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here most of the year, having to sink down another set of roots, learn new customs?”
    He could have passed it off as some men would. He could have made a joke as others might. But he had a fondness for the truth. “It was difficult at first, for both of us. Now it’s home. Just as Virginia’s home. I can’t say I won’t be happy when Alex marries and Brie has fewer obligations, but I fell in love with the woman. Her rank is part of it, part of her.”
    “It is more than just a title, isn’t it?” she murmured. Before she realized it, before she could prevent it, her gaze drifted to Alexander.
    “A great deal more,” Reeve agreed, aware of where her interest had shifted. “And more yet for him.”
    Eve brought her attention back quickly. “Yes, of course. He’ll rule one day.”
    “He’s been molded for it from his first breath.” Were Gabriella’s instincts right? Reeve wondered. Wasthere a spark between Alexander and Eve that would take very little fanning? He’d never seen it, but tonight he wasn’t so sure. If there was, Eve wouldn’t find it an easy road. Reeve mulled over his wine a moment, then kept his voice quiet. “If there’s one thing I’ve learned in the past few years, it’s that duty and obligation aren’t choices for some, or for the people who love them.”
    He was telling her what she already knew, and more than she wanted to know. “No, I’m sure you’re right.” To ease the tension that had come so quickly, she turned to the ambassador and made him laugh.
    * * *
    The dinner party moved to the main parlor with coffee and brandy. Calculating that a decent amount of time had elapsed, Bennett took Eve’s hand. “Air,” he whispered in her ear.
    “Rude,” she whispered back.
    “No, they’ll talk for an hour yet. And I’m entitled, even obliged, to entertain you as well as the others. Let’s just step out on the terrace.”
    The invitation was hard to resist. Eve already knew how tempting nights in Cordina were. A quick glance showed her that Alexander had the ambassador engaged in quiet conversation and that Brie and Reeve were dealing with the ambassador’s wife.
    “All right. For a minute.”
    Though his flow of words never faltered, Alexander saw Eve move with his brother through the terrace doors.
    “Better,” Bennett said immediately.
    “It was a lovely dinner.”
    “It was fine, but sometimes I’d prefer pizza and beer with a few friends.” He walked to the edge and leaned on a low stone wall. “The older I get, the less time there is for it.”
    “It isn’t easy, is it?”
    “What?”
    “Being who you are.”
    He swung an arm around her waist. “It has its moments.”
    “No, don’t shrug it off. You always do that.” Eve drew back to study him. He was wonderful to look at and tougher, a great deal tougher, than he allowed himself to seem.
    “You want a serious answer.” He dipped his hands into his pockets. “It’s difficult to give you one. I’ve always been who I am, what I am. No, it isn’t always easy to know that wherever you go there’s a bodyguard not far behind or the press not far ahead. I deal with it in my own way. I’m permitted to, as Brie is, to a certain extent. We’re not the heir.”
    “Do you wish you were?”
    “God, no.”
    He said it with such speed and force she had to smile. “There’s not a jealous bone in your body, is there?”
    “It’s hardly a matter of envy. As long as I can remember, Alex has had to work harder, study harder. Be harder. No, I wouldn’t step into his shoes. Why do you ask?”
    “Oh, I don’t know. The American fascination with royalty, I suppose.”
    “You’ve known us too long to be fascinated.”
    “I’ve known some of you.” With a shake of her head, she walked to him. “Do you remember that first night, the night of the ball, when we walked out on one of those high, dark balconies?”
    “That’s hardly a night I’d forget.”
    “I was fascinated then. I thought you were