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asked.
     
    “I’m well,” Marabeth said, wiping her mouth delicately on the linen napkin. “How are you, Mother?”
     
    “Having a hectic day and I need to ask you a favor,” she said, sitting down in her usual place and leaning back while a servant poured her coffee.
     
    “Anything. What can I do?”
     
    “I need your help during the reception this Saturday,” she said and stirred cream in her teacup.
    Marabeth could feel her heartbeat speed up instantly. This Saturday night was the reception for Sam Montrose. He was being officially sworn into office on Friday with a lavish reception on Saturday as a welcome from the royal family. “Oh, well…do you really need me there?” Marabeth said awkwardly. “I mean, it is for Father’s new Minister of Defense, isn’t it?”
    Her mother looked over at her beautiful daughter with amusement. “You know very well what it is for, Marabeth. And you also know that you need to be there. In fact, my request is that you attend with the new Minister.”
    Marabeth didn’t like the sound of that at all. “’Attend with’ as in, accompany him?” Marabeth asked warily, not really wanting to hear the answer.
     
    The queen looked up from her notes and frowned. “Of course, dear. He’ll need an escort and I need you to be that person for him.”
     
    “Why me?” Marabeth asked, her mind quickly going into overdrive in an effort to find an excuse not to be Sam’s “date” for the evening.
    “Why not? This is a political event and you of all people know how important the night will be for Sam. He can’t have some silly woman hanging on his arm and creating a scene. You know how easy it is for people to be misquoted. I need you to help Sam and be there to keep the other ladies at bay.”
    “I don’t think I’m the right person for that job, Mother,” Marabeth said hesitantly.
    “Nonsense,” King Stephan’s booming voice said as he walked into the room. He quickly kissed his wife, then sat down next to her. “I think it is a wonderful idea for you to attend with Sam. Wish I’d thought of it myself, but that’s why I have a brilliant woman by my side to think of these things,” he said and kissed his wife’s cheek, winking at her as he poured himself some tea, waiving the waiter away. He then turned back to Marabeth before saying, “He’ll need someone with your political skills to get through the evening.”
    Marabeth put her now shaking hands under the table to keep her parents from seeing how nervous the idea of being around Sam made her. She knew she would have to think fast to find an alternative to her mother’s idea or at least put some doubt in their minds that this wasn’t the best plan of action. “Isn’t Sam versed enough in politics to do this himself? I mean, if he’s going to be the new Minister of Defense, shouldn’t he learn to stand on his own two feet, so to speak? There will be many functions like this one in the future. Wouldn’t it be better to see if he can handle himself on his own before formally announcing that he’s the man for the job?”
    “It has already been announced and I don’t understand how you wouldn’t know that,” her father replied, looking curiously at his daughter. “Besides, there’s never been a better candidate for the position,” her father said with pride, brushing aside Marabeth’s comments about Sam’s abilities. “If there was anyone who could swim with the piranhas that are going to be at the function this weekend it would be Sam, I can assure you of that. But why should he have to go it alone when he can have your help?” her father said. “Natasha, what are we doing for the ambassador this afternoon?” he asked and Marabeth knew that was the end of the discussion.
    “If you’ll excuse me,” Marabeth said, standing in an effort to flee the room.
     
    “Yes, dear,” her mother said. “But don’t forget to pick out a new dress for the event. You’ll have to look your best. The