We all chuckle, and I squeeze Lilly’s hand and say, “She does.”
Shortly after, I carry the plates to the kitchen while Lara and Lilly work on some self-defense moves that Lilly has wanted to learn. I decide to stay in the kitchen and help Brimar.
“What can I do?” I ask him.
He whips a towel in my direction. “You can dry.”
“Easy enough.” I saddle up next to him by the sink, and as he rinses the dishes, he hands them to me. “Want to talk about whatever’s on your mind?” I ask him.
“Nothing’s on my mind.”
“Brimar, I’ve known you since we were kids. Trust me, I can tell when something is on your mind.”
He scrubs a dish extra hard as he asks, “Do you actually like her?”
Not a fan of his tone, I ask, “What do you mean?”
Glancing at me, he says, “It all feels too convenient. So, is this something you worked up with King Theo?”
“What?” I ask him. “What the fuck are you talking about?”
He turns toward me now, hands sudsy. “I know Theo wishes you were king, that you could take his place, but we all know that can’t happen. Unless . . .”
“What the fuck are you alluding to?” I growl at him.
“She’s already lost a lot, and she’s a flight risk. She might think this is all fun and games now, but until she steps foot in that palace and goes day to day with the schedule thrust upon her, she has no fucking clue what this is going to be like. If you jump in, make her fall for you for ulterior motives—”
I have my hand wrapped around his collar and him pinned against the sink before he can finish that sentence. “If you ever accuse me of such treachery again, I’ll have your fucking head, do you understand me?” I seethe. “My love for this country and for Lilly are two separate things. I’ll do anything for Torskethorpe and its traditions. I’m a servant, not a noble. I’m well aware of the difference and that I have no place belonging in the latter. As for Lilly, my feelings for her have nothing to do with her title and everything to do with the person she is. Trust me when I say, the last thing I ever wanted was to get involved with her, given who she is. I’ve battled nightly over that decision, so don’t presume I thought with my dick because that’s never been the case.” I push him away from me and toss the towel on the counter.
He can do the goddamn dishes on his own.
When I start to walk away, I pause and turn back around. When our eyes meet, I ask him, “When did you start questioning my loyalty to this country?”
“Your loyalty to Torskethorpe has never been in question,” Brimar says. “Your intentions have been.”
“You should know me better than that, Brimar.”
“You’re right, I should.” And without another word, he turns to the sink, washing the same dish he was washing moments ago, as if he didn’t just question our entire friendship.
Chapter Nineteen
LILLY
“What are you carving?” Lara asks from across the living room, where she’s finishing up embroidering a table runner that I begged her to give me when she’s done.
“Something special for Keller,” I answer.
“Not to be rude, but it looks like a boob.”
I hold up my carving and smile. “It is. With a very hard nipple.”
Lara laughs. “Why are you carving him a boob?”
“Well, for one, it’s pocket-sized, so in case he ever needs to cop a feel, he can just reach into his pocket.”
Lara laughs some more.
“And secondly, he’s been in a weird mood today, and I thought that making this would cheer him up. A pocket boob.”
“I know it would cheer Brimar up,” Lara says, and then she moves closer to me, taking a seat on the couch. “Brimar said they got in a fight last night. He wouldn’t tell me what about, though.”
“Keller wouldn’t talk to me either.” Although, we didn’t do much talking last night, if you know what I mean.
“I don’t think I’ve ever seen this much tension between them.”
“Do you know why they might be at each other?” I ask as I press my thumb against the blade to carve around the very prominent nipple I’ve created. I plan on making a hole through it and putting one of my spare nipple rings through the hole. I know when I reach Strombly, I probably won’t be able to do something like this, given how I need to be composed, which is why I want to do it now.
“I’m not sure. I know the stress is high for both of them. They never want to let King Theo down, so that might be a part of it.”