He passed her a handful of coins and she disappeared. She was back a minute later with his drink and he took a long pull, savouring the crisp taste of apple as he gazed out over the gleaming black waters of the ocean, letting the quiet lapping of the waves wash over him.
There were people around, but it was a different sort of noise and bustle to that of the busy kitchens at the castle, and he settled in and watched them pass by. When Rosie brought his steaming hot cod in parsley sauce, it was just as good as it always was—which was to say, quite delicious, and better than anything he could have made for himself. He was glad he’d decided to buy his supper after the day he’d had cleaning out the cottage, and the long ride afterwards.
Still, at least they were ready for the new groom. Truth be told, Mother was looking forward to having an extra pair of hands about the place.
He just hoped that this groom lasted longer than the last one and didn’t go running off and falling in love.
When his plate was empty, Mother hauled himself to his feet and drained his glass. He gave a nod to Rosie and then turned and started the walk home in the moonlight. It was a pleasant distance, his long, loping stride making short work of the road home, and soon enough he was opening the front door to his own cottage. He lit the lamps, bathing the room in a soft glow. Normally Mother found the solitude a relief after a day of chasing grooms and sorting out horses, but tonight the shadows emphasised the stillness and emptiness of the house, which was silent except for the thunk of Mother’s boots hitting the floor as he peeled them off.
He sighed. Perhaps it was Ollie’s talk of falling in love, or maybe it was seeing Leo and Felix so happy together, but the silence seemed particularly loud tonight. Sometimes—not often, but occasionally—he wished that hecouldfind someone he was attracted to, just to have someone to share his space with. But he’d long accepted that he just wasn’t built that way. He wasn’t sure what that said about him, but it also wasn’t something he pondered too deeply because he knew that no good ever came of pondering too deeply. Living and working at the castle, Mother had learned not to pass judgement on what was normal and what wasn’t—and that included his own desires, or lack thereof.
Perhaps he’d bring home one of the kittens that seemed to be forever popping up around the place. There had been a litter born just last week in the barn—six of them, black and tiny and squirming, with scrunched-up noses and little pink toes and velvet soft ears. It might be nice, Mother reflected, to have a friendly face to greet him when he came home in the evening.
Even if that face did belong to a cat.
ChapterTwo
Vasily Petrov, fourth son of the royal family of the kingdom of Koroslova, strode through the streets of Ravenport, tilting his head back to better inhale the salt of the ocean. Being this close to the sea was still a novelty, given that his home kingdom was completely landlocked, and he was enjoying it immensely. His rucksack bounced against his back in a heavy, thumping rhythm as he walked—unsurprising, since it currently held everything he owned. He’d moved out of his temporary lodgings this morning, and today was the day he started his new position as royal groom to King Leopold of Lilleforth.
He couldn’t help the smile that split his face at the thought of having a job—arealjob—for the first time in his life. That wasn’t to say Vasily wasn’t qualified for the position. He’d spent most of his childhood and teen years hiding out in the stables, ever since he’d been old enough not to get stepped on by an errant mount. When it had become obvious that he was becoming something of a fixture, the stablemaster had taken him under his wing, declaring that he might as well learn something useful. The man had trained him up just as he did all his other young grooms—the exceptions being that Vasily didn’t have to shovelquiteas much shit, and he was in no danger of getting a clip around the ears due to his royal status.
Vasily loved it. He’d initially started going to the stables to escape the endless obligation to act in a seemly manner and the disapproval that inevitably rolled off his father in waves when he failed to do so, and to get away from the teasing of his three older brothers. But as he grew older, it was mostly just because he’d grown to love spending time with the animals and the other grooms. He was sure his father thought it improper, the fourth son of the king spending his days in muck and straw, but Vasily had never been able to find it in himself to care.
It was just another thing that made him a terrible prince.
But Vasily had always felt that there was more to life than his royal position, and he’d long dreamed of exploring the world outside their own cloistered kingdom. So after careful thought, he’d chosen the week after his oldest brother and his wife had welcomed their first son into the world to ask permission to leave Koroslova and visit the surrounding countries.
He’d had all sorts of compelling arguments at the ready, but it had turned out to be unnecessary. Riding on a wave of good cheer at the continuation of his line, his father had barely put up any resistance, even though he’d initially scoffed at the idea.
“Travel?” King Alexei had snorted. “I don’t really see the point of it. But then, there’s not much point to you being here either, is there?”
“Alexei,” Vasily’s mother had chided. “Be nice. Why not say yes? It would be good for our boy to expand his horizons, explore other kingdoms for a year or so.” She’d sent Vasily a knowing smile as his breath caught. A year? Anentire year? It was more than he’d dared hope for.
But then, Queen Irina had always had a soft spot for her youngest son. When he was little, she’d taken the time to sit with him and read him fairy tales and hadn’t mocked him when he’d asked for the ones with the happy endings. And she knew of his desires, certainly—most little boys didn’t ask if they’d get a handsome prince of their own—but it had always been their secret. And her support meant he’d almost certainly be granted permission to leave, because while it was true that his father ruled the kingdom, it was also true that he adored his wife and would give her anything she asked for.
Still, Vasily had wanted to dance for joy when his father had said, “I suppose,” with a sigh. “At least it will get you out of the blasted stables.”
His words had proved ironic, because ten days later Vasily’s mother had informed him that she’d sent a letter to an old friend, and that to help start his journey, there was a position as royal groom waiting for him if he wished it—in Lilleforth.
Vasily’s breath had caught, becauseLilleforth.
His father had been vocal in his disapproval of Lilleforth, grumbling about “deviant behaviour” when the king there had recently married his groom. The marriage was the reason Lilleforth was the place Vasily was most curious about, but he’d never dreamed he’d get to visit.
It was inconceivable to him that there was a kingdom where being attracted to another man was acceptable, but it must be true. And if the king could take a husband, perhaps Vasily could safely explore his own urges, the ones he’d been hiding for all of his twenty-two years.
He’d never been able to deny what he felt. When he closed his eyes and took his cock in hand under the covers at night, he was more likely to be thinking about the way the sweat glistened on the blacksmith’s skin by the light of the forge or the way the muscles in the man’s forearms moved and bunched as he wielded his hammer than any pretty princess he might have been introduced to.
He’d taken the letter of introduction his mother had handed him, his fingers trembling. “But what will Father say? You know how he feels.”
His mother had smiled, sharp and clever, and given a shrug. “I told your father I’d made some travel arrangements and that you’d be safe. He didn’t express any interest in knowing the details, so I didn’t tell him.” Her smile had softened, and her tone had been warm when she’d said, “Go and explore, Vasily. Spread your wings. Find out who you are.”
She’d always known him in a way that nobody else did.
Admittedly, Vasily had been confused at first as to why his mother had arranged for him to work as a groom, but she’d explained that working at the castle meant that Vasily would have a measure of protection. Only the people who mattered would know his identity. The understanding that passed between them—that it meant he was free to explore any inclinations he might have without being judged as the Prince of Koroslova—went unspoken.
It was oddly freeing being just Vasily, and he’d spent his first week in Ravenport lodging with a Mrs. Cully and exploring the city just because he could. It had been an experience. Nobody had bowed their head when he passed, and nobody had called him Your Highness, and he hadn’t missed it. Of course, nobody had brought him all his meals or done his laundry for him either, and those things had been harder to figure out. But he’d muddled through, and at the end of the day, wasn’t that the whole reason he was here? To learn about the world and how ordinary people lived in it?
He rolled his shoulders, making his backpack clank and clatter, and started the walk up to the castle.
