Page 4 of The Prince Falls First
Corrado cleared his throat and Gabriel refocused on the woman in front of him, a beautiful brown woman in pink wearing an amused smile.
“Your Highness.” She curtsied, then glanced over at the woman in silver. “I see my friend has caught your eye.”
“How do you do?” he said, leaving out her name because he had missed Corrado saying it to him. “Yes, it’s quite a dress.”
“Her name’s Genevieve Ruffin. You should ask her to dance.”
Genevieve? Hmmm.
Was this woman always this forward? He didn’t mind it, especially if she gave him more information about Genevieve. “I will. However, I’d also like to dance with you.”
Her smile broadened. “I’d be delighted.” She leaned a little forward, and Gabriel followed. “I should warn you that, while Genevieve will accept your dance, she won’t be happy with it.”
On that intriguing note, she curtsied again and moved down the reception line.
As Genevieve approached, Corrado whispered her information, despite the fact he was sure to have overheard his conversation with her friend. “Miss Genevieve Ruffin, eldest daughter of the late Peter Ruffin, who was a former Minister of Education until his death.”
She met his eyes as she approached. Being a prince, people either avoided meeting his eyes, or they looked directly at him, usually out of curiosity. Yet, with her, he felt as if she were trying to rush through this tedious protocol to move on with her evening.
Hmmm….
“Your Highness.” Her voice was warmer and a little deeper than he’d expected from a woman who seemed like a fairy with her pale skin and blonde hair and shimmering silver clothes.
“Miss Ruffin. How do you do?”
“I’m well, Your Highness. Thank you.”
As she shifted to step down the line, he blurted out, “Do you enjoy balls like this, Miss Ruffin?”
She looked slightly disappointed, but it seemed her political smile was nearly as good as his. “At times, Your Highness.”
“Then perhaps I can ensure you enjoy this one. May I have a dance later?”
She pursed her lips and he wondered if she’d actually say no, but she merely smiled again. “Of course. I’d be honoured, Your Highness.”
He took her hand and kissed the back of it. A rakish move to be sure, but he couldn’t help it. “I look forward to it.”
He caught her quick intake of breath, but in the next moment wondered if he’d imagined it.
This time when she curtsied and stepped away, he let her go.
But he’d have his hands on her again soon enough.
GENEVIEVE
Gen watchedSam and Cary on the dance floor while she slowly sipped her wine. They seemed to be enjoying themselves, though she thought Sam might enjoy herself more if Cary stopped trying to grab her ass every other second.
Sighing, Gen put down the glass and reached for her plate. She always loaded up on food at these events, since food could be scarce at times at home. Her mother either forgot or chose to spend their grocery budget on keeping up appearances instead.
So far, Gen had danced with three men, none of them very promising as husband material. One would not stop talkingabout his yacht, the second was also an ass-grabber, while the third didn’t even bother with niceties and flat out asked her if she had any drugs and would she take sex for a hit of them?
Maybe this was the wrong crowd. Would she really find someone kind here, among the rich and ruthless? She had no desire to marry a narcissist either. She already lived with two and had no desire to live with another she then also had to fuck for the rest of her life. Maybe she should try?—
“It’s time for our dance, is it not?”
She jumped slightly and her plate wobbled at the sound of his deep voice. Damn, she’d been too caught up in her own thoughts to see him coming. She gave a hasty curtsy.
Prince Gabriel held out his hand with a smile. “Shall we?”
