Ernst returned, smiling, very pleased with himself. “Prince and a blue.”
“A blue?” Daffy leaned close.
“A blue.” The old man wiggled his eyebrows. “You. Girl. Love.”
“Ernst, no. She’s a friend.”
“I work for the Royal Trust.” Daffy rushed past Ernst’s presumption despite the soft blush on her cheeks. “Gus believes you can help us with a sensitive project.”
Betsy arrived with two foaming pints. “One and done, okay?” Gus peered up at her. “Listen to me, not your uncle. One pint only.” He turned to Ernst. “I need a carpenter.”
Before Ernst could answer, a couple of the blokes from two tables over moved in to shake his hand.
“Your Royalness. Welcome.”
“Don’t stay away.”
“Good to see you, lads,” Gus said, taking the first man’s hand, then the next.
“Sorry for troubles, sir. Things sort out.”
“Indeed they do. Oh, hello. Dylan, yes, of course I remember you. From the Youth League a few years back. How are you getting on?”
Meanwhile, Ernst excused himself to tend a customer. After a few more pleasantries, the lads trotted off and Gus returned his attention to Daffy.
“I’d forgotten how much I liked the cadence of the locals.” Daffy sipped from her glass, then stretched her hands toward the glow of the fire.
“Before you know it, you’ll be doing it too.”
“I’m not sure I understand the rules.”
“There are no rules. Just say the necessary words and leave the rest.” When she smiled, Gus sank a bit further into her charm.
“Ah, well. You. Popular. Here.”
He laughed. “Less robotic and you’ve got it.” He pointed to the ceiling beams. “Helped install it.”
“Look at you.” Her smile conveyed respect. “But you can’t fix a chair?”
“Ha.A beam is nothing like repairing a chair where no one sees it was broken.”
“Here we are.” The feminine version of Ernst arrived with a large platter of fish and chips. She kissed Gus on the cheek, then Daffy, and hurried away.
“That was Stella, Ernst’s wife.” Gus regarded the overflowing platter. “Do they still think I’m Prince Pudgy?”
“Not if they have eyes.” Daffy selected a small slice of fish. “This smells too good not to try.”
He liked her cloaked compliment. Even approval. She didn’t see him as the fat Gus-Gus prince. Just as a chap who might be worthy of a good woman. He wished he could see life through her eyes.
As he took some fish and chips for his plate, Hemstead texted.
Not again.
“Busted.” He held up the screen for Daffy to see. “What’s he doing, checking on me at nine-thirty? I told him I was going to bed.”
“You know the castle has cameras everywhere outside.”
“Right. I forgot.”
