A Duke by Default (Reluctant Royals #2)(82)

Greer shifted on the sofa, visibly uncomfortable. She had long black hair and warm gray eyes that were dimmed with worry. Her nails were polished and unchipped, and she still worked at the same company she had ten years ago and owned a house in a nice neighborhood that wasn’t a gift like Portia’s properties were. She wore a brown knit sweater, jeans, and a stiff smile, and she was the woman Tavish had once thought he’d spend forever with.

Portia thought back to their dancing in the woods and wondered if he’d ever made Greer feel like she was the center of his world, and everything would work out fine if she’d step into his embrace. Portia bit her inner cheek lightly to chase the thought away. Of course, Tav had made Greer feel good. He would have been a terrible husband otherwise. But they’d still grown apart, eventually.

If she wasn’t enough for him, this portrait of domestic stability, why would he stick around once you start making mistakes left and right?

No. None of that. I’m bloody magnificent.

I’m also leaving in a few weeks.

“Sorry to be a bother,” Greer said. “I just didn’t know what to do. I tried calling you, Tav, but your voice mail box is full.”

“I’ve been meaning to check it, but I forgot the pin and then I forgot to change the pin and things have been busy . . .” Tav’s shoulders rose up toward his ears as he struck an apologetic pose.

Greer chuckled and shook her head. “I’ve heard that before.” Her tone was nostalgic, not bitter, and Tav chuckled, too. There was an affection between them, a familiarity, and Portia tried not to imagine them in love in this very building years before. Acknowledging someone’s past was much easier than visualizing it.

“Aye. You know how it is. How I am.” He ran a hand through his hair, and Portia picked up her tablet and added “Tavish haircut” to her to-do list, which was his to-do list. “Portia has been handling pretty much all of the communications, bless her, but not my cell phone.”

Greer glanced at Portia. “He’s the worst, isn’t he?”

There was something shy in the way she said it, searching, and Portia realized that Greer was extending some “This is awkward, but we’re cool, right?” feelers. As if Portia were Tav’s girlfriend, instead of his apprentice or squire, which at this point, she wasn’t too clear about either.

Portia nodded and returned her smile.

Greer turned her gaze back to Tavish. “I’m here about this duke business, which is something I never thought I’d say to you of all people. My goodness, your father must be livid.”

Johan raised a hand in the air. “I’m here for that, too. I was just in town for a charity polo match and Thabiso asked me to stop by and offer my vast expertise on being famous for no good reason.” He glanced at Greer. “Thabiso is my friend. He’s a prince.”

Greer nodded, her eyes widening as they did every time she glanced in Johan’s direction.

“I have to admit this is all a bit much. Tavish is a duke, there’s a prince in the parlor.” She looked at Portia, then Tav. “I’m not used to this. And that’s why I’m here. The paparazzi have been hanging about. They’ve snapped photos while I’m taking the kids to school, and shown up at my work and Christopher’s, trying to get dirt on Tavish. They won’t listen when I say I don’t know anything and it’s a bit frightening.”

Tav made a sound of frustration. “I’m sorry, Greer. I never meant for you to get caught up in this.”

“It’s not your fault. It’s just . . . a lot. They shout things like ‘Do you regret divorcing him now that he’s a duke?’ Christopher’s been taking it all in stride, but the kids are frightened and it’s a bother to our neighbors and other parents at the school.”

Portia put down her cup. “I’ve been researching British law to figure out where we can draw the line with these people, and what’s actionable and what’s not, but with everything else going on I dropped the ball. Sorry.”

“Are you running Mr. McKenzie’s security detail? Or are you his lawyer?” Johan asked in a tone Portia couldn’t parse. “Thabiso told me you were an apprentice swordmaker.”

She could parse that. Johan’s tone was somewhere between polite inquiry and not so subtle judgment.

“I am an apprentice. I’ve been handling other matters, though.” She gave Greer an encouraging look. “I’ll try to figure this out.”

She tapped open her to-do list added Figure out how to stop paps and Security detail for Tav.

She swiped to her emails and beside her Tavish heaved a sigh. “They’ve been after Jamie and Cheryl, and bothering folks in the neighborhood. I didn’t think they’d bother you, though. It’s been ages.”

“That was a mistake,” Johan cut in. “Everything is carrion for these vultures now. They’ll search out your first kiss, your teachers, your plumber. There are now people out there intrigued by what dental floss you used just because you have a title in front of your name. C’est das leben.”

“So there’s nothing to be done. How comforting,” Tavish said, narrowing his eyes in Johan’s direction.

Johan shrugged. “I wasn’t sent to give you comfort. You already have someone for that.” He nodded in Portia’s direction and her face went warm. “I’m here to help you navigate your new career.”