To Thine Own Self

"I'm Freda," she said with a smile and stuck out her hand.

Carmen shook her hand. "Yes, I remember you. I think we shared a geometry class the last year of school."

"Yes. You helped me with my homework a lot." She glanced around. "Where's Josh?"

If Alex had been where he could hear that for the second time tonight, it probably would have bothered him. Carmen explained what had happened and introduced Alex with a point of the finger.

"Oh, so he belongs to you. I wondered …He has such kind eyes."

Yes, Alex did have kind eyes, though she had never actually thought of it that way before. Carmen offered a chair at their table, but Freda had friends on the other side of the room. She visited briefly and then joined them.

Not surprising at all, Alex and Lillie won the contest. When they returned to the table out of breath and laughing, Carmen complimented them. Lillie was glowing with excitement.

"I just love to do the Cha Cha and Alex is a Prince!"

Carmen looked at Alex. Lillie was the second woman to call him a prince this evening. She had never thought of him that way, but it did fit. Whether it was love or blood that made his father insist that Alex inherit the estate, Alex was as trapped as a prince.

Alex lifted his brows and shrugged.

She stared absently at her glass of punch. So much was expected of him. It must be difficult to live up to so many people's expectations. Then again, many people would enjoy the attention. He didn't seem to mind it tonight. In fact, he appeared to be relaxed - in his element. In the last few years, since he had made peace with his father, he had finally brushed the chip from his shoulder. He no longer bristled at the mention of the name Medena, nor did he avoid them. He actually sought them out to spend time with them, as he had on this last trip. Alex had changed, but had she?

A hand squeezed her shoulder and she glanced up to find Alex watching her.

"I wouldn't have danced with her if I had known it would bother you."

She smiled. "It didn't bother me. It was much more fun watching you two than it would have been having you pick me up off the floor repeatedly."

Their conversation was interrupted briefly while a man asked Lillie to dance. She was off again, leaving them at the table alone.