by Jerry Cole
Though he didn’t say anything else, Steve could tell Jamie approved of his words. It took them a while to change into their outfits, mostly because Steve never had to wear a tux before. It was pressed and well-fitted, though when he stared in the mirror, he didn’t recognize the guy looking back. Jamie, in comparison, looked like he always did; like everyone was going to fall at his feet.
“What?” Jamie said, lips quirking up into a smirk. “I already told you, Mitchell, you’re not my type.”
“As if you’re mine,” Steve said, laughing, cuffing Jamie on the back of his head. “Come on, idiot, let’s get down before Helena comes looking for us.”
Down in the lobby, Helena and Noah were already waiting. Helena looked stunning in a red dress that hugged her every curve. If Steve wasn’t gay—and she wasn’t already Jamie’s—he might have tried talking to her into a date. Noah had dressed up, even tidied his hair, and Steve could appreciate his handsomeness, and that it wouldn’t be out of the realm of possibility to have him as a date.
“You brush up nicely,” Noah said, mouth quirking up.
“Thanks,” Steve said, feeling his cheeks flame. Think of Bobby, he berated himself seriously. Not that he could stop checking Noah out. He doubted that Bobby would be concerned about it, would probably agree with Steve’s appraisal. “Shall we?”
Helena slipped her arm into Jamie’s and Noah held out his own, which Steve batted away with a roll of his eyes. Noah laughed, nudging Steve as they made their way down the steps of the hotel. Steve appreciated him trying to lighten the mood and realized Noah and Helena were Bobby’s friends before he’d even met Steve—they were just as worried about their friend as Steve was.
There were many people already making their way toward the palace, and Steve was glad they weren’t the only people who had chosen to walk. Some carriages were trundling down the Mall, the clatter of hooves and wheels carrying over the sounds of chatter and laughing.
“It’s insane,” Steve said, awed. “So much spectacle.”
“And all for Bobby,” Helena said quietly. Steve looked at her, but her eyes were on the people down the Mall, and then on the palace.
Steve couldn’t deny that it was beautiful. Again with the ostentatious and ridiculously extravagant beauty, but beauty, nonetheless. He wondered whether Bobby liked living there, or if the business with his father was taking up too much of his attention to appreciate his surroundings. Rubbing his palms together, Steve swallowed thickly, trying to ignore the prickling at the back of his neck, the anxiety pooling in his belly.
“Hey,” Noah said. His expression was concerned, and he gripped Steve’s wrist, squeezing gently. “It’ll be fine.”
“Relax, Stevie,” Jamie said. “You’ll take one look at Bobby and realize you’ve made the right choice.”
Steve shrugged easily. “I already know I have. It’s just—I don’t belong here.”
“You keep saying that,” Helena pointed out. “Do any of us? This is a world Noah, Bobby and I all tried to leave behind and yet will ultimately fail. It is a life Jamie will have to get used to. It is a world that is alien, of course, but I have no doubt you could live in it if you needed to.”
If Bobby needed you to.
That was what she was really saying, and Steve didn’t know how to answer her. Wanting to believe he could do it and living the lifestyle that would be required were two vastly different things.
Thankfully, before he could figure out what he would say, they approached the Palace. It was heavily guarded, guests being checked carefully, and Steve readied himself to be patted down, searched, whatever passed for palace protection.
“This is going to be unpleasant,” Helena muttered. She pulled away from Jamie, taking the invites from her purse and presenting them to the guard at the door. He gestured behind him, and Steve found himself in front of a burly looking man with sunglasses, grunting out instructions to lift his arms, turn, and several other instructions. Steve didn’t know of a time he’d been searched so thoroughly, but by the time it was over, the four of them were waved in, and Steve breathed a sigh of relief.
Jamie leaned in as they made their way through the entrance hall. Steve was marveling at the architecture, wishing he had brought his camera with him. He could have taken some beautiful pictures, even sketched some of the décor. “Do you think they’ll announce us like in the movies?”
