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She half turned back to him and saw an odd expression on his face.

‘Leandro?’

His heavy lids dropped over his eyes as his chest lifted. ‘I like the way you say my name.’ He shook his head, appearing for a split second almost as thrown by his confession as she was.

The sound of a throat being cleared sliced through the tension in the air. Franco, an apologetic expression on his face, stood there.

‘Sorry, but you wanted to know immediately when I got the information you wanted on Tomaz.’

Leandro turned to Elsie, who pinned on a smile.

‘It’s fine, don’t mind me. I’m just going to take this lady back to her mum,’ she said brightly as she kissed the dog’s silky ears.

She took a couple of deep breaths and walked across to where the Dowager Queen sat.

‘Tea!’ she said, glancing at the tray on the table between the seats as she slid into a chair opposite the older woman. ‘Just what I need.’

‘Milk, lemon…?’

‘You got any brandy?’

It took no effort to allow her survivalist mask to peel away; it was actually a bit of a relief. ‘Sorry, it’s just this is all a bit…’ She moistened her lips. ‘A bit much?’

A cool hand covered her own. She patted Elsie’s hand, the empathy in her pretty face slowly resolving into anger as steel slipped into her eyes, increasing the similarity to Leandro’s.

‘You are not alone as I… I do understand, but you are a strong person, I can see that, and other people will too, and of course you have Leandro.’

Elsie was not small and delicate; she didn’t inspire protective instincts in men and she had always been glad of it. While she took pride in being independent, she was aware that not everyone had the sort of family support network that she did.

‘I’m sure I won’t need protecting.’

The older woman didn’t smile back. Maybe she hadn’t quite hit the jokey tone she had been aiming for, possibly because she was wondering what it would feel like to be the woman who inspired Leandro’s protective instinct, which was no concern of hers.

‘You will be protected. Leandro is so very different to his father, but then you already know that. I know he cares about his country and, of course, you.’

Elsie saw the bowl of nuts on the table opposite and instinctively moved away. ‘Do you mind removing those—I’m allergic to nuts.’

‘Of course.’ The Dowager, all concern, got up to perform the task herself. ‘I am surprised that Leandro didn’t tell the staff that you need a nut-free environment.’

‘I might not have mentioned it to him…’ she said vaguely. ‘I will, though, don’t worry.’ It was obvious from her expression that the Dowager found her explanation a bit lame so she went for a distraction. ‘She is a sweetie. I love whippets.’

The dog needed no further encouragement than a blown kiss; she jumped on Elsie’s lap at once.

‘No, it’s fine,’ Elsie said as her mistress made to retrieve her. ‘I love dogs. Good girl,’ she crooned.

‘So when will you make an official announcement?’

Elsie looked at her over the dog’s head. ‘I’m not sure of the timetable here—a few papers to sign, hoops to jump through…? Actually, it’s my parents’ anniversary in three weeks, so I…we thought we might make the official announcement there.’

‘Your parents will hopefully be in a good mood, and overlook my deep character flaws,’ Leandro said.

‘You scared me half to death… What were you in another life, a ninja? Have you been listening in?’ she accused, bristling with suspicion. For a big man, he moved very silently.

He grinned, unrepentant. ‘To be honest, I wanted all the paper-signing and official stuff out of the way before we get to the fun parts.’

‘So the Council knows?’

‘I would be surprised if anyone doesn’t know by now.’