Page 158 of Night's Fall
But with the family’s response to us, the tearful but warm gazes ofNaylan’sother family and many friends that followed our every move, no matter what the chatter on the social tapes or news displays said,Iknew we’d done the right thing.
“This statement is excellent,”Isaid toGermaine.
“Allow me,”Allainsniffed.
I handed the tablet to him.
“I have your approval to release it?”Germaineasked.
“IfAllainis good with it, yes,”Ianswered.
“Fine.Nowwe’ll talk aboutNataLivingstonsitting out in the antechamber, awaiting to interview as your aide,” she kept me.
Oh heck.
And yes,Allainwent to theCataloguesto ask if she was interested in the position.
Obviously, she said she was.
But unsurprising news, it seemedGermainehad her finger on the pulse of everything at thePalace.
“I—”
“It cannot happen,”Germainedecreed.
Allain’s head came up.
My neck tensed.
“I believe we all know this is a sensitive issue forPrinceErrol,” she stated.
“She isn’t interviewing to bePrinceErrol’saide,”Ireplied.
“He lives in this house,”Germaineretorted.
“There are eight hundred and fifteen rooms in thishouse,”Allainpointed out.
“He has his own aide,”Germainesaid toAllain. “Andhe meets with him in this wing.Whereshe will have an office.”
“Then it’s good they’re both adults,”Istated. “Andshould she be selected for the job, they can behave like adults.Butas she’ll be dealing with me, andAllain, the prince really needs to have nothing to do with her, except be courteous to her if he should pass her in the hall.”
Germaine laid it all out.
“The king forbids it.”
I gasped.
Allain did too.
She took her tablet fromAllain.
“I’m sorry, but you’re just going to have to tell her the position has been filled,”Germaineconcluded.
I didn’t like candidate number three, so even ifAllaindid, right now,Natawas the only one who might have a shot before we had to go back to the drawing board.
“Comm his highness,”Allainsaid.
I turned to him and saw his eyes on me.
