Angelica was relieved when the newly married couple stood up and moved to the cake table. It wasn’t that she didn’t like Jaxon—much to the contrary, he was a down-to-earth man and easy to talk to and had given her a glimpse of the struggles her own half-sister had endured, which had warmed her heart toward Siobhan—but she was more than eager to talk with Ludwig again.

Yet before she could join Ludwig, her sister intercepted her. “Your grand-duke is charming enough.”

“He’s not my grand-duke.” Despite her sharp answer, Angelica leaned forward, too curious not to ask what Maria knew, and whispered, “What did you say to him?”    

Maria primly smiled up at her and hooked her arm through her sister’s. “Wouldn’t you love to know?”

I thought that was the reason I’d asked.  Angelica merely raised a dark eyebrow at her sister.

Maria shook her head and shrugged, continuing to the table. “We talked about rather boring things. I restrained my natural urges to attack him.”  

Attack him? “What happened to the romance?”  

“I am looking out for you, Hermana Mayor.” Maria nudged Angelica, hugging her arm closer. “I merely informed him that if he treated you the same way he treats all his other mujeres sueltas, our big brother may not take it well.”  

Loose women? That’s a rather large statement. “Please, Hermanita, let me handle my love life my own way.”  

“You mean, allow it to die like a shriveled husk of a dead thing?” Maria stopped, taking both of Angelica's hands. “Te amo, Hermana Mayor, and I only want the best for you.”  

“I know.” Angelica hugged her close, pressing a kiss into her hair, and then pulled away, studying her. “What changed your tone? Before dinner, he was a perfect match. You and Mother nearly had me married off to him.”  

Maria sighed heavily. “I learned a few things about him. I sat beside Count Mark Wittgenstein. He’s a friend of Angus’s father. Or maybe it was his mother? I don’t remember. But anyway, he spilled all sorts of information.”

Angelica steeled herself. “Like?”  

“He goes after all the women. No, that’s inaccurate. Actually, women chase him but he never stays with one longer than a day or two, and then he’s done with them.”  

Any other woman might find issue with that, but not Angelica. This might work out to her benefit, then. “I think we’ll be safe, Hermanita. Trust me. I’m a big girl after all.” She gave her baby sister’s shoulders a squeeze. “I’ve got this covered.”  

Maria pulled away from her, her eyes wide. “You’re not thinking of…”  

“And why wouldn’t I be?”  Angelica retorted with a raised eyebrow.

Maria opened her mouth, but closed it again as the sound of silverware clanking against glass stopped her. “We’re continuing this conversation later.”  

But hopefully after it’s too late for you to talk me out of it.  

Because Angelica had made up her mind. She was going to have Ludwig.  

And then she would go back home a different woman.  

Ludwig lost Angelica in the crowd as they watched Angus and Siobhan cut the cake, a tradition he really didn’t understand perpetuating into modern days since historically the bride did this act alone to symbolize the loss of her virginity, which seemed barbaric for him. Yet, he was actually looking forward to the cake itself. German wedding cake was one of the things he enjoyed.

As cheers erupted from the small group of people gathered, glasses of golden Cristal Champagne raised, King Valantín stepped up to him, giving him a stony glare.

That doesn’t bode well. Ludwig pasted a smile on his face and greeted Angelica’s brother, who was a good inch or two taller and wider. He also looked as though he could take on any opponent single-handedly. “Your Majesty.”

“Your Royal Highness.” Valantín dipped his head, never letting his dark gaze shift from Ludwig’s. “Stay away from Angelica.”  

Well, at least he keeps things simple. Ludwig hadn’t even realized Maria had a chance to speak to her brother yet. “If she asks me to…”

“You’ll do so whether or not she asks you to.”  

Don’t count on it. Irritated at Valantín’s arrogant tone and not wanting to pick a fight with Angelica’s brother, Ludwig didn’t answer and turned his body slightly toward the cake table, focusing his attention on the married couple as they fed each other a bite and smiled for photos, hoping it would discourage the man from pursuing further conversation.

Ludwig didn’t appreciate being confronted by siblings and friends before he’d even had an opportunity to sample the goods.

“You will leave her alone,” Valantín snarled, before he moved into the crowd to greet his half-sister and her husband.

There was one thing Ludwig could say for Angelica.  

Those who loved her were loyal.  

But they needed to realize that she was an adult. And now that she’d surely been informed about his reputation, any choice she made regarding him would be done with her eyes wide open.

