by Clare London
The handsome man looked sheepish. “Paolo Astra at your service. I am sorry I didn’t introduce myself properly.”
“What’s going on?” Joel looked between the three men, at a loss. “Mr. Astra, if anything’s been said out of turn, I apologize on behalf of—”
“You don’t have to bloody apologize for me!” Matt snapped instinctively.
A shocked silence sprang up around them, shrouding them in a virtual bubble of horror. Someone—it sounded like Addam—said “bloody hell” under his breath. A plate rattled clumsily on a table in the background, and someone else sucked in a heavy breath. Behind the prince and Mr. Astra, one of the men standing by the wall took a cautionary step forward.
The prince tilted his head to one side as if waiting for an explanation. Or maybe Matt’s head on one of those silver platters. “Mr. Barth? Mr. Sterling?”
“Artie!” Paolo said urgently. A gasp from the eavesdropping guests suggested it was a breach of protocol to call your prince by his first name, at least in front of commoners. “I was being mischievous and am ashamed of myself for misleading Matt. He did not offend or insult me. I have heard much, much worse.” He turned to Matt with a warmer smile. “No, you treated me as a fellow man.”
“Right. So not true.” Matt groaned. “I treated you like one of the security guys.” Did he hear a snort of a laugh from Addam? “Though, no excuse, but people do look different in real life.” Not that he could have picked an opera singer out in a lineup at the best of times. But if he’d studied Teresa’s carefully compiled dossier, there would have been photos….
“You talked to me as an equal,” Paolo said gently. “You shared your passion with me, your desire for honesty. Don’t deny that to yourself now you know I am the client. For a while, I was able to see myself with a life the same as any man here.”
The prince touched Paolo’s arm. There was no mistaking the concern on his face. “My dear. I must see to guests who are leaving. But if there is something wrong…?”
“Never,” Paolo said to him, unmistakable warmth in his tone. “Mr. Barth just reminded me of what is truly important, not a hereditary title and the duties it imposes on us both.” He squeezed the prince’s hand, as if no one else was watching. “How do you feel about the Starsmith designs?”
“I am very pleased with the progress,” the prince began mildly. Then he seemed to relax a little. It might have been the result of the twinkle returning to Paolo Astra’s eyes. “I’m very pleased, actually. I like the blend of old style and new. The laurel wreath element is particularly attractive. And the stones, side by side in every version of the design… it will be unique to us.” He smiled at Paolo. “The representation of the two of us. One and the same in the moment.”
It was as if they spoke to each other without needing words—Paolo nodded gently, his cheeks pink.
“That was a stroke of genius, Mr. Sterling,” the prince said, turning back to Joel. “We are men who enjoy our privileged lifestyle, please don’t mistake me, and I am fully aware of the expectations of our public roles, in return. But we are also just two men who are in love and enjoy beautiful things.”
Matt didn’t dare peer more closely, but was the prince blushing? So now Joel would step into the breach that his useless designer had caused and smooth oil on troubled waters. He would bypass Matt’s clumsy and insulting behavior completely—
“You should thank Matt for that,” Joel said clearly and calmly. “It was his inspiration behind what we have to date. Without him, we wouldn’t even have that to show you.”
But…. “I’ve had new ideas,” Matt blurted out. Yes, that was definitely a groan from Addam.
The prince raised his eyebrows.
“No. Look, I’m not expressing this well enough,” Matt stammered on. “I’m really pleased with the designs as they stand, else I wouldn’t have let Joel bring them tonight. But I’ve been studying the art collection here, particularly the Triumphs of Caesar. Wonderful paintings from great masters, all celebrating the glorious careers and achievements of strong men. I want to reflect that in the project too.”
Joel’s hand landed on his forearm, making him pause. “Matt, we haven’t discussed this.”
“It only came to me overnight!” Matt protested. “And now we’re here, in this palace. And our clients are two men, Joel, who are meeting as peers.”
Paolo frowned. “Not exactly, Mr. Barth. I’m no prince.”
“But in everything else that matters, right? We should make people remember this event for what it truly is.”
