Barely Regal (Rosavia Royals Book 5) by E. Davies

Author:E. Davies [Davies, E.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2020-06-15T16:00:00+00:00

Chapter Ten

Thom

“Pierce. Hey, Pierce.”

“Oh.” Thom jolted and shook his head at the sudden voice. His daydreams had gotten the better of him yet again.

Valentina Roth, Prince Cassander’s valet, was snapping her fingers in front of Thom’s face. She grinned as she finally got his attention. “Earth to Pierce. Nice view out there in space?”

Thom laughed. “Sorry. Check.” He rapped the poker table lightly before noticing the bemused expressions on the other four valets’ faces and the chips in front of Valentina. “I mean, uh, call.”

“I’m sure you do,” Valentina muttered as Thom scooped two chips up and placed them in front of himself. “You’ve been in a different world today.”

Thom blushed and rolled his eyes. “Too many late nights. I’ll be glad when this ball is over.”

That was a sufficient diversion, Thom hoped. He’d only slipped into daydreaming because Hugo Falk and Paul van Estelberg had gotten distracted talking about scheduling Princes Leopold and Benedict’s fittings instead of playing the hand.

“Tell me about it,” Paul groused as he folded his poker hand and then his arms. “Prince Benedict’s been saving his leave for the ball. Goodness knows what trouble he’s planning to get into.”

They were in Paul’s apartment now, which was just as sparse and boring as anyone would expect. The man was hardly flashy, but he was staid. Just what Prince Benedict needed.

“Wren’s the same way,” Thom joined in, laughing a little too quickly. “I dread to think.”

“At least Falk’s young lion should be tamed soon.” Muller’s eyes twinkled as he winked at Hugo. He called.

Everyone but Hugo snorted with amusement as the round kept going around the table. Prince Leopold might be choosing a bride, but nobody expected his attitude to change much.

As expected, Hugo bristled slightly. To stop him from getting defensive, Thom spoke up quickly. “Check. Okay, that’s it, right?” He flipped over his hand and glanced at the others before scooping the chips toward himself.

“Lucky dip, Pierce. You were barely paying attention,” Valentina drawled.

“Hey,” Thom retorted with a friendly grin. “Maybe it was a cunning ruse.”

“Sure.” Muller managed to keep a straight face, but only just. “That’s why you lose most weeks.”

“Mathematically,” Thom defended himself as he scooped up the deck and shuffled, “each of us will only win one week in five.”

“And you’re banking up your weeks for a rainy day,” Valentina joined in, making everyone laugh.

“Et tu, Roth?” Thom shook his head gravely.

That just made him smile, though, remembering Wren’s teasing. Et tu, slain by my own valet. The way he teased and flirted as he walked, stumbling into Thom’s path in such a way that he could make it look accidental. His big, round eyes and enthusiastic head shakes and nods.

As conversation moved on, Thom kept just enough attention on the game not to embarrass himself completely once again. His chips steadily dwindled, but it was a chance to hang out with friends without being on strict formality.

Working together every day as they did for years, they were bound to form friendships.

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