Mother wondered again what sort of upbringing Vasily had had that he’d missed out on learning the everyday things like building a fire and feeding himself—not that it mattered where he came from. He was here now, and Mother was happy to help fill in the odd gaps in Vasily’s knowledge.
In fact, he looked forward to spending more time with Vasily, because he wasfun, and Mother suspected that, despite the difference in their ages and backgrounds, they could be good friends—maybe evenbestfriends.
And for reasons he couldn’t quite parse, Mother wanted that.
ChapterFour
“You certainly take good care of my boy.”
“Thank you, sire,” Vasily said, glowing with pleasure under the praise. Prince Felix ran a hand down Shadow’s cheek. The horse whinnied his pleasure and nuzzled his owner, his nostrils flaring in hopes of sniffing out a treat.
“Don’t call me that, Vasily. You’ve got more royal blood in you than I’ll ever have.” Felix produced a chunk of apple for Shadow and held it flat on his palm.
“Not here, sire,” Vasily said. “Here, I’m just the groom.”
“And are you enjoying it, being a—” Felix wrinkled his nose. “I was going to say commoner, but that sounds insulting.”
“Untitled?” Vasily suggested with a smile. In the three weeks since his arrival, he’d gotten to know the rulers of Lilleforth better, and he’d formed something of a bond with Felix, charmed by his irrepressible humour and disregard for all things proper. Vasily’s insistence on calling him sire wasn’t only because it was right and proper. It was also because Vasily knew it made Felix squirm.
“I suppose,” Felix said. “Anyway. How is it? Any regrets? No desire to go running back to Koroslova to be waited on like a prince?”
“None at all, sire,” Vasily said, grin widening. And it was true. His muscles ached from doing more physical labour than he was used to, and he missed the feather beds at the palace and someone running him a bath every night. But he didn’t miss the rest of it.
“Good. It’s hard to get decent help these days, and you’re a bloody good groom.” Felix petted Shadow’s neck and walked out into the stable yard, peering at the sky. “It looks like rain. I hope Leo hurries up.”
“I’m sure he’ll be here directly, sire.” A voice came from the doorway, and Vasily perked up and turned to greet its owner.
“Hello, Mother!” Even though Vasily had only seen the man an hour ago when they’d shared lunch, he warmed at the sight of him, all long limbs and tousled hair with stray bits of straw clinging to his shirt like he’d been rolling in the hay.
Thoughts of Mother rolling in the hay made certain other parts of Vasily perk up, but he tamped those thoughts downhard. Mother was a fine, strong specimen of a man, true, and Vasily certainly found him appealing—truth be told he’d already featured in more than one of Vasily’s dreams—but Mother was his friend,and it was obvious that he wasn’t interested in Vasily like that.
Theywerefriends, though.
Mother had made good on his promise and taken Vasily down to the docks one evening and treated him to a delicious fish supper while pointing out which food stalls to avoid if he didn’t want a sour stomach the next day. They’d lingered over cider, talking and watching the waves roll across the ocean until it had started to get chilly. Vasily, who’d somehow worked his way through four pints of cider, had been pleasantly tipsy by the time they’d walked back to the castle, with Mother supporting his weight for at least half the way.
The next morning Vasily had woken with a pounding head and a roiling gut, and it was while he’d been praying for a quick death that Mother had appeared at Vasily’s door. He’d chuckled at the state of him, but he’d also presented Vasily with a headache powder and several slices of thick fruit cake, insisting it would settle Vasily’s stomach. For a wonder, it had worked, and Vasily could have kissed him.
Out of gratitude, of course. Nothing else.
They’d also started sharing breakfast most days. Under Mother’s patient tutelage, Vasily could now produce a porridge that wasalmostentirely edible if you ate around the lumps.
Mother gave him a nod and a smile. “Afternoon, Vasily. Mounts all ready?”
“Of course they are,” Felix said, “because your man knows his job.”
“That he does,” Mother agreed with a grin. “And he’s a lot more reliable than my last groom. That lad disappeared up to the castle at the drop of a hat.”
Felix’s eyes danced with merriment, and his mouth curved up in a smile. “Be fair. There was an attraction at the castle that was nigh irresistible.”
“Did I hear you call me irresistible? How very flattering, sweetheart,” King Leopold said, striding into the stables. He came to a stop next to Felix and pressed a kiss to his cheek. “Sorry I’m late. I was in a meeting with the council, but I’m all yours now.”
“Yes, you are,” Felix said, his smile widening, and he and Leo led their horses out into the yard. Felix murmured something in the king’s ear that made Leo bellow with laughter and slap Felix’s arse playfully before they mounted up and rode off.
Vasily hooked his elbows over the stable yard fence and watched them depart, his chest tightening with something like envy at the obvious attraction between the two. Maybe he could have that someday—just as soon as he worked up the nerve to ask anyone on a date, or even flirt with them. It was, he was discovering, easier said than done.
He was almost certain one of the guards had been eyeing him up, but it was hard letting go of a lifetime of hiding who he was and what he liked. Hewantedto ask Jeremy, the guard in question, if he’d like to go for a pint at the tavern one evening. But what if hedidask, and Jeremy said yes? What then?
“They’re a good match.” Mother’s voice broke into his thoughts, and Vasily turned to find him nodding in the direction of the horses as they grew smaller on the horizon, Leo’s laughter floating back on the breeze. “They’re lucky to have found each other.”
