Page 17 of Royal Trouble
Three hours later, riding high from the thrill of victory and a record-breaking fundraiser, Xander and Everly were seated at a corner booth in his favorite pub, the Golden Falcon.
“You named your polo team after a bar?” she asked after the server had taken their drink orders.
Damn right he had.
“Shh!” he cautioned, raising a finger to his lips. “The king will have a coronary if he finds out.”
“You rebel.” The corners of her mouth climbed skyward, but the smile held a hint of reservation, as if she didn’t trust her instincts.
“What can I say?” He spread his hands wide, doing his best to look unthreatening. “I’m a man who knows his talents.”
“Which, according to the papers are mischief, mayhem, and the occasional sacrificial virgin.”
Her tone was light, but it was clear she meant every word. The realization chafed. “You shouldn’t believe everything you read in the papers.”
“Ah, but you forget we were at school together. I have firsthand knowledge of your debauchery.” She glanced over to where the server was pulling their pints. “And let’s be honest, you were kind of an ass. So were your friends.”
Well, that explained why she’d been so prickly toward him. “I admit those weren’t my finest days.”
Understatement. He’d been a right prick.
Everly snorted. “That’s putting it mildly.”
“My time at Elmhurst was…difficult.” Even saying it felt like a cop-out. Everly’s time at Westbury hadn’t been any easier. Though Elmhurst and Westbury were technically separate, side-by-side boys and girls schools, the social scene was a tight-knit who’s who of Valerian wealth and privilege. Forget silver spoons, they’d all been suckled at golden teats, and it had shown in their elitist attitudes. How many times had he heard people whispering about Everly’s mother, calling her a whore and worse? How many times had he wanted to step in and put an end to the snide comments about her status as the Lennox bastard? But he hadn’t.
He’d been a coward then, more concerned about his own reputation and the rumors regarding his own parentage. The memories sickened him even now. It was at the Royal Military Academy that he’d found his purpose, growing into the role of protector and giving a voice to those who were too weak or afraid to speak for themselves.
As usual, it was too little too late.
He could hardly fault her for holding a grudge, but that didn’t mean he couldn’t apologize.
“You’re right,” he finally said, meeting her gaze and willing her to feel the sincerity of his words. “I’m not proud of the way I behaved, and for that I’m sorry. My conduct was hardly becoming of a Stanley. Or any decent human, for that matter. I wouldn’t blame you if you wanted nothing to do with me, but I hope you’ll give me a chance to prove I’m not that boy anymore.”
The server arrived with their drinks and dropped the pints on the table. “Anything else I can get for you?” she asked, looking from Everly to Xander.
He shook his head, and she sauntered back to the bar, leaving them alone again. This was one of the many reasons the Golden Falcon was his favorite watering hole. The staff were accommodating, discreet, and loyal. They didn’t pry, fuss, or talk to the press, and they treated him like any other customer. Inside the Falcon’s walls, he was just another patron looking to drink away the day’s troubles.
Everly sipped her lager but said nothing. Clearly, it was going to take more than an apology to make this right. He took a long pull on his beer, stalling for time as the awkward silence stretched between them.
When he finally set his glass down, she was watching him, her lips pressed into a thin line.
The woman had a steel spine, and he admired her strength. Too bad he hadn’t seen it earlier. Perhaps she could’ve taught him a thing or two during their school days.
“I wouldn’t presume to know how difficult your life was at Westbury, but I do know what it’s like to have your entire existence called into question.” Fuck. Was he really going to go there? He didn’t even have a nondisclosure agreement to prevent her from repeating this conversation at a later date.
It was a fool’s mistake, but he was in too deep to stop now. Wise or not, he trusted her, and he wasn’t going to slap her with an NDA. She’d gone through something similar. If anyone could understand, it would be Everly. “For as long as I can remember, the question of my paternity has been splashed all over the tabloids. It’s not something we talk about within the family, but it’s always there, hanging over my head.”
Like a goddamn guillotine ready to cut him off from everyone and everything that mattered.
Everly toyed with her glass, still saying nothing. He wasn’t sure if it was because she could sense his need to get this off his chest or if it was because she was weighing his apology, so he pressed on.
In for a penny, in for a pound, right?
“And once Royals Gone Wild began detailing my exploits at Elmhurst, well, let’s just say my paternity wasn’t the only thing being gossiped about at court.” He scrubbed a hand over his face, the memories oozing forth like toxic sludge and poisoning his thoughts. Hell, sometimes he still wondered what his life would be like if he hadn’t lived down to the world’s expectations of him. “Suffice it to say, that bloody website ruined my life.”
Chapter Five
At the mention of Royals Gone Wild, Everly’s body went rigid. Her throat constricted painfully, sending lager right up her nasal passage. She sputtered and spit like a drowned cat as she slammed her pint down and reached for a napkin. It was too late. Lager covered the table, and if she wasn’t mistaken, there was a drop or two on Xander’s polo.