Click. Click. Click.
“…for a while,” Steffan said. “But I would love to take you out again when I return.”
“Are you going somewhere?” I asked.
It was inappropriate for me to butt into their conversation, but I didn’t give a fuck.
Steffan cast a startled glance in my direction. “Yes. My mother fell and broke her hip yesterday. She’s fine, but she’s recovering at our house in Preoria. She’s quite lonely with my father here in session for Parliament, so I’ll be staying with her until she feels better.”
He answered with full graciousness, which only annoyed me more. The harder he was to hate, the more I hated him.
“How sad,” I said.
Steffan paused, clearly unsure how to read my tone.
“Hopefully, she recovers soon.” Bridget shot me a look of mild rebuke. “Now, about that hot chocolate…”
She guided him toward the hot chocolate stand at the other end of the rink while I fumed.
Taking a permanent position as Bridget’s bodyguard meant I’d have to deal with seeing her date other people. I knew that, and that would be my cross to bear.
I just hadn’t expected it to happen so soon.
She’d dated in New York, but that had been different. She hadn’t liked any of those guys, and she hadn’t planned on marrying one of them.
Acid gnawed at my gut.
Thankfully, the date ended soon after, and I whisked her into the car before Steffan could pull any first date kiss bullshit.
“Initial recovery for a broken hip takes one to four months,” I said as we drove back to the palace. “Too bad for his lordship. What shitty timing.”
Even fate didn’t think it was a good pairing. If it did, it wouldn’t have pulled Steffan away so soon after he met Bridget.
I’d never believed in fate, but I might have to send her a big, fat thank you card later. I might even toss in some chocolates and flowers.
Bridget didn’t take the bait. “Actually, it’s perfect timing,” she said. “I’ll be away from Athenberg for a few weeks as well.”
I eyed her in the rearview mirror. That was fucking news to me.
“It’s not confirmed yet, so don’t give me that look,” she said. “I’ve proposed going on a goodwill tour around the country. Meet with locals and small businesses, find out what’s on their minds and what issues they’re facing. I’ve gotten a lot of criticism for not being in touch with what’s happening in Eldorra, and, well, they’re right.”
“That’s a great idea.” I turned onto King’s Drive.
“You think so?” A note of relief tempered the uncertainty in Bridget’s voice.
“I’m no expert on politics, but it sounds right to me.”
Bridget may not want to be queen, but that didn’t mean she wouldn’t make a great one. Most people thought the most important quality in a leader was strength, but it was compassion. Strength meant jack shit when you didn’t use it for the right reasons.
Luckily for her and for Eldorra, she had both in spades.
“The king still has to approve it,” she said after we parked and walked to the palace entrance. “But I don’t anticipate him saying no.”
“You mean your grandfather.” Royals did things differently, but it weirded me out how formal they were with each other sometimes.
Bridget flashed a quick smile as we entered the grand front hall. “In most cases, yes. But in matters like this, he’s my king.”
“Speaking of the king…”
We both stiffened at the new voice.