Chapter 13
thirteen
GAbrIEL
The condolences event at the Kaur’s home had started an hour ago, but Gabriel had purposely arrived late. He had wanted to give the family time to grieve before he forced royalty into the situation.
He got out of the car and paused to help Agnes step out. She had wanted to come, to see the Kaurs and to check on Genevieve, so she’d accompanied him. Per the late night phone call from Genevieve, she’d asked him to bring a second car, which was parked just down the road.
The door opened and the bowing and curtsying commenced.
He and Agnes both said no one needed to bother with that, especially today, but few listened.
They found the Kaurs in a small sitting room with Genevieve, softly crying.
Mrs. Kaur was holding Genevieve’s hand, while Mr. Kaur was holding something small he couldn’t make out.
Genevieve caught sight of them first and rose, then curtsied. “Oh, Your Highnesses.”
Gabriel stepped forward before the Kaurs followed suit. “Please, no need to fuss with formality today. We’re so sorry for your loss.”
Mr. Kaur nodded; no doubt he’d heard the same sentiment hundreds of times already. His voice was rough and heavy with grief when he spoke. “Thank you, Your Highness.”
Agnes expressed her condolences and they sat down for a few minutes. “We didn’t mean to interrupt. We’re happy to give you both more time with Miss Ruffin.”
“No, we…” Mrs. Kaur cleared her throat. “We had a really good talk. We’re happy to sit with you for a few minutes.”
Genevieve made the first move and took Gabriel’s hand. Though he was surprised, he didn’t show it, and merely let her. There were enough eyes in the house that the gossip would inevitably spread, but for now he was happy to give her any support she needed.
After chatting for a few minutes, he caught sight of other people waiting nearby to speak to the Kaurs, so he sent a discreet signal to Agnes and squeezed Genevieve’s hand. Both Mr. and Mrs. Kaur hugged Genevieve before she left and thanked her.
When they stepped outside, more people greeted him and Agnes, so Genevieve gestured to the dining area and left them to it. After condoling with more people, Gabriel gave Agnes a discreet sign and followed where Genevieve had gone.
He found a large spread of food, a mix of South Asian and Vallerian fare, with people scattered around talking or taking small bites. Genevieve was in one corner, and it seemed her mother was in the middle of berating her.
Every time he met the woman, he only got angrier. Her daughter nearly dies and even that’s not enough to change her thinking? If that wouldn’t do it, then nothing would.
“Mrs. Ruffin, how do you do?”
Mrs. Ruffin’s demeanor changed instantly, her saccharine social persona taking over. “Your Highness, how lovely to see you again, even in such dreadful circumstances.” She curtsied, then gave Genevieve a look, who rolled her eyes and also curtsied.
“Have you spoken to the Kaurs? I just met them with Princess Agnes. Miss Ruffin was already meeting with them and kindly allowed me some of their time.”
Mrs. Ruffin pursed her lips yet still tried to keep smiling, which made her face look very odd. “I thought I told you to leave the Kaurs alone. Haven’t you done enough, killing their daughter?”
Genevieve was about to speak but Gabriel beat her to it.
He stepped forward, towering over Mrs. Ruffin.
“I’d be more careful with your words if I were you, Mrs. Ruffin.
It’s quite clear the other driver was impaired due to alcohol and caused the accident.
All the news channels and newspapers are reporting as such.
To tell a different story, especially one against your own daughter, would make it seem as if you hold little regard for your own child.
I wonder how many dinner invitations you’d get if that occurred? ”
Though she was now seething, Mrs. Ruffin didn’t respond.
“Miss Ruffin? I believe the princess wanted to speak with you. Let me escort you.”
Genevieve seemed to be holding back a smile. “Of course, Your Highness.” She paused for a moment and looked at her mother. “Goodbye, Helen.”
Mrs. Ruffin’s eyes widened but she didn’t say anything.
Genevieve followed him out of the room and down the hall. They kept going until they were outside.
Agnes was already waiting and both she and Genevieve walked towards one another, hugging when they met.
“Thank you for lending me your dress, Agnes.”
“It was nothing. I’m glad we were able to get it to you so swiftly.”
Gabriel had actually been the one to sneak into Genevieve’s house again to drop it off.
They’d cuddled on her bed for a short while as she told him her plan and he’d agreed to all of it.
He hadn’t discussed it with his parents yet, but he wasn’t worried.
