Chapter 7

Alexander

The dinner conversation was quiet enough that I found it easy to tune out. Polite conversation was never my thing, though Edward and my father understandably excelled in it. Most of the time I would try to participate, but tonight my mind was on other things.

Specifically, the fact that Tamara Callahan had rejected me.

I had never been rejected before. The whole way through the first course I tried to remember a time when I had, even if it was only in primary school, but nothing came to mind. By the time I made it to the roast beef, I was well and truly perplexed.

I tore off a hunk of meat and stole a surreptitious glance at my father, who was talking to my sister Victoria and not looking in my direction. I dropped the beef under the table and a wet smacking sound assured me that Hank devoured it instantly.

“You looked over at your father before you did that,” said Svetlana from beside me. I’d completely forgotten she was there. “I assume he doesn’t approve?”

I turned to look at her. “It’s not exactly polite, is it?” I replied. “I’ve tried reasoning with him that kings have been feeding the dogs at the table for hundreds of years, but he won’t have it.”

She laughed, a light tinkling sound. I understood why Edward thought we’d be a good match. Svetlana was pretty, with long blonde hair, creamy skin, and intelligent blue eyes. She was tall and willowy, and glided rather than walked. And, of course, she was wealthy and well-connected. But had meeting her changed my opinion of a royal marriage?

Not even close.

“My father won’t even let me have a dog,” she said. “He’s very strict about those sorts of things.”

I tore off another strip of meat and passed it down to Hank. “Fathers are like that.”

“What else do you butt heads with yours about?” she asked.

“All sorts of things.”

I could feel Svetlana’s frustration rippling through the air, and she turned to talk to one of her entourage instead. It was for the best.

As the servers came out to clear our plates, Edward rose from the table and walked up behind me. His wife, Clarissa, watched us curiously, though I had my suspicions why he was breaking out.

“Could I talk to you for a moment in private?” Edward inquired.

I suppressed a sigh and rose.

“Excuse us,” Edward said to the party. “We’ll be back in a moment.”

A couple of staff who were relaxing in the hallway scattered when they saw us. With nobody around to listen, Edward let me have it.

“What the hell is wrong with you?” he asked. “You’ve barely said a word all evening. Don’t you think thirty-one is a little too old to be playing the moody teenager?”

I tensed my jaw. “My mind is elsewhere.”

“Not good enough.” He shook his head. “You lead an extraordinarily comfortable life, Alexander. We all do. The least you could do is help to entertain your family’s guest rather than moping around like a discarded wet sock because you need to be fiercely independent at all times.”

“I doubt you’d be haranguing me so sternly if you weren’t trying to marry me to the princess,” I replied.

Edward fiddled with his cuff-links. “Participate more. That’s all I ask.”

“Fine.” I gestured toward the door. “Shall we?”

Edward didn’t seem to believe that I would give in that easy, but he allowed us to re-enter the room all the same. The servers came around with our next course, and I took the opportunity to participate a little.

“Svetlana,” I said. “Do you do much charitable work?”

She eyed me suspiciously. It wouldn’t take a Rhodes Scholar to correlate my change in attitude to the discussion I just had with my brother.

“My family funds a few charities, but I’m not personally involved in any of them,” she said. “And yourself?”

I shot a glance at Edward, who was watching our conversation like a man waiting for a bomb to go off. He wasn’t the only one watching, either. Both Clarissa and Victoria were curious as well. I spoke a little louder so everyone could hear.

“My brother and I are collaborating on a new charity initiative,” I began. “Well, I suppose it’s an old one. My mother was heavily involved in charity work before her death, but the few she created have suffered in the years since. We intend to revamp and relaunch her original charities, and to launch a new one she was planning in the months before she died but never got to bring to life.”

Svetlana’s eyes lit up. “That sounds wonderful! What’s the new charity?”

“Too many animal shelters in this country are having to kill dogs and cats in order to make space, or because they can’t afford to treat them,” I said. “Mother’s plan was to organize a shelter overflow system, effectively instituting a no-kill policy on a national level.”

I glanced over at Edward, wearing my best shit-eating grin. He looked furious. Served him right. He’d had plenty of time to look over my proposal, and I saw no reason why he wouldn’t agree to it.

“That’s an excellent idea!” Svetlana exclaimed, drawing my attention back to her. “I’ll tell my family when I return home and see if there’s any way we can contribute. I’m sure I could convince my father to expand the charity budget.”

Her enthusiasm was unexpected but appreciated. I would take all the help I could get when it came to getting this plan in motion, especially when my own brother might try to ground it out of spite.

I smiled warmly at the Swedish princess. “That would be wonderful. You’re too kind.”

The rest of dinner went by uneventfully. Edward either refused to look at me or had no business down my side of the table, and given that Svetlana had taken such a shine to my project, I figured it was only polite that we chat for the duration of the meal.

We had after-dinner drinks and I bid Svetlana’s party goodnight. They were staying in the guest quarters, but I likely wouldn’t see Svetlana before she left the next morning. She was visiting family up north for the remainder of her time here.

