Free Mistress to the Prince by Elizabeth Lennox Page A

don’t you come over and say hello to Max?  I’m sure he’d be thrilled to see you here. I’ll bet he didn’t even know you were coming. ” She leaned for ward and said in a whisper , “I know he’s pretty bored right now.   He’s got some silly blond woman leaning on his side and you know how he hates blonds , ” she laughed. 
     
    Tara immediately shook her head.  “Oh, I don’t think so.  Who did your mother set him up with tonight?” she couldn’t resist asking.   She wasn’t aware that he disliked blonds.  Tara thought that was his preference. 
     
    “No one,” Marabeth said as if she were surprised Tara would even ask the question.  “For some reason, he wouldn’t let her even introduce the subject.  He’s been a bit of a bear lately regarding that particular subject .   This woman just sort of attached herself to him and has made herself comfortable despite his displeasure.  I can tell any moment now he’s going to slice her with his usual caustic words and you know what will happen then.  The tears and the apologies… ” Marabeth shuddered and wave d her hand.  “You know the rest since we’ve seen it so many times,” she laughed. 
     
    “Oh!” Tara said, not sure what to make of Marabeth’s comments.  But she had definitely seen Max cut a woman down who was being silly and obtuse.  Men weren’t immune either to his biting words if the man in question wasn’t making sense.  But he usually reserved his best lines for the mercenary women who were too blatant in their ambitions to tie him down .  “Well, I see the Minister coming up behind you.  We won’t keep you.”
     
    Marabeth immediately turned and greeted her husband Sam, who put his hand on her waist, then turned to Tara .  “Good evening, Tara .  Why are you hiding over here in the corner?  Why don’t you come with us to the family table?”
     
    Tara physically backed up at the idea.  “Oh, no !   We’re not here to intrude,” she said.  “I’m sure my date would prefer to sit over here where we can observe the party better.”
     
    Sam’s eyes narrowed slightly at Tara but the smile remained on his face.  “Nonsense,” he said, not taking no for an answer, “Come along.  I’m sure everyone will be thrilled to see you.   And I do mean everyone, ” he emphasized mysteriously. 
     
    He bent down and whispered something in Marabeth’s ear.  When he was finished, she raised questioning eyebrows to her husband, who mysteriously nodded.  That created a huge grin on Marabeth’s face and she turned to Tara and seconded her husband’s invitation.  “Absolutely,” she said, “you must come join us.  It looks like you two are finished with your meal so come along.”
     
    Tara ’s stomach started fluttering nervously.  “Really, we’re fine over here by ourselves,” she tried to explain but Greg was too excited at the idea of meeting more royalty and he was already following Sam and Marabeth , almost leaving Tara behind in his enthusiasm . 
     
    “This should be amazing,” he said encouragingly to Tara , already following behind Princess Marabeth and the Minister of Defense.  “You’ve never met the royals, I’ll bet.  Isn’t this the best date you’ve ever been on?” he asked.  Tara didn’t answer even though the fact that Princess Marabeth had come up to greet her, an obvious indication that Tara had indeed met the princess before.  She was coming to understand that Greg wasn’t very smart about picking up on clues. 
     
    There was nothing to do but follow the three of them.  Tara didn’t contradict the fact that she had already met the royals of Cordova.  The idea occurred to her that she could just run from the building or throw on someone else’s shawl to cover her dress.  But no one was wearing anything she could grab and her own shawl was back in the cloak room which would be impossible to get to since there was still a long line of people coming in