by Holly Rayner
Her favorite part was the food—the idea of indulging in rich comfort foods in the cold February season appealed to her, but she also loved the traditional favorites. That’s why she always included king cake on the menu at her restaurant during the season, and anyone who found the baby in their slice got a special gift certificate to the restaurant.
She hadn’t been out to celebrate Mardi Gras properly in years. She was always in the kitchen at BienVille. Although she would try to sneak out for a few minutes to catch one of the local parades during the day, it wasn’t the same as being able to attend the parties. Maggie hadn’t realized until now how much she missed the bright whirl of the festival. Being on Raffaele’s arm made it all the more exciting, and she was so happy she’d said yes to attending the party with him.
They walked down white marble steps into the ballroom, where fairy lights decorated climbing cast iron trellises around the edges of the room and thousands of purple, yellow, and green flowers filled towering vases. There was indeed a small orchestra playing on an elevated stage, while couples whirled around the dance floor in a bright swirl of colors.
Raffaele steered her to a couple standing off to the side of the room, where they were greeting guests.
“Prince Raffaele!” the woman held out her arms.
Raffaele kissed each of her cheeks carefully, not wanting to disturb her mask.
“Donna, thank you so much for the invitation.” Raffaele turned to the man and shook his hand firmly. “Thomas, it’s good to see you.”
“Likewise, Your Highness. Thank you for gracing our home.”
Raffaele waved off the flattery. “I’m delighted to be here. May I present my companion? This is Chef Maggie Bechet, from New Orleans’ finest eatery, BienVille.”
Maggie shook the hands of both their hosts, squashing an impulse to curtsy.
“Thank you for opening your home tonight. I’m thrilled to be here.”
Donna smiled at her. “We’re happy you’re here. Please enjoy the party, both of you.”
Raffaele nodded once and offered Maggie his arm again.
As they moved away, Maggie asked, “How do you know our hosts?”
“Thomas does business with a company based in Spiaggi. He and Donna have stayed at the palace a few times, and they always talk about the Mardi Gras party they throw every year. This year, they insisted I come.”
Maggie took all that in. “I can safely say I’ve never been at a party where the hosts knew royalty.”
Raffaele bumped her arm playfully.
“You know royalty,” he said, raising his eyebrows to emphasize his point.
Maggie tilted her head.
“So I do.” She smiled at him. “Not something I ever expected to be able to say.”
Raffaele smiled back at her and Maggie almost missed his next words because she was so distracted by that dazzling smile.
“Are you hungry?” he asked. At her puzzled look, Raffaele added, “I know how you chefs are. Cook all night and never stop to eat dinner yourself. Just because I had a fabulous meal tonight doesn’t mean you did.”
Maggie laughed, surprised at his knowledge yet again.
“Too true, and I am just a tiny bit starving.”
“Well, then,” Raffaele pointed her in the direction of the courtyard. “Let’s see what we can do about that.”
As they walked through the house, it seemed they couldn’t go two feet without someone calling a greeting to the Prince or coming up to them to say hello and introduce a date. Maggie thought the constant attention might get old, even as flattering as it was.
Each time someone stopped them, Raffaele introduced Maggie as one of New Orleans’ best chefs. She felt like a bit of a curiosity since it seemed that all of these people knew each other, but Raffaele treated her as if she belonged. It was lovely, and Maggie was having fun well before they reached the courtyard.
The courtyard was filled with tables of fruit, cheese, and pastries, while black-and-white clad servers moved quietly around the area with trays of appetizers. Maggie took a small puff pastry from one tray, and Raffaele watched her while she took a bite. She nodded immediately in approval and Raffaele smiled.
“I would have felt terrible if I’d brought you to a party with bad food.”
Maggie shook her head. “I don’t think a party in a house like this could ever serve bad food.”
He laughed. “You’d be surprised.”
“What’s the worst food you’ve ever had at a party?” Maggie asked, curious.
Raffaele thought for a moment.
“About two years ago, I attended an after-party for a big movie premiere. The studio hosted it, and they must have been worried that the movie wasn’t going to make any money because the food was terrible. It tasted like they’d simply picked up a bunch of frozen appetizers and put them on trays.”
“Tell me they at least thawed them out first.”
Raffaele laughed. “I think a few of them might not have been.”
A tuxedo-clad man with an elaborate gold mask stopped Raffaele with a hand on his arm. “Raffaele, my boy. I didn’t know you were going to be here.”
Raffaele shook the other man’s hand. “You know me, Marcus. Wouldn’t miss an opportunity for a grand party.”
“Of course. And who is your lovely date?” He turned to Maggie.
Maggie didn’t wait for Raffaele to introduce her this time, holding her hand out for the other man to shake.
“Maggie Bechet.” She added cheekily, “Of the New Orleans Bechets.”
She could see Raffaele biting his lip, trying not to laugh.
“Ms. Bechet is the head chef at BienVille. Are your parents in town?”
Marcus seemed surprised at the non-sequitur.
“They are, as a matter of fact.”