“I doubt it,” Steve said dryly. He didn’t know it for certain, but it was difficult to believe they’d have some pompous dude at the doorway, announcing everyone they had already seen in the Mall, and that was without other guests arriving. If he was wrong, and if they did have some poor asshole doing that, Steve was glad that he didn’t have the job. “What happens when we do go in?”
Helena peered around Jamie to answer him. “We’ll be introduced to the grand prince at some point, and I’m sure you’ll spot Gregory somewhere. Everyone will get the introduction to Bobby, as this is his party and all, but I doubt many people will get the pleasure of talking to him.”
“Except you,” Jamie said quietly.
Steve nodded, not wanting to say anything either way. The closer he came to being able to talk to—and see—Bobby, the harder it was to keep walking. He rubbed against his palm with his thumb and tried to stick as close to Jamie and Noah as possible. Helena was smooth as she swept through to the ballroom, letting go of Jamie so she could precede them into the room.
“Helena!” Someone said immediately, leaning in and kissing Helena on both cheeks. Like Helena, she had a thick European accent, and glanced over Helena’s shoulder toward Steve. “Who are these handsome men?”
Steve flushed, but immediately bowed his head. “Steve Mitchell, ma’am.”
Jamie was laughing at him, Steve could tell, but he took the woman’s offered hand and kissed it. “Jamie Barnes at your service.”
“Charmers,” the woman laughed gently, her eyes landing on Noah. “And who is this?”
“Noah Barton,” Noah said easily, stepping up next to Steve. He did not take the woman’s hand.
“Ah, yes, from Britain, right?”
Noah nodded, though Steve had never detected a hint of a British accent from him. “I am.”
“Indeed,” the woman said, and her gaze was shrewd. “Helena, what company you’re keeping.”
Helena’s smile was brittle. “I know. Guys, this is my cousin Petrova. She’s an ambassador at the palace.”
Steve had no idea there even were ambassadors to the palace. He thought they were all at the embassy. When he said as much, Petrova laughed gently. Helena was gritting her teeth Steve could tell from the shape of her jaw, but he didn’t know if it was directed at him or Petrova.
“We are merely invited to the occasion,” Petrova explained, picking up on Helena’s irritation. “I doubt the grand prince would like us on the premises permanently. As I understand, he barely tolerates the staff.”
It was veering into gossip, and Steve had to fight the urge to believe what she was saying. He took a step back, letting Helena steer the conversation into safer topics, and Steve swept his gaze over everyone in the ballroom. It was beautifully decorated, and again, Steve wished he had brought his camera. The women were beautifully dressed, and though it was black tie for the gentlemen, some still managed to stand out from the crowd. There was no sign of the prince, no sign of Bobby, and Steve couldn’t even see Gregory around the hall.
“Come on,” Noah said, tapping Steve on the arm. “Let’s mingle and see if we can’t find Gregory.”
Steve was only too willing to follow, keeping in step with Noah as they threaded their way through the gathered guests. There were faces Steve recognized, either from the news, television, or the movies, but nobody that he was desperate to introduce himself to, even when he felt the familiar flush of excitement at seeing them.
“What does Gregory look like?” Noah asked.
“Uh,” Steve said. He didn’t want to get his phone out in the middle of the party
, and he doubted if he would find a picture of Gregory online anyway. “I don’t know how to explain it.”
“Hope he stands out in some way,” Noah said, eyes scanning the party guests.
Steve did the same thing, looking over the crowd to where some of the staff were gathered. They were talking in low tones to each other, and before Steve could figure out whether it was worth noting, his attention was drawn to the main doors into the ballroom, where contrary to his own opinion, there was an official looking staff member who announced, “Grand Prince Louis of Mercia and his son, Heir Apparent, Prince Robert of Mercia.”
Steve’s eyes widened as he caught sight of Bobby, in step with his father, who was standing proudly in the doorway, and it was as if all the air had been punched from his chest.
Chapter Twenty-Two
“Shit,” Noah muttered.
Steve couldn’t tear his eyes away from his boyfriend—ex-boyfriend?—who was standing awkwardly next to his father. Bobby was uncomfortable, his smile false, not unlike the one he had presented to Jackie all those months ago, and Steve longed to go over and make sure he was all right. Noah had to put a hand on his arm. “What?”
