“Always.” He tightened his hold for a moment, then kissed the top of her head. “Father used to say it was because we both thought we knew everything.”

“Well, at least I can’t claim that anymore.” With a quick, cleansing breath, she drew away. “Please don’t resent Reeve, Alex. I can’t say I didn’t in the beginning, but the point is he’s making quite a sacrifice staying here, going through all these maneuvers, when he’d rather be in his own country.”

“It’s difficult.” Alex put his hands in his pockets and looked out the window. “I know he’s under no obligation and what he’s doing is done as a favor. I like him, actually.”

Brie smiled, remembering that Bennett had used the same phrase. “I thought you did.”

“It’s just that I don’t think things like this should go out of the family. Loubet’s bad enough, but unavoidable.”

“Would you get angry if I said I’d rather have Reeve hovering around me than Loubet?”

For the first time she saw Alexander grin. It was fast and endearing. “I’d think you’d lost your mind if you said otherwise.”

“Your Highness.”

Both Alexander and Brie turned. Janet Smithers gave them each a faultless curtsy. “I beg your pardon, Prince Alexander, Princess Gabriella.”

She was, as usual, flawlessly groomed, with her dark hair tidy in a chignon and her rather thin face touched by only the most discreet of cosmetics. Her diction was perfect, unaccented, clear. Her suit was classically and cleanly cut. And, to Brie’s eyes, boring. Janet Smithers was efficient, intelligent, quick and quiet. If she were in a room with more than four people, no one would notice her. Perhaps for that reason alone, Brie was driven to be kind to her.

“Did you need me for something, Janet?”

“You’ve had a phone call, Your Highness, from Miss Christina Hamilton.”

“Miss …” Brie trailed off a moment as she struggled to put details with the name.

“You went to college with her,” Alexander supplied, dropping a hand on Brie’s shoulder. It struck him that he was explaining to her about her closest friend. His touch was gentle. “She’s an American, the daughter of a builder.”

“Yes, I’ve visited her in—Houston. The press is sure she’ll be in my wedding party, if not the maid of honor.” Brie thought back on the newspaper clipping she’d been provided. A tall, stunning woman with a mane of dark hair and wicked smile. “You said she phoned, Janet. Did she leave a message?”

“She requested that I locate you, Your Highness.” Not by the slightest expression did Janet reveal her thoughts on the request. “I’m to tell you that she’ll phone back at exactly eleven o’clock.”

“I see.” Amused, Brie looked at her watch. That gave her fifteen minutes. “Well, then, I’d best go down to my rooms. Janet, if you don’t mind, could you check the ballroom for me and make notes on anything left undone? I’m afraid I won’t have time now.”