“I may not be worried about finding a wife, but I am always happy to make a new friend.” He smiled at me, and I felt a little better.
“That would be nice.” I let him pull my chair out and help me sit, before he went to find his own seat.
“Welcome to Lilaria.” Daniel winked at me as he walked away.
“Kyle is not someone you should befriend.” Alex sat next to me and leaned close. “He’s only interested in what kind of dowry you have.” He glared over to where his sister was joking with the young duke. “Among other things.”
“Thanks, Captain Obvious,” I whispered. “Tell me you’ve told your sister this.”
“Sisters don’t like to hear that kind of stuff from brothers, but yes, I’ve tried.” Alex opened his napkin and laid it over one leg. “You, on the other hand, have no one else to tell you this.”
“Not true. Barney has already informed me that I’m fresh meat.”
“He told you that? Those exact words?” The skin along his jaw tightened and he glared at where Barney was asking for a refill.
“Calm down. I’m not an idiot.” I shook my head.
“He can be very convincing when he wants to be. I don’t want to see you be taken advantage of.” He looked at me with frustrated eyes. “Consider it a friendly warning.”
“Are you upset that you can’t stomp around like a caveman and pee on my leg?” I poked his shoulder. “I’m not a tree, Your Highness.”
He laughed and several of the people at our end of the table turned their attention toward us. “What happened to my nickname?”
“That was an accident. Not going to happen again.” I looked around the table, noticing how everyone was watching us. The queen was smiling behind her wineglass and Rose was decidedly ignoring us as she spoke with the prime minister and his wife. Catherine, however, was grinning widely from her seat next to Kyle, a complete contrast to the glower he was shooting my way.
The food was delivered quickly and no one wasted time before eating. I could understand why; the food was delicious. I answered questions about my schooling, my family, and what I thought of Lilaria. I answered everything with the simplest answers I could manage. I didn’t want to tell these people my life story. By the time dessert was placed in front of me, I was exhausted.
When the queen stood to signal the end of the dinner, everyone raised a glass. “We’re honored to have back among us one of our family. Samantha, may you find happiness in Lilaria.”
She left shortly afterward with Rose and the prime minister, signaling that we could leave if we were ready. Catherine and Kyle made their way to where I was standing up. Alex had his back to me, talking to one of the parliament members.
“We’re heading out, want to come along?” Kyle had his hand on Catherine’s back but smiled at me in a way that made me want to punch him. He was definitely a worm and the fact Catherine seemed oblivious worried me. He was an attractive guy, but he oozed creep.
“Maybe another time. I’m ready to call it a night.”
“Would you like me to show you to your room?” Kyle dropped his hand from Catherine and stepped forward. Her eyebrows pulled together as she watched him.
“I’ve already offered to show her to her rooms.” Alex placed a hand on my back.
“Is that so?” Kyle glared at Alex. “Is it the same room Melissa used? Or the one Lora or Maggie stayed in? Maybe the room Adriane used the last time she stayed at the palace? How about the one Tabitha used? Maybe that was the same room Melissa stayed in.”
“Kyle!” Catherine gasped. Alex’s fingers stiffened against my back and I knew he was worried how I would react to a list of his conquests.
“I see pedigree has no bearing on whether or not you’re an ass**le.” While it bothered me to think of Alex with all those women, I was more disgusted by Kyle’s behavior. “Now, if you’ll excuse me, I need to get some rest.”
Kyle sputtered, apparently surprised I had spoken up. Catherine looked at me with something close to jealousy and awe. Alex nudged me gently toward the exit. I left Kyle staring after us while Catherine watched thoughtfully.
Chapter Seventeen
Will America’s Duchess Fit in with the Other Royals?
—Celebrity Talk Magazine
“I apologize for that.” Alex ground his teeth when we were in the hallway.
“Don’t. It’s not your fault.” I was barely paying attention to the direction we went. I was so tired I had to focus on putting one foot in front of the other. I was also mentally chanting the list of women who had been with Alex, the image of him and Melissa flashing in my head. He stopped at a door and turned the ornate handle.
I stepped inside and looked at the giant bed and lavish furnishings. My bags had been unpacked and nightclothes were laid out on the mattress. I turned to look at Alex.
“Thank you. I guess I’ll see you sometime this week.” I bit my lip. I had no idea what the rest of the week held for me. Much less the rest of my life.
“Are you forgetting something?” Alex raised an eyebrow.
“What are you talking about?”
“Your dress.” He nodded toward me. “Or do you think you can manage on your own?”
I frowned. As much as I had complained about having to wear it, I was sort of fond of the dress and didn’t want to rip it. I looked up at him and nodded once before turning around so he could see the zipper. He closed the door behind him and moved toward me. I reached down to undo the belt at my waist but his hands slid around and closed over mine before moving them out of the way so he could do it. Slowly he pulled the belt from the loops and tossed it onto the bed. His fingers tugged the zipper at an almost torturous pace. His knuckles dragged along my spine the whole way and I shivered in response. When he slid the zipper over my bra I took a deep breath, but he never hesitated.