Page 10 of The Duke's Virgin
“Plate?” she suggested. “It sounds odd in German, but I get the point.”
“It does sound better in English. But the point is the same. You’ve enough to learn, enough to adjust to, moving from New York City to Vaduz, going from a Broadway star to the life you now live.”
“I wouldn’t give it up for anything.” She sipped her coffee and rolled her eyes. “Although it was nice to sleep in this morning. I adore those rotten babies, but not hearingMamaat the crack of dawn for once is nice.”
“That wasn’t what you said earlier.” Bastian stroked his fingers down her arm. “You were talking about how odd it was, how quiet it was, not having them around.”
“Well. It is.” She wrinkled her nose and went to add something else, but the arrival of breakfast had her breaking off.
She chatted with the staff and Bastian looked at me, a faint smile on his lips. “Regan makes friends with everybody she meets.”
I couldn’t tell if it was an explanation or a warning.
I knew there were those who’d be bothered by her friendliness toward the house staff. I wasn’t, although I rarely said more than hello. I found myself smiling as she chatted with them, teasing out answering smiles and responses in just a few minutes.
Once we were alone, I looked at Bastian. “You’ve got a diplomatic weapon there. She just smiles and people melt.”
Regan blushed. “What?”
“Nothing.” Bastian leaned over and stroked his hand down her hair before kissing her temple. “Absolutely nothing.”
* * *
“When doyou plan to head back to Lichtenstein?”
Bastian glanced back at me while Regan continued ahead, lingering in front of a painting in the gallery.
“We leave later today.” He nodded toward his wife. “She doesn’t like being away from the babies too long. I don’t either.”
“It sounds like being a father agrees with you.” Together, we walked over to study a wall that held old weapons, some of them more than a century old. “It’s odd how well it suits you. I never would have imagined saying that.”
Bastian laughed. “Neither would I.” He rocked back on his heels, studying an ancient broadsword with admiring eyes. “I reviewed the information your assistant sent me about the software company. I’ve got a man in mind who would work well, if you’re interested.”
“Just send the names to Stuart. We’ll talk again later.” Ruefully, I smiled. “We’re about to be family, after all. We have time. Which reminds me…” I checked my watch, a Blancpain Le Brassus Geraint had given me for my twenty-fifth birthday. “I need to leave. I have plans in Monaco, and if I don’t leave now, I’ll be late. Sorry.”
I tried to actually sound that way, although I wasn’t. I liked Bastian, but my plans for today had been set for months. The ball hadn’t been planned until eight weeks ago.
To my surprise, Bastian gave me a quicksilver smile. “The Formula One race?”
“Excuse me?”
“Marcel and I used to watch. You’ve been seen on the track a few times. There’s speculation, but he knows…heknewyou.” A shadow flicked across his face. “He mentioned you were friends with the driver.”
“I…yes. We are friends.”
“Have you ever driven one of the cars?” Bastian asked, a somewhat wistful note in his voice.
I glanced around, then leaned in. “Tell nobody. My parents have this terrible idea that I’m always responsible. It’s easier if they keep thinking so.”
“I understand.” Humor glinting in his eyes, he held out a hand. “Enjoy your trip. I think I’ll take Regan out to find my parents. It won’t be long before we need to leave as well.”
Five
Stacia
Giddywasn’ta feeling I was overly familiar with. I had a passing acquaintance with it, sure. Like when Ifinallyescaped my parents’ overwhelming presence by attending Oxford, a university on the other side of the Atlantic Ocean.
Of course, mygiddyglee at being away from their ever-watchful presence hadn’t lasted too long because, within a few days, afamily friendhad dropped by to check on me, setting up a pattern that had followed for years.
