"Lee Edgar - Princess 04 - Checkmate for a Princess" - читать интересную книгу автора (Edgar Lee)

Monsieur Dubois from the French Embassy?'
The tallest of the group stepped forward with a smile and shook his hand. 'A
votre service, Commander,' he said, his smiling, suntanned face complementing
the rest of his handsome features.
'Welcome aboard U.S.S. Columbia,' said the officer to them all. 'I am John
Jakes, Commander of the United Nations air and ground forces in the
Mediterranean. If you would be so kind as to follow me, I will take you
straight to the Admiral who is eager to meet you all.' He turned to the Major.
'Your report soonest, Al.'
'Aye, aye, Commander.' The Major saluted and then mischievously winked at the
shortest member of the group who grinned.
They were led to the boardroom where Admiral Michael Davison, US Navy, rose
from his chair beside the polished table and greeted them with a smile. 'So,
we meet at last, Monsieur Dubois. It seems we have you to thank for saving our
skins.'
'Not me, Admiral,' said Philippe. 'I could not have accomplished a thing
without the help of my friends.'
He gestured towards the group which had accompanied him from Laroque and
introduced them. 'My accomplice, Mr Roger Blackman, from England.'
The dark-haired Brit smiled as he stepped forward and shook the hand of the
Admiral. 'Pleased to meet you, sir.'
'His sister, Suzette,' added the Frenchman.
The Admiral's right eyebrow lifted slightly as the young woman removed her
baseball cap and shook her head to allow her long, dark hair to fall to her
shoulders.
'Thank you for inviting us aboard, Admiral,' she said pleasantly, smiling as
she looked around the room at the big, polished table with its comfortable
chairs and luxurious fittings. 'This is my first visit to the US navy.'
He bowed. 'It is indeed a very great pleasure to have you aboard my ship, Miss
Blackman.'
Philippe coughed to regain the Admiral's attention and indicated the slim girl
on his left. 'Miss Blackman's cousin, Mademoiselle Marianne de Bosvile.'
The blue eyes before him seemed to pierce right into him and his heart skipped
a beat as the long, golden hair fell from her cap as she removed it.
'Enchanté, Monsieur,' greeted the slim, nineteen-year-old beauty. 'Alors, Je
ne parle pas beaucoup de l'Anglais.'
The Admiral glanced at Commander Jakes who laughed. 'The young lady apologises
for not speaking very much English, sir.'
Flustered, the Senior Officer nodded and passed on the the third male member
the group who introduced himself. 'Jim Marshal from Cambridge, sir. I worked
on the computers with Suzette before the... er... war started.'
The Admiral shook his hand and looked at his companion who hovered in the
background.
'This is our friend, Gillian Green. She used to live near Newmarket and train
horses.'
'Welcome aboard, Miss Green. Your initials are correct, then.'
'Pardon,' said the young woman.
'Gee-gee. A trainer of horses. Appropriate, eh?'
Gillian's face conveyed the "ha, ha, I've heard that one before" look as she
attempted to force a smile. Looking very tired, she was glad of the chair