“I’m probably going to pay more attention to this than the play.” She leaned over to kiss him, a kiss he returned with a surprising delicacy. “Thank you, Alexander.”

“Thank me only when the evening is finished.”

She was nervous when she entered the theater. Then she was stunned when she entered the royal box and the crowd below rose to its feet to cheer her.

She found her hand caught in Alexander’s. There was a smile in his eyes as he bent over and kissed it. Though she felt the emotion swirling, she managed to smile in return, and taking his lead, acknowledged the crowd with a curtsy.

Alexander held her chair with great satisfaction. She had yet to realize it, but she had just completed her first official duty.

“It has to be good.” She tried not to squirm as she waited for the curtain to rise. “I wish I could slip backstage for just a minute and see—”

“I have the doctor’s orders, chérie.”

“I know, but—Oh, God, here goes.”

She held his hand tightly throughout the first act. Felt her stomach churn time and time again. Mentally she made a list of every small flaw or break in pacing. She thought of half a dozen changes that would improve it.

But there was laughter. Pride in her troupe, in herself, settled firmly as she heard it. The dialogue was sharp, often acerbic and very American, but the theme of a bumpy romance was international.

When it was over, she counted the curtain calls.

“A dozen.” She turned, laughing to Alexander. “A dozen of them. It was good. It was really, really good. I want to change the blocking just a bit in the second scene, but—”

“You won’t think about blocking tonight.” He took her hand and led her out of the box. Three guards stood at attention. She tried not to notice them, to think only of the play.

“I don’t know if I can stand to wait until the reviews come in. Alex, couldn’t we go backstage for just a minute so that I can—”

“Not this time.” With the guards flanking them, he led her down the side steps. There were reporters, and cameras flashed, but security held the media in check. Before Eve had blinked the lights out of her eyes, they were back in the limo.

“It went too quickly.” She leaned back, trying to absorb it all. “I wanted it to last and last, yet I was so nervous. It seemed like everyone was looking at us.”

“It made you uncomfortable.”

“Only a little.” That was already past. “I’m going to convince Franco to let me watch from the wings tomorrow.”

“You’re not tired?”

“No. Honestly.” She smiled as she drew in a deep breath. “I feel incredible. I suppose Cinderella felt the same five minutes before midnight.”