"I thought you might appreciate something less formal for our first evening," he said, moving to hold my chair.
"You thought right.I was starting to think everything in this palace was designed to make normal people feel inadequate."
"Only about ninety percent of it.The other ten percent is where I actually live."
I sat down and tried not to notice how close he was standing as he pushed in my chair.Or how his cologne smelled like something expensive and woodsy that made me want to lean closer.Or how the candlelight did unfair things to his cheekbones.
This was dinner with the enemy.I needed to remember that.
"So," I said, accepting the wine he poured."This is awkward."
He paused with his own glass halfway to his lips."Awkward how?"
"Well, let's see.We're married, but you spent the first week of our acquaintance lying about your identity.We're supposed to be having a romantic dinner, but I'm still deciding whether I want to throw this wine in your face or drink it.And I'm wearing a funeral dress because someone sabotaged my luggage."
The last part made him set down his glass."Sabotaged?"
"Half my clothes were destroyed by what Carmela diplomatically called a 'cargo hold leak.'But cargo hold leaks don't usually damage things selectively, and this one conveniently hit most of my good pieces while leaving the basics intact."
His expression shifted from casual to focused in a way that reminded me he wasn't just a prince who'd lied to me.He was also someone who'd grown up navigating palace politics and probably knew exactly what targeted sabotage looked like.
"I think it's quite a coincidence that I arrive at my new home looking like I can't dress myself properly.Great first impression for the American princess, right?"
"Who had access to your luggage?"
"I don't know.Palace staff, airport workers, whoever handles royal cargo.Could be anyone."I took a sip of wine, which was excellent because of course it was."The question is whether this was personal or political."
"What do you mean?"
"Personal would mean someone here doesn't want me around.Political would mean someone's trying to undermine the alliance by making me look incompetent."I shrugged."Either way, someone in this palace has opinions about my presence."
Archie was quiet for a moment, processing this."I'll have my security team look into it."
"Will they actually investigate, or will they politely file it under 'unfortunate accident' and move on?"
"They'll actually investigate.I don't tolerate sabotage in my household."
The possessiveness in his voice caught me off guard.My household.Like this was his territory and I was now part of it.
"Good to know."I picked up my menu, which was handwritten in elegant calligraphy and completely useless since I couldn't read Italian."What's good here?"
"Everything.Chef Marcello has been cooking for the royal family for twenty years.He once threw a diplomat out of the kitchen for suggesting we serve store-bought pasta at a state dinner."
That surprised a laugh out of me."Seriously?"
"The man takes his reputation very seriously.He also makes the best risotto in the Mediterranean, so we tolerate his artistic temperament."
"I'd like to meet him.I spent three years working in restaurant kitchens.I know how particular chefs can be about their ingredients."
"You worked in restaurants?"
"Coffee shops mostly, but I helped out in the kitchen sometimes."I set down the menu I couldn't read anyway."Nothing fancy, but I know my way around basic food prep.Why do you look so surprised?"
"I'm not surprised.I'm..."He seemed to search for the right word."Interested.You've actually done things.Worked jobs where you had to deal with the public, earn money, face consequences for mistakes."
"That's called normal life for most people."
"I know.That's what makes it interesting."He leaned back in his chair, studying me with an expression I couldn't fully read."I've never had a job where someone could fire me.Never had to worry about making rent or pleasing customers.Everything I've done has had safety nets built in."
