Page 42 of Fit for a King

“I highly doubt the king would entertain the idea of marrying someone who would pull such a stunt.”

“Bet he would, if the sword was pierced with rubies and emeralds.”

I didn’t even want to think about that. I was already busy enough trying to keep my eyes off the royal couple every time I re-entered the ballroom. But so far, no such luck. From the moment the prince had entered the room and the king soon after, they’d zeroed in on one another and hadn’t left each other’s side since.

It seemed all of those misgivings Nicholas had been harboring leading up to tonight’s celebration had vanished in the face of such a handsome future. Not that I could blame him. The prince was incredibly magnetic. Nicholas was probably thrilled to discover his betrothed wouldn’t be such a burden in his life after all.

Even if he did find the need to announce himself in such an ostentatious way.

“Correct me if I’m wrong.” Mrs. Hutcheon’s voice was like a bucket of cold water on Violet’s good time, making her back instantly straighten. “But the last time I checked, the king does not pay you to stand around and discuss his fiancé’s…person.”

Violet spun around and brushed her hands down her apron. “I wasn’t. I was discussing rubies and emeralds.”

“And I’m telling you that he doesn’t pay you to do so. The guestrooms”—Mrs. Hutcheon pointed down the hall—“need to be turned down for eight tonight. That ought to keep you busy.”

“Yes, Mrs. Hutcheon.” Violet turned back to me and rolled her eyes, then whispered, “Enjoy the upstairs tonight. I’d do anything to be a fly on the wall.”

And that was exactly how we appeared to the guests sipping their wine and eating their amuse-bouches. Probably less noticeable than that. A fly in Montclair Palace would be unheard of.

With my full tray in hand, I made my way up to the butler’s pantry and then re-entered the ballroom.

Immediately I searched out the one man I shouldn’t. It wasn’t difficult to find him. Nicholas Valemont commanded every single space he stepped inside of, including a ballroom full of the most important people in the world. So when a crowd gathered just off to the side of the dance floor, I knew exactly where he was.

I should’ve moved in the opposite direction, should’ve distracted myself by attending to every guest other than him, but just like last night, my feet didn’t follow my orders. Instead, I weaved my way through the room, careful not to run into anyone as I moved closer to Nicholas.

It was the closest we’d been all night, since Baxter had relieved me of my duties and helped the king get ready this evening. I’d tried not to take offense at the slight, and reminded myself that Nicholas was merely doing what I’d asked. But still, I couldn’t help but feel the sting at being replaced for such an important task.

A task that would’ve made seeing him for the first time tonight a lot less difficult than when the doors to the throne room had opened across the ballroom, and he and Gabriel stepped in. It’d been all I could do to keep my knees from buckling.

King Nicholas Laurent Valemont was devastatingly handsome. So much so, he made it difficult to look away.

He was in a black tailcoat with satin lapels, and the crisp white waistcoat and bow tie contrasted with the navy-blue sash of the House of Valoria. At his neck he wore the Order of Saint Maris neck badge, which was a silver-and-white-gold Maltese cross with a deep blue sapphire in the center. He had a restrained row of medals, including the crest of the king on his breast pocket, and mirror-polished shoes, and I’d had an immediate image of how it would’ve felt to be kneeling at his feet tying those shoes, had he allowed me to tonight.

Maybe he would’ve touched me again. A hand to my hair. Fingers to my cheek. Lips to my lips…

But he hadn’t. He’d dismissed me. He’d put the distance I’d asked for between us, and now here I was, closing it.

Stupid, I told myself, even as I made my way past the foreign secretary, who was talking to the prime minister. Then the crowd parted, the two royals everyone was here to see tonight came into direct view, and it felt as though a lead stone dropped into the pit of my stomach.

Prince de la Vega had a hand resting lightly on the arm of Nicholas’s jacket, and while he was all smiles to everyone who congratulated them on their upcoming nuptials, Nicholas seemed slightly less enthused.

His lips were tight, his head held high in that regal way he had about himself, but every now and then he would look at the man beside him with a curious expression I couldn’t quite put my finger on. It wasn’t affection; there was no genuine smile or humor between the two of them, and his eyes weren’t sparkling like they had the time I’d made him laugh. But there was an interest in whom he was going to be committing his life to as he did his best to get to know the prince in front of a room full of people.

One thing was for certain: Nicholas didn’t need a fanfare to announce that he had arrived. He merely had to step inside for everyone in the room to feel that royalty had entered their orbit.

Maybe the prince could learn a thing or two from him about that.

“Where do you think you’re going?”

I’d been so focused on Nicholas that I hadn’t heard anyone come up beside me. Not that that was unusual; most people wouldn’t talk to the staff of the palace. But then again, most people weren’t Prince Gabriel.

“I… Nowhere, Your Royal Highness.”

Gabriel leaned in slightly and said, “So formal, Mr. Bennett,” then plucked a glass off the tray. “You look very dashing this evening.”

I wasn’t sure how to react, considering my job tonight was to be invisible. “As do you, sir.”

“I do, don’t I?” He smirked as he moved to stand beside me. “These gatherings are so boring, don’t you think?”