Page 49 of The Prince Falls First
“Certainly not, but you’re so stoic sometimes. I like seeing this side of you. Miss Ruffin certainly brought it out in you too.”
“I don’t…that is, I’m not sure if I’m the right man for her. She wants things I can’t give her.”
“Because you’re the future king?”
“Partially, but also because I’m not sure I’m capable of it. This will sound terrible to say out loud, but I’m not a very good listener and I ignore her wishes constantly. It’s no wonder she grew tired of me after so short a time.”
His mother was quiet, sipping silently for a minute. “You get that from your father too.”
Gabriel’s eyes widened.
His mother nodded. “It’s true. Maybe it’s because we fell in love during the war, when he was learning to be a king, and I waslearning to use my voice for the first time. But after the war, I went back to that quiet woman who defers to her husband. Oh, I love your father with all my heart. Truly he is the love of my life. But sometimes I wish things were different.”
He glanced over at his father while a tinge of his mother’s sadness rang in his ears.
“Your father didn’t want to learn, not for a long time. You can learn, and you’ll do it much faster and better than him.”
“But she still wants?—”
“I know, I know. There is a solution to every problem, sometimes many solutions we miss as focus on one path only. But there are many paths to get whatyouwant and to give Miss Ruffin whatshewants.” She put a hand on his arm. “Would you be happy to see her married to another man, having his children? No, I thought not.”
The very idea pained his heart. He wasn’t sure when he’d come to care for Genevieve so much. Perhaps it had been in that small, pink bedroom while she coughed and shared tales of sadness. Perhaps it had been their first kiss or their first dance, or even his first glance of her in the receiving line at the ball.
“The questions you need to ask yourself are: Do you feel as if you couldn’t live without her? As if her existence in your life is as important as the very air you breathe? There are many different kinds of love. If you wanted a society marriage like Lucien, I wouldn’t object though I would feel sadness about it. Though I would wonder why you didn’t choose one of the many ladies you’ve dated thus far, if that were the case. But you waited. And it seems you were waiting for her.”
Was he? Perhaps he had been.
His mother rose, and he stood automatically, a habit so ingrained he didn’t realize he’d gotten up until he was in mid-rise.
His mother kissed him on the cheek. “Don’t give up yet, my dear son. I have a feeling your story with Miss Ruffin is not quite over.”
As she walked back towards his father, he began believing that she was right.
But would he ever be able to convince Genevieve? And how could he show her that he wanted to change and be more mindful of her needs?
He spent the rest of the evening wondering just that.
At least until the call came that changed everything.
GENEVIEVE
“You’re notready to let go of him, are you?”
Gen turned to Sam in the driver’s seat. They’d spent hours talking and eating, though nothing serious since they’d first sat down. Now that they were on their way to the Kaur’s, Sam apparently wanted to delve back into them. “I don’t know what you mean.”
Sam flipped the wipers on as the rain picked up again. “Yes you do. You like him, you’re just afraid to love him.”
“I thought you’d support me in whatever decision I made?”
“And I will. It’s true he was an asshole, but give him another chance to not be one, that’s all I’m saying. Don’t give up on something potentially fucking epic just because you’re afraid. You have a chance to become a fucking queen with a good man by your side as king.”
“And what about you? Are you going to stand up to your parents?”
Sam winced. “You don’t understand. It’s a whole cultural thing, I can’t say no to them.”
“Youwon’tsay no to them. I won’t pretend I understand everything you’re going through, because I’m not in your culture, but I wish you would stand up for yourself. The rest of your life is a long time to be miserable with someone.”
“I know.” Sam sounded so fucking sad, and all Gen wanted to do was hug her.
