Chapter 5
Five
James
I stretched both arms over my head and rolled my head around on my shoulders.
Hmm, yes, better. Got blood flowing again.
All right, let’s see, I’d completed that, and that, and now I might have enough time to review the demon portal wards.
I remembered how to fix them—the solution had involved a three-day conference in the past—so I should be able to present it again.
Er, how, though? I had no magical abilities, no way to say Oh, such and such is the problem.
Hmm, now, if memory served, two particular mages had figured out the issue and reported it to me.
I could take them with me to renew the wards and encourage them to do a deep analysis of the place in the process.
Surely with the right hints they’d be able to figure out what should be done this time—
“—our Highness.” A hand landed on my shoulder.
I startled, looking up from the desk and right into Edwin’s eyes. Oh, he had that exasperated look, the one I knew well. He always wore it when I was running late for something.
“Snake, again?”
He retracted his hand. “Sorry?”
Vuheia help me. Right, that inside joke no longer worked with him. He didn’t get the reference, as he wasn’t my Edwin. At least, not yet. I deflated a little. “Sorry, inside joke. What am I late for?”
“Your fitting for the ball and your meeting with your business partners. As requested, I scheduled them together for efficiency’s sake.”
I glanced at the clock, then the daily planner on my desk, and sighed. Indeed, it was a snake situation. “Yes, so I am. Let’s go.”
Edwin didn’t say a word until we were both in the hallway, heading for the royal tailors. I felt uncomfortable with the silence but didn’t know what to talk about. Strange, to have this feeling with him. I’d never experienced this before.
“What does that mean?” he finally asked. “Snake?”
It was so like Edwin to ask about anything he didn’t understand. That attitude had enabled him to advance from runner to a prince’s secretary. I was happy to explain, as I wanted our joke back into being. It felt wrong otherwise.
“Well, originally the full line was if it was a snake, it would have bitten you, meaning it was right in front of my nose. Over the years, though, it’s been shortened down to just snake.”
He gave a thoughtful hum. “In other words, with your planner in front of your eyes, you should have realized you were late for an appointment. Snake, again.”
“Quite right. I probably should have warned you I’m habitually late. I get wrapped up in the present thing and don’t watch the clock as I should. It’s a bad habit I’ve tried and failed to break.”
He nodded, his eyes on me. “In that case, I will be more on my guard about warning you of your next appointment.”
“Much appreciated.” Edwin had always been my clock, my memory, and these past three days I’d sorely missed him chivvying me up and into motion.
Aside from these missteps with Edwin, things were going well, or at least I thought so.
My staff was figuring out how I worked and making the necessary adjustments, and they were bonding nicely.
I’d taken them all out for dinner and drinks the other night under the pretense of getting to know them better.
Really, I’d given them a chance to get to know me better this time around. It had sped things along somewhat.
Now if only I could figure out how to speed things along with Edwin, that would be wonderful.
I couldn’t flirt flirt with him, as that would raise his defenses, so how did I casually flirt? Was there such a thing as casually flirting?
Even if not, I’d try.
“Having my business meetings here isn’t causing you too much trouble, is it?” I gave him a warm smile. “I realize you’ve already got a lot of work on your plate. I don’t wish to add to it.”
He answered with a bemused expression. “Not at all. Don’t think of it.”
Not the reaction I was going for, dammit. Edwin, my love, do try to realize I’m interested in you. No, I couldn’t blame him. I’d have to up my game.
“Is there anything I can do to help you—”
I caught the hint of movement from behind and to my right, in my blind spot, and I spun about, reacting in pure reflex. Adrenaline leapt through my veins in a quicksilver rush even as one hand balled into a fist, throwing a punch, the other up as a guard. Fuck! Why didn’t I have my sword on me?
In the same second I threw my fist, I recognized Sir Collins and swore, trying to pull the punch. Don’t hit your own knight, dumbass, pull it, pull it—
Fortunately, Sir Collins had always been a quick-witted fighter. He caught my fist in one hand, blocking the attack, then just held me there. Thank Vuheia I hadn’t been armed, because that could have gone very wrong.
I let out an explosive breath, shaking off the adrenaline as best I could, even as I apologized in a rush. “I am so, so sorry. That was sheer reflex.”
His hazel eyes searched mine, expression confused.
Of course he was confused. In his mind I had no cause to possess hair-trigger reflexes.
He didn’t know I’d spent four years at war, full-out living on the battlefield in my final year.
A man living a peaceful life as a businessman had no cause to react like a soldier just because someone appeared behind him.
Edwin studied me with furrowed brows, as if I was a walking contradiction that didn’t add up, which didn’t help unwind my nerves any.
I found it hard to shake off the adrenaline rush, my fingers still twitching under the need for a sword in hand.
Trying to regain normalcy with Edwin staring at me was not an easy task.
Shit.
Still, Sir Collins let go and forgave me with a smile. “It’s my fault for walking up so quietly. Think nothing of it, Your Highness.”
I felt like shit regardless. “You walk like a damn cat, Sir Collins. A truly unique ability in a knight. I’d expect that kind of behavior from an assassin.”
“Perhaps I’ve missed my calling in life, then,” he joked. “Also surprised you remember my name, as we’ve only been around each other once.”
Dammit, I probably shouldn’t remember his name right now. Too late.
