Chapter 8 #3
She scoffed and poured herself another cup of tea that was not boiling hot but was still steaming. “And the press and public doesn’t put pressure on princesses to look a certain way?”
“I never said they didn’t. I said my family never would, despite what the press may say.”
When her stomach growled, he laughed. “I’m not laughing at you, I promise.”
She narrowed her eyes at him. “Sure seems that way.”
He picked up a grape and held it to her mouth. “Surely your mother would approve of some fruit.”
She sighed, glancing longingly at the cake. “I suppose so.” She reached for the grape, but he pulled it back.
His voice was husky as he brought it to her mouth. “Let me feed you.”
“Isn’t that a bit excessive?”
“Say yes, Genevieve.”
“To the fruit?”
“And to me.”
She locked eyes with him for a long moment, but then turned away, adjusting herself on the pillow so she was leaning away from him. “I’ll stick with the tea.”
He ate the grape himself, then wondered if he’d have done better to tempt her with cake.
No. Food wouldn’t fix what was wrong between them. “I care for you, Genevieve.”
She was looking down into her teacup, the breeze ruffling her hair. “I know you do, in your own way.”
“But it’s not enough for you.”
She put the teacup down, and it felt like a judge bringing down a gavel. “No, it’s not. I’m sorry.”
“Don’t be. I appreciate that we can be honest with each other.”
At the distant sound of thunder, they both glanced up. Though they were still in sun with the odd cloud, in the distance they could see the storm brewing.
“We’d better get packed up.” As she started to reach for things, he stopped her.
“Let the servants do it. The others will have heard it too and be back soon, we can head to the car and wait for them.”
She nodded, picked up her own things, and allowed him to help her up. A moment later, they heard laughter and running feet from the hill above as the others made their way back.
After a word to the servants, he grabbed his coat and chanced holding her hand on the way back to the car. She didn’t pull away, not even when he grasped it again inside the car, which gave him a bit of hope. Not much, but a little.
Once the others arrived and scrambled into their cars, Gabriel knocked on the privacy screen to signal for the driver to leave. They pulled away as the first drops hit the car, though the storm had already started in other parts of the capital.
When she jerked in her seat from a sudden boom of thunder, he pulled her closer and kissed her palm. “Are you cold, my dear?”
“Just a little. It’s fine.”
He wrapped his coat around her shoulders and tucked her against him, rubbing her back gently. He always preferred his cars to be on the colder side, as he seemed to run hot, but he’d not considered how that might have affected the other riders.
Was he so self-centered that he didn’t consider others? Or was he just privileged and used to getting his way? Likely both.
When they neared her house, the rain was pelting down and the road had indeed flooded.
Gabriel brought down the privacy screen. “Is the water too high?”
“Sir, I don’t feel we should risk it.”
Gabriel nodded. “We’ll—”
“You can take me to the Kaur’s. They’re only a few minutes away. If you just—”
“Nonsense. You’ll stay at the palace for the night. It’s the least I could do. Let’s head there now.”
“Yes, Sir.”
As the privacy screen went up, she looked at him in disbelief.
“Did you not hear a damn thing I said in those ruins? Do you know what people will say when they hear I spent the night at the palace? Do you know what my mother will do? Force me to the doctor for a pregnancy test.”
“We have guests over all the time. Do you think my brothers’ guests haven’t stayed before? We have many guestrooms.”
She tried to pull away from him, but he didn’t let her go. “Do you honestly think I believe they stayed in guestrooms? That you’ll let me stay in a guestroom?”
He grinned. “The private lives of my siblings are not my business. Everyone here is an adult, including you, and decide what to do.” He grasped her chin.
“I hope you know that I would never hurt you. I would never do anything you didn’t want me to, nor force you.
I’m not like that asshole whose name you won’t share. ”
He didn’t let her turn her head away either. “If we’re ever in the same room together, you need to tell me.”
“Why? So you can punch him and cause a scene?”
“No. So I can protect you from him.”
Her eyes widened.
“I told you before I can ruin their life without them ever knowing why, and it’s still true. I’d never want to cause you embarrassment. I hope you can trust me for that at least.”
She sighed and settled her head back on his chest. “I think I do.”
It was strange but he had the oddest sense of achievement with her words. Knowing that she trusted him, at least a little bit…it was a start. Maybe they didn’t have an ending together, but it was the start of something.
“But I still won’t share who it was So, please don’t ever bring it up to me again. It’s not a pleasant memory.”
“Of course,” he readily agreed. “I won’t bring it up again unless you do so first, my dear.”
They pulled up to the palace, went through several security gates, and entered the courtyard. The car pulled up under an awning and Gabriel tapped on the door to confirm it should be opened.
Corrado was waiting for him, as usual. “Sir.”
He stepped out, then held out a hand for Genevieve. “The road near Miss Ruffin’s home was flooded, so we’ll need to arrange a guestroom for her tonight, and give Mrs. Ruffin a call letting her know. Miss Ruffin, this is my chief of staff, Corrado. Corrado, may I introduce Miss Genevieve Ruffin.”
As she stepped out, she gave Corrado a smile. “It’s lovely to meet you. I can call my mother myself, if you’ll direct me to a phone.”
“Not at all, Miss Ruffin. I’m happy to do it.” To Gabriel, he added. “The Rose Room should be ready for guests, Sir.”
“Wonderful. Have the others returned?”
“Yes, Sir, they all returned near half an hour ago.”
He nodded and tucked Genevieve’s arm into his and started walking.
When they were out of earshot of everyone but his protection agents, she asked, “What did he mean?”
“Apparently, you’re not the only one sleeping over.”