Greg was too busy surveying the party and the incredible beauty of the palace ballroom to notice her panic. He almost left her behind at one point when he spotted the lavish buffet table in one room. “Let’s head over for some food,” Greg said excitedly. “I don’t know about you, but I’m starving. I wonder if the food here is any good,” he joked.
She was so nervous, she doubted she would be able to eat anything. “I’m sure it’s wonderful,” she replied diplomatically, thinking about the breakfast she’d had earlier this week. The palace chef was world renowned for her feasts so really there was no question about the tastiness of the food. It was a given.
They went through to the dining room where a buffet table was set up. Many people were already milling about, eating and socializing. It wasn’t as crowded in here so Tara became a little nervous, worrying that she might be picked out in a crowd. “Greg, I’m not really hungry.” She glanced around, looking over her shoulder in fear that she’d be recognized.
Greg barely acknowledged the quiver in her voice as he licked his lips in anticipation of the food. “Hold on. Let me just grab a plate and we’ll head back out. I’m sure you’re loving all the fancy dresses. Just observe for a moment, okay? I know women are always trying to out do each other with their clothes and shoes.”
“Yes, they are lovely,” she said distractedly, looking over her shoulder. Normally she would make a pithy observation about his sexist comment but she just couldn’t think beyond getting out of the area and into a less conspicuous position.
Greg picked up a plate and handed one to her. “Here, it might be too crowded to eat later,” he said insensitively. He then proceeded to pile both plates with delicious smelling foods. He led her to a table in the corner where they could watch the other guests mill about. “I wish I knew more people here,” he said, stuffing a lobster canapé into his mouth and looking around. “I’ll bet there will be celebrities here tonight. Don’t royals usually have lots of those kinds of people fawning over them?”
She didn’t even bother to respond to such a silly comment. Royals were basically celebrities in their own right and Max had a hard time going out in public at times, especially when a new magazine article popped up about him. Tara looked around and noted several dignitaries she spoke to on the phone almost weekly. They didn’t recognize her, thankfully.
She was nibbling on her food, barely eating anything and listening half-heartedly to Greg talk about his work when her luck ran out. “Tara?” a feminine voice asked from behind her.
Tara looked around and her stomach fell. It was Princess Marabeth looking amazingly beautiful in a green, beaded dress that made her hair look more red and sparkling than usual. “Good evening, Your Highness,” Tara rose and curtsied automatically.
She noted that Greg didn’t stand and she reached behind her to pull him up as protocol dictated. He needed to show the princess respect as a woman by rising from the table, if not bowing because of her title. “Greg,” she started when he finally got the hint, “this is Cordova’s Royal Princess, Marabeth. Your Highness, this is Greg Mallory.”
“Good evening, Your Highness,” he said awkwardly, wiping his mouth with his napkin quickly and reaching out to shake her hand. “Wow! I didn’t think we’d be meeting royalty tonight!”
Marabeth was gracious as always and ignored the small slight because of his lack of a bow. She reached out and shook his hand despite the inappropriateness of the gesture. “It is a pleasure to meet you, Mr. Mallory. I’m delighted that you were able to support a very good cause,” Princess Marabeth said. “It is one of my projects and very important to me,” she said.
The perplexed look gave him away but he didn’t even try to save himself, Tara noted. “What’s that?” Greg asked with a blank look on his face.
Marabeth’s face remained blank but Tara could see the confusion in her eyes. “The Children’s Hospital? The reason we’re here tonight?” she reminded him. “Everyone here donated money to the fund and we’re celebrating the beginning of the next phase.”
“Ah,” Greg finally said, understanding the reason for the event. “Um, actually, my boss donated and he wasn’t able to attend tonight so he passed the invitation on to me,” he said. “But it’s a real treat to be here tonight,” he finished lamely. He understood he had made a very large faux pas.
Marabeth smiled brightly despite her well hidden dismay at the man’s words. “Well, please pass my thanks on to your boss,” Marabeth said then turned back to Tara. “Why 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 forward 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 waved 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?”