Ewan excused himself from speaking with the Earl of Somerset when he saw Victoria approaching. The Prince stepped away casually, navigating himself in a direction that placed him directly into her path without looking like he was seeking her out. As they met he flashed her a polite and somewhat knowing smile as she addressed him. He nodded politely at the formal greeting.<br/><br/>“Carrick most certainly enjoyed meeting your children. I’ve since sent him off to bed so that he wouldn’t be a distraction to them, guests or you. Thank you for humoring him as long as you did,” he said with a self-deprecating smile. “I, personally, could not be enjoying myself more,” he added politely. Around that time a servant passed with wooden cups of wine on a tray. Ewan took two and handed one to his secret lover.<br/><br/>“Shall we drink to the happiness of the young couple, my lady?”<br/><br/>Whether or not she accepted, the Prince took a long sip and allowed it to linger on his tongue, enjoying the vintage. Once the man had retreated Ewan folded his hands behind his back and continued speaking to her in a lower tone. There was still no one immediately near them.<br/><br/>“My lady, I have visited my guest chamber and found it satisfactory except for one thing.” He waited until she was taking a sip of her beverage before he continued. “The bed is too cold. I trust you can help with that?”<br/><br/>However she responded the Prince replied by laughing out loud as if she had told a wonderful joke. “Duchess, thank you again for a wonderful time,” he said. As he turned around he added in a whisper, “and I’m serious. Midnight. Make an excuse. We need to talk.”<br/><br/>Once she had replied the Prince disappeared into the crowd in order to not be seen as spending too much time speaking to a woman who was not his wife.<br/><br/>Sometime later he came across Katherine, who was the last person he wanted to see again that evening. At first he tried to walk past without making like he saw her, but it was too late – he had made eye contact.<br/><br/>“Good evening, Katherine,” he said again formally as he feigned a smile. “Are you enjoying the celebration?” he asked politely, hoping she would simply say ‘yes’ and allow him to move away.