Unfinished Business

Gabriella, stunning in blue silk, swept inside.
    “Your Highness.” Before she could rise and make her curtsy, Gabriella was waving her to her seat in a gesture that was somehow imperious and friendly all at once.

    “Please, don’t get up. I hope I’m not disturbing you.”
    “Of course not. May I get you some wine?”
    “If you’re having some.” Though her feet ached after a backbreaking day on her feet, she only sighed a little as she took a chair. She had been born royal, and royalty was taught not to complain. “It’s been so hectic today, I haven’t had a chance to see you, make certain you’ve been comfortable.”
    “No one could be uncomfortable in the palace, Your Highness.”
    “Gabriella, please.” She accepted the glass of wine. “We’re alone.” She gave brief consideration to slipping out of her shoes, but thought better of it. “I wanted to thank you again for agreeing to play tonight. It’s so important.”
    “It’s always a pleasure to play in Cordina.” The lights around the mirror sent the dozens of bugle beads on Vanessa’s white dress dancing. “I’m honored that you wanted to include me.”
    Gabriella gave a quick laugh before she sipped. “You’re annoyed that I bothered you while you were on vacation.” She tossed back her fall of red-gold hair. “And I don’t blame you. But for this, I’ve learned to be rude—and ruthless.”
    Vanessa had to smile. Royalty or not, the Princess Gabriella was easy to be with. “Honored and annoyed, then. I hope tonight’s benefit is a tremendous success.”
    “It will be.” She refused to accept less. “Eve— You know my sister-in-law?”
    “Yes, I’ve met Her Highness several times.”
    “She’s American—and therefore pushy. She’s been a tremendous help to me.”
    “Your husband, he is also American?”
    Gabriella’s topaz eyes lit. “Yes. Reeve is also pushy. This year we involved our children quite a bit, so it’s been even more of a circus than usual. My brother, Alexander, was away for a few weeks, but he returned in time to be put to use.”
    “You are ruthless with your family, Gabriella.”
    “It’s best to be ruthless with those you love.” She saw something, some cloud, come and go in Vanessa’s eyes. She would get to that. “Hannah apologizes for not coming backstage before your performance. Bennett is fussing over her.”
    “Your younger brother is entitled to fuss when his wife is on the verge of delivering their child.”
    “Hannah was interested in you, Vanessa.” Gabriella couldn’t resist a smile. “As your name was linked with Bennett’s before his marriage.”
    Along with half the female population of the free world, Vanessa thought, but she kept her smile bland. “His Highness was the most charming of escorts.”
    “He was a scoundrel.”
    “Tamed by the lovely Lady Hannah.”
    “Not tamed, but perhaps restrained.” The princess set her glass aside. “I was sorry when your manager informed us that you wouldn’t spend more than another day in Cordina. It’s been so long since you visited us.”
    “There is no place I’ve felt more welcome.” She toyed with the petals of a pure white rose. “I remember the last time I was here, the lovely day I spent at your farm, with your family.”
    “We would love to have you to ourselves again, whenever your schedule permits.” Compassionate by nature, she reached out a hand. “You are well?”
    “Yes, thank you. I’m quite well.”
    “You look lovely, Vanessa, perhaps more so because there’s such sadness in your eyes. I understand the look. It faced me in the mirror once, not so many years ago. Men put it there. It’s one of their finest skills.” Her fingers linked with Vanessa’s. “Can I help you?”
    “I don’t know.” She looked down at their joined hands, then up into Gabriella’s soft, patient eyes. “Gabriella, may I ask you, what’s the most important thing in your life?”
    “My family.”
    “Yes.” She smiled. “You had such a romantic story. How you met and fell in love with your husband.”
    “It becomes more romantic as time passes, and less traumatic.”
    “He’s an American, a former policeman?”
    “Of sorts.”
    “If you had had to give up your position, your, well, birthright, to have married him, would you have done so?”
    “Yes. But with great pain. Does this man ask you to give up something that’s so much a part of you?”
    “No, he doesn’t ask me to give up anything. And