BOOK 3

'As a translator?'

'No. As a nanny to their two little boys.'

Brand put his wine glass down with a thump. 'A nanny? Good grief. What did you do with them? You couldn't change a diaper in those days, for heaven's sake.'

'They weren't babies. I didn't have to change diapers. We got along very well.'

'Well I'm damned.' Brand shook his head. 'And did you teach them Spanish?'

Isabella smiled ruefully. 'No. Their father spoke French, English and Cantonese. He seemed to think that was enough.'

'I see. And when it became obvious that you were pregnant? What happened then?'

She crumbled a piece of flax bread and kept her eyes on her plate. 'The Brownson-Wings were very kind. They let me stay on, and when I had Connie they stood by me. I went on looking after the boys, and later they encouraged me to take courses—in business management and gourmet cooking, mostly. I was already a good cook, thanks to Judy. And then, once I was ready to start my own business, they helped by recommending me to th