Page 34 of The Rejected King
“Tell her to come in,” she said to Millar, then she yelled louder to Patrice, who she assumed was out in the hall. “Come in, Patrice!” She looked at the king. His mouth was pulled into a frown, and his eyes shone with something like regret. “I was just leaving,” she said.
Patrice walked in timidly. “Hi,” she said with a sultry smile aimed right at the king, then her blue eyes darted to Emree. “I hope I’m not interrupting anything.”
Her timing couldn’t have been better. Or worse. Depending on whether or not Emree’s head or heart was in charge of deciding. In this case, her head was definitely the more reliable source.
“No.” Emree shook her head dramatically. She pointed to the book. “I’ll get that from you later.” She turned on her heels and rushed out the door, shutting it behind her, leaving King Davin alone with Patrice. She leaned against the wall of the hallway, studying the ceiling above her.
“Everything okay?” Millar asked, standing guard by the door.
“No,” Emree said flatly.
It was against the Promenade rules for girls to come to the king’s suite. And yet, here was Patrice. Had King Davin invited her? He must have. How else would she have gotten past the dozens of guards between the castle’s guest rooms and the king’s suite? Emree was such a fool. For a moment, the king—
Nope.
She wasn’t even going to say what she’d thought the king was about to do.
She rolled her head so she could see Millar. “I think I’ve lost my mind.”
But it wasn’t her mind she was worried about losing. It was her heart.
Davin
“I hope it’s okaythat I came here tonight,” Patrice said, clasping her hands in front of her. “I wanted to continue catching up. It’s been so long since we’ve seen each other.”
“It’s always great to see you.” Davin smiled as a nagging, guilty feeling rose inside him. He shouldn’t have had Emree in his arms. She was his employee and in a relationship with Portlend Ricks, a piece of information that Davin seemed to have forgotten a moment ago. He wouldn’t forget that again. He would file Emree’s relationship with Portlend in his brain right next to his math facts under the category of things that shouldneverbe forgotten.
He set Emree’s book down on the coffee table and turned to Patrice. “I’m curious about how you got through all of the guards. They’re on strict orders not to let any of the Promenade guests into the royal wing of the castle.”
Patrice smiled. “Your mother brought me here. It was her idea, really.”
His mother? Davin would have to have a conversation with her about that.
Patrice walked around the room, eyeing everything. “So, this is the king’s suite. I wasn’t allowed in here when I was a child.”
“I wasn’t either.” Davin laughed.
Patrice flipped her body to face him. “You need a woman’s touch in here.”
I’m sure you think you’re the perfect woman for the job.
Davin shoved his hands in his pockets. “I like it like this.”
She smiled. “Of courseyouwould say that. You’re a man.” She walked over to the couch, taking a seat.
“I didn’t want to ask at dinner, but how have you been holding up with your father gone?”
Davin let out a deep breath, appreciating her question. Patrice had always been a good friend. “It’s been a long two years, but I mostly worry about my mother. I hate seeing her so lonely.”
“Maybe she could remarry,” Patrice offered.
“She’d never consider it until I’m married,” Davin said with a chuckle.
Patrice’s smile widened. “Well, you’ll be married soon enough.”
Davin swallowed. Did Patrice assume, like everyone else, that he would marry her? Davin could see why she was the popular choice. He and Patrice were friends. There was even a time in Davin’s life when they had been more than friends. That was years ago, though. Those feelings had faded with the passing of time. Life with her wouldn’t be terrible, but it wouldn’t be electrifying either. It would be straightforward and predictable.
Steady.
