Royal Affair (14 page)

“Friedrich, you’re a man,” Vaclav said.
“Explain to her.”

“She’s doing just fine without my help,”
Friedrich said.

“Now, what you want to do is find a woman
who’s interested in you,” Dixie said. “It looked to me as if that
nice Fräulein Werksman kind of liked you.”

“She’s a sweet thing but lacking in
passion,” Vaclav said.

“So, you cultivate it in her,” Dixie said.
“Think of how much more successful you’ll be if the woman actually
likes you.”

Vaclav let loose with a few nervous
“ha-has.” “You could be right, dear Dixie.”

“I know I am. And just because we’ve become
friends and all, I’m going to give you some advice.” She moved in
until their noses almost touched. What Americans referred to as
“getting in someone’s face,” no doubt.

“Stay away from Americans,” Dixie said. “You
know what they say about us.”

“Applehood and mother pie?” Vaclav said.

“We’re not fully civilized.” Dixie patted
his chest with each word for emphasis. “And a lot of us have
guns.”

More nervous laughter from Vaclav. “You
joke.”

“Not at all.” Dixie glanced at the woman
from the embassy. “What do you say, Miss…”

“Carter,” the woman supplied.

“Do you have a gun, Miss Carter?” Dixie
asked.

“I’m sure I could find out where to get
one,” Miss Carter answered.

“There, you see?” Dixie patted Vaclav’s
chest one more time.

Vaclav’s ha-has turned to yeses, and he
nodded furiously.

“Now, you go off and find Fräulein
Werksman.” Dixie backed away from Vaclav, finally, and he took off
as quickly as dignity allowed.

Casey burst out laughing, while Miss Carter
simply looked relieved. Friedrich went to Dixie, took her hand, and
kissed the back. “Masterful, my dear.”

“Just let me know whenever a fox gets in the
henhouse,” Dixie said. “I know how to run them off.”

“I wish Kurt had been here to see that,”
Casey said.

“Say, where are our husbands?” Felice
asked.

A horn fanfare blared from the end of the
dance floor, and everyone turned. Several musicians with trumpets
had joined the orchestra, and the three young princes of Danislova
stood among them.

“Champagne, everyone, quickly,” Dev said.
“It’s time for a toast.”

Waiters passed through the crowd, providing
glasses for people who didn’t have them. Friedrich’s and Marta’s
were heavy crystal that seemed very old.

When Dev scanned the crowd to see that the
gathering was ready, he lifted his own glass. “To my father, Prince
Royal, the finest man I know.”

Kurt next lifted his champagne in a toast.
“And to Marta VonRamsberg, his bride and second self.”

Finally, Ulrich grinned as he hoisted his
glass. “And to their union, created in love.”

Everyone drank, though Marta had to work to
get past the lump in her throat. While the orchestra began the
Danislovan national anthem, she stood under the shelter of her
husband’s arm as he nestled her against him. And she finally
understood the fairy tale’s ending. For surely she would live
happily ever after.

Alice Gaines
is the award-winning
author of over seven books and thirty shorter works for publishers
such as Avon Impulse, Harlequin Spice Briefs, Red Sage Publishing,
and Changeling Press. You can find her at Twitter, Facebook, and
Pinterest as AliceGaines. Alice has a Ph.D. from UC Berkeley and
lives in Oakland with her pet corn snake, Casper. Besides writing,
her passions include her church and soul band, Tower of Power.

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at
[email protected]
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