“I won’treallydance with her,” Graham said. Obviously. A formal introduction would be mind-boggling enough.
“I do not believe for one second that you would turn down Princess Mechtilda if she wished to waltz with you. Lord knowsIhave danced with most of the princes in Europe and even several from Africa. Countless times.”
He lowered the painting and stared at her. “Like that flirtatious prince?”
She shook her head. “Philbert’s attentions mean nothing.”
“What about my attention?” Graham pulled her to him with his free arm and crushed his lips to hers.
She locked her fingers at the nape of his neck and pressed even closer.
This kiss had a different hunger than the others. One of frustration. Of desperation. Of possession.
And the knowledge that none of it mattered if he couldn’t change her mind.
“I’m still leaving,” she said when their lips broke apart.
This time, Graham did not answer,I know.
“I can’t promise I won’t try to convince you to stay while you’re here,” he said instead. “But I will promise that if you still want to leave at the end…I won’t get in the way.”
No matter what her future held.
24
By the time Kuni and Graham entered the dining room, the others were finishing their breakfasts. His siblings smiled in welcome, and politely declined to comment on her and their brother’s delayed arrival and rumpled appearance.
Or perhaps they were not given the chance to opine. Graham brandished his new painting, circumnavigating the large table so everyone could see, without allowing anyone’s fingers but his to touch his precious canvas. He did pause to press a quick kiss to Marjorie’s temple for her part in the debacle.
Uh,gift. Kuni’s very good gift that Graham liked very much, which was the reason she’d come up with the idea. A gift she absolutely had not begun to regret giving. That would be churlish. Completely irrational jealousy of a woman Graham didn’t evenknow.
Yet.
But he would.
And Kuni would be the one to introduce them.
She thought she did very well at smiling appropriately at the many compliments tossed in her direction for such a perfect gift. What a rare and cherished opportunity she was giving Graham! Did she realize she had made his day? His year? His decade?
Yes, yes, Kunididrealize. Waltzing with the canvas as though he’d already fallen in love with Princess Mechtilda had been a good clue. As had his excited announcement to his siblings, followed by the painting’s new—but temporary—place of honor against a rain-splattered window in full view of the table. Graham assured them he would hang it properly after breaking his fast.
Kuni tossed a few slices of toast onto a plate and took her seat at the table.
Tommy’s eyes glittered. “Weallare allowed to meet the princess, right?”
“You cannot meet her as Baron Vanderbean,” Elizabeth scolded. “She willknowyou are not. You would’ve had to have been born before Bean left Balcovia.”
Tommy just grinned.
“Yes, you shall all meet her.” The words were thick in Kuni’s throat, the toast too dry to force down, no matter how much she buttered it.
Graham quizzed Kuni about every detail Marjorie had painted. The princess’s bejeweled crown, her hair, her eyes, her gown, her fingers.
Who cared about Princess Mechtilda’sfingers?
Graham did, of course. He had been starry-eyed about princesses sight unseen, but now that he possessed a portrait of Mechtilda…
Kuni had known this was coming, and still it rankled.
