Page 78 of Fit for a King

“I did. First the Duke of Marrington and then the Earl of Sonnenberg, both of whom I have great respect for. It was one of my biggest regrets I had to leave the earl before my time.”

“I believe you, and for that reason alone, Valoria would like to repay you.”

“Thank you, sir, but⁠—”

“Dad…” It wasn’t often that I would contradict my father, but in this instance I had to speak up. This was his health we were discussing. His quality of life. Mum’s too. “I think this is a very generous offer from the king. One you should accept.”

My dad took a deep breath and reached for my hand. “It will ease your mind?”

“Yes, it will.”

He nodded, then looked up to Nicholas and inclined his head. “I would be honored to be the recipient of such a gift, Your Majesty.”

“Of course. I’m happy to help.”

I reached for Nicholas’s hand where it rested on my shoulder and gently squeezed it, thanking him.

Dad’s eyes shifted to the move and narrowed, and I knew right then that our secret was out. He’d opened his mouth, about to say something, when my mum walked into the sunroom with a tray in hand.

The three of us looked in her direction and she held it up, unaware she’d just possibly saved my hide—and Nicholas’s.

“Tea, anyone?”

IT WAS AMAZING what a couple of hours at home could do for one’s perspective.

All the time I’d spent away, in the presence of noblemen and -women, had made me forget how nice it was to exist outside of the madness that was royalty. The simple life, far, far away from castles, crowns, and chaos.

We might not have a lot, but one thing we did have was peace and quiet. No one demanding a minute of our time whenever we found ourselves standing still for longer than a second.

I stared across the table to where Nicholas conversed with my mother. They’d just finished off a second pot of tea and were discussing the best weather to plant their orange trees.

My father had fallen asleep around fifteen minutes ago, but not before challenging Nicholas to a game of mahjong in which he’d shown the king no mercy. Nicholas had then declared he would never play another mahjong game with a Bennett male as long as he was alive. My father had laughed and challenged him to a game of chess, at which he also beat him.

It was one of the most wonderful days of my life, and it was all because of the man sitting across from me.

As if he could feel my attention on him, Nicholas looked in my direction, and the way the sunlight caught on his dark hair and blue eyes made him seem otherworldly. In his navy suit and tie, pristine white shirt, and tailored pants, he looked as out of place sitting in my parents’ small sunroom sipping tea as I did eating dinner on the balcony of his family’s summer palace.

We were from two completely different worlds and yet somehow managed to fit into both. We were able to give the other what they needed, when they needed it, and I would never forget what he’d done for my family today.

“I’m going to step outside for a little bit,” Nicholas said as he rose to his feet, his eyes still locked on mine. “Give you some time with your mother before we have to head back.”

I appreciated the moment alone with her to ask about her health and how she was coping with Father’s progressing illness, and though she admitted it was difficult at times, she was in high spirits. That was one of the things I loved the most about my mum. No matter what life threw at her, she always rose up and overcame it—usually with a smile on her face. I might’ve gotten my dad’s work ethic, but I’d most certainly inherited her love for life and optimism.

She was the strongest person I knew.

“I better go and check on the king,” I said, looking out to see Nicholas standing on the cliffs, the sea breeze ruffling his hair.

“Of course,” Mum said as we got to our feet. “It was so nice of him to bring you by to see us today. Please be sure he knows how grateful we are.”

“He knows, Mum. But I’ll tell him.”

She nodded and kissed my cheek before disappearing into the kitchen with the tray in hand, and after a final look at my sleeping father, I pushed open the side door and stepped outside.

The clean scent of salt in the air was as familiar to me as the grassy hilltop I walked across to meet up with Nicholas. I’d played for hours out here as a child, fighting imaginary dragons and looking through homemade telescopes for pirates. It’d been a childhood full of love and happiness, despite our station. But as I walked toward the regal man that stood there now, his shoulders rigid and his hands clasped behind his back, I’d never been more aware of the old, run-down cottage behind me.

At first I’d been worried how he’d react to such meager dwellings—but I needn’t have, because Nicholas had sat at my mother’s morning table and played games with my father, all the while sipping tea like he was back on the east terrace of Montclair.

My eyes blurred at the memory. The generosity, respect, and kindness he’d shown my parents had confirmed what I already knew—I was in love with His Majesty King Nicholas Laurent Valemont.