Page 63 of Royal Rising

I’ve had boyfriends, and I’ve talked to Kalle about them He’s given me advice, told me who wasn’t good enough for me, or who would never take the next step.

He has a good read on other men.

But talking about Mathias with him seems wrong. Disloyal somehow. I’m not sure if it’s because of the “needling” as Mathias called it, but there’s something not right between the cousins.

And I have the strange feeling it might be me.

“He’s leaving,” I say, watching him spread jam.

There’s a pause, and then— “Do you like him?” Kalle asks in a gruffer voice than usual.

Do I like Mathias? If Kalle had asked two days ago, my answer would have been an unequivocal yes. But now… “He’s a prince,” Ihedge.

“That doesn’t mean you have to like him.”

“Why don’tyoulike him?” I ask in response.

“Family reasons.” The aggressive way he cuts off the crusts suggests there’s more to his answer.

“Which you’re not about to tell me,” Kalle grunts his response. “How are things with you and the Lady Carrington then?” If he can ask, so can I. Unlike me, Kalle never says much about his other dates or girlfriends, so if I get anything from him, this will be a first.

“She’s not a lady.”

“With her family, it’s just as well she should be.”

“She’sleaving,” Kalle offers, reaching around for plates, and my stomach gives a leap of relief. “Just like Mathias.”

“Do you like her?” Why am I holding my breath? Why does Kalle having an interest in Fenella Carrington suddenly seem like the worst idea ever?

Kalle grunts. “She’s nice.”

I answer his grunt with a snort. “That’s not how you describe Fenella Carrington.”

“Works for me.”

“Are you going to visit her?” I hadn’t given Mathias’s invitation another thought, but if Kalle is going to see Fenella—

“No.”

“No?”

“She’ll be back sooner or later. But… no. There’s no need to visit. There’s nothing there.”

“Nothing where?”

“Between me and Fenella.” Kalle hands me a plate and I give him a questioning glance. “Your sandwich. I’m not making one for myself and not for you.”

“You made a burger without making me one,” I remind him.

“I was so in my head that I didn’t even knowIwas making a burger.”

Kalle’s gaze holds mine as his white teeth tear into the sandwich. Is this how we’re going to start talking about it? Standing in the dark?

“Anything happen tonight?” he asks.

So, no. Does he mean anything that happened at the bar when he was gone, or anything that’s happened today? And what does he mean about there being nothing between him and Fenella?

He means did anything happen at the pub while he was away, I decide. Kalle isn’t one to recap conversations. I expect my refusal to be the last I hear of his marriage suggestion.

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