The Prince's Nanny Read Online Free

gaze to somewhere off in the distance.  “I hired Nanny Chisholm from Edinburgh and that was that.  But now, As my fiancée Signora Castello says, ‘It’s time to move on.’”
    Seven years ago and the man was obviously still grieving.  Sabrina could only imagine a love like that that never died.  “Your fiancée sounds like a very wise woman,” she said and scraped the gelato dish for the last bit.  But what did Sabrina know?  She might be a wise woman or not.  Right now Sabrina was prepared to give the woman the benefit of a doubt and say whatever it took to get this job.
    “The girls don’t like her,” he said, his forehead creased slightly.
    “I’m sure they’ll come around,” she said.
    “Don’t be so sure,” he muttered.  “Not only snakes, but they’ve been known to put spiders in the nannies’ beds to get rid of them.”
    “I’m not afraid of spiders or snakes,” she said.  Unless they’re poisonous.
    “I’m glad to hear it,” he said dryly.
    She sipped the last of her espresso.  It was strong enough that the caffeine would give her the energy necessary to confront the devil twins as well as any spiders they could come up with.  If he let her meet them.  She had the feeling the way he was frowning at her, that it could go either way.  He could just as easily put her back on the next ferry as allow her to put a foot in the door of his villa.
    Her gaze locked with his. It wasn’t easy looking into those dark eyes wondering what he was thinking, but she was caught like a fly in a spider’s web and couldn’t look away.  She knew her fate hung in the balance and she wondered what more she could say to convince him she was the nanny he needed.  She shifted in her chair, then crossed and uncrossed her legs.  She didn’t say anything and neither did he.  The tension rose until it was almost unbearable.  Sabrina’s clothes were still wet, she was chilled, she was tired and wrinkled and hadn’t slept for eighteen hours.  And she had run out of things to say.
    “Very well,” he said abruptly.
    Sabrina sat up straight.  She set her cup down on the table with a loud jolt.  She was relieved and surprised.
    “I’ll give you a week.  If the girls pass their interview and get accepted, you can stay all summer and tutor them.”
    “You won’t regret it,” she said. She was in.  The girls would pass the test and she would stay at least until they went off to school in the fall.  She’d worry about her future later.
    As if he’d read her mind, he said, “The twins will be attending a day camp this summer, sailing on the lake, horseback riding and other sports.”
    “It sounds delightful,” Sabrina said.  She didn’t say it, but  no matter what else they had going on, they’d certainly need a nanny too.  And she was going to be that nanny.
    Just as she was about to stand and follow him to the villa, she saw them.  It couldn’t be anyone else, two little girls dressed alike in ballet tutus, tiaras and spangled leotards who came whirling and twirling through the tables at the outdoor café right to their table.  The sight was one that brought back vivid memories of two other sisters who dressed alike, tormented their baby-sitters and their little sister.  Two girls who had spent their childhood making hers miserable - Mindy and Jessica, her step-sisters.
    “Caterina, Gianna,” Vittorio said, “how did you get here?  You know you are not allowed to leave the villa by yourselves.”
    “Marco brought us in the car,” Gianna said.  “We told him you wanted us to meet our new nanny.  How do you do?” they chorused politely and curtsied in front of Sabrina.  These were the naughty twins she’d heard so much about?

 
    Chapter Two
     
    Vittorio watched his daughters act the part of well-mannered little angels, never knowing exactly what they were up to or what they’d do next.  Not sure if the chauffeur had really brought them or not.  They had the cook,