He’d fight anyone and anything for Genevieve, even a king.
Gabriel gestured to the drivers of both their cars. “We’ll see you back at the palace, Agnes.”
Agnes beamed, then remembered where they were and adopted a more sober expression. “I’m excited you’re moving into the palace. And don’t worry about our parents; if our mother approves, our father will too.”
He certainly hoped so. “Ready, my dear?”
Genevieve nodded, and they all parted for their respective cars. After they were inside and off to her house, he pulled her close. “How are you? I’ve been worried about you.”
She gave him a small smile, then kissed him softly. “Much better now that you’re here, and that I’m finally leaving my mother behind.”
“I’m very happy you’re moving in, but I hope it’s because you’re going towards a future, not running from a past.”
She shook her head. “I’m not running. Well, I am, but that’s not the only reason.
” She paused and looked out the window. “After the accident…” She cleared her throat.
“After the accident, or I suppose during it, Sam was conscious for a while. That’s what I was talking to her parents about, her f-final words. ”
He took hold of one of her hands and pressed his lips to her palm, encouraging her to go on.
“She said something to me, about you. That’s why we’d gone to the diner, to talk about our love lives.
She didn’t want me to give up on you. ‘Don’t be afraid to love him, Gen.
Promise me.’ That’s what she said and, of course, I promised her.
I couldn’t do anything else with her getting weaker and the car on fire and trying to decide if I should leave her to get help or… ”
She sniffled but didn’t cry. “She also talked about her parents, and those were the words I shared with them. But I couldn’t forget the words she’d told me.”
He tread carefully with his next words. “My dear, I’m so sorry you have to live through this, and that your closest friend is gone.
However, I do not want to be an obligation to anyone.
My life holds a lot of obligations already, and I want someone who loves me by my side.
Not someone who feels beholden to a friend. ”
She sat up, an indignant expression on her face.
“Of course I love you! I wouldn’t move in with a man for any less reason.
Maybe I’m not good at expressing myself, but I haven’t exactly had a lot of opportunity.
I mean, I’ve only really told Sam and Diana I loved them, but they’re sisters and I’ve never a boyfriend-mmmgh! ”
He kissed her hard and pulled back. “You love me?”
She sagged against him. “I was going to say it in a more romantic way but you annoyed me so it’s your fault.”
He chuckled. “As long as you said it, my dear Genevieve, I don’t fucking care. Blame me all you want.”
“Don’t think I won’t.” She sighed. “Turthfully, I had wondered at one point if I was choosing you now only because Sam had asked me to, or because my grief was pushing me more than my heart. But when I took time to look at it objectively, and made a list of all my feelings and what caused them, I realized I cared deeply for you even before the accident, even if I couldn’t admit to myself at the time. ”
A part of him relaxed; he’d been worried she’d made this decision rashly, but he was glad that wasn’t the case. “Thank you for sharing that with me.” He kissed her again, and they kept kissing until the car pulled through the gate at her house.
When she remained still and only stared at her house instead of leaving the car and going inside, he said, “You can still change your mind, you know. I won’t stop loving you because you want to take things slower.”
She shook her head. “No. No, I’m ready. Let’s go.”
Unlike previous times when he usually snuck in through a window, this time they walked through the front door. Almost immediately, a face peeked out from the top landing.
“Oh thank fuck it’s you.” Diana moved into view. “I was worried mother or Henrietta had come home early.”
“I left mother at the Kaurs but we had a disagreement so she might come home sooner once she realizes I left.”
“Let’s hurry then.” She looked over at him with a broad smile. “Oh, hi, Gabe.”
He raised an eyebrow. “Gabe?”
“You’ll be my brother eventually, right? You don’t mind ‘Gabe’ do you?”
He chuckled. “I certainly don’t mind you calling me by my first name, but Gabe I can do without. Gabriel, please. You’ll still have to refer to me as Your Highness in public.”
Genevieve gave him a gentle elbow nudge in the gut.
“What?”
“Lecturing her on protocol? Really? And you didn’t react at all to her implying we’ll get married.”
“Of course we’ll get married. At your pace, of course. But you’re not naive enough to think that moving in with me wouldn’t lead to marriage at some point.”
Genevieve shook her head. “No, I’m not. But that doesn’t mean I’m ready to talk about it yet.”
“Understood.” He kissed her, then gestured for the stairs. “You first, my dear.”