“Yeah. I’m a little hungry.”
***
Gautier was still alive at breakfast, and he looked well. Damn it.
Jaime had to keep his face neutral and make sure he didn’t appear disappointed or pissed. Not only was Gautier alive, he was sitting at the High Table by Lord Monet in Aleric’s usual spot. Zacharie was at a round table with courtiers.
“You should have a few,” Lord Monet nudged over a platter with sausages.
“Eh, I’m fine with the eggs,” said Gautier. “The cook’s sausages haven’t been as good lately.”
“They seem fine to me.”
“It smells disgusting,” Aleric announced as he came around the High Table.
Gautier gave him a side look like he thought Aleric was directly insulting him.
“Father, please move that platter down.” Aleric pointed at sausages.
Jaime remembered reading in the pregnancy book that a pregnant man or woman might grow quite sensitive to certain smells and tastes. Lord Monet had mentioned it too. Jaime wasn’t sure if Aleric was disgusted by the breakfast smells or if he was saying that so he could sit away from Gautier.
Either way, Jaime hastily pulled out a chair for him. “Sit here.”
He settled between Aleric and Gautier. Let the bastard try to touch his future husband now.
Lord Monet pushed the platter farther down the table. “Is that better?”
“It’s bearable. I can’t believe how much they stink.”
“Have you been getting morning sickness?” asked Lord Monet.
“No. It’s just the smell of those things.”
“Do you want some toasted bread?” Jaime inched over a small platter with thick slices of golden brown bread. “That won’t bother you, right?”
“No. Thanks.” Aleric took a couple of pieces, and Jaime pushed over a bowl of norben.
“Aren’t you attentive?” Gautier asked Jaime, like offering Aleric toasted bread was monumental.
Jaime tried to make his smile appear real even though he’d rather stab Gautier in the throat. “I don’t want him to feel sick, and he needs to eat.”
He also didn’t want Gautier touching Aleric and trying to pass it off as innocent. Gautier could have easily sat on the other side of Lord Monet. He didn’t need Aleric’s spot even if it was on the lord’s right.
Lord Monet leaned forward. “Jaime, Aleric said you had hot cacao last night, and it tasted odd?”
“Yeah. It didn’t taste like bad milk either. We didn’t finish the drinks.”
Gautier narrowed his eyes. “Zacharie and I had some last night. What a coincidence. It tasted fine.”
Jaime shrugged. “Maybe you didn’t notice.”
“It’s best if we get rid of it and not take chances with our food, especially with Aleric pregnant.” Lord Monet signaled for a servant, and when she hurried over, he told her to get rid of the cacao in the larder and why.
“I’ll tell the cook right now.”
“Are you sure that is necessary?” Gautier asked. “Zacharie and I noticed nothing.”
“I’m not taking chances,” said Lord Monet. “Maybe the whole jar isn’t bad. Why risk it? Someone else might eat it and find themselves ill.”
