I’m not that much better.”
“You’re not the better player.”
“Then explain your performance. This isn’t about becoming a grandfather again.”
Giovanni knew him too well. Sometimes it was maddening, but tonight, Eduardo needed a friend. “I am considering asking a woman for a date.”
Giovanni’s boisterous laugh filled the room. “Is that all?”
Eduardo flashed a look of disgust. “It’s not that simple.”
“It is that simple, even for a king. And it’s about time.” Giovanni held up a hand before Eduardo could react. “You know I loved Aletta, but you deserve to have a woman in your life. The public will understand. Eventually.”
“This isn’t about that. Well, it’s sort of about that. I have other concerns.”
“Aside from the public reaction? I doubt your children would object, not that their objections should stop you.” Giovanni frowned. “Are you considering the idea of dating in general or is there a particular woman who interests you?”
“There is a particular woman.”
Giovanni said nothing. Instead, he collected the cards, then passed the deck to Eduardo so he could deal.
Eduardo felt a prickle of irritation as he shuffled. “That’s all. I want to ask a particular woman for a date, but doing so is complicated.”
“How so? Do you need me to ask one of this woman’s friends if she likes you first? Or slip her a note that says, ‘Please check the box yes or no. Do you like Eduardo diTalora?’ I realize that’s how it was the last time you were interested in any female besides Aletta, but that’s not how it’s done these days. It’s not complicated. You simply ask a woman if she’d like a date. Then she says yes or she says no.”
“I shouldn’t have suggested a second glass of whiskey.”
“Of course you should have. I give my best advice after the second glass.”
Eduardo shook his head, then tried to focus on the count. It didn’t matter. Giovanni hit the target score almost immediately, ending play.
“I was thinking of asking her to the symphony,” he said. “The season begins next week and I usually attend one of the early performances.”
“You can’t take a date there. Think, Eduardo.”
He met Giovanni’s gaze, then realization dawned. “It’s the Queen Aletta Concert Hall.”
“Given the range of salacious headlines the media could run, they’d be ecstatic. You and your date, not so much. This woman must be something else, because that is not a misstep the Eduardo I know is prone to make.” Giovanni moved a peg to score his last play, then looked up sharply. “Wait. You’re talking about the new ambassador?”
“Yes. Claire Peyton.”
“I was teasing you about the flowers earlier. I had no idea.” Giovanni made a low noise of dissatisfaction. “I’m apparently the one who’s distracted tonight, as I completely misread your reaction. She’s quite attractive.”
“Yes.”
“She bewitched you with smoky whiskey.”
Eduardo let the comment go. He wasn’t about to tell Giovanni that the gift also included prickly pear jelly.
“Now I see why you say it’s complicated, though the words I’d use are conflict of interest.”
“If I were in parliament or if I were the head of any of a number of government departments, the conflict would be far worse.”
“True, but that doesn’t mean there isn’t a conflict.”
“It’s one that can be avoided, with care.” Eduardo studied his friend. “I like her, Giovanni.”
“That much is apparent.” Giovanni ran a finger along the base of his whiskey glass. “If she’s smart, she’ll say no.”
“She is smart. She likes history and movies and she cares about the greater good. She’s also not intimidated by me, by which I mean all of this.” He swirled his hand to encompass the palace. “She isn’t afraid to let me see her wit. That’s why I like her.”
“She’s also hot.”
“Fine. She’s hot,” he admitted. “If the symphony is out, what about the Royal Theater? The final performance of La Traviata is the annual fundraiser for the Royal Foundation of San Rimini. Isabella usually attends with me, but now that she’s married, it wouldn’t be surprising for me to take someone else. It’s long been established that this is not a romantic night. Claire and I could make it a date without revealing that fact to the public.”
“I doubt that telling your date that ‘this is a date, but it’s not a romantic night’ is how a woman wants to be wooed.”
“Because you know all about wooing women?”
Giovanni gave Eduardo a self-satisfied shrug.
“You’re rich and handsome, Giovanni. That’s not the same.”
“If being rich were all it took to woo a woman, you’d be the king of