“You can’t just go over there,” Noah whispered furiously.
“I know,” Steve said, even as he hated standing by when it was obvious Bobby needed someone. He hoped wherever Gregory was, he was going to do something to help. “I wish I could talk to him.”
“You and me both,” Noah muttered. He was frowning at the prince, and Steve could see why. Grand Prince Louis was a charismatic man. Steve had seen him once or twice on television, and he could understand why he was celebrated. At that moment, however, his smile was almost predatory, and the arm he had around Bobby’s shoulders wasn’t customary for royalty which Steve did know, but he seemed to want to present a united front with his son.
That probably explained the dark and fake edge to Bobby’s smile.
“Thank you all for coming,” The Grand Prince said, his gaze sweeping the room. Steve doubted some of the people could hear him, but that didn’t seem to sway Grand Prince Louis. “We will hope, of course, to introduce Prince Robert to as many of you as possible, but we have taken precautions to make sure that we don’t get too crowded.”
Behind Bobby and his father, Steve could make out a line of bodyguards, much like the ones that had been out front, and Steve sighed. “This is ridiculous. I’m never going to speak to Bobby, even if Gregory could work something out.”
Noah was looking just as doubtful. He turned to Steve, but something over his shoulder caught his attention, about the same time someone curled their fingers around his arm. He startled, and it took a moment to calm his racing heart. Helena was staring at him, lips quirking into a smile, and Steve sighed. “Sorry. A little on edge.”
“So I see,” Helena said, amused, but she pulled on Steve’s arm. Steve hesitated before following her, surprised Jamie wasn’t right next to her, but Noah seemed content Helena had a reason for pulling him through the ballroom. Besides, it stopped him trying to figure out a way to get to Bobby without getting arrested in the process.
Helena’s cheeks were pink, and it was on the tip of Steve’s tongue to ask, but Helena squeezed his arm before he could. He looked up, surprised to see Gregory waiting by the doors to the ballroom. “You found him.”
“Of course,” Helena said. It was soft and kind, and Steve didn’t think she had ever met the man—at least Noah hadn’t—but he realized she was looking at him and not Gregory. “We said we’d help you, Steve, and we meant it. We want Bobby back as much as you do.”
“And if we can’t get him back?” Steve couldn’t help the note of apprehension in his voice. “What if he chooses to stay?”
Helena paused, hands tight on Steve’s arm, and she forced him to look her in the eye and held her gaze. “You really think we wouldn’t move in here if it’s what Bobby needed? Steve, I had hoped you would have realized this by now, but the life you would live here wouldn’t be so awful with friends, would it?”
Steve couldn’t answer. He hadn’t had to live in that world, not yet, the party overwhelming him too much to think it through, and he didn’t want to make promises he couldn’t keep, or refusals he was only going to throw aside.
Thankfully, Helena didn’t seem to require an answer, because she kept moving, pulling Steve along in her wake. Gregory was waiting patiently, his eyes on Steve, and Steve knew he had been recognized.
“Gregory,” Steve said as they approached. “I was worried I wouldn’t be able to find you.”
Gregory’s smile had an edge to it, but there was genuine warmth in his eyes. “I am glad you could make it, Mr. Mitchell.”
“Steve,” Steve corrected, flushing.
“Steve.”
“I appreciate Bobby might be busy.” Steve looked pointedly toward the middle of the ballroom, where Grand Prince Louis was obviously showing off his son. Bobby’s eyes were on the people in front of him, but Steve could see the vacant look to his expression, and the clenched fist by his side.
“Indeed,” Gregory said, a steel edge to his tone. Steve appreciated Gregory obviously didn’t like the way the grand prince was treating Bobby any more than he did, and wisely didn’t point out Gregory was responsible for them reuniting in the first place. Tearing his eyes away from Bobby, Gregory gestured behind him, out into the entrance hall, which Steve could see had several doors, some of them open. “I have set aside the library for you. If you’ll wait in there, I’ll bring Bobby to you.”
