Arriving at the hospital gala on Duncan’s arm was quite the new experience for Alix. Thank goodness it was at a private estate, she thought to herself, and no paparazzi were out front. It was one of the smaller manor houses, but the gardens were extensive. Alix breathed in the small of fresh-cut grass, so absent in the city, and certainly absent from her New York memories.

She looked around at all of the rich, out on display. The countesses were all in short, summer dresses that cost more than some cars. Countless jealous eyes landed on Alix the second she walked in. She ignored them, for the most part. After all, she was just there to have fun. They could have their turn once she had left for her internship.

“Hi, Alix,” Helena said warmly as they walked over to greet her. Alix couldn’t help smiling back, still surprised at how nice and normal the princess seemed. While she hadn’t had time to go out shopping with her, Helena had called and graciously advised her on the expected attire for tonight. It had been a huge relief to Alix; Stella was too distracted at the moment to be of any help to her best friend.

Speak of the devil, she thought, spying Stella with Anton from afar. Alix waved hello, pleased that her help the previous week at the club had been useful in getting her friend closer to what she wanted. While she had expected to see a bit more of her best friend this summer, Alix of all people could understand how being focused on a goal could distract you from other things.

She felt Duncan’s arm around her waist and he led her over to his brother Leo, the crown prince.

“Your Highness,” she said, tilting her head. He flashed a dazzling smile in reply.

He certainly looked more like a future king than Duncan, with his expertly coiffed hair and smart suit. Duncan was more... rough around the edges was a good way to put it. Still expensively dressed and manicured, of course. But Leo held himself like a prince. Duncan held himself like everything was a party. Which, in a way; it was for him.

Helena took a break from hostess duties to come stand with her brothers.

“Why did you choose the children’s hospital for your main charity?” Alix asked. Each of the four siblings were expected to attach their name and support to a principal charity. Leo and Anton both supported different museums. Duncan hadn’t chosen his yet.

“My sister did the interior decoration after their last renovation,” explained Duncan, before Helena could answer. “She did an excellent job.”

Helena beamed at the praise. She went on to explain that because of the high concentration of specialists in Prynesse, many foreigners brought their children to the hospital for treatment. Duncan jumped in to explain that the new wing would help house those who needed financial help.

“You certainly know a lot about it,” said Alix, amazed. She hadn’t expected him to know anything more than what would be available at the bar.

He shrugged, as if it were no big deal.

“It’s my job to know about these charities,” he said simply. “I need to choose one to support soon. It’s only natural that I learn as much as I can about them.”

They continued chatting about the different charities they thought Duncan should pick. Alix was intrigued and amused by the playful banter that the siblings exchanged. She wondered what it must have been like to grow up surrounded by family.

When the talk turned to the details of the restoration of the central train station—a worthy cause for Duncan to support, according to Leo, but of little interest to Alix—she excused herself politely and made her way over to the tables to check out the silent auction. It was the sort of thing that was always present at these kinds of events, with the same kind of random assortment of donated prizes. She noticed a dinner for two at a restaurant that her parents loved. She thought it would help soften the blow of finding out that she was leaving soon. As she bent to write in her bid, she heard a shrill titter behind her.

She turned to see Lady Christiana of Gregoria, looking at her with an eyebrow arched in quizzical observation.

“You don’t really think he’s interested in going to restaurants, do you?” she sniggered in Prynessian. Her blond hair was pulled back tightly from her face, giving it a stretched look. Her dress was so short and cut so low that it was barely more than a luxurious hand towel held up by double-sided tape.

“I don’t think that’s really any of your business.” Alix’s reply in the same language was halting and awkward. She hadn’t expected to be speaking it tonight – the Duke’s family was mostly French and it’s all she had heard anyone speaking this evening until now. She felt her face grow hot under the critical stare of the other woman.

“Whatever,” Christiana said with a sneer. “Once he’s done with you, he’ll come back to me. He always does.”

