“Don’t worry. Daniel is talking business and I saw you over here looking forlorn, so I thought I would come keep you company.” Alyx’s quiet voice wouldn’t carry and, even it did, noone was close enough to interrupt them. Not even the bartender, whom she waved off after he’d refilled Sebastian’s drink.
“Are you sure you don’t want some wine?” He considered slamming back the third drink as quickly as he had the first two, but restrained the impulse considering the concern on his cousin’s face. Alyx was a couple of years younger than him and occasionally even more guarded than him or his siblings.
“No, thank you.” She paused when the music changed and glanced at the dance floor. “I love this song.”
Sebastian could not ignore the hint of longing in her voice, no matter how dark his mood. Pushing his drink away, he withdrew a step and extended his hand. Perhaps he couldn’t make things right with Meredith immediately, but he could brighten Alyx’s evening. “Would you do me the honor of this dance?”
A hint of a blush turned her cheeks pink, but her smile filled with delight. “Are you sure? What about…?” She mimed a small twirl of her finger to include their circle of security.
“We let them do their jobs,” he told her gently, escorting her out to the floor. As expected, the men and women on duty widened their circle automatically, but Sebastian also knew better than to draw Alyx to the center, choosing instead an emptier part of the floor.
“I’m still not terribly used to having them shadow my steps—and before you start,” she wrinkled her nose, exasperation lighting up the words. “I knowwhyI have to have them. Daniel and Armand are thick as thieves on the subject.”
He didn’t smile, though her eyes twinkled with the invitation for him to join in her laughter. “You will get used to it.” Years of living under the harsh lens of observation hadn’t dulled him to its effects—or costs.
“I accept the concept, if only because I think I’ve finally gotten used to the idea peoplewanttake my picture, even if I cannot truly fathom why they think I am so interesting.”
“It’s not you—” When her jaw fell, Sebastian felt another reluctant smile tugging at the corners of his mouth. He genuinely liked his cousin. She didn’t play any of the familiar games. “Truthfully, you are charming and a delight—but their fascination is with the idea of you and the crown. Some believe if they can touch a part of your charmed life, the charm will rub off on them.”
“That is the most ridiculous thing.” She halted mid-step and he paused obediently. “I have hardly led a charmed life.”
“Again…” His smile faded as he coaxed her into moving once more. “It’s not about you. It’s about the position. An unfortunate by-product of our DNA in a world populated by social media and interaction is the public desire for wish fulfillment on their terms.” Meredith never longed for either. She’d respected his position, but guarded against their exposure. While he’d delighted in their privacy, he’d also taken great pains to keep her protected.
The first waltz segued into a second and, when Sebastian would have guided her off the floor, Alyx looked at him imploringly. “One more? Please?”
Consenting, he drew her back into his arms. “It would be my honor.”
Three steps into their second dance, all of Alyx’s playfulness fled and he felt the full weight of her regard. The corner of his mouth turned up. He should have seen the ambush coming, but his lovely cousin was far more cunning than either of his brothers.
“Why are you so very sad, Sebastian?”
Though her question beckoned an answer, he could not indulge her curiosity. “It could quite possibly be the chicken. You did notice it was green, didn’t you?”
The glib non-answer didn’t satisfy his cousin. Her lips barely twitched. “You smile with your mouth and you say the words with just the right inflections, but your eyes are unhappy.”
Far too practiced to allow her keen observation to rattle him, Sebastian smiled and let his affection for her show. “You have no need to be concerned, but your worry is sweet and I thank you for it.”
“All right, if that’s how you want to play it.” Her candor never failed to entertain him. “But we arefamilyand I would like to be your friend.”
Whether it was the frustration underscoring her words or his own bleakness over Meredith, Sebastian couldn’t say, but he wanted to put Alyx’s mind at ease. Directing her to the edge of the dance floor, he halted and took her hands in his. “I would very much like to believe we are already friends.”
His response elicited the most unexpected result. Tears filled Alyx’s eyes and he went still. Awareness of their surroundings and the level of observation had Sebastian turning her away from the tables and clear of the other dancers.
With care, he slid his hand into the inside pocket of his tuxedo jacket and pulled out a clean, pressed handkerchief. Alyx accepted the cloth with a watery laugh and carefully dabbed at her eyes. “Victor would be horrified if my mascara started running.”
“You look beautiful,” Sebastian assured her.
Thankfully, her husband chose the moment to intercept them. With a cordial, if quick, nod at Sebastian, Daniel Voldakov slipped an arm around his wife. He kissed her temple gently. “Are you all right?”
“I’m fine, but Sebastian was very sweet and I think I horrified us both by bursting into tears.” Another damp laugh and her smile grew in brilliance. “I didn’t expect to be so hormonal.”
Not quite wincing at the word, Sebastian made a point of looking elsewhere. This seemed a very private discussion to have in such a public place. Then her words registered, and he took a really good look at his cousin.
Alyx flushed under his gaze and, after a quick peek at Daniel, she gave Sebastian a secretive smile. “We’re not confirming or denying anything yet.”
Message received. “Please, let me know when I may respond to any confirmations or denials.”
“I will,” she promised and leaned her head on her husband’s shoulder. “Do you think it would be poor protocol to slip away now?”
