Ever After (Forbidden Love #1)

by Christina Lee

  The prince’s eyes snapped to Cas, and he could see the question there. Is Geoffrey well?

  Cas didn’t think Prince Merrick believed their story, didn’t think he believed the accident had been caused by Cassius. He wasn’t quite sure why he’d made one up, but the lie had easily rolled off his tongue. Geoffrey was nothing if not proud, and Cas could understand the need to hold on to one’s pride. He wouldn’t want to show his weakness either.

  Cassius gave the prince a discreet nod, then feared that was the wrong thing to do. Twice now, he’d treated the prince as though he were his equal. What was wrong with him? But then…he thought of the way the prince had looked at him during dinner, wrinkling his nose in a way Cassius hated to admit had been adorable. But it was okay for the prince to do such things, though; not so for Cassius.

  His gut clenched as he made his way to the king and queen first, refilling their cups. From there it was the Tulles, who did not pay him any attention as he did his job. There was no reason why they should.

  Cas could feel the prince’s eyes upon him, so when he turned, he was not surprised to see the dark arrows aimed directly at him. Before Cas had the time to contemplate it, Geoffrey entered the room. The prince’s shoulders visibly relaxed, and the small motion softened Cas’s view of him. He clearly cared for Geoffrey a great deal.

  Cas took a deep breath before he approached the prince, princess, and the prince’s admirers. He refilled each glass, the prince’s last. When he was finished, Prince Merrick’s gentle voice said, “Thank you, Cassius.” Something about the way he said it, the deep timbre of his voice and the sincerity of it, made Cas’s stomach flip.

  Princess Marjorie’s brows pulled together, but the Tulle sisters did not seem to notice. Cas cleared his throat before he forced, “It is my honor, Your Highness,” past his lips.

  Cas stood back where he belonged while the families spoke. He kept his eyes averted from the prince, though he felt his hot stare more than once. It had been the same at dinner. He had watched Cas as though attempting to figure him out. As if in some way he found Cas interesting, which was a ridiculous thing to consider. He didn’t want to be interesting to the royal family either. It would be impossible for them to do anything but pity him, if that, and Cas did not want pity from anyone.

  When the evening was over, Cas led the guests from the castle. Once they were safely on their way, he went back to the study to see if the royal family required anything else of him.

  He saw Geoffrey and Harris huddled in the corner of the room in serious conversation, if their tone was any indication. Cassius wondered if Harris had seen Geoffrey’s fall in the entryway and if he was concerned. He was the head of the household, and it was his job to keep abreast of all staff issues and positions.

  “Aren’t they lovely, Merrick?” the queen asked. “Cecilia is simply beautiful, and she is clearly smitten with you. She could not look at you without a smile on her face.”

  Cas’s gut twisted as he listened to them, anger burning through him. They only cared of name…of status, of good breeding to carry their legacy. His father had loved his mother more than his own life. Did none of them care about that? It was not something Cas thought possible for himself, and he couldn’t imagine the courting process they partook in.

  Finally, Merrick replied, “Yes, Mother. She was lovely, but…”

  “I think her eyes were too close together and her nose slightly too big,” Princess Marjorie said, and Cassius nearly swallowed his tongue.

  “Marjorie!” the queen shrieked. “That is highly inappropriate. You are the princess. I’ll not have you speaking that way. Thank God, your brother has more sense.”

  Was it him, or did the prince flinch at that?

  The king’s powerful stare caught on the staff in the room. No one was foolish enough to ever repeat anything said there, but still he commanded, “That’s enough of that for now. Merrick and I will discuss the ladies later.”

  “If I may bring something up, please, Your Majesty?” Cas frowned at Geoffrey’s words. The prince did too, which told him Merrick hadn’t expected it.

  “You may,” the king replied.

  “Prince Merrick and I were discussing my position this evening. You and I have done the same, Your Majesty. I am afraid my old bones are not what they used to be, so…as much as it pains me to say so, it might be wise to fill my position soon.”

