Page 94 of Reign

“Or one of the footmen overheard me telling her?” Jeff sighed. “Look, Jamie, I don’t know exactly what happened. Maybe your dad realized something was going on, and it had nothing to do with us.”

Jamie looked so young in that moment, so heartbroken and sad, that Nina wanted to wrap her arms around him and hold him close—but she couldn’t. She needed to let him face this on his own.

“I know it’s not your fault that my parents split up,” Jamie said at last. “Their issues had nothing to do with you. But Itrustedyou, Jeff. When I asked you not to tell anyone what you saw, I was counting on you to keep that promise.”

“I get it,” Jeff told him. “And I swear to you, I didn’t share it with anyone but Sam. Certainly not my parents.”

Jamie sighed. “I guess I foolishly thought that if no one spoke it aloud, it wouldn’t be real. And then my parents might find their way back to each other.”

Nina couldn’t help reaching for his hand. “Oh, Jamie. That isn’t foolish at all; it’s hopeful.”

Jeff stared at her fingers interlaced with Jamie’s, and said nothing.

Jamie swallowed. “I’m sorry I didn’t come back the next year. I just assumed, when you never said anything, that you wanted to stay far away from my family and all our scandal. You certainly weren’t the only royal family to drop us.”

“I’m sorry, too,” Jeff said hoarsely.

Nina let go of Jamie as he stepped forward. She watched as they did one of those guy hugs, giving each other a rough thump on the back as if it might hide the sentimentality of the gesture.

When they stepped away, both blinking rapidly, she pretended not to notice.

“Hey, guys. What’s going on?” Samantha’s voice sounded from the doorway.

“Sam!” Nina took an involuntary step forward. Sam looked good, more rested and bright-eyed than you would guess for someone living on an air mattress.

“Sorry to interrupt,” Sam went on. “I saw you all leaving, and you looked like you might…well, I didn’t want you getting married with a black eye,” she explained, nodding to herbrother.

Nina flushed at the realization that it might have looked that way—like Jamie and Jeff were leaving so that they could fight. Presumably over her.

“We should get back to the party,” she said quickly, and turned to Jeff. “Thanks for the beer.”

“Wait, I want one before we go!” Sam took a few steps toward the antique chest.

Jamie grabbed Nina’s hand and tugged her through the doorway, leaving the Washington twins alone.

In the hallway, he drew to a halt and pulled Nina close, wrapping his arms around her and tucking her head beneath his chin. “Thanks for doing that,” he told her. Nina felt the rumble of his voice echoing through her own chest.

“You mean, forcing you and Jeff to finally talk?”

“Yes, exactly.” He smiled into her hair. “Have you ever considered a career in international crisis mediation?”

“No way. This is all the international drama I can handle,” she teased.

Jamie stepped back. “Nina—I wanted to wait before bringing this up, but we need to talk.”

“Oh. Okay,” she replied, over the sickening feeling in her stomach.

Jamie was about to say goodbye. They were going to break up after tonight, because really, what kind of future could they possibly have?

“Can I visit you in Oxford?”

She stared at him uncertainly.

“I know we haven’t talked about this…about us,” he went on, seeming nervous. “But I don’t want to stop seeingyou once you leave for England. I really like you, Nina. You’re brilliant and you’re snarky and you’re thoughtful and you’rereal.”

At first she didn’t process his words. “We’ll be on opposite sides of the Atlantic.”

“I have a private plane. It’s a six-hour flight. Worth it,” he added softly, “to see my girlfriend.”