Tinnean

Portia Sebring was born into a family that’s considered royalty in the intelligence community, and the fact that she’s a woman doesn’t preclude her from joining the “family business.” A linguistic genius, she’s recruited by her older brother to decipher Russian codes for the Venona Project. While at Arlington Hall, she meets Nigel Mann, a CIA officer known as Mr. Freeze, who’s been vetted to the NSA. Unbeknownst to Portia, her father is behind the meeting. Rumor has it that Portia, called the ice princess, is also a lesbian, and at this time in America -- the late ’50s -- it could negate any veracity to the codes she deciphers. A match with an equally cold man who won’t distract her from her work seems the ideal solution in her father’s eyes. Things don’t go quite according to plan, as both Portia and Nigel develop strong feelings for each other. They marry and eventually start a family. However, the lifetime together they anticipate is cut short when Nigel’s jet crashes on New Year’s Day, 1978. Devastated, but with a thirteen-year-old son depending on her, Portia has no choice but to go on after Nigel’s death. When Quinton, her son, is approached to join the US Equestrian Team for the 1980 Summer Olympics, she’s pleased and proud, but those plans are dashed due to the government’s boycott of the Games. To distract him, Portia takes him to France on a wine-buying trip, and it’s there that Quinton first feels an attraction for someone of his own sex. Portia, a wise mother, is aware, but since she herself had a same-sex affair in her early twenties, she’s very accepting of this. Along with Gregor, her trusted bodyguard and devoted family friend, she watches as Quinton follows in his father's and her footsteps in the "family business," and finally finds a partner worthy of him, WBIS agent Mark Vincent. She’s happy for them, but sure that she won’t love again, since Sebrings have their “one” and she's lost hers, but is she right?

Where the Heart Chooses

It seemed there was no need for me to write to invite Armand Bauchet to come for a visit. I was pleased that while my son had had an adventure this past summer, he was heart-whole.


There was a tap on my bedroom door. “Yes?”


“Mother, Uncle Bryan was on the phone. He’ll be stopping by in about twenty minutes. I’ll wait until he gets her before I leave to meet Lacey.”


“All right, sweetheart. Thank you.” I shed my riding habit and took a quick shower, then dressed and rather than put my hair up in its usual French twist, I simply plaited it.


Alyona brought Bryan to the back parlor. His eyes were tired, and he had a scruffy look, as if he hadn’t shaved in days. “You look about fifteen,” he said.


“Which is why I don’t usually wear my hair this way.” I went to him and kissed his cheek. “It’s good to see you.”


“Same here, little sister.” There was alcohol on his breath.


“Ludovic called to let me know that Jefferson is all right.”


Chapter 51