  “Geoffrey?” the prince asked, pain evident in his voice. Cas’s heart bled for the older man too. He clearly hated this, but it wasn’t only him Cas thought of. That he meant enough to the prince that it would hurt him to lose Geoffrey…he did not know why he hadn’t expected that.

  The king nodded, and Cas could see even he was surprised. Geoffrey had been at the castle longer than any of the other staff, outside of Harris. It made sense that he meant so much to them.

  “Thank you for your honesty, Geoffrey. We have always been able to count on you. Your shoes will be hard to fill. I will have a call put out tomorrow,” the king replied.

  “If I may make a recommendation, Your Majesty?” the valet added.

  The king frowned in confusion but said, “You may,” for the second time.

  “Harris and I have discussed who might be a good fit from the current staff, if you will.”

  The king turned his gaze on the butler, who stepped forward. “Harris?”

  “Geoffrey has made a special request that I would be willing to agree with. Cassius…he—”

  “The footman?” the queen interrupted.

  Cas could not have spoken if he had wanted to. His chest was tight. It felt as though something blocked his throat. Him? Geoffrey was going to recommend him?

  “Yes, Your Majesty. I know it is unusual, but he has made his way up the ranks swiftly. He is known for his hard work and his ability to learn quickly.”

  “He has been of help to both myself and to Geoffrey recently,” the prince added, and the boulder blocking Cas’s throat grew larger.

  Princess Marjorie looked down, seeming almost sad for a reason Cas did not understand. None of this made any sense. There was a part of him that was angry. It was obvious they felt sorry for him—as if Geoffrey and the prince were trying to do him a favor because of something as simple as a cuff link and helping someone who needed it. He didn’t need their charity, and he damn sure didn’t want it.

  “He would be a wise choice, Father,” the prince added without looking Cas’s way. He had a feeling that was on purpose. “He’s already in the household. We know he can be trusted and will be easier to train.”

  Cassius’s nails dug into his palms in both anger and…interest…curiosity. Still, there was also gratitude for Geoffrey there. He had done this for Cassius, and Cas did appreciate it.

  He allowed his eyes to dart to Geoffrey, who gave Cassius a quick nod as if to say he understood.

  When the king and queen turned toward him, Cas’s spine stiffened. They looked just as skeptical and confused as Cassius himself was. “I trust your judgment, Geoffrey. Harris.”

  Cas winced when he noticed the king did not say the same about the prince.

  “If the footman is interested, he can have the position on a trial basis.” His attention was back on Cassius. “This is a great honor—being considered as Merrick’s valet. I hope you understand the importance of this position.”

  Cas bit his lip to hold back the urge to tell the king that he did not want the job. That the prince should be able to dress himself. He obviously did not think Cas could do it, and it was the desire to prove the king wrong, along with the need to care for his family, that allowed Cas to find his voice. “Yes, Your Majesty. It’s a great honor. I will not let you down.”

  When his eyes briefly caught the prince’s, he could have sworn he saw him blushing. Cas’s stomach flipped oddly, paired with a warmth there. “Thank you, Your Majesty,” he said, telling himself he had imagined the feeling and the slight pink on the prince’s cheeks.

  5

 
Merrick

  Merrick lay in bed, his stomach tightening over what was in store for today. Not so much his schedule, which was always hectic, but the turn of events that seemed to be happening at lightning speed. Geoffrey had been training Cassius all week long. He’d confessed to Merrick that he’d in fact had a fainting spell the other night, and that scare, coupled with Cassius’s kindness, had driven him to make the suggestion.

  After the paperwork and increase in salary were settled, Cassius had begun acting as Geoffrey’s shadow, keeping in the background but absorbing everything he could as Geoffrey explained the dozens of types of events and the respective outfits a prince was to wear, as well as the customs required.

  “A prince not only has a duty to represent the family’s allegiance to Evergreen, but also his own national pride,” Geoffrey had explained as he rummaged through one of the larger closets, where the more traditional clothing was stored. “In addition, the prince

  must lead by example and provide service to our country in one form or another, such as charitable works and support of government policies.”

