Rhody looked doubtful, eyes roving over my expression as if she could read the truth behind it. “You? The child who could fall asleep under random desks? The one who made me search for you multiple times, even as a teenager?”
Having a business partner who’d known you through your childhood did have its downsides. I played this off with a laugh. “Yes, can I have that ability back? I lost it somewhere along theway. I want the sleeping ability of my child self in all its inelegant glory.”
She smiled, but the concern in her brown eyes didn’t fade. “Take a sleeping potion, if you must.”
I made a face.
“I know they make you groggy in the mornings and you want to get up with the sun, but take one anyway until you’ve adjusted here. It won’t do for you to go about exhausted.”
She did have a point. I’d try one, see if it helped.
Ceasar stopped clucking and shooed me back into the fitting room. “Pants next.”
I amiably did as ordered. While I shucked off the vest and jacket, I could hear Rhody and Seth speaking with Edwin.
“When he looks like that, make sure he rests,” Rhody advised. “He’ll drive himself straight into the ground with a smile on his face, so don’t trust it when he smiles.”
Hey!
Well, actually...
“Does he normally space out, then?” Edwin asked, speaking slowly. “I caught him blankly staring at his desk this morning.”
“Oh, if he’s doing that, then hedefinitelyhasn’t been sleeping well.” Seth snorted. “Ten years ago, I would catch him staring into space all the time. You have to make him rest if you see this, because otherwise, he gets punch drunk. Giggly. Then does insane things that almost sound reasonable but are anything but.”
Enough out of those two. They’d tell Edwin all my flaws before I could charm him into dating, which wouldn’t do at all. I quickly fastened the pants and opened the fitting room curtain before the conversation could go any further.
“Rhody, Seth, I believe you came up here to speak to me about a few things and get some signatures, not convince my new secretary I’m a walking idiot.”
Rhody batted her eyes. “I can do both at the same time.”
“Resist. Now, what are you wanting me to do? Full recap, I’m not sure if my memory’s faulty or if your note was cryptic,” I joked.
Ceasar went back to clucking, circling around me, while my business partners caught me up to speed. I kept a weather eye on Edwin, but he seemed only mildly interested in what we discussed, not at all alarmed or concerned.
Good, maybe I’d played it off well enough. Now, truly, where did I start courting this man? How did I flirt with him without bringing his guard up?
Seth asked in exasperation, “James, are you paying attention?”
“Absolutely.” Not.
What can I say? If weighed against a business meeting and a fitting, Edwin was far more my priority.
Six
James
With my very busy schedule, I found it difficult to do anything personal this week, but I needed to visit Vuheia’s temple. I didn’t manage until the night before my coronation, and it was nearly eleven by the time I got there. Fortunately, all the gods’ temples operated twenty-four hours a day without rest. The gods did not sleep and people’s needs weren’t on a timetable. I’d never been so grateful for it.
Dame Temperance and Sir Lanslet came with me, clearly confused as to why I’d visited this goddess, this temple. Vuheia wasn’t a popular deity during times of peace. I chose not to explain myself to them. One of the few benefits of being a prince. They were quiet and deferential, but given more time, they’d open up to me. It just made for a quiet trip tonight.
The temple itself wasn’t lavish, more on the modest side. It stood two stories tall and was one of the oldest structures in the city. You could smell the age of the building just standing on the bottom step, and while it was well kept, moss grew up between the weathered stones, and the slate roof showed somewear and tear. The smell of candles, of incense burning, felt like a homecoming as I stepped through the main doorway, pausing only to reacquaint myself. Inside was a singular room with a large statue of Vuheia toward the far wall, surrounded by tables where people could place offerings or written prayers. Also arrayed near the tables were prayer altars with benches to kneel on and small tables that each held a candle, as well as paper and pen to write the prayer.
Not everyone wrote their prayers, some choosing to only kneel and pray. I normally didn’t write a prayer out. This time, especially, I didn’t dare. It would read unhinged if it fell into the wrong hands.
The temple was quiet, the atmosphere not hushed but soft in the dim mage lights. I felt calmer and more at peace here than if I’d been in my own bed. At this time of night, only the priests and one other person were inside. I more or less ignored them.
My knights took a seat in the very back, giving me some privacy, as I made my way to the front. I chose an altar at random and knelt, hands resting on the thin wooden desk. I closed my eyes and breathed for a long moment, soaking in the atmosphere.
