Sitting at her desk with a peerage registry opened, Christina stuck her pen behind her ear. “I’m so happy dinner is over with.”
“Your cousins were quite attentive.”
“Of course. Now they care whether I’m around or not. That’ll change as soon as our engagement is off.”
“Does that bother you?”
“Not as much as I thought it would. I can’t live my life trying to please my family. I realize that now. If all of San Montico can accept me because I wear the ring, my family can accept me when I’m no longer wearing it.” Christina grinned. “Maybe there is something magical about this ring. I don’t mean a love spell, but do you realize how long it’s been without an accident, an incident, or a mishap occurring?”
“Coincidence.”
She drew her brows together, and two little lines appeared above the bri