There was a sudden, pregnant silence.
Joel cleared his throat. “Your Royal Highness. Mr. Astra. We are fully appreciative of the time frame. Matt and I can discuss this later—”
“No. Please.” The prince raised a hand. Beside him, Paolo’s eyes narrowed. Matt suspected neither man was often challenged. They were a good match on many levels. “We appreciate that too, Mr. Sterling. But if something is to change, please mention it now.”
“The gifts,” Matt broke in roughly, before Joel could either stop him or speak for him. “I think they should be the same item, whoever is receiving, male or female. Nothing attempting to be gender- or status-specific. Something special and precious. The trophies in the Caesar paintings give ample ideas for the shape and size. The theme would be… equal spoils for all,” he said, his smile twisted as he struggled between excitement and knowing he was being insolent in front of a member of the Royal Family.
It seemed a very, very long moment before the prince stirred. And then he smiled. “I like the idea very much. It’s unusual but very modern. It reflects how we feel about our own relationship but also that of others. Paolo will not only be my consort. He will be my partner.”
This time, the sigh from behind Matt had to have come from Teresa.
The prince nodded at them all. “Please take the time you need. Produce something special—that you think is special. My husband-to-be deserves only the best.”
Paolo’s eyes were back in mischief mode as the royal pair moved back toward their other guests, passing so close to Matt that Paolo could murmur to him, “You heard that, Mr. Barth? I deserve your very best!”
Chapter Eleven
AN hour later, Matt stood with the other three Starsmith representatives in the chilly night air on the road outside the palace. They’d been shown out from the side gate, though it was just as grand as the front. It was only nine o’clock, but traffic was sparse, and there were few pedestrians now that the royal park opposite was closed for the night. Joel sighed quietly and turned to Teresa, who was holding on to Addam’s arm with one hand and carrying her heels in the other. “If any of you would like to stay over and go back into central London tomorrow, Starsmith has an account with a couple of local hotel chains.”
“No, I’ve arranged a lift back,” Addam said. “He’ll be here shortly. Teresa, love, we can drop you on our way, if you like? You’re not far from me in North London.”
“Thanks, yes, please. It’s been a tiring night.” She squeezed his arm and smiled. “Another of your harem, is it?”
“They have their uses.” Addam smirked. Matt had been told that Addam always had a bevy of devoted young men at his beck and call. “He’s a professional chauffeur on his night off.”
“Sounds good.” Joel chuckled. “I’ll call a car to take me and Matt back into central London. Is that okay with you, Matt?”
Matt shook himself to attention. His mind was full of the evening’s events. “Not for me, thanks. I’ll make my way to the railway station. It’s only a short walk. I can catch a connection to Liverpool Street Station and the last train to Norfolk. Then Gary will pick me up from there.”
Joel’s brow creased. “All the way to Norfolk now, when you’re due back in the office on Monday?”
“No rush,” Addam said, biting back a yawn. “I reckon we all deserve a late start to the week. The design guys have enough to go on, if we don’t turn up until the afternoon. Does
that help with your travel plans, Matt?”
“Thanks,” Matt said with enthusiasm. He could feel Joel’s gaze on him. Maybe his boss was wondering why Matt was dashing halfway across the country for a day and a half.
“Then I’ll walk with you to the station,” Joel said quietly. “I can order the car from there as well as here.”
A glossy black limo drew up to collect Addam and Teresa, and after their goodbyes, Matt and Joel began walking away from the gate. They were the only pedestrians in sight, walking between pavement and grass verges, sheltered on one side by the high wall that enclosed the palace grounds from public view. Tall chestnut trees planted against the wall loomed over them, the leaves rustling in the cool night breeze, the lingering aroma of cut grass and turned earth in the air.
Joel cleared his throat. “What you said to the prince. You wouldn’t have let me bring the designs if you weren’t happy with them?”
Matt winced and hunched more deeply into his overcoat. “Fuck it. Yeah, that was arrogant of me.”