She walked away, leaving Alix speechless, the pen dangling uselessly in her hand. She had never been on the receiving end of such an attack before, and suddenly thought of a dozen different things she could have said – in French. She had expected the jealous stares, but not this kind of petty attack. She looked around uneasily, imagining every eye in the room directed at her in hostile judgment. Was it just because she was here with the prince, or was she more of a target because of her years away? Alix squared her shoulders and tried to brush the thoughts away, thinking of her future away from the court that she’d already put into motion. The sooner she left all this craziness, the better, she thought to herself.

Duncan suddenly appeared at her side with a drink, and she was grateful for the distraction.

“Betting on anything interesting?” he asked.

She shook her head.

“Just something for my parents,” she said brightly. “Anything catch your eye?”

His face split into a grin and his eyes locked with hers.

“Oh, I see something I definitely want.”

The heat of Alix’s blush spread over her entire body. Christiana would just have to wait her turn; he wasn’t done with Alix yet. They hadn’t even gotten started. Her stomach fluttered in anticipation.

As if on cue, the music started. The dance floor in the middle of the wide, green lawn began to fill up as the lights strung in the surrounding trees began to flash. She watched Anton lead Stella out, and Leo had his arms around a gorgeous redhead. Alix didn’t recognize her; she wasn’t one of the nobles. She was so stunning that it didn’t really matter. Even Alix was a bit jealous of Leo.

Duncan moved to set their drinks on the tray of a passing waiter then returned to her side. His body, pressed up against her, excited her in a way that she hadn’t expected.

He didn’t even say a word as he took her hand and led her onto the dance floor. It was the same repetitive, pounding music as at the club, but the atmosphere was completely different. She wasn’t annoyed, or tired. She was excited, and eager.

Her backless dress allowed his hands to trail up her back, sending shivers down her spine despite the warm evening. He wrapped his arms around her and held her closer, the heat from his skin burning through the thin fabric of her silk dress.

“Is it just my imagination,” he said, his breath hot on her neck as he bent to whisper in her ear. “Or are you not wearing anything underneath this dress?”

He smiled wide when she nodded. The music sped up and his hands grazed her hips, her arms, her back, each touch sending a jolt of electricity through her body.

Alix could feel her heart pounding in her chest in a rhythm even faster than the music. She wanted him. It was as simple as that. His hand at her waist sent electricity down into the depths of her body. She ran her tongue across her lips before biting one. He sucked in a breath, leaned towards her, and bent his head again to whisper in her ear.

“Do you want to get out of here?” he asked.

She nodded, not trusting herself to speak.

“Let me just say goodbye to Helena,” he said, and took her hand in his. He walked her off the dance floor toward the manor house, his pace slower than she would have liked. Alix made her way to the entrance of the house, searching for a breeze to cool her feverish state.

On his way toward Helena, Christiana stepped into Duncan’s path. He smiled, brushed her arm, and planted a kiss on her cheek in greeting. Alix bristled, then caught herself. Why should she care? She wasn’t looking for anything serious with him, and he was on his way home with her tonight. But seeing him talk to Christiana so easily, probably in Prynessian, bothered her more than she wanted to admit. And knowing that he had already been with her, and that he might be again once she left, gave her twinges of jealousy she was not interested in exploring.

Where were these feelings coming from? One dance? Was she really that easy to seduce? This plan for summer fun might not be as easy as she thought it would be. It wasn’t worth her time to compete with anyone, and she should probably be focused on preparing for her departure, anyway.

It was time for her to leave, with or without Duncan, but she had come in his car. She looked around for Stella and spotted her in the middle of the dance floor, entwined with Anton. As Duncan continued to chat with Christiana, Alix made her way through the dancing bodies.

“Stella! I want to leave!” she cried above the music. Her friend turned to her, eyes begging, but Alix shook her head. “I can’t do this.”

Stella sighed, gave a quick kiss on the cheek to her prince, and loyally accompanied her friend off the dance floor and into the house. Duncan called out to her as she walked by, but Alix kept going. She didn’t turn her head until they had reached Stella’s car. Duncan hadn’t followed them. Alix didn’t know whether she was relieved or pissed off. A little bit of both, she admitted to herself, as she slid into Stella’s car.