Page 164 of Bloom
“You should tell him that tomorrow.”
“I will.” Father stood and had to grab Aleric’s shoulder for support. “I need to get to know him better. I wasn’t trying to be too nosy about his life, and I don’t want to be the pesky Father-in-law.”
“I’m sure Jaime understands.”
Father clasped him and squeezed. “I love you, son.”
Aleric rested his head on Father’s shoulder and squeezed him back. “I love you too.”
***
It had to be past mid-morning when Aleric and Jaime woke up. Aleric was still tired, but he was sure he couldn’t sleep anymore. Everything from the night before was too fresh. Safety and winning in a sense should feel celebratory, right?
His mind immediately drifted through the members of the court even though they were all gone. Gautier had snagged four people to watch and do nothing until he said.
“Do you think any courtiers knew?” Aleric said. Jaime hadn’t made any move to get up.
“I don’t know, but with the head cut off, the snake’s body dies. In most cases. If anyone killed you now, who’s going to reward them? No one. It’d be revenge at most. Still, I don’t think we should be in a hurry to bring anyone back.”
“True.”
Jaime turned over to wrap an arm around Aleric and tug him close. “If there’s still a ‘we.’”
“I’m not going anywhere, and I hope you won’t either.”
“I’m not who I thought I was.”
It was going to bother him for a long time too.
“And I was thinking…I am a bit…I’m used to talking to someone and not having much trouble getting in their trousers.”
“You’re good-looking and confident, and I’m sure you go for a man you think you actually have a chance with. Not a guy you happened to be stuck in close quarters with. And let’s be honest, if the incident with Gautier hadn’t happened, and I felt I had no reason to fear or distrust you, you wouldn’t have had trouble getting in my trousers.”
Jaime chuckled. “I grabbed you and said shit I shouldn’t have. It wasn’t like we were together then.”
“But what did you do when I said no?” Aleric turned more into his chest.
“I stopped.”
“Exactly. You didn’t wait to get me alone and act like you could teach me a lesson or punish me. You didn’t continue after I said no. You’re not him. Better people raised you.”
Chapter Thirty-Two
With Gautier dead, a new possibility opened to Jaime, and when Aleric brought it up, he agreed.
His old home was beyond strange after so many years. In some ways, it was the same. In others, it was changed and felt wrong. Some of the furniture in the sitting rooms was the same as he remembered, but it had been moved around. The drapes were a different color, and the Castle itself didn’t feel like home anymore. And even though he’d known a new lord lived there, it was strange to see him next to King Alton.
Lord Monet had helped Jaime write letters, and one had been for Rhyo village. The Baron’s son had taken over, and he wrote back. Even though Jaime had been gone for years, many of the residents remembered a boy who came one day at the age of seven, the couple who’d taken him in, and his name, Theo, which they’d thought was genuine. The new Baron remembered playing outside with his orange-eyed friend who’d sometimes taken meals with the family.
Everything had been explained in another letter to the King who decided he wanted to meet the survivor of the unexplained massacre. With Jaime’s statement along with Aleric and Zacharie’s, and a note from Rhyo, Lord Monet had also asked if there was any way for Jaime to have his rightful position back.
Lord Wenton had held Hemshire for years, and the city was doing well. It was larger than Jaime remembered from his childhood memories. Unlike Jaime’s previous imaginings, the lord didn’t have a spouse, and no children ran about the halls. He’d never married or cared to have kids.
“My brother is the Baron of a village in the East,” said Lord Wenton. “I also hold a village along the coast that has grown andmight as well be considered a town now. I technically have no heir of my own to put down, and I’ve made a verbal agreement with my brother that his son will also inherit Hemshire and the village of Lotting once I pass or retire if I grow too feeble. His son could inherit Lotting, and you could take Hemshire when it’s time.”
“Or, if you wish, you can have Monmith,” said King Alton. “When I banished Gautier, I gave the city to an older man. He’s dead, and his wife is the Countess. They have one estranged son who likely won't be returning even for a position. While Gautier was banished, and children typically aren’t granted the hold afterward, I would be willing to give it to you once the Countess passes or decides to retire. Your circumstances are unusual, and considering your origins and early life, the choice is yours to make.”
“I don’t want Monmith, Your Majesty. I don’t think it would ever feel like home, and I don’t want the last name Gautier. Quite frankly, I don’t want anything to do with him at all, and I’d never ask Aleric to live in the home of someone who abused him. Even if we had a new one built…” He shook his head. “Neither of us wants to go there.”
