it boring at all. You’re a good speaker, Alex. I could have listened to you for hours.”
Taking her hand, he brought it to his lips. Alex had noticed how outgoing his Hannah had been during the reception. Women sometimes shied away from approaching him at these functions. But today, they felt free to approach Hannah. Whether she realized it or not, she had done an outstanding job of not only making each person feel special, but also of easing the way for others to approach him.
He almost chuckled aloud. He’d bet the lady herself had been the only one present who didn’t understand the significance of her appearance as his companion at an official event.
“Thank you, sweet,” he said now, placing her hand on his thigh and covering it with his own. “I suspect you may be a bit prejudiced, but I’ll take your compliment.”
“I’m really glad I got to be there today, Alex. It’s like an expanded version of reality. I got to see you the way your people see you. They really love you, and that’s a good thing. And I also saw, firsthand, how important they are to you.”
“The event next Monday is a tad more sedate and pedantic, I’m afraid. The International Banking Conference opens in the afternoon, and the chairman of the conference dragooned me into making a few opening remarks. Banking is one of the industries that helped save Boisdemer from complete ruin, though, so I feel honor-bound to pay the institution its due.”
“The way I heard it, you were the one who helped save Boisdemer from complete ruin.”
Alex felt himself flushing and waved off her praise. “The least I could do after my father and grandfather had pillaged the place.” All these years later, it still infuriated him when he thought of the way his predecessors had failed in their responsibilities to their country.
“This ‘chairman’ who dragooned you, that would have been your eldest son?” Hannah laughingly asked.
Alex nodded. “Yes. He and Helene will both be with us. So at least you’ll have company.” The car had slowed to pass through the gates of home.
“And the ball is the day after tomorrow.”
“That sounded just a tad nervous, Hannah.”
The car rolled to a stop, and Alex’s door opened. He exited the car, then turned and offered a hand to Hannah. When she stood beside him, he needed to touch her and stroked her chin with a finger.
“I am nervous. I’ve never been to a ball. I’ve never been to a formal dinner where there are more utensils in front of me than there are in my entire cupboard back home.”
Alex couldn’t stop his laughter. “I promise you, everything will be fine. You can relax in the afternoon. It is the custom of the women in my family to have a spa day prior to an event of this nature. I have no idea what all it entails. I try to stay away from that end of the palace at such times.”
“Coward.”
“Oh, absolutely,” he admitted shamelessly, glad his intention of lightening her mood had succeeded. “It is only one evening, good food and music. Will you dance with me, Hannah?”
“Yes, please, and more than only two dances, if you don’t mind.”
Despite that they stood outside at the bottom of the steps, and that several members of the staff had them in sight, he leaned forward and kissed her, lightly, on the lips. “I don’t mind at all. In fact, I’m looking forward to it.” He led her up the steps to the door that an efficient footman had already swung open.
“The forecast is warm, sunny weather throughout the weekend. I’d like to invite everyone to dinner on Sunday.”
Ah, yes. Hannah’s dinner. He didn’t have a clue what she had in mind for the event. The evening might, he thought, give him even further insight into the woman he loved.
“I’ll see to it the entire family attends.” And what a treasure she was, if those few words could put that kind of smile on her face.
* * * *
Rachel wrinkled her nose, and when the irritating tickle wouldn’t
Taking her hand, he brought it to his lips. Alex had noticed how outgoing his Hannah had been during the reception. Women sometimes shied away from approaching him at these functions. But today, they felt free to approach Hannah. Whether she realized it or not, she had done an outstanding job of not only making each person feel special, but also of easing the way for others to approach him.
He almost chuckled aloud. He’d bet the lady herself had been the only one present who didn’t understand the significance of her appearance as his companion at an official event.
“Thank you, sweet,” he said now, placing her hand on his thigh and covering it with his own. “I suspect you may be a bit prejudiced, but I’ll take your compliment.”
“I’m really glad I got to be there today, Alex. It’s like an expanded version of reality. I got to see you the way your people see you. They really love you, and that’s a good thing. And I also saw, firsthand, how important they are to you.”
“The event next Monday is a tad more sedate and pedantic, I’m afraid. The International Banking Conference opens in the afternoon, and the chairman of the conference dragooned me into making a few opening remarks. Banking is one of the industries that helped save Boisdemer from complete ruin, though, so I feel honor-bound to pay the institution its due.”
“The way I heard it, you were the one who helped save Boisdemer from complete ruin.”
Alex felt himself flushing and waved off her praise. “The least I could do after my father and grandfather had pillaged the place.” All these years later, it still infuriated him when he thought of the way his predecessors had failed in their responsibilities to their country.
“This ‘chairman’ who dragooned you, that would have been your eldest son?” Hannah laughingly asked.
Alex nodded. “Yes. He and Helene will both be with us. So at least you’ll have company.” The car had slowed to pass through the gates of home.
“And the ball is the day after tomorrow.”
“That sounded just a tad nervous, Hannah.”
The car rolled to a stop, and Alex’s door opened. He exited the car, then turned and offered a hand to Hannah. When she stood beside him, he needed to touch her and stroked her chin with a finger.
“I am nervous. I’ve never been to a ball. I’ve never been to a formal dinner where there are more utensils in front of me than there are in my entire cupboard back home.”
Alex couldn’t stop his laughter. “I promise you, everything will be fine. You can relax in the afternoon. It is the custom of the women in my family to have a spa day prior to an event of this nature. I have no idea what all it entails. I try to stay away from that end of the palace at such times.”
“Coward.”
“Oh, absolutely,” he admitted shamelessly, glad his intention of lightening her mood had succeeded. “It is only one evening, good food and music. Will you dance with me, Hannah?”
“Yes, please, and more than only two dances, if you don’t mind.”
Despite that they stood outside at the bottom of the steps, and that several members of the staff had them in sight, he leaned forward and kissed her, lightly, on the lips. “I don’t mind at all. In fact, I’m looking forward to it.” He led her up the steps to the door that an efficient footman had already swung open.
“The forecast is warm, sunny weather throughout the weekend. I’d like to invite everyone to dinner on Sunday.”
Ah, yes. Hannah’s dinner. He didn’t have a clue what she had in mind for the event. The evening might, he thought, give him even further insight into the woman he loved.
“I’ll see to it the entire family attends.” And what a treasure she was, if those few words could put that kind of smile on her face.
* * * *
Rachel wrinkled her nose, and when the irritating tickle wouldn’t
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