Gray paced the entry hall by the front door. He was to take the prince on a long walk, as per Camille’s instructions. At least she trusted him to do that much, but that was the extent of it. It was obvious that he had lost the trust that once went hand in hand with their friendship.

Still, she could deny it as much as she wished, but there remained something between them. Some spark, minimal perhaps, but there nonetheless. When he had told her he loved her, all those years ago, he had been certain she loved him as well. He had known it as he had never known anything before or since. Perhaps if he hadn’t let pride and pain drive him away . . . Perhaps if he hadn’t been so young and foolish . . .

Regardless, nothing could be done about the past now, save overcome it. For that, he would need time, and time was short. Christmas was a mere three days away, and Camille planned to leave with her prince the day after.

Determination narrowed his eyes. Not if he could help it. If he was to reclaim Camille’s heart, he would first have to do something about Pruzinsky. With any luck at all, Beryl’s investigator would uncover useful information about the man before it was too late. However, it had been his experience that waiting was not the best way to achieve one’s goals. He hadn’t made his fortune by waiting.

He organized the points in his head. Number one: Earn Camille’s forgiveness. From what Win had surmised, her anger probably stemmed from Gray’s declaring his love on the day before her wedding and then never speaking with her again. In hindsight that was a mistake. A mistake of epic proportions. He had been her friend. He had stunned her with his revelation and then given her no real chance to respond. If she had shared his feelings, as he knew in his heart she had, how must she have felt when he didn’t come back that day? When he didn’t stop her wedding? When years passed and her husband died and he still did not return?

He had never before put himself in her shoes. Now that he had—he winced—damnation. He would be angry in her place. Furious and unrelenting. And it would take a great deal to earn his forgiveness, if indeed it could be earned at all.