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�Oh, that�s His Lordship now�here to escort you to the party,� Helena announced and hurried toward the door. �It�s so exciting!�
�Confusing would be the more appropriate term,� Kate muttered softly then stood. She turned to the door as Helena opened it.
Ralin stood before the door and smiled when he saw Kate. �I�m glad you�ve decided to join the party,� Ralin announced cheerfully and extended his hand to her.
Kate walked toward him and the doorway. �As if I had a choice,� she muttered softly under her breath, then smiled, and accepted his hand.
Ralin linked her hand onto his arm and escorted her down the hall and toward the ballroom. Two servants opened the large ballroom doors. The ballroom was filled with well-dressed men and women, ballroom dancing, and sitting at elegant, round tables. The room was decorated in the highest style for an elegant wedding reception with flowers and glamour. The band played in tuxedos on a stage at the far end of the ballroom before a wall of glass. The bride and groom danced in the center of the ballroom. They were a lovely, young couple. She looked like a fairy tale princess, and him, prince charming. Kate and Ralin received several stares as they entered the ballroom. Parker approached them with two champagne glasses. Kate accepted the glass and attempted a smile. Two men approached them. One man laughed softly and slapped Ralin on the shoulder.
�Couldn�t get a date, so you had to kidnap one, eh?� the man announced cheerfully. The second man laughed. Kate didn�t find it funny. It was almost close to the truth. She suddenly felt very uncomfortable.
�Stop�you�re frightening her,� Ralin remarked with a tiny smile. �I�ll introduce you to my sister,� he said to Kate then led her across the ballroom toward the couple, who now stopped dancing.
The fairy tale princess eyed Kate and smiled warmly. �Hardly looks like someone who trekked miles in the mud and rain,� she remarked.
Ralin laughed softly and turned to Kate. �Kate, this is my sister, Felicia. Felicia�Kate Harford.� They politely shook hands.
Prince Charming finished his conversation with an older woman and turned toward his bride and Kate. He smiled warmly. �You must be Kate Harford,� he announced and shook her hand. �I�m Britton Chase.� He released her hand. Kate studied him, looking for any sign of normalcy. �Have you tried the buffet? These people really know how to throw a party.�
�I haven�t, I�m afraid,� Kate replied gently.
Britton took Kate by the arm and excused himself to Felicia. �I�ll tell you what�s best,� Britton announced and led her toward the long buffet table. �Ralin said you were in a car accident and walked all the way here. Dumb luck that you actually found this place. Not many people happen by here.�
Kate quickly looked at Britton and stopped him halfway to the table. �Where is here? What sort of place is this? How does a man live in the middle of nowhere and not have a phone?�
Britton laughed lowly in his throat and herded her back in the direction of the buffet table. �Let�s just say, it�s best not to ask too many questions. Ralin Brucker is just one of those people you can�t describe in a night.�
�I�ve had a long night already, and I�m really not up for the mystery,� Kate informed him bluntly. �I have a really uneasy feeling about this place.�
�They�re different, Kate,� Britton explained simply and handed her a small, china plate. He proceeded to place small h�ordovers on her plate. He suddenly laughed in his throat. �Very different--but completely harmless.�
�Are you sure?� Kate asked nervously.
�I promise,� Britton replied and placed more treats on her plate.
There was that phrase again�I promise. There was something unsettling about that phrase tonight. Kate looked down to her plate. Britton had filled it with tasty treats�more than she would ever eat. He led her back to Felicia and Ralin. Kate drank most of her champagne and nibbled on one or two of the treats on her plate. Britton helped by picking at several himself. Britton and Felicia made their way through the crowd and socialized, leaving Kate once again alone with Ralin.
�Are you feeling better now?� Ralin asked with a cheerful smile.
�A little, though I think it may just be the champagne,� Kate replied and fidgeted nervously.
Ralin studied her a moment longer. �Are you uncomfortable around so many people?�
Kate set her plate down on one of the small tables and finished her champagne. �No, not at all. I�m just a little shaken with everything that�s happened. I feel a little helpless.�
�Your trauma is over. Everything that you�re feeling is phantom,� Ralin replied. �The car will be fixed, the rain will stop, and life will continue as it always has.� A tiny smile crossed his face. �As it is�if that�s how you wish it.�
Kate laughed. �A boring evening at home sounds good to me.�
�Care to dance?� he asked warmly while removing her empty champagne glass. Parker breezed past to collect the glass�as if perfectly timed.
Kate looked around with some apprehension at the slow dancing couples. She then looked at Ralin. He was possibly the most charming, attractive man she�d seen in a long time. After the night passed and she had time to think about everything, she�d probably kick herself for not taking advantage of the perfect situation. A tiny smile crossed her face. �I�d love to.�
Ralin and Kate danced most of the night. It was almost like a fairy tale evening in an enchanted castle. The clock struck two in the morning. They stopped dancing and Ralin found more champagne for them. He handed her a glass and smiled charmingly.
�Would you like to take a little walk to unwind?� Ralin asked curiously.
Kate nodded with more enthusiasm then she had shown earlier in the evening. She was surprised at the time she was having with this strange man. All suspicions and concerns seemed to have flowed away with the music.
Kate and Ralin walked hand in hand through the dimly lit, grand hallway. Ralin pointed to the countless suits of armor lined along the hall and explained what time period they were from and what country they originated. Kate wasn�t sure if he was just a fascinating man, or if it was just the champagne making it seem that way.
�So what possess a man to live in the middle of no where without so much as a phone?� Kate asked curiously with a tiny smile. �Just that private, or do you like the seclusion?�
Ralin shrugged slightly and looked along the hallway. �More of preserving a way of life, I suppose.�
Kate eyed Ralin with a curious look. �Preserving a way of life? What do you mean?�
Ralin seemed uncomfortable with the conversation. He forced a smile. �Sometimes, a little mystery is a good thing.�
