Tension bloomed as my boss stood too. He scrubbed a hand through his hair, seeming embarrassed. Suddenly his face closed down to all business, and he drew a deep breath. “Dauphine has had a difficult time the last two years,” he said, his hands slipping into his pockets. “She needs someone she can trust. I need someone she can trust. Unfortunately, I haven’t always done the right things and reacted the right ways. I have kept her from her grandmother more than I should, a mistake I hope to rectify this summer. Her grandmother would have her most weekends. Or more if she could. But it’s difficult with my schedule, and hers.” He stepped around to the other side of his desk then and sat down, steepling his fingers. “Dauphine needs a friend. She needs privacy and space to just be a little girl and not to be scrutinized by the media. I know you are her nanny, but it’s clear already from the way she interacts with you that you could be a friend too. It seems the chance I took on hiring you without proper background checks coming through quickly was the right one … for Dauphine,” he tacked on after a pause. “Please don’t disappoint us.”

It was a grave and earnest plea. I swallowed, my throat thick.

It didn’t escape my notice how he parsed out himself from Dauphine. I was good for her. By default that meant not good for him. The distinction caught me off-balance.

“Are you okay?” He stared at me.

“No. Yes,” I corrected with a slight voice break. “I, yes. I’m very fond of Dauphine already. I can tell she’s had a rough time from the little she has shared. She can trust me. You both can,” I added.

“D’accord. You can go,” he said, his voice stiff. His expression had become troubled.

“Of course.” I headed for the door but paused with my hand on the latch. “You know,” I said, my voice soft. “I’ve lost a father, so I have some idea of what families go through—what it’s like to lose a parent. I’ll be here for Dauphine, and I’ll keep her safe.” I hesitated. On the tip of my tongue was to tell him I could be there for him too, but I bit my lips closed instead. It wasn’t wise to get any closer to this man. He was damaged, and I didn’t think it was solely to do with the loss of his wife.

I walked out and closed the door behind me, heading into the living area.

“What was that about?” Evan asked, making me jump. He was leaning against the wall just as I emerged from the hall.

I placed a hand on my chest. “What?”

He tilted his head, an odd, contemplative expression on his face.