“No. You made a good call. Showed we aren’t complacent, that we’re committed to working flat-out for them. They were looking for honesty, not platitudes, else we would still be dealing with private secretaries.”
“I… right. I suppose so.” Matt cast a bemused glance Joel’s way. They were of a similar height, so he could look into Joel’s face as they walked. He was very conscious of Joel, even though they weren’t touching. If his path took him a few inches nearer, they would brush shoulders. He would get another whiff of Joel’s expensive cologne, be able to take hold of Joel’s hand, lace their fingers together….
Stop that right now.
He cleared his tight throat. “I’m sorry I dropped my ideas on you without warning. It was being in that place, talking to Paolo Astra….”
“I understand. It was a fine idea and truly innovative. And he liked you.” Joel’s chuckle broke into Matt’s wayward thoughts.
“Yeah, right.” Matt snorted. “After I called him the hired help, then implied we’d change the whole damn portfolio, right after it had received royal approval. I could’ve fucked up the whole thing!”
“But you didn’t.”
Matt shrugged, warmed by Joel’s support despite himself. “I feel sorry for him.”
“Mr. Astra?”
“It must get really tedious, everyone afraid to speak honestly in front of you in case they upset you.”
Joel nodded. “Or by extension, Prince Arthur. Immediate treason, right?”
They both laughed quietly.
“You understood how they felt as men, Matt. The core of it all, not just the accessorizing. Not just their public appearance. That’s what matters.” After a further, companionable silence, Joel spoke again. “You’ve not designed for a long time. At least, not for public commissions. Has this been a struggle for you?”
Matt’s stomach clenched. “I told you my reasons. The industry hacked me off.”
“Of course.” Joel didn’t sound entirely convinced. “And you have the dig, as well.”
“Yeah. Besides, I….” No. This was getting too personal.
“What? You can tell me.” Joel stopped on the grass verge, his face half in the shade of one of the trees. When a lone car sped past, its headlights cast a gleam deep in his pupils.
Matt stopped too. He gave a long, heartfelt sigh. “Didn’t think I could do it anymore. Design—create art.” It was a strange relief to speak frankly, to let go of some of his private worries. “When the Anubis Collection launched, I wasn’t much help to Dad as he was marketing it, handling the business side. I hated the whole fuss. It felt like selling myself, not just my jewelry. We argued a lot. And when that was over… the inspiration wasn’t there any longer. I had to turn down a lot of work.”
Joel’s voice gentled. “Maybe you just needed the right project.”
“Maybe.” Matt knew how he’d felt these last few days, working at Starsmith with enthusiastic, highly talented, motivated people. It had been a new and startling excitement, a revelation. Not that he hadn’t loved working for Barth Gems, but that was a long time ago, and he’d always worked alone. Dad had never been able to afford a whole design team. Matt was confident in his own talents, but perhaps he needed something more to bring them out. Maybe he needed an employer like Starsmith Stones.
Was that selling out?
“You don’t feel the same now, as if you’re selling yourself again but with Project Palace this time?” Joel asked, even more gently.
“No.” Matt had no trouble answering quickly and honestly. It was different, for some reason. Weird… but true. Something about working on the project from the very start, alongside a team, knowing they all wanted not just commercial success, but the best and most beautiful jewelry too. About working with Joel?
“But… Jesus.” Joel’s laugh interrupted Matt’s disturbing thoughts. “When you snapped at me in front of Paolo? The look on Addam’s face! You couldn’t see him behind you, but I could. It was unique.”
“What did you all expect? I’m a fish out of water here.”
Joel shrugged. “That’s crap. You can cope. And it’d be the same if, say, the tables were turned and I was in your world.”
Matt snorted again. They’d both drawn back into the shelter of the wall, an extra few feet away from the road, and into the whispering shadows of the trees. “As a farmer?”
“No, I don’t think I’d ever manage that. But if I were at your dig. Somewhere out of my usual comfort zone.”
Matt would never know what made him so rash, but he said swiftly, “Go on, then. Visit my world for once. Do it!”
“What? No, I meant just as an example.”