  Geoffrey went on to explain that the prince and princess frequently welcomed dignitaries into their home and represented their parents as heads of state abroad when the king’s and queen’s duties wouldn’t allow time away.

  The most amazing part, Merrick marveled, was that Cassius’s eyes hadn’t even glazed over. Instead, he seemed slightly dumbfounded—like he had never considered those duties in the grand scheme of things.

  Moreover, the first time Merrick stepped out of his trousers to change for a formal dinner, he’d kept his eyes averted, not wanting the footman-in-training to see him blush. When he was fully covered and comfortable again, he had chanced a look in his direction and noticed that the footman had acted with the utmost professionalism by fiddling with the laces on Merrick’s shoes. Merrick would definitely have to deal with his newfound feelings of shyness. Not that he was ashamed of his body. He was of good height and kept himself fit with regular riding in addition to walking about the property.

  Besides, Geoffrey seemed relieved to have Cassius there, and though they barely knew each other, by the end of the week, they appeared to work seamlessly. Cassius soaked up the routine like a sponge and took direction well. Still, the only area Geoffrey allowed Cassius full reign was as chauffeur. That first day Merrick was driven to a ribbon-cutting ceremony in town, something had passed between Geoffrey and Cassius outside—as if there had been an unspoken agreement that Cassius would take the helm.

  A knock on his door startled Merrick out of his reverie, and he sat up sharply; he had already lost track of the morning. He now remembered he’d asked to have his breakfast sent up to the room rather than meet his family in the parlor, because he would be short on time.

  He was served eggs, toast, and coffee on a silver tray by a footman who worked the early morning shift. Once he closed the door behind him, Merrick lifted his fork to take a bite of his omelet, his thoughts drifting again to the schedule. Today he was to attend a charity event for orphaned children in Stonespass Valley and therefore would need more casual clothing for the occasion. This would also be the first time that Cassius would independently dress him.

  Geoffrey would be meeting with a team of doctors the king had arranged, and though Geoffrey fussed about it, Merrick could tell he was grateful they had insisted.

  Cassius would then drive him solo to the orphanage, where Merrick would volunteer his time and make a charitable donation on the royal family’s behalf. He’d normally make time to speak to the newspaper and pose for the photographer they’d send his way as well. Merrick tried his best to be engaging with any reporters who might inquire after him or his family. He thought it important that they be as unguarded and accessible to the public as was reasonable, even if his parents sometimes disagreed with him, falling back on some of the more traditional and antiquated ideals. But in his mind, it was critical to earn their citizens’ trust if they were to believe the monarchy had the country’s best interests at heart.

  And yet with all that on his plate, it still stuck out to him like a sore thumb that it would only be him and Cassius today. It almost felt too soon, too fast. Too…alone.

  Was he that attached to Geoffrey? Or their comfortable routine? Or was it that his new valet was a mystery and he felt a bit unsettled around him? But that was certain to pass after enough time.

  Merrick stood with his cup and saucer and sipped the warm liquid as he stared out the window at the colossal fir trees that looked like toy soldiers in formation, surrounding Pinewood Castle on all sides, and at the beautiful snow-dusted grounds. It was almost always winter in Evergreen. He thought about what his life would hold for him going forward. A wife, children to carry on the family’s legacy. It was the most important purpose, his father would remind him. Merrick’s grandfather had died when his father was only twenty-two, and he’d had to not only grieve his father, but take over the crown immediately. He had already been betrothed to Merrick’s mother, so the royal wedding took place months later.

  What a bear that must’ve been for his father—all that responsibility—so who was he to complain about a change in staff or his obligation to marry?

  After Merrick had washed and slipped on a robe, he heard a knock alerting him that his valet had arrived.

  “You may enter,” Merrick said in a steady voice, modestly adjusting himself. Christ.