“Are you sure?” Steve said with a frown, squeezing Helena’s arm when it looked as if she was going to interrupt. “I don’t want to cause problems between Bobby and his father.”
Gregory was watching him carefully, and Steve tried not to squirm under the attention. He didn’t know what Gregory was hoping to find, but he forced himself to hold Gregory’s gaze and let him see whatever it was he needed to. Eventually, Gregory nodded, apparently satisfied with whatever he’d found. “Before you emailed me, I didn’t think anything would cause Bobby to speak up. However, I believe if I could get you two alone together, a solution would present itself in breaking the hold the grand prince currently has on Bobby.”
Wanting to ask why Gregory hadn’t tried himself, Steve decided not to, feeling awkward. He desperately wanted to put his hands in his pockets, but even he knew that wouldn’t be proper in a palace. Helena released his arm, and Steve gave her a tight smile as she stepped back. “Thanks.”
“No problem,” she said, pushing up on her heels to press a kiss to his cheek. “Tell him we’re all here, and we’re hoping he’s doing well.”
“Of course,” Steve promised. Bobby looked as if he could do with the reassurance. Gregory took a step toward the doors and Steve followed, unable to keep from looking back into the ballroom. People had broken into groups, but Bobby and Grand Prince Louis were still in the thick of it, an obvious throng of people surrounding them. “How has he been really?”
Gregory didn’t answer straight away, and Steve could see his jaw tighten and flex. Giving the man time, Steve took in the rest of the entrance hall, the door to the library, which opened into one of the most beautiful rooms Steve had ever seen.
It wasn’t for the obvious reason. Steve loved books as much as the next person, but it was the art on the walls that held his attention. At first, he thought they were photographs, but as he got closer, he could see they were actually sketches. They depicted various parts of the palace, including the ballroom, grounds, and one of the bedrooms. Steve let out a noise of surprise, moving ahead of Gregory to take in the pictures, eyes wide as he stared at them. “Oh, these are gorgeous.”
“I don’t know who took them,” Gregory said.
“They’re not photographs,” Steve explained, and wondered how Gregory had never noticed. “They’re actually sketches.”
Coming to stand next to him, Gregory’s eyes widened. “How did you know that?”
“Look at this,” St
eve said, brushing a finger just above the glass. “The strokes of the pencil are obvious. A film could never produce a picture like this.”
“You sound as if you know.”
“I’m a photography and art major,” Steve explained. “Whoever did these was extremely talented.”
“It was my mother.”
Steve froze at the familiar voice, swallowing thickly before he turned to see Bobby standing in the doorway, eyes on the sketches instead of on Steve, but the lines of his body were awkward and stiff.
“Bobby,” Gregory said warmly. “I was just going to come and get you.”
Bobby raised his eyes to Gregory, and the smile was a touch warm, even if Steve could see the hesitation behind it. Bobby was clearly on edge, and Steve could figure out why. “Helena told me you were here.”
“I’m glad she found you,” Gregory continued. He looked between Steve and Bobby, rolling his eyes. “Right, I should leave the two of you alone.”
Gregory didn’t wait for either of them to answer him, and he slipped out of the room, squeezing Bobby’s bicep and shutting the door behind him. Steve tried not to let the silence bother him, and kept his eyes on the sketches, to give Bobby time to figure out what he wanted to do.
“Your mom was great,” he said instead, hoping the subject would be well-received. “I’m jealous.”
“You shouldn’t be,” Bobby said quietly. “You’re as good as that, you know.”
Steve didn’t know what to say to that. He sucked in a slow breath, closing his eyes against the urge to blurt out everything he wanted to say.
“You went to a lot of trouble to get here,” Bobby pointed out. His voice was closer, and when Steve risked a look to the left, he could see Bobby had come right up next to him, his eyes on the same sketch. It was of the gardens, beautiful hedgerows and flowers, and a fountain taking center stage on the picture.
Steve shrugged, sliding his hands into his pockets, hoping Bobby wasn’t about to call him on it. He darted a quick look at Bobby and then back to the picture, hesitating before saying, “I figured our last conversation didn’t end so well.” He paused. “And I saw the interview on television.”
