AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“Thank you, sir. Have you been enjoying the game?” he asks us, his face flushed from the exercise, his eyes alight.
“It's been thoroughly enjoyable, although the wrong team is leading currently,” Grandpapa replies.
“That depends entirely on which side you're supporting,” Alex replies smoothly. “I assume you're supporting Malveaux, Princess Madeline?”
“Of course I am,” I fib, because really, all I've been doing since the game began is watching him.
His lips quirk and I can tell he knows I’m lying. He must have seen me out of my seat, cheering him on.
A member of staff approaches us and gives Grandpapa a signal.
“A toast to the divots,” he says as he raises his glass.
“To the divots,” everyone echoes, and I'm about to take a sip of my champagne when Alex places his hand on my bare forearm and I nearly jump out of my skin from the contact.
“You'll need a splash of this,” he says under his breath as he pours an orange liquid into my glass. “Orange cordial.”
“Amelia told me about this.”
“It helps, believe me.”
I take a sip, our eyes meeting over our respective glasses. It's as though this is an intimate moment between the two of us, where we’re not surrounded by people in the middle of a polo field.
“Better?”
“Much better. Thanks.”
He gives a little bow and it makes me giggle. “For you, Texas, anything.”
A man in a royal uniform blows a trumpet to indicate the next half of the game is about to begin, and Alex excuses himself and strides away.
Is it bad that I watch him leave? It can’t be, because no sight like that could ever be bad.
We return to our seats and watch the second half, Alex once again proving himself the star on the field, my eyes, once again, incapable of leaving him. When Ledonia is declared the winning team by a small margin, people clap politely, although I know they were backing Malveaux.
“Pity about the result, but we’ll have our revenge at the next match,” Grandpapa says.
“When is the next match?” I ask, trying not to sound too eager.
“You’re a polo convert now, my dear?” Grandmama asks.
In truth, I’m a watch Alex looking hot on his horse convert, but I’m not going to tell her that. She told me to become his friend, not develop feelings for the guy.
“You can take that to the bank,” I tell her.
She crinkles her forehead. “Take what to which bank?”
“It’s another saying from Texas, Grandmama. It means that’s the truth,” I explain.
“You can take that to the bank,” she echoes, looking pleased. “I’ll use that one when I’m at morning tea with my ladies-in-waiting tomorrow.”
“Knock yourself out,” I reply with a laugh, and she shoots me a look of concern.
“How about I just write you a list, Grandmama? That way you can study up and understand every word I say.”
“A grand idea.”
My grandparents chat to our fellow spectators, introducing me. People smile and curtsy, and I ask them questions and try to be all regal yet approachable.
