Page 57 of Fit for a King

“Yet.”

I dragged a hand over my face, suddenly exhausted. “You can’t say anything.”

His expression changed, from teasing and amiable to concerned in a flash. “Do you think I would?”

“No.” The answer came quickly because it was true. For all his mischief, Gabriel loved me and protected me in every way he knew how. He had my back and I had his. “I don’t know what I’m doing.”

Gabriel set his glass aside and moved toward me, reaching for my neck and forcing me to look at him.

Whatever he saw in my face was enough for him to say, “Christ, Nicholas.”

“I know.”

“Do you?”

“Yes.”

“Because this isn’t sneaking out through the tunnels or switching places at dinner. This is…” He glanced toward the door Noah had left through. “This is someone who can get hurt.”

My chest tightened. “I know.”

He looked at me like he wished he had the solution to my problem, but there was only one answer, and I wasn’t ready for that.

“I’d say be careful with him,” he said, giving my shoulder a squeeze. “But truth be told, I kind of like this ‘sneaking around, letting his hair down’ version of you. You’ve never let yourself set one foot out of line, so I have to admit, I’m impressed.”

I rolled my eyes as he grinned at me.

“You and the hot new footman,” he said, pushing against my chest. “I knew it. I can’t believe you weren’t going to tell me.”

“You didn’t know anything until he walked in here.”

“Oh, Nicholas. Who do you think gave him the job? His face alone was enough to seal the deal, but when he opened his mouth and spoke? You’re welcome.”

“God, you’re such an instigator.”

“Yes, but in this case, in a good way, right?”

I groaned and ran my hand through my hair. “I have the tour starting tomorrow.”

“And now you don’t want to leave?”

“Unfortunately, I don’t have a choice.” Gabriel opened his mouth, but I held up my hand. “And no, you can’t take my place.”

“I wasn’t about to offer. One night is one thing—two weeks, you’re on your own, brother. Or are you?”

I frowned as he drained his scotch and placed the glass on the side table.

“Take him with you.”

“Excuse me?”

“Noah. Take him with you.”

“He’s already coming with me as part of my staff⁠—”

“No. No. In your car. With you.”

My mind instantly rejected the idea, merely because it wasn’t the way of things. But who was to say that couldn’t change? Just because the staff usually traveled separately to the king, that didn’t mean it had to stay that way.