“This is actually good,” I admit.
“Agreed,” Henri says. “Severin really outdid himself with this one.”
We drink in silence, finishing our cocktails in record time.
I hold my empty glass up. “Severin, hit me with another one of these!”
“Make it two,” Henri joins in.
As we work on our second round, I listen to the after-work chatter that forms a pleasant background buzz. Severin movesbehind the bar, pouring, shaking, and entertaining his patrons with silly jokes. With a soda in hand, Audrey is perched at the counter and keeping an eye on me and my surroundings.Always watching, always ready.She’s my first female bodyguard. I took a chance on her because of her track record and recommendations. I don’t think I’ll regret it.
“So, tell me about Julian,” Henri says, pulling me from my musings. “Are you dating him? A future duke, rich, handsome, young, good manners, enamored with you… I bet the royal family approves.”
“Julian and I had a fling back in January,” I open up, surprising myself.
“And nothing since? Is it over?”
“For me, yes.”
“Not for him, clearly.”
I shrug, as if to say,That’s his problem.
“You aren’t in love with him, then?” he asks, as if he needed to hear me spell it out.
“No.” I hold his gaze. “Why do you care?”
“Mere curiosity.” He tilts his head slightly. “What went wrong?”
“I’m not drunk enough to answer that question.”
“There’s a fix for that.”
I shake my head. “If I get wasted, I’ll be useless the whole day tomorrow.”
“So what? You can say you’re unwell and take it easy.”
“No, I can’t,” I remind him. “I’m here because our country needs that key, and Mother believes you can lead me to it. Every day counts.”
He sits back. “Fair enough. Let me ask another question, then. Have you been in love after you dumped me?”
Aren’t we curious tonight?
I squint at him. “You’re cheeky to ask of me such a question.”
“Humor me.”
“The closest I came to being in love was Darrel Vlovsky,” I say.
Why am I telling him this?He doesn’t deserve my honesty!
“Darrel Vlovsky…” Henri scratches his beard. “The name rings a bell… Isn’t he Prince Theodor’s bodyguard?”
“Until recently, yes.”
“How long did it last? Did you keep it secret? How did it end?”
“It didn’t end,” I reply.
