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Obviously, my glass pyramids didn’t look nearly as breathtaking as Calum’s did, but I did manage to complete two of them before our lunch break. I planned on giving one to Doc and Grandpa and giving the other to the newest Wilde, my cousin’s baby, Pippa. One of my aunts had made a point of giving each niece and nephew a new ornament every year, and I’d always thought it was a special tradition.
“Ready for a hearty meal?” Calum finally asked after two in the afternoon, wiping a rag across his face. His grin was large in his ruddy cheeks, and I realized just what a different man he was than the one I’d met only a couple of days before.
“Lead on, master,” I teased.
None of us put a coat back on for the walk to the main house for lunch. The cool wind off the sea felt amazing on my heated skin. I wondered if I’d run into Lio in the kitchen and hoped the later hour meant he’d come and gone from Mari’s lair already.
Sure enough, the only people to be found were Bert, the estate manager, Mari, and a man I hadn’t met before named Arthur. He appeared to be older than my oldest cousin, Hudson, but younger than fifty. The man had short dark hair with threads of silver in it that only served to make him more attractive. If he hadn’t been so stiff and formal, he’d be downright droolworthy.
Bert sat reading a newspaper while Mari fussed around making plates for the four of us. Arthur studied me like I was something of interest. It was a little creepy, so I tried ignoring him.
“Sorry, I’m a sweaty mess,” I told Mari.
She beamed up at me. “Nothing wrong with the results of hard work, Felix, and if’n you keep that large grin on your face, I’d imagine it’ll do to serve the likes of you regardless.”
I followed Calum’s helpers to the large sink and washed my hands before taking my place at the thick wooden table in the center of the room. The heat from the kitchen fire was hardly noticeable compared to the heat in the glassworks, and I relished some time away from the hot air.
When I realized Calum and Arthur were speaking familiarly, I asked Arthur what he did at the castle.
He opened his mouth to respond but seemed to freeze before a single word came out.
“Uh, sorry,” I stammered. “I didn’t mean to pry. It’s really none of my business.”
“No, no. It’s fine. I am one of the assistants to the royal family. When they are in residence, I help with… clothing. Packing, unpacking, pressing, and whatnot. It’s… yes. That is what I do. The service I perform. For the royal, ahem, family.”
Mari hid a chuckle in a dish towel, and I noticed her face flush pink. Were they making fun of me? I didn’t know much about the royal family of Monaco, but that didn’t mean I didn’t know they had valets.
“You’re a royal valet?”
Arthur’s eyes widened before his smile did the same. “Yes, Felix. I am a valet. Have served the royal family for almost twenty years. They are good people.”
I wasn’t quite sure what to say to that. “Well, they’re lucky to have you, then.”
Once we were all finished eating, Mari pulled me aside and handed me a slip of paper. “Your grandfather called while you were out this morning. You can use the phone in my office to call him back if you’d like.”
My heart began to hammer in my chest. Doc and Grandpa had the phone number to the castle in case of emergencies since my cell phone wouldn’t work on the remote island. “Did he say if anything was wrong?”
Mari’s eyes softened and she reached out to pat my shoulder. “Didn’t sound like it, my boy. Go and call him, then. You’ll see. I’m sure everything is fine.”
I excused myself to Calum and his men before making my way to the kitchen office and closing the door. After dialing the long string of numbers to reach home, I calculated the time difference.
It was almost three here which meant almost nine in the morning at home.
I heard the click of the phone connecting and didn’t wait for the man to speak. “Grandpa? Is everything okay?”
The deep, familiar sound of his voice washed over me, making my eyes sting. “Of course it is. Everything’s fine, son. We were just calling to wish you a Merry Christmas in case we couldn’t get a hold of you tomorrow.”
I let out a breath and ran my hand through my hair in relief. I’d forgotten today was Christmas Eve. “Shit. You scared me to death.”
I heard Doc’s familiar chuckle join Grandpa’s scoff. “Don’t say that, or I’ll owe Doc ten bucks.”
I felt a laugh bubble up. “It’s good to hear your voice. Hey, Doc.”
