapable of taking my eyes off her.' Caspian mused.