“I see,” he repeated, stunned.
All he could think was,Granny will be thrilled.He wasn’t entirely sure how he felt about all this just yet. He’d come here at her behest, under the notion that he never really stood a chance, and that it would just be a fun trip.
Francis had never banked on meeting Hasim like this, nor prepared for Hasim being the very king he was supposed to winthe affections of.
“I see,” Francis said again, reeling. “Um…”
“Come to the garden tomorrow,” Hasim urged. “Feed the cats with me, eat lunch. We will just be ourselves. Nothing else matters.”
Francis nodded.
Yes, that was what he wanted, without question.
“Very well,” he said, managing a smile. He couldn’t see suddenly, his eyes welling up. “I should like that.”
“Good.” Hasim kissed the top of Francis’s hand, then withdrew.
He left without another word, and Francis returned to Archie’s bedside.
“Everything all right, Francis?” Maddie asked.
“Yes,” Francis said, in a daze.
“What does the cat caretaker have to say?” Christian asked, as Gustav sighed deeply.
Francis understood now what Gustav had wanted to tell him. He laughed to himself.
“What?” Archie demanded. “What are you laughing at, man?”
“He’s King Omar,” Francis said, laughter peeling out of him as tears streamed down his cheeks.
“Who is?” Maddie asked, her voice going up several notches.
“The fellow who just left!” Gustav sighed. “Francis was with the king.”
Maddie and Christian gasped open mouthed, to which Francis said, “I know. I’m as shocked as you are. He’s invited me to lunch tomorrow to talk. He also said he chooses me.”
“Oh, that’s wonderful!” Maddie declared and hopped up to embrace Francis in delight.
“What?” Archie said, squinting at them through hispurple eye. “So, we won?”
Francis could hardly speak, happy as he was, embracing his friends in turn.
“Yes,” Christian answered him. “I dare say Francis won.”
“We won! Hah! You hear that, you scoundrels?” Archie shouted across the infirmary. “We bloody won!”
Chapter 15
The next morning, Francis awoke in his bed, content and a little tired. He had spent yesterday evening with his friends, eating supper in a private salon, and catching up. Archie had been discharged from the infirmary, and despite needing a bit of help to find his food, he was doing much better.
Francis had agreed to meet with them again later in the day, but first he wanted to see Hasim.
He was up and dressed when the servant bearing a tray of tea came in. Francis debated climbing out of the window again but instead asked the young woman how he could get down to that garden.
She spoke little German but seemingly understood him and beckoned him to follow. Francis stepped into his slippers, popped the veiled turban on his head, and followed her through a concealed door in the hallway, down a narrow set of servant’s stairs, and straight out into the garden below.
Much easier than shimmying down the trellis.