“Scared?”
Joel stared at him, brows drawn together. “No, of course not. Are you daring me?”
“Yes, I am! I’ve dressed up like an idiot and done my duty for Starsmith here tonight. I reckon Starsmith—or its rising executive star—owes me.”
Joel’s gaze searched Matt’s face until Matt felt himself blush.
“Okay,” Joel said quietly. “So maybe I will.”
“Tomorrow?”
Joel blinked hard. His lashes were thick, his eyes a rich amber in the dim light. “That’s Sunday.”
“So what? It’s a seven-day-a-week job at a farm, you know.”
Joel’s gaze was suddenly sharper. “Is that why you want to go back to Norfolk tonight?”
Matt’s breath hitched. Joel had hit a bull’s-eye. “Well, I’m not a farmer—”
“No, but you want to be there, don’t you?” Joel smiled. “I’m not saying you didn’t give tonight your full attention, and I appreciate that. But I get the feeling your heart is back at your dig.”
“I still have until Monday to spend time on it,” Matt said slowly. “I just don’t want to waste any free hours. We’re finding new stuff all the time, and….”
“And that’s what excites you.”
Matt didn’t know how to answer that. It was true, of course, but other things excited him as well. Right now, that included the challenge he’d thrown out at Joel. “Come and see for yourself.”
He stared at Joel, wondering if he really would surrender. Whether he was looking for a way to wriggle out of it….
But Joel stared steadily back. “Okay. It’s a deal. Text me the address of the farm, and I’ll meet you there tomorrow.” With a smug smile, he nudged Matt’s shoulder, then paused when they both heard a chinking noise. “What’s that?”
Dammit. “It’s one of those little pastry forks, rubbing against some loose change.”
Joel’s eyes widened, and he barked out a laugh. “You stole the royal silver?”
“Jesus. It’s not a capital crime.” Well, okay, maybe it was, but the waiter who’d been eyeing him up had seen him lifting the fork earlier in the evening, testing its weight and size, just for fun really. When they came to leave the reception, the waiter had accidentally-on-purpose brushed up against Matt and slipped the f
ork into his pocket. He’d also left his phone number, but Matt wasn’t going to be taking advantage of that. “It’s for my nephew. He’s a rabid fan of the monarchy.”
Joel was laughing loudly now, his hand on his chest as if trying to keep it in. “You’re unbelievable!”
Matt scowled. “For God’s sake. Who hasn’t done the same in their life?”
“No, you don’t understand.” Joel gave a hiccup, trying to catch his breath. He gripped the arm of Matt’s coat as if to steady himself. “I didn’t mean that as a bad thing. I mean… shit!” He leaned in, suddenly very much into Matt’s personal space, and kissed him. His lips were cold and damp, but his tongue was warm and thrust hungrily against Matt’s mouth until it opened up for him. His other hand grasped Matt’s shoulder, pulling him even closer.
Matt’s back hit the wall, but his head was tilted against Joel’s, drinking in the kiss. He barely felt the impact. His fists clenched at his sides, and his heart hammered so hard he thought his chest would split open. Joel tasted of everything good, of everything Matt had ever dreamed of, dreamed of right now. It was like the first kiss at Claridge’s and yet so much better, like they recognized each other’s touch and texture. Christ. Matt’s head swam. Everything was amplified—the rustle of leaves, the distant horn of a car, a hoot from an owl in the palace grounds… the sigh Joel gave as he broke away.
“Oh God. God. Matt, I’m sorry. I think I am. I mean, I don’t know what came over me—”
None of that mattered to Matt. He slid a firm hand around the back of Joel’s neck and pulled him back into another kiss.
When they broke apart again after several more minutes, they were both panting. Matt would have been flattered he had such an effect on the coolly controlled Joel Sterling if he hadn’t been gasping for breath himself.
“Shit,” Joel whispered, his eyes shining. A group of cyclists whizzed past on the road, their lights bobbing as the wheels spun. Joel’s gaze flicked across, following their path.
“Are you worried someone will see us?” Matt growled.