been hard times, he’s shared his pain with the country. I’m shocked that you, as a group, would escalate to this so quickly. It’s too soon to contemplate any action, let alone one so drastic.”
“With the vote on the European Union looming, and with a new prime minister, it is imperative that we reduce all hints of instability.”
“My father is not unstable.” Damn it, he’d slipped. Made it personal by referring to his father rather than the king.
“Your Highness, I wish that were true. But the fact is that he doesn’t leave his rooms. He doesn’t speak to his own family. He does not rule. You do. And it’s time we made that official.”
Elias was suddenly at his shoulder. “Apologies to all, but His Highness has a call with the king of Spain.”
His friend had thrown him a lifeline. Christian shoved back his chair. “Your concerns have been heard, I assure you. I will take your suggestion under advisement. I shall also take it to the king. Good day.”
Christian managed the briefest of nods before heading out. The footman had to scramble to open the door. In the hallway, he continued to take long, fast strides to get as far away as fast as possible.
“Elevator?” Elias asked.
“No.” He needed a run up the stairs. Although he doubted twenty flights would begin to compose him. Two turns later, they were past the receiving rooms, the throne room, and the music room. Christian paused at the gold-veined mirror that had been a present from Louis XIV. He stared at Elias in it. “Did you know that was coming?”
“Know it? Of course not. Did I fear it? Absolutely. For weeks now.”
“Fuck.” He spun away from the mirror to the opposite doors leading to the garden. They were flanked by miniature lemon trees in porcelain pots. Probably some Ming dynasty gift from an emperor. Christian didn’t care. He kicked the pot with the side of his foot. Hard enough to topple it and send it rolling away in a rustle of crushed leaves and thudding fruit.
Elias glanced down the hall to be sure they were alone. Then he came over to stand shoulder to shoulder with Christian. “It can’t have been a surprise to you. You only try this hard to hide something when you know it needs to be hidden. And you’ve been working damn hard to hide your father’s condition.”
Yeah.
All true. Despite all of that, Elias had stood up for him, known he’d needed an escape.
Christian gave him a nod of appreciation—as well as recognition of the facts he’d laid out. “Thanks for getting me out of there.”
“I’ve got your back. Whether you’re my friend, my prince…or my king.”
“Don’t start.”
In his most solemn voice, Elias countered. “Christian, I’m afraid that’s exactly what you’ll need to do.”
“Right now I need to clear my head. Alone.”
“Got it. I’ll be here when you’re done.” Elias pressed on the corner of the molding beneath the mirror and a hidden door swung out, revealing narrow stone steps so old they were grooved in the middle.
Christian took the first two flights two steps at a time. Then he switched to every step, feeling his pulse pick up and sweat bead at his hairline. At the seventh floor, the stairs stopped at a wooden door. He pushed it open and burst out onto the roof of the tower, heading for the low, crenellated wall at the edge to brace himself while he caught his breath.
“Christian, no!”
As soon as he recognized Mallory’s voice, her body hurtled into his, knocking both of them to the floor.
Ow. Knocking elbows and hips into uneven stone wasn’t pleasant. Mallory’s body draped across his diaphragm wasn’t helping him catch his breath, either. “What the hell was that for?”
“I’m saving you?” She sounded unsure but didn’t roll off of him. If anything, she rearranged herself to cover his legs, too. Propped up to talk to him on her elbows but kept her hands on his wrists.
“From what?”
“You, ah, were running when you slammed through that door. Running straight for the edge.”
Who knew the day would give him two nominees for most awkward conversation ever? “Christ. You thought I was going to jump?”
Her green eyes didn’t so much as flicker, watching him like a hawk. “I don’t know? I mean, that’s what your mother did, right here, wasn’t it?”
“What a legacy to inherit.” His parents were collectively ruining his day. Considering one of them had been dead for over twenty years, that was quite a feat.
“Christian, you