“Don’t call me kiddo,” Gabby said, and something twisted in Dani’s chest. Gabby always used to say that, but unlike before, the admonishment didn’t seem to have any real heat behind it. Gabby had settled in well. She was working with a tutor until her German was good enough for her to attend the village school, but she seemed integrated into the social life of the village and was a particular friend of Imogen’s nieces.

Leo and Gabby had a whole new life, and it suited them. Dani was going to miss them when she went home. She thought she’d gotten used to being without them, but seeing them now, here, was like reopening a wound that hadn’t quite healed.

She had to get off this schmoopy line of thinking about how she was going to miss everyone when she was back in New York.

Back at the palace, the wedding preparations were rolling out as planned, thanks to the presence of a small army being commanded by Mr. Benz.

The only snag in the proceedings was that Dani managed to break the heel off one of her shoes. Mr. Benz whisked away both the shoe and Dani’s apologies, and Verene got to work making some last-minute adjustments on Dani’s dress.

“Knock, knock.” Max stuck his head into the dressing room. “Is everyone decent?”

“Yes, come in, Max,” Marie called from the chair where she was having her makeup done.

Dani smiled. She’d been wondering when Max would turn up. And wow, was he ever . . . something. She had told him once that she tended to forget that he was a baron. That had been true in New York. And even on the estate in Riems, when they’d been tucked away in his cottage or tromping around on the mountain. But here, now, he was every inch the baron. His outfit made him look like a freaking Disney prince. He had once threatened to wear a “frock coat complete with ceremonial sword” to her departmental party, and this must be that. He wore plain black pants, but the top was a deep blue jacket that made his eyes pop, but it was longer than a normal jacket and was covered with pins and bobbles and topped with a yellow sash.

“Well,” he said, making eye contact with Dani first as he came farther into the room, “doesn’t everyone look . . .” His eyes traveled down her body in a way that made her heart kick up, but oddly he looked almost angry. “Amazing,” he finished in a deadpan tone, although he had yet to lay eyes on anyone else.