In The Name Of Love

Chapter 30

"Excuse me. May I?" Horatiu, the head council man, asked.

"Of course," Mircea said without looking away from me.

He stepped away, too far, too far, and bowed his head. I bowed mine and he turned to dance with someone else and his mother was dancing with some important looking bloke.

I turned to Horatiu and bowed my head as he bowed his and then we began to waltz to a simple tune, but I was a little slow to get started.

"Do I need to give you a moment?" he asked with a smile.

"It's a lot to take in, in the space of a few hours," I replied.

He smiled. "We though you weren't going to make it."

"I almost didn't." I saw the frown in his eyes. "It's complicated. A story for another day."

"One we will all be intrigued to hear," he said good naturedly and spun me.

I caught Mircea's eye and saw that happiness was dancing through him. Then Elisabeta smiled at me, joyful and relieved more so that her son was smiling again than at having a crown prince. She probably didn't care all that much about the latter so long that her son was happy again.

We danced with our current partners for a while and then we had to swap again. I ended up in the arms of King Andrew.

"You will come, won't you?" I kind of blurted. "To the wedding?"

"That wasn't very polished, but I suppose I can make some time for it." He smiled and turned serious. "I wouldn't miss it for the world. Just... please don't ruin another t-shirt with tears."

I laughed. "I think it's going to be a bit more highbrow than a t-shirt and jeans affair."

"Really? What gave you that idea?"

"Oh I wonder. I'm sorry I cried all over you."

He shook his head softly. "Your parents explained why you came back. What changed?"

"Roy. He's moving over. Eventually."

"Huh. I didn't think he had the stones."

"Neither did I. I'm only here on time because he sorted a private plane for me." I really did owe him a lot. Until he was settled here life was going to be hard for him. Really hard. But once he'd set his mind to something and learned that it was achievable there was no stopping him. Sometimes it was annoying, but now... it was pretty damn admirable of him.

"So what is this dance for again?" Andy asked.          

"To join the crown with the people and the nation to the rest of the world," I said. "That's why we danced with the council before 'outsiders' like you," I said lightly.

"Oh, well, I'm glad I made the cut."

We laughed and as the last notes of the waltz faded out we bowed to one another at the same time as the other people who were dancing. With that the ball was officially open and dinner was served. Mircea excused himself from his dancing partner, the President of America, by handing her off, with the greatest respect of course, to someone else and walked over to us.

"Should I be jealous?" he asked with a light smile.

"Since Andy personally drove me home from London and let my cry all over him we've had a special relationship," I said with a bantering smile.

Deep gratitude entered Mircea's eyes. "Thank you," he said sounding a bit strangled.

Andy shrugged it off easily and smiled. "Got me the first official invite to your wedding."