Now Toby beamed. ‘Yes!’
And just like that his son came to life, peppering him with questions about being a prince, demanding to know if they still kept ‘naughty men’ in the dungeons and asking if there were any dinosaurs at the palace.
This was much easier than Theseus had envisaged.
The knots in his stomach loosened and he relaxed, enjoying the moment for what it was: the first of many meals he would share with his son over the course of the rest of his life.
‘Has your mother told you who I am?’ he asked when they’d all finished eