The Wicked Prince

“They look so happy,” Adeline said, and I could hear the smile in her voice.

They did look happy. They’d met Oscar not even ten minutes ago and had fully accepted him as theirs. It was how they were. Even Aramis, as much of a pain in the ass as he was. As I stood there watching him smile at his son with a kind of wonderous look in his eyes I’d never seen before, I felt my heart break a little more.

Chapter Seven

A lot had happened in the four days following Oscar’s arrival. My things were moved to Aramis’s three-bedroom cottage, where each of us had our own room, but shared the common area of the small kitchen and living room. Aramis and Oscar were gone most of the time, father-son bonding that neither one of them had experienced before. It was nice to see him so comfortable in his new role and paying attention to something other than droves of women. I’d been busy helping Adeline with Christmas decorations and things for the nursery here—a room the baby wouldn’t be using often, as they didn’t live in Versailles, and was completely unnecessary, but who was going to say no to the King? Not me. Elias wanted the baby to have a room in each of their homes, regardless of how often they visited.

Four days of baby talk, seeing Aramis with a small version of himself, and being the third wheel to Pilar and Benjamin’s walks in the garden. I’d gotten used to hanging out with the two of them, but somehow I actually felt like a third wheel now. Maybe it was because I’d been on a few dates with David, Ben’s best friend and personal assistant, and in that case I hadn’t been the third wheel. Those had been double dates. The thought of David gave me pause. He was supposed to visit this weekend. Supposed to, that is, until he called last night and said his trip would be a quick twenty-four-hour one instead of the entire weekend. I supposed it was fine. At least I’d have twenty-four hours of doing something other than tending to my friends and their partners or their children. I didn’t mind doing it, of course not, it was my job, after all. How many people could say they worked with their best friends? Not many, I supposed. How many people could say they enjoyed what they did for a living? Again, not many. I always kept those two points in the forefront of my mind, as to not forget. Some days, it was difficult. Some days, even though they’d always treated me like I was part of their family, I missed my own. I missed my mother and father and even my little brother, who I didn’t always get along with, but always understood me. Today was that day. I just felt lonely. So, even if David wasn’t coming for a full weekend, I was really looking forward to seeing him later.

“Someone looks happy today.”

I turned to see Aramis and Oscar walking toward me. They were both wearing camouflage gear. Today, unlike every other day since we’d been here, the sun was out and there was a peculiar warmth to the winter. Aramis was smiling, waiting for me to respond.

“I am. David is coming later.”

“Right. David.” He rolled his eyes, but kept his smile. “Where will he stay? Your old cottage?”

“I guess so. I’ll probably be staying with him.” I tore my gaze from his and looked at Oscar. “How are you doing today? Having fun?”

“We’re going fishing.”

“Were going fishing,” Aramis corrected. “Unfortunately, the frozen pond didn’t get the memo.”

I laughed. “So where are you off to now?”

“We’re grabbing lunch and going to visit his mother.”

“Oh.” I blinked. “Is she doing better?”

“It seems so. She wants to see Oscar.” Aramis put a hand on the boy’s shoulder. “And I’m sure he’s dying to see his mother as well.”

Oscar smiled wide, nodding. “But I want to stay here longer.”

“We’ll come right back here.” Aramis smiled down at him. “Do you want to let Madame Contessa know that we’re hungry and need food?”

“Yes.” Oscar shimmied out of his father’s hold and ran toward the palace as we watched.

“Don’t you think it’s dangerous to let him roam around alone?”

“I used to.” Aramis was frowning when I looked back at him. “Besides, there’s staff in every corner right now. Elias had someone set up every ten feet so Oscar won’t get lost.”

I felt my brows raise. It never failed to amaze me that they could just request something like that done with a snap of a finger.

“At what time is David due?”

“He should be here in an hour.” I glanced at the watch on my right wrist and saw that it was already noon.

“Are you picking him up at the airport or sending for him?”