As a rule, she might prefer the cozy, the more intimate, but the room had such power. Because she had grown up with it, power was something she expected as well as respected. But it was more the very age of the room that fascinated her. If she were very still, very quiet, she thought she could almost hear the conversations that had gone on there through the centuries.

“The first time I had dinner here, I was shaking like a leaf.”

“Were you?” Interested, he didn’t usher her in, but stayed at the entrance beside her. “I remember you being remarkably composed.”

“Oh, I’ve always been good at false fronts, but inside I was terrified. Here I was, fresh out of school and having dinner in a palace.”

“And this time?”

She wasn’t sure why it was necessary, but she slipped her arm from his. “I’ve been out of school quite a while.”

Two places were set at the table with candelabras and fresh flowers. Eve took her place at the side and left the head for Alexander. As they sat, a servant poured wine.

“It seems odd,” she said after a moment. “Whenever I’ve been here before, the palace has been full of people.”

“Gabriella and Reeve rarely stay here now that they’re settled at the farm. Or farms,” he corrected. “They split their time between their countries.”

“Are they happy?”

His brow rose as he picked up his glass. “Happy?”

“Yes, you know, happy. It comes somewhere down the list after duty and obligation.”

He waited silently as plates of chilled lobster were served. She had been too close to the mark with her talk of lists. He could never put his happiness before his duty, his feelings before his obligations. “My sister doesn’t complain. She loves her husband, her children and her country.”

“That’s not the same thing.”

“The family has done their best to lessen some of her duties.”

“It’s wonderful, isn’t it, that after that terrible time she went through, she has everything.” She saw his knuckles whiten on his fork, and reached automatically for his hand. “I’m sorry. Even after all this time it must be difficult to think of.”

He said nothing for a moment, just looked down at her hand, white, slender, covering his. It soothed. He’d never expected that. If it had been possible for him, he would have turned his over to grip hers. “It will always be difficult to think of, and impossible to forget that you were a part of saving both my sister and my brother.”

“I only ran for help.”

“You kept your head. If you hadn’t, we would have lost both of them.”

“I’ll never forget it, either.” Realizing her hand was still on his, Eve drew it away and made a business out of picking up her wine. “I can still see that woman’s face.”

“Deboque’s lover.”