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She says urgently under her breath, “Please don't tell me you've fallen for Prince Alexander’s charms.”
I blink at her in disbelief. Seriously, is this woman psychic?
“You told me to become friends with him, Grandmama. You told me it was in my best interest. I listened to you, and now we’re friends.”
I'm trying not to sound defensive, but I know I do.
She arches a brow. “Is that what this is? Friendship? Because it looked to me as though it may be something more. I don’t see him kissing any of the other young ladies on the hand, and I’ve witnessed him doing it with you twice.”
“Absolutely,” I respond firmly. “Friendship.”
Grandmama doesn't need to know that what I’ve begun to feel for Alex goes way beyond friendship. After all, although I strongly suspect Alex feels the same way, really, there’s nothing to tell. We haven’t even kissed. We haven’t shared our feelings about one another. Nothing.
If you disregard the fact I can’t stop thinking about him, then we are nothing but friends.
Although there’s a slim chance, I’m taking the easy way out and running with it here.
Grandmama’s features relax, dispelling that lemon from her mouth. “I’m glad to hear it, Madeline. Whatever you do, don’t let it develop into anything more. With a man like Alexander, anything beyond friendship can lead nowhere you would want it to go.”
Alex is right. He continues to be judged as the person he once was.
“Grandmama, Alex has changed. He’s not the party-loving guy everyone thinks he is.”
“I’ve been remiss, Madeline,” she says, ignoring my defense of him. “I must introduce you to some of the younger male members of the aristocracy here in Malveaux. There are several who would make fine partners for you, I’m quite certain.”
I pull my lips into a smile. “Sure. That sounds—” Horrible? Unnecessary? Completely superfluous? “—great.”
“There’s Lord Radisson’s son, Herbert, who I understand is a very fine shot, and Viscount Giorgio’s son, Stefan, who has a rather nice stately home in…”
As Grandmama lists the virtues of half the single men of Malveaux, I barely listen. If her only reason for not wanting me to become romantically involved with Alex is that he's a womanizer, then I know I can put her straight simply by showing her how incredible he is—and how he’s changed. All I have to do is make her see it.
Chapter 21
Alexander
I make my way to the rooms to change out of my suit and tie before the cheese rolling event, where I find Father, talking on his phone in hushed tones. He notices me as I enter the room and ends the call.
“How did the team do in archery?” he asks.
“They won.”
“As they should. We'll be competing in the cheese rolling event shortly. I don't need a repeat of last year,” he warns.
I slip my jacket off and hang it over the back of a chair. “You mean when I won?”
His lips form a thin line below his moustache. “It simply will not do for you to publicly humiliate me like that, Alexander. I am King.”
“It's just a silly race involving a wheel of cheese, Father. It’s not exactly the Olympics.”
I know I’m pushing him, but Maddie’s words have stayed with me from that day on the hill. I’m worth knowing. I’m not just a reflection of him. I’m Alexander, and I’ve got a lot to offer the world in my own right.
Which would include me poking fun at my father, it would seem.
“Does it really matter who wins, Father? It’s just a bit of fun.”
He shoots me a look that makes me feel like I’ve just committed a heinous crime. “Just a bit of fun? It's about public perception, my boy. The people need to see a strong leader. I am that leader. You’ll have your turn in due course when you inherit the throne when I turn 65. Until then, you need to take a back seat. Allow me to shine.”
“Who cares about a cheese rolling competition? Cheesemakers maybe, but no one else, Father,”