Svetlana paused at the doorway before leaving, as if waiting for something. I could feel Edward’s pointed look stabbing the side of my head but ignored both of them until she left.

Svetlana gone, Edward appeared at my side wearing a sour frown. He grabbed my arm and dragged me into the next room.

“What the hell was that?” he hissed. “She wanted you to walk her to her room.”

“I told you,” I said, jerking my arm from his grip. “I’m not into royalty.”

“I don’t understand this ridiculous notion you cling onto. You’re shooting yourself in the foot.” He shook his head, fingers flying on the sleeve of his shirt. “Svetlana’s beautiful. She’s well spoken, intelligent, cares about the same things as you. The fact that you won’t give her a chance just because she happened to be born into royalty is preposterous.”

“If I’m not interested, I’m not interested,” I said in a sharp tone that brokered no further argument.

Svetlana was all the things my brother described, and maybe a week ago I might have been inclined to carve out a little time in my schedule to see if there was something there worth following, but now I knew what I wanted. Svetlana didn’t make me feel anywhere close to how Tamara made me feel, even though she’d had a whole evening, whereas Tamara had drawn me in from the first few seconds. I wasn’t giving up on my actress yet. Not even close.

Since my love life was no longer on the table, Edward moved to the next item on his list of grievances.

“Why would you bring up the charities when I haven’t approved it yet?” He thrust his hands in his pockets and glowered at me. “Were you trying to make me look like a fool?”

“Of course not,” I said with an undignified snort. “But I had to give you a push somehow. You haven’t even looked at my proposal yet. What kind of bullshit is that?”

“I’ve been busy.”

I strode across the room to the sidebar and picked up the decanter of whiskey on top, pouring myself a glass. It was my father’s favorite. Bless him, he had a supply in almost every room.

“You’ve been busy or you just don’t care?” I said, staring at him over the top of my crystal glass. I took a sip and fire burned down my throat.

Edward charged toward me, jaw tense. “You think I don’t care about Mom’s work? Of course I do.”

“Then why haven’t you looked over the bloody proposal?”

Ed scraped a hand through his hair and glanced out the window, then back at me. He swore under his breath and moved next to me to pour himself a glass of whiskey too.

“I’ve got a lot on my plate,” he explained, replacing the cap on the decanter. He swirled the amber liquid around his glass and downed it in one go. “Nobody’s meant to know this yet, but Clarissa is pregnant.”

All the anger rushed from my mind like the announcement broke a dam. I clapped him on the shoulder and grinned.

“That’s incredible! Congratulations, brother.”

Edward’s face was a little too strained for somebody who’d been looking forward to fatherhood since he was a child himself. I could only imagine it had something to do with holding ultimate control over anyone he spawned.

“I never expected it to be so stressful,” he confided. “There are so many considerations we have to make before we even announce it to the press. And then...” He whistled through his teeth. “It’s going to be an absolute spectacle.”

A dark cloud swept in over my jubilant mood. The public had a tendency to go rabid where we royals were concerned. The announcement of a royal pregnancy was sure to dominate the airwaves for weeks, and it would be impossible for me to launch my charity initiative during that time. It would drown in the sea of press otherwise.

“If anyone can handle it, it’s you,” I said. “Just remember that.”

Ed’s grass-green eyes filled with warmth and he chuckled. “Clarissa’s doing an even better job than I am, and I don’t have to deal with vomiting every morning. She’s the real star.”

“You chose well.”

“Me?” He shook his head. “What makes you think I had any choice in the matter? When you find the right woman, you’ll realize that it was never a matter of choice.”

Things were getting a little too chummy between us and I was anxious to get back to my apartment. I might not be able to do the kind of work I wanted to do right now, but there was still one matter that sought my immediate attention.

“I’m going to bed,” I announced, draining my glass and setting it down. “Look over the proposal when you get a chance, will you?”

“Of course.” Edward stopped me as I went to leave, and I shot him a questioning look.

“Why don’t you come have a drink with Father and me?” he said.

He and Father often had late-night drinks by the fireplace, chatting about the weather or stocks or the like. I supposed my invitation was always implied, but it wasn’t often that one of them outright sought my company.

“Not tonight,” I said. “Goodnight.”

I left and strolled back to my apartment. Hank was lying on the bed when I entered, and wagged his tail but made no other attempt to move.

“Lazy mutt,” I muttered.

He wagged some more, willing me to come pet him with his eyes. Since I was powerless where he was concerned, I did. Nana took him out for me while we were at dinner, and I could tell he was exhausted. The woman might look frail, but she has a wicked arm on her and could throw his ball for hours.

I crawled into bed, poking Hank with my foot until he shifted over a little, and called Teddy.

“Teddy’s House of Sin,” he answered sweetly. “What’s your pleasure?”

“Oh, I’m afraid I’ve called the wrong number. I was looking for Bernard’s House of Sin.”

“Shush, you.” He chuckled. “How did the dinner go?”

“It went,” I said. “I’m afraid this isn’t a social call.”

“No? Do go on.”

“I need your help.”