“Hello, my little friend,” Max cooed, stooping to pick him up and chuckling when Max Minimus started licking his face. “Lovely to see you, too, my good boy.”

“What is happening?” Seb asked with wonder in his voice. “Who are you?”

Max, suddenly aware that he was not the type of person who got all mushy with tiny dogs, cleared his throat and straightened, trying to recapture some dignity. Normally, he would have swept Dani up in a hug, but he settled for a quick, formal kiss on the cheek on account of Seb’s scrutiny, though it did occur to him that his brother had told him a huge secret and here Max was being conservative in greeting his platonic friend. It was just that Seb would misinterpret. Max performed introductions while Max Minimus relieved himself. It was strange seeing Seb and Dani together. Between the two of them, Max felt so . . . tethered. In a good way—as if he owed these people something, but that owing was not unwelcome.

A steward arrived with Dani’s bag and Max Minimus’s crate and loaded them into the car. Max held the door for Dani. “Your holiday awaits, milady.”

Riems was charming. As they drove to Max and Sebastien’s family estate through the darkening night, they had to pass through the city itself, and Dani couldn’t help but exclaim over the narrow cobblestone streets and the half-timbered architecture that looked like something out of a storybook. It was November, so lots of the shops had twinkly Christmas lights up.

The von Hansburg brothers were pretty darn charming, too. She already knew that about Max, of course, but his younger brother was friendly and warm, if a bit shy. The fact that he’d come along to pick her up was such a nice gesture.

“We’re not that far out of town,” Max said as the stone buildings started to thin and eventually disappeared in favor of countryside. “It’s a thirty-minute walk if you’re ever inclined to make a prison break.”

“If you’re ever inclined to make a prison break, you merely have to call on me, Daniela,” Sebastien said with exaggerated courtliness.

“I meant if she needs a break from us,” Max said.

“Ah, yes.” Sebastien sobered. “Well, at least Mother and Father are absent.”

Dani had been relieved by the news that Max’s parents would be away. She was morbidly curious about them, these people who had raised Max, and tormented him, too, but glad she didn’t have to meet them until the wedding.

The estate was beautiful. Riems was in a valley—you could see mountains on all sides in the distance, the tallest of them capped with snow. One was smaller and closer than the others, and the estate was nestled at its foot in a landscape of gardens—mostly barren for the season, but she imagined they were lovely in the summer—surrounded by forest.