Page 26 of Fit for a King

“Ah, so that’s why you’re so adept. Valoria has a lengthy rain season.” He chuckled, and the sound was so carefree that I found myself asking, “Do you miss your family?”

Noah nodded, his eyes softening. “Every day. They live in a small cottage on Whitefall Cliffs. You know, down by⁠—”

“The sea. Yes. I’ve been there.”

“Of course you have,” he said, and then shook his head. “I didn’t mean to imply you wouldn’t know your own kingdom.”

“I know that.” And I did—Noah had just been caught up in his memories and forgotten who he was talking to. Not a bad place to be if the memories were good ones, and from the look on his face, his family meant the world to him.

“When was the last time you got to see them?”

“At least a couple of years ago, maybe three. It’s difficult to get back there with a full-time job.”

“You’ve never taken some time off?”

“I’ve never asked,” Noah said. “I’m the sole provider for my family. If I don’t work, they don’t eat. Time off isn’t a luxury I can afford.”

His words weren’t said to evoke sympathy or guilt—he was merely stating a fact. So why did I feel both for him?

“It’s your turn, Your Majesty.”

While the smart thing to do would be to continue the game and let the conversation end, I couldn’t help but ask, “Both of your parents are still alive?”

“Yes, sir.”

He was a young man to hold such a position in the royal household, so it made me wonder… “Why doesn’t your father work?”

“He did. He was a senior footman to the Earl of Sonnenberg, until he was diagnosed with degenerative spinal stenosis. The long hours on his feet were difficult at first, and one year after his diagnosis it was close to impossible.”

“I’m sorry. I wasn’t aware.”

“That’s okay,” he said, and his small smile surprised me. “I’m more than happy to provide for them. My father made sure I had a wonderful childhood. The least I can do is make sure he’s comfortable now.”

I nodded, thinking back to my own father. A man who’d had everything in the world except time for his children. “And is he? Comfortable?”

“Yes. For the most part.”

I was about to ask him another question when he glanced at the clock on the mantel and sat up straight as arrow.

“It’s noon, Your Majesty.”

I frowned.

“You had a meeting with the minister of defense at eleven forty-five.”

Shit. How had I forgotten that, after just berating Gabriel? You were too busy talking with your handsome footman.

Refusing to show any kind of alarm at my forgetfulness, I got to my feet and straightened my suit jacket. “I’m well aware of the time, Bennett.”

“Of course you are, sir,” he said, looking up at me. It was protocol for him to stand, but the fact he’d either forgotten, or just chosen not to, made something in my stomach flip.

I liked him looking up at me.

“I’ll be leaving now.”

Noah slowly got to his feet, barely able to hide his grin. “Yes, Your Majesty.”

I nodded, unable to believe I’d just completely blown off the minister to spend the morning chatting with my footman. But as I turned and made my way across the library, I was acutely aware of Noah on my heels.