  “Your Highness,” Cassius replied as he entered, then bowed his head. Once a reasonable amount of time passed, he walked swiftly to the closet and withdrew the clothing Geoffrey had instructed him on yesterday. When Cassius placed the plain wool trousers along with a cotton button-down shirt on the bed, Merrick instantly relaxed. He preferred days like today when it wasn’t all pomp and circumstance.

  When the clothing was this casual, Merrick normally didn’t let Geoffrey fuss, but he wasn’t sure what to do in this scenario. He certainly did not need help putting his legs into a pair of trousers, and he was certain that Cassius would feel the same way, but Cassius was in training.

  In fact, over the past week he’d gotten the distinct impression from the servant that while he understood the prince needed help with his schedule, chauffeuring, and other requirements, he thought it excessive to assist with something as simple as buttons. The first day he’d shadowed Geoffrey, his face pinched tightly before his features settled into neutral the rest of the week. And though Merrick agreed some of the customs were ridiculous, he felt protective of his family and their legacy. But that was merely a defense mechanism tempered by a deep curiosity about the man standing across from him now.

  Mind made up, Merrick released the sash on his robe and reached for his trousers. He stepped into them, ignoring the brand of Cassius’s gaze from across the bed.

  As Merrick slid the robe from his shoulders, Cassius removed the shirt from the hanger and held it out to him so he could slip his arms inside. Before Merrick turned, Cassius’s gaze appeared to linger on his torso—quite possibly Merrick’s imagination—yet Merrick felt a rash of warmth steal across his skin.

  Cassius slipped the shirt over Merrick’s shoulders more tentatively than Geoffrey ever had, which was to be expected. When Merrick twisted toward Cassius and gazed into his honey-golden eyes, there was a hint of hesitation present. It struck Merrick suddenly that they were practically the same age, but one man was dressing the other simply because they’d been born into different families.

  Feeling foolish, Merrick began buttoning his shirt on his own, starting from the bottom up. As his fingers fumbled toward the center, he heard Cassius’s insistent voice.

  “Sir,” he said in a hoarse whisper. “Please, allow me to do my job.”

  Merrick released the breath he’d been holding and allowed his hands to drop to his sides. Cassius’s fingers shook as he clasped the remaining three buttons, leaving skin showing at the neck as Geoffrey had instructed. This close, Merrick couldn’t help taking in Cassius’s sharp che
ekbones, his plump lips, the taut skin at his throat.

  As Cassius smoothed out his collar, he could feel the man’s shallow breaths against his cheek, and suddenly all the air seemed to leave the room, suffocating Merrick as an overwhelming need arose in him to…what exactly? Trace the vein at Cassius’s neck, look his fill at an unassuming yet devastatingly handsome man? Ridiculous. Besides, the very thought might disgust someone like Cassius, who more than likely had left a lady he treasured back home.

  “Thank you,” Merrick croaked, taking a step back as Cassius reached for the down coat and woolen scarf.

  Cassius bowed his head, the tops of his ears flushing a crimson shade before he hastily helped him into the winter attire.

  “I suppose it is time, then,” Merrick said in a more solid voice as he inched toward the door.

  Cassius followed him down the stairs, past the butler and an additional footman who held open the door. According to Geoffrey, the word in the castle was that Cassius was too new to have taken on this position and that some of the staff had given him a hard time, but Cassius seemed to take it in stride, holding his head high and performing his duties admirably.

  When they arrived at the polished black automobile already waiting outside, Cassius held the door open for Merrick as he slid into the back seat.

  Cassius sank behind the wheel, appeared to take a fortifying breath, and then stepped on the gas, driving them away from the castle grounds.

  6

  Cassius

  Are you warm enough, Your Highness? I could turn up the heat if you’d like.” Cas caught the prince’s dark eyes in the rearview mirror but then looked back at the road again. He was already a nervous wreck. He wasn’t going to risk doing something foolish by not paying attention to the road.

  “I’m comfortable. Thank you,” Prince Merrick replied.

  Cas was grateful for that answer because his damned neck was sweating. He doubted it was truly as hot as it felt to him.