“Ha, quite. Again, apologies. Did you need me for something?”
“It’s protocol to have a knight accompany you if an outsider comes into the palace to meet with you.”
Ah, right, I’d forgotten. With my business partners coming in, of course he would need to be in the room. “They’ve arrived, I take it?”
“So they have. I came to fetch you, but I see you’re on the way.”
“Yes, so I am. Well, let’s hurry there.”
Rhody and Seth were busy people, so I didn’t want to make them wait regardless.
We weren’t far, just one hallway and a staircase away, as the tailors’ suite was between my wing and the main building. I arrived in a minute flat and was greeted by two of my most trusted business partners and friends.
It was good to see them face-to-face. I hadn’t the chance since my return and had to quell the urge to hug them both, as they’d find it quite strange. According to them, I’d seen them only two weeks ago, after all. Still, the urge to wrap my arms around them lingered.
“Rhody.” I greeted the matron with a warm smile. “You look stunning in that color.”
“I must.” She laughed, the sound warm and vivacious. “I always get a compliment from you when I wear it.”
That sage green truly did highlight her warm, honey colored hair, causing her skin to glow.
She was half Mospean, or so she once told me, which explained her olive skin tone.
Old enough to be my mother, Rhody had been hired and trained by my grandparents, so she knew the business inside and out.
I leaned on her when any trouble arose, as she was more than competent enough to handle any situation.
Turning, I greeted my other business partner. “Seth, thanks for trekking out here.”
“It was a trek,” he admitted ruefully.
Seth had a thin frame and dark hair with a slight wave, and he always seemed to wear black to one degree or another. He looked rather austere, which amused me, since he had a goofball personality.
The tailor, Caesar, bustled over to us, a measuring tape over his shoulders and a pencil tucked behind his ear. “I get him first. This way, Prince James.”
I obeyed the summons, coming closer as he ushered me into a fitting room. “I’m not a prince yet.”
Caesar waved this away. “Semantics. You will be shortly, and it’s my job to make sure you’re presentable. Now, try on what I’ve made. Let’s make sure it fits you well.”
I was sure it would. Caesar had a gift for making clothes, and he’d never put me in anything problematic. Well, to my eyes at least; he was far fussier than I am.
I changed into the vest and suit coat first so he could see how they looked on me. As expected, Caesar immediately tsked when I exited, moving from one side to the next, nitpicking things I didn’t even see. It was perhaps best I’d never tried to be a tailor.
Rhody surprised me by coming in closer and laying a hand over my forehead, the gesture one of concern. “Are you ill?”
“No?” Only heartsick, which didn’t count. I didn’t think.
“Then why do you look like you haven’t slept well in days?”
Well, I actually hadn’t slept well in years, so… “I’m having a hard time adjusting,” I answered truthfully.
Rhody looked doubtful, eyes roving over my expression as if she could read the truth behind it. “You? The child who could fall asleep under random desks? The one who made me search for you multiple times, even as a teenager?”
Having a business partner who’d known you through your childhood did have its downsides. I played this off with a laugh. “Yes, can I have that ability back? I lost it somewhere along the way. I want the sleeping ability of my child self in all its inelegant glory.”
She smiled, but the concern in her brown eyes didn’t fade. “Take a sleeping potion, if you must.”
I made a face.
“I know they make you groggy in the mornings and you want to get up with the sun, but take one anyway until you’ve adjusted here. It won’t do for you to go about exhausted.”
She did have a point. I’d try one, see if it helped.
Ceasar stopped clucking and shooed me back into the fitting room. “Pants next.”
I amiably did as ordered. While I shucked off the vest and jacket, I could hear Rhody and Seth speaking with Edwin.
“When he looks like that, make sure he rests,” Rhody advised. “He’ll drive himself straight into the ground with a smile on his face, so don’t trust it when he smiles.”
Hey!
Well, actually...
“Does he normally space out, then?” Edwin asked, speaking slowly. “I caught him blankly staring at his desk this morning.”
“Oh, if he’s doing that, then he definitely hasn’t been sleeping well.
” Seth snorted. “Ten years ago, I would catch him staring into space all the time. You have to make him rest if you see this, because otherwise, he gets punch drunk. Giggly. Then does insane things that almost sound reasonable but are anything but.”
Enough out of those two. They’d tell Edwin all my flaws before I could charm him into dating, which wouldn’t do at all. I quickly fastened the pants and opened the fitting room curtain before the conversation could go any further.
“Rhody, Seth, I believe you came up here to speak to me about a few things and get some signatures, not convince my new secretary I’m a walking idiot.”
Rhody batted her eyes. “I can do both at the same time.”
“Resist. Now, what are you wanting me to do? Full recap, I’m not sure if my memory’s faulty or if your note was cryptic,” I joked.
Ceasar went back to clucking, circling around me, while my business partners caught me up to speed. I kept a weather eye on Edwin, but he seemed only mildly interested in what we discussed, not at all alarmed or concerned.
Good, maybe I’d played it off well enough. Now, truly, where did I start courting this man? How did I flirt with him without bringing his guard up?
Seth asked in exasperation, “James, are you paying attention?”
“Absolutely.” Not.
What can I say? If weighed against a business meeting and a fitting, Edwin was far more my priority.