Raffaele nodded once firmly. “Good. Impress them by taking them to BienVille. You can show them you’ve grown out of those fast food restaurants you love so much.”
Marcus laughed. “They’d love that.” He turned to Maggie. “Please tell me you at least have a hamburger on your menu?”
Maggie shook her head. “But, for you, I’ll prepare something special.”
“Well, then, how can I resist a promise like that? Consider it done.” Marcus shook her hand again. “Chef Maggie Bechet, it was a pleasure.”
As he moved away, Maggie asked Raffaele softly, “Who was that?”
Raffaele answered, “A cousin. I think.”
Maggie laughed. “You don’t know?”
Raffaele shrugged. “Royal family trees can get pretty tangled. He’s a second cousin three times removed, or something like that. We spent a lot of time together as kids, but don’t get to see much of each other as adults.”
Before they walked three more steps they were stopped again when a stunning woman with flame-red hair grasped Raffaele’s arm.
“Raffaele, it’s so good to see you.”
Raffaele kissed both her cheeks. “And you. Let me introduce you to Maggie Bechet, New Orleans’ premier chef. Maggie, this is Alexa Rondeau.”
Alexa shook Maggie’s hand. “What’s the name of your restaurant?”
“BienVille.”
Alexa nodded. “I’ve heard good things. My husband is something of a foodie—I’ll have to take him there soon.”
Maggie said sincerely, “We’d be happy to have you dine with us. Please let me know when you’re coming in; I’d love to stop by your table and say hello.”
As they moved away, Raffaele leaned towards her again. Maggie was so enthralled at the sensation of having his voice in her ear that she almost missed what he was saying.
“After tonight, you’re going to be the go-to place for every celebrity in New Orleans.”
Maggie leaned into his arm just a little.
“So, I really do get to count tonight as work. I just need to put it under our marketing budget.” She grinned and added, “I may have to pay you a commission for all the new business you’re sending my
way.”
Raffaele laughed. “Just promise me that I get my favorite table whenever I’m in town.”
“Done.”
Maggie found herself hoping that the Prince made it back to New Orleans frequently. She’d keep his booth open all the time if it meant she might have the chance to see him again.
“You know, I feel like a princess in a fairy tale,” Maggie said softly and then grinned at Raffaele. “Though I’m pretty sure that makes you my fairy godmother instead of Prince Charming.”
Raffaele threw his head back and laughed.
“I’ll let you in on a little secret: we keep a fairy godmother on staff. You know, just in case.” He stood and held out a hand. “So, that definitely makes me Prince Charming. However, since this is a ball, I can’t be your Prince Charming unless you dance with me.”
Maggie shook her head. “Oh, no. I can’t dance.”
Raffaele gave her a questioning look.
“No, really,” she added. “I actually took ballroom dance in high school as my sports elective, and the one thing I learned is that I’ve got two left feet.”
“So, you know how to dance?”
“Technically, yes. But trust me, knowledge doesn’t translate into ability.”
Raffaele leaned down and took her hand. “Have I let you down yet?”
Maggie sighed and shook her head.
“I promise I won’t let you fall.”
Maggie decided there was no way she could resist a statement like that, so she took Raffaele’s hand and let him lead her onto the dance floor. The orchestra stuck up a waltz, and Raffaele whirled her around the ballroom. It was the first time she’d danced at an honest-to-goodness ball, and she had to admit, it was fun.
In the Prince’s arms, Maggie felt light on her feet. True to his word, Raffaele didn’t let her fall. Maggie smiled up at him, and when Raffaele smiled back, she thought this might be the most perfect moment she’d ever experienced.
She felt she could dance forever like this, so when the song ended and another began, Maggie stayed right where she was.
Chapter 4
Raffaele
Raffaele studied the face of the beautiful woman he held in his arms. He was used to dancing with all types of beautiful women, but dancing with Maggie was something special. She’d been so nervous when he led her onto the dance floor, but by their second waltz, she was smiling joyfully.
Raffaele raised a questioning eyebrow at her and Maggie laughed.
“Okay, yes, I am having fun. Dancing is fun.”
He grinned at her. They danced through another song, but when the orchestra started the next one, Raffaele noticed that Maggie seemed to be tiring.
“How about we rest for a few minutes?”
“I could go for a break,” she said. “My feet suddenly remembered that I’ve been on them for most of the day.”
Raffaele steered her to a quiet table in the corner.
“Here.” He pulled out a chair for her.
Maggie gratefully sat down. “Thank you.”
As he sat down across from her, Raffaele asked, “Would you like something to drink?”
“Yes, please. And I’d love to get something else to eat.” She started to stand up again, but Raffaele waved her back into the chair.
“Ah, that’s an easy request.” He lifted his hand in the direction of one of the servers walking through the crowd, and the man immediately moved to their table.
“May I help you with something, sir?”
“Yes. We’d like to taste all the appetizers. I wonder if you could bring us two of each? Thank you.”
Maggie watched him with amusement as the server went to fulfill Raffaele’s request. “You know, we could have gotten the food ourselves.”
Raffaele pointed over his shoulder. “I’m going to get drinks for us.”
Maggie rolled her eyes. “I could help with that, too.”
Raffaele shook his head. “Your job is to let someone else wait on you for a change.” He stood and looked in the direction of bar. “Any special requests?” he asked.
Maggie said, “I’m fine with whatever looks good.”
Raffaele looked over his shoulder as he reached the bar, noticing that Maggie was watching him with a smile on her face. He looked back as the bartender greeted him and came up with an idea.
He leaned one elbow on the bar. “I would like a little bit of everything,” Raffaele told the bartender. “Small glasses are fine; we’d just like to taste it all.”
Raffaele thought the bartender looked half amused and half worried, but it couldn’t have been the oddest request the bartender had ever received, since the man quickly went to work.
He walked back to the table where Maggie was waiting, followed by the bartender carrying a large tray with an assortment of glasses. Maggie’s eyes widened and she shook her head.
“What are we going to do with all that?” she asked, and Raffaele could tell she was definitely amused.
Raffaele grinned. “We’re going to try everything.” He thanked the bartender as the man set the tray down on the small table next to the one they sat at.
Maggie added a “thank you” as the bartender walked back to his station.
“Where do we start?” she asked.
Raffaele handed her a glass and took one of his own. He raised the small glass in a salute and she mirrored his motion. Just then, the server arrived with two trays filled with food.
He put one of the trays on the small table with the drinks and the other tray in front of them, saying, “I suggest starting with the warm items first.”
Maggie and Raffaele both thanked him, and Raffaele pointed at one of the tiny pastries. “Try that one.”
Maggie laughed and did as he said. After she took a bite, she tilted her head and shrugged. “Good, but not as good as that first pastry.”
Raffaele searched on the trays and found the first pastry Maggie had tried before they danced. He took a bite of it, then of the second one. Maggie laughed at him as he nibbled and considered. He found that he liked that sound, and he wanted to make her laugh again.
In his best cooking show judge voice, Raffaele said, “I like that the first appetizer made use of seasonal ingredients. However, the second one played it too safe. I want to be wowed by these creations.”
He could tell Maggie got what he was doing, and warmed to the sound of her laughing again. Raffaele handed her another appetizer and waited for her to take a bite before he picked up the other one.
Maggie shook her head. “I’m getting a little bit too much crunchiness, though the flavor is nice.”
Raffaele took a bite. “I agree. A different ingredient would have made a better choice for this dish.”
Maggie pressed her lips together, shaking with giggles. “You do that just a little too well.”
Raffaele grinned at her. “I should offer to be a celebrity judge on one of those cooking shows.”
“I would love to see that. You’d be good at it.”
Maggie handed him another appetizer, something dusted with gold and purple sprinkles. “Here. Try this one.”
Raffaele did, and then turned it around and over, looking closely.
“I appreciate that the chef embraced the theme, but I think deconstruction might show the ingredients better.”
Maggie tried her appetizer and made a little face. “I think the chef might have skipped this one altogether, though I agree it is on point for theme.”
She put the rest of it back on her plate.
They worked their way through the warm appetizers, tasting them and then tasting the drinks. With every bite and every sip, they got more into the spirit of the game. Raffaele relished the banter; Maggie was smart and sharp. She held her own with him. Raffaele was so used to women who were either intimidated by or infatuated with his royal status. But Maggie acted like she’d forgotten his title and was just having fun.
Raffaele picked up the tray with the cold dishes and held it out so Maggie co
uld take one. He took the other and the each took a bite at the same time. They looked at each other and shook their heads at the same time.
“Just…no,” Maggie said, going for the glass of wine to wash down the taste.
“Definitely. There are no words.” Raffaele gulped his own glass of wine. “I’m not sure tasting anything after that is a good idea.”
Maggie straightened up. “We can do this. “It’s our responsibility—no, it’s our privilege—to try all this food,” she said in a rousing voice that would have inspired armies. “We must, for the good of this party, finish our plates!” she finished, lifting her glass of wine.
Raffaele stared at her for a moment, impressed, then Maggie shrugged and pointed at one of the appetizers, saying, “Plus, I’ve really been wanting to try that one.”
Raffaele threw his head back and laughed. “Then, for the good of the party, you shall.” He passed her the tray and Maggie took it.
She picked up the one she’d been eyeing and took a bite, then nodded enthusiastically. “I really like that you can taste all the different flavors.”
Raffaele picked up the other one of the pair and tried it. He chewed slowly, tilting his head in consideration. “I disagree. It’s not bad, but the flavors are fighting each other.”
Maggie shook her head. “It’s a great combination, and everything is balanced.”
Raffaele laughed. “You’re already planning on how you can do this better and put it on your menu, aren’t you?”
Maggie leaned into him as she laughed in agreement, acknowledging his point. Raffaele liked her being close to him. Being with Maggie was easy; it felt natural.
He found himself saying, “You know, this is the most fun I’ve ever had on a date.”
Maggie giggled. “Oh, so you don’t get out much?”
Raffaele rolled his eyes at her self-deprecation.