Putting her hands on the sill, Brie looked down. The guards were changing. As she watched the quiet, rather charming procedure, she wondered if Reeve felt it was time her guard also changed. And what she’d do if he left.

Of course, she’d known all along she’d have to face the gossip. Their engagement was still top news, not only in Cordina and Europe, but in the United States, as well. It wasn’t possible to leaf through a magazine without finding herself.

That was nothing, Brie told herself with a little shrug. Gossip came and went. Unconsciously she twisted the diamond on her finger. Yes, gossip wasn’t important. But Reeve was—perhaps too important.

If she understood herself better, her life better, would she know how to deal with what was happening? Or should she be dealing with what wasn’t happening? No, life wasn’t simple.

Falling in love must be difficult enough when everything was normal, but when there were so many blank pages, so many responsibilities to be learned, it was more frightening than exhilarating.

He’d go back to his farm, she reminded herself. To his farm, to his country, to his life. She, her family and a handful of people who had to be trusted were already aware of that. Even if Reeve asked her, could she go? He wouldn’t ask, she told herself, trying to accept it. After all, she was just one lover in his life, one woman, one incident. It couldn’t be for him as it was for her, where he was the only one.

Responsibility. She closed her eyes a moment as she forced the word into her head. She had to think of her responsibilities and stop dreaming. There’d be no splashy wedding, no lovely white dress and veil that every designer in the world was hoping to make. There’d be no huge cake, no crossed swords. There’d be an end, and a polite goodbye. She had no right to wish differently. But she hadn’t the strength not to.

When she turned, the figure across the wide corridor had her jolting back toward the windows.

“Alexander.” Brie dropped the hand she’d pressed instinctively to her heart. “You frightened me.”

“I didn’t want to disturb you. You looked …” Unhappy, he wanted to say. Lost. “Thoughtful.”

“I was watching the guards.” The smile she gave him was the same polite one she gave to everyone. Everyone but Reeve. But unlike Alexander, she didn’t notice. “They look so trim and handsome in their uniforms. I was on my way to the ballroom to make sure everything was in order. It’s hard to believe there’s so little time left before the ball and yet so much to be done. Nearly all the responses are in, so—”

“Brie, must you talk to me as if I were someone you had to be polite to?”

She opened her mouth, then shut it again. He’d described it perfectly. She couldn’t deny it. “I’m sorry. It’s still so awkward.”

“I’d rather you didn’t put on that well-rehearsed front with me.” He was young, tall and unquestionably annoyed. “You don’t seem to find it necessary with Reeve.”