Page 23 of Fit for a King

“Eating your breakfast every morning has definitely helped dispel the rumors.”

His lips twitched and very nearly pulled into a grin. “Is that right?”

“Yes, sir.”

“Then perhaps I should stop. I don’t want to ruin my reputation.”

“It’s had quite the opposite effect, Your Majesty. Trust me.”

He nodded slowly, and I wasn’t sure if that was his agreeing to what I’d said or if maybe, just maybe, he was starting to trust me.

“I think I’ll head up to bed shortly, Bennett.”

Bennett? Had he ever called me that before? I didn’t think so. Usually it was Mr. Bennett, always so stiff and cold. But something inside me warmed at the fact he’d just called me something more familiar, and was obviously feeling better after our exchange.

“Yes, sir. Your room will be ready and waiting.”

“Thank you. For everything.”

“Of course, sir.” I bowed ever so slightly, and as I turned to exit the winter garden, I couldn’t help my smile.

I thought my intrusion on His Majesty’s private moment would surely have consequences, but to my surprise, it seemed that I’d somehow managed to thaw the ice king.

8

NICHOLAS

GABRIEL WAS LATE.

That wasn’t unusual. He’d never been one to stick to a schedule the way I had, and it was just a known fact at this point that you had to tell him an earlier deadline so he’d be on time.

Still, there were times when my brother’s lack of punctuality crossed the line from annoying to unacceptable, and keeping an ambassador waiting in the reception room was one of them.

“He said he was going to change before heading to the meeting, sir,” Baxter told me as I opened the door to Gabriel’s bedroom to find it empty.

“I’m sure he did.”

“Shall I send someone to find him?”

“No. I’ll do it.”

“Your Majesty⁠—”

“It’s fine, Baxter. Just make sure to send extra tea and biscuits up to the ambassador while he waits.”

“Will do that now, sir.”

I headed down the corridor, checking each of the rooms, my irritation growing as they all turned up empty. Then I heard it—laughter trickling down the hall, the sound as familiar as my own reflection.

I headed toward the private library, and when I stopped in the doorway I saw Gabriel sitting at the small game table by the window, one ankle crossed over his knee and looking entirely too pleased with himself.

Nothing about finding him that way surprised me at all, but the person sitting opposite him did.

Noah Bennett.

He was in palace livery, his posture impossibly straight as he chuckled and concentrated on the mahjong tiles in front of him.

For a long moment I could only stare, because the scene was so out of left field that it took me a second to recalibrate, but then I couldn’t help but notice the way Noah’s smile changed his entire demeanor.