"You're cute," Maximilian murmured, walking toward her before wrapping an arm around her shoulders and pressing a kiss against her cheek.
"Stop it! I'm serious!" Catherine protested, though she instinctively leaned into him anyway. "Why would she make him elope when he has such a big family?"
"You might actually be onto something here, Catherine," Maximilian said with grave seriousness, guiding her gently toward the couch.
"And Alexander…" Catherine huffed, sitting down with her wine still in hand. "He may be smart, but no man is smarter than a woman with intent. Look at her. She already separated him from us."
"Yeah…" Maximilian nodded solemnly as if discussing a national crisis. "You can really see through her, huh?"
Catherine completely missed the amusement hidden in his eyes.
"She didn't even look nervous," Catherine continued suspiciously. "That's the problem. A woman marrying into a family this huge should at least look overwhelmed. But she was calm. Too calm."
