Page 57 of The Prince Falls First
After she’d finished, she’d thought to clean up but decided she might need everything in the morning, so she left them scattered on the counter. She glanced at the other side of the sink, clearly the side Gabriel used from the few items of his resting there, but no where near as many as her. His side was neat and tidy, while hers was…not. Another way they were different, she supposed.
She took the folded stack of Sam’s clothes she’d been wearing (except her shoes, which she left in the bathroom for now) and walked out.
Gabriel, who’d been sitting in a chair nearby, sprang up suddenly, then seemed to hesitate. She walked over to him barefoot. “Thank you for everything you’ve done tonight. I…I’mnot sure what I would have done without your help, and Agnes’s help.”
He reached out to cup her cheek. “Anything for you, my dear. Are you hungry? Tired? I had some broth sent up, nothing heavy, just in case.”
She couldn’t bear to eat anything. “I’ll just have some more water.”
“I’ll get it for you. Do you want to sit down? Or lie down? Or?—”
She put a hand on his arm. “I’m okay.”
He took that hand and brought it to his own cheek, cuddling into it. “You don’t know how it felt when I’d heard about the accident but I didn’t immediately know if you’d been hurt. I’m so sorry about Miss Kaur. She’ll be dearly missed.”
She nodded. Was this what her life would now? Condolence after condolence for Sam, from people who didn’t know her as well as she did? Still, Gen was glad she was being remembered.
Thinking of that reminded her of someone who won’t be glad she’s gone. “Have you called my mother?”
He shook his head. “I thought it best to wait and see how you preferred to handle it.”
That he didn’t charge in and take over meant a lot to her. “I can’t face her right now. She won’t hear about Sam until later today when the gossip starts making the rounds and the news story breaks. If anyone asks about me, she’ll lie and tell everyone I’m at home resting anyway.”
He pursed his lips and for some reason she found it oddly endearing. “Have something to say about my mother?”
“Yes,” he said immediately. “But I’ll save it for another day. Why don’t you get settled in my room and I’ll bring you your water.”
He kissed her forehead and left to go down the hall.
She took a good look at his bedroom, since she hadn’t really done so on the way in. It smelled like him, the faint whiff of his cologne in the air. Clean and neat, just like his side of the sink. Based on the location of a book, some papers, and a pen on a night stand on one side of the bed, she decided to take the other side.
She hugged Sam’s clothes to her chest, then placed them gently on a chair near ‘her’ side of the bed. Gabriel came in just as she placed them.
She pointed to the clothes. “I don’t want these, or the shoes in the bathroom, disturbed or washed or anything.”
“They won’t be. The staff know not to launder anything not in the clothes hamper or designated for dry cleaning in my closet. They also won’t come into my rooms as long as I’m here. The housekeeper’s informed when we leave for the day, and the staff come in at that time to clean and refresh the Royal Wing, so you don’t need to worry about anyone disturbing you.”
She nodded, feeling slightly embarrassed about her behaviour. When she slid into bed, he set the water and another glass pitcher on the night stand by the bed.
“Are you sure you want me to stay in the same bed with you? I have several other bedrooms I can sleep in.”
She reached out and grabbed his hand. “No. Please, stay.”
He took a long look in her eyes, then finally nodded. “I’ll take a quick shower then and join you. If you need anything, just let me know, or you can call down for it.” He gestured to the phone on ‘his’ side of the bed. “There’s also some things in my small kitchen if you prefer that instead.”
He gave her a small smile, then got up and disappeared into his closet, then the bathroom. Unlike with her, he didn’t shut the door. She knew he’d done it so he could hear her if she called out, and it made her feel warm inside.
As she drank another glass of water, she wondered if it was right to feel happy when she felt so sad.
Don’t be afraid to love him, Gen. Promise me.
With Sam’s thoughts in her head, she drifted off to sleep. She woke once when Gabriel came to bed and pulled her into his arms and she settled again, barely registering his bare torso and that he was only clad in boxers.
She settled against chest, slipped one of her legs between his, and fell back asleep.
twelve
GENEVIEVE