He hoped that was enough to get them to stand down. He didn’t look forward to a fight with a king, but neither would he back down from one.

A few minutes after Angus and Siobhan left, several guests started to filter out and Anchela grasped Angelica’s hand. “I believe we are leaving for the night, mi hija.”  

She should, and normally she would. “I believe I’m staying a little longer, Mamá. I want to dance.”  

The way the smile on Anchela’s face waned said that she knew more than Angelica was saying. “I will tell your brother that you’ll leave when he does.”  

Oh, please don’t. That is not my plan in the slightest. “Could you take him with you?”  

“Then, you’re admitting to reckless intent.”  

It wasn’t as if she could hide anything from her mother. “Not…entirely reckless, Mamá. Please just trust me to be the adult I’ve always been?”  

Anchela sighed, then faced her fully. “You may think that Siobhan is moving into your position, but there are a great many things you are failing to consider.”  

I doubt that. You forget I’m the diplomat in the family. But she didn’t voice her thoughts.  

“I know you feel you have the entire situation mapped out, but you don’t. She will abdicate.”

“And give up the power?” Not likely.  

“A power she never had in the first place? All the added responsibilities that come with it?” Anchela shook her head. “Trust me, mi ángel. She has no wish to take over, so whatever you do tonight, be mindful of your place.”  

I have always been mindful of my place. But until that moment, she hadn’t fully realized what a stranglehold her responsibilities had on her.

“Angelica.”

“I hear you, Mamá.” And she did. More than Anchela probably realized.

Smiling, Anchela patted Angelica’s cheek and turned to leave, gathering Maria on her way out.  

I hear you. And I really don’t care. For once, I’m going to be mindless.

Ludwig watched as the two Aragonese women left. A waltz started. If this wasn’t his opportunity, he didn’t know what was.

But just when he was about to walk toward Angelica, countess Elisabeta Rosetti took his arm, her blonde hair pulled up in a sexy loose tangle of curls. “Dance with me.”  

He gently pushed her off. “Not now, Liz.”  Elizabeta was a loose cannon. When he’d tangled with her, he’d thought she’d known it was only a fling. She swore she had not.

“I wish to dance and no one else has asked me.”  

She’d obviously had too much to drink. “Please do not make a scene.”  

“I’ll make whatever scene I wish, thank you very much.”  

And she would, too.  

She leaned in close. “You won’t have me.”  

I believe I’ve made that quite clear already. He smiled but a bland frown marred his forehead. “Elizabeta.”

“Then introduce me to your new friend.”  

Elisabeta wasn’t a hard woman to understand, really. She went after the largest prize, no matter the consequences. If she couldn’t trap Ludwig, she would find another.  

“And who do you have your sights set on this time?”  

She smiled, swaying. “That dark hunk of a king.”

“Valantín?” When she bobbed her head, he laughed. He’d always known she had rich tastes, but even this was a bit much for her. “He is far from your reach. Now, come on. Who did you arrive with? I think you’ve had quite enough to drink.”  

“I’ve not had too much to drink and I would thank you kindly to stop trying to cut me off like some big brother.”  

Which was something she needed at this very moment. Or parents who would rein her in. However, she had neither of those things. “Who did you arrive with?” He scanned the shrinking crowd, hoping beyond hope that she hadn’t come alone.  

She scowled. “Egon.”  

Ludwig scanned the room, hoping to find his friend Baron Egon Richardson nearby.

“Take me to Valantín.” Her cupid lips puckered into a cute pout. “I will turn his heart. I know it.”  

“You most certainly will not.” He grabbed her elbow and continued to scan the room.  

“Come, Ludwig, introduce me—”

“You are entirely out of his league.”  

“But that waitress, Siobhan…she married a king.”  

“The waitress is your queen now,” Ludwig said with enough inflection to get his point across. “And she is also a princess of Aragon. Siobhan isn’t Cinderella, Liz, and neither are you.”  

Egon stepped up to them with an apology already on his lips. “I’m terribly sorry, Ludwig. I didn’t realize she would be a problem.”  

“Really, Egon, it’s not your fault. One day I hope she will learn.” And he did. “Please take Lady Elisabeta home.”

He watched the couple make their way to the exit before he looked around the ballroom.

It was time to see if he could do anything about his own situation. And see how much of a problem he was going to end up being—for the king.