He raised his gaze to connect with Maggie, who stood several yards away. She wasn't paying attention but laughing at something Franco had said. Her eyes shone with true joy.
He wanted that gaze pointed at him.
"Uncle Luc. Isn't it amazing?"
"Amazing," he repeated.
"So you'll take me there? To the royal stables?"
Behind him, Jean Marc was mounting up on his fresh horse and ordering his teammates to do the same. "Moreno!" he bellowed.
Luc brushed a kiss on Guinevere's cheek. "We'll see, Peanut."
For now, he had a match to finish.
5
Maggie had been to the Glorvaird Naval Base once as a small girl. She could still remember being awed by the sailors marching in formation, thinking how ugly the squat, brown brick buildings were, smelling the salt even though the ocean was out of sight.
None of it had changed.
Today there was a crowd gathered on a wide expanse of runway. A portable stage had been set up for the ceremony, and several men in uniforms, their chests decorated with medals, stood in parade rest behind it.
Valentin and Annika were having some kind of fight. Maggie had noticed the tension between them in the limo. It had been impossible to miss. Annika had sat with arms crossed, her body angled away from the crown prince. She'd barely responded to the small talk Maggie had attempted. And Maggie thought it was more than the nerves Valentin had mentioned when he'd invited her to today's event.
Now the three of them stood awkwardly silent as the assembly was called to order. Several photographers flashed cameras from the back of the crowd.
A red sports car came screaming up the tarmac, squealing to a stop behind the royal limo with a screech of tires.
The general who was introducing the ceremony went on as if nothing had happened, but heads in the crowd turned to the commotion.
Max, Valentin's younger brother, who stood tall and sleek in a designer suit, got out of the sports car and strode toward them.
Valentin glared, but Max ignored him, offering a dazzling smile to Annika and then Maggie. He touched Maggie's elbow as he leaned in to brush a brotherly kiss against her cheek.
He did the same to Annika, and Valentin's tension went through the roof. He looked as if he wanted to punch his brother.
And then Valentin was called to the stage. A smattering of applause heralded him, and he had no choice but to make his way up the steps to the platform, leaving Max to stand between the two women.
"Who picked out his tie?" Max said under his breath. "He looks like an old geezer."
Maggie didn't think so. She knew nothing of men's fashion but thought Valentin looked sharp in a dark tie with the charcoal suit.
Annika giggled.
Maggie frowned, but neither Max or Annika was paying attention. Max had shifted closer to her and was leaning in to whisper in Annika's ear.
Maggie forced her eyes to the stage. Valentin was delivering his speech with poise and his natural charisma. But then he glanced over to them.
Annika giggled again at something Max had whispered in her ear.
"Shh." Maggie hushed the other woman. Annika hadn't grown up in the public eye. She didn't know how the press could spin something out of control, like her whispering and giggling with her fiancé’s brother. It would turn into a wildfire of coverage if it looked like Valentin was jealous.
At least he'd focused again on the crowd, continuing his speech as if nothing had happened.
Max shot Maggie a look, his eyes sparkling with mischief. "Don't be a stick in the mud like my brother."
Annika sent her a haughty smile. Was she encouraging Max's flirtatious manner? It was difficult to tell.
