Shaking the thought off, I told James, “I’ve cleared your schedule for the morning. So play with Titan to your heart’s content, but remember, I need you to sign things this afternoon.”
“I promise,” he said faithfully, even as Titan hooked his head over James’s shoulder, basically hugging the man to him.
Shaking my head, I waved those two on and turned, heading back to my office. I might be able to steal a few minutes and sketch the scene just now, before the details grew hazy. That said…
I’d have to come back out here and fetch James in again, wouldn’t I?
Thirty-eight
Edwin
I was tidying up, the workday coming to a close, when Princess Helena walked into the office. Not an unusual occurrence, but she looked distinctly peeved, which wasn’t a good thing.
“What ails the princess?” I asked.
She rolled her eyes expansively. “I’m glad it’s just you in here because I need to vent. I just had to rescue Royce. Again.”
“What, did he get surrounded by nobles again?”
“He did. He’s gotten better at fighting his way through them, but this time he used me as cover to escape. It galls me, truly. Not a single person has taken me seriously. Apparently, no one thinks I’m capable of ruling a country.”
I groaned. James had been campaigning hard to get Princess Helena some kind of foothold or at least recognition, and while people acknowledged her efforts in the country, they seemed to take it as a given? Not something praiseworthy or worth any respect. Which was ludicrous—if Prince Royce or Victor haddone a single thing she’d already achieved, they’d have been heaped with praise.
The double standards were obvious, and I didn’t blame her for being vexed.
Blinking, she glanced at James’s empty desk. “Where is he?”
“With Titan.”
She snorted, a laugh crinkling up her eyes. “Do you see him at all?”
“Sure I do. When he’s working. Or if I go to the stables to fetch him home.” I shrugged in a sort of amused resignation. “He did warn me he’d do this for a few weeks, as he needs to bond properly to his war horse.”
“I understand from the staff he’s basically glued to his horse.”
“They’re not wrong. James and Titan have been training, or riding, or even just taking naps together.”
“I also understand Titan has a special latch on his stall door so he can let himself in and out?”
“Also correct.” I rolled my eyes. “I was actually there for the argument. Apparently, there is not a stall door in existence strong enough to stop that horse. Titan hears James coming, he’ll kick the door out in order to reach him. He even did it on their first meeting.”
Her jaw dropped. “You’re kidding.”
“I’m not. It was very much love at first sight. On both ends, mind you.” Well, James remembered Titan, so it was a bit skewed. I suspected Titan somehow remembered James, though I didn’t understand how, but the way those two had instantly clicked was suspicious. It smacked of tampering.
Still snickering, Princess Helena asked, “So James told them to make a latch on the door so his horse can come greet him, and the stable manager said yes?”
“Well, Titan had already destroyed about six doors by that point…”
She doubled over laughing.
It was funny. Ridiculous, but funny. Absolutely nothing was going to keep those two apart, and this past week had resulted in negotiations every night when James had needed to come back in. He had to give Titan an apple, put a blanket on him, and tuck him into his stall with Titan’s pet cat in order for all to be well. Only then did the stallion relax and allow James to sleep.
I’d get my lover back from the horse. Eventually.
“I have to meet this horse,” Princess Helena choked out.
“Well, come with me,” I said in invitation. “I need to ask James a question anyway. He bolted out of here before I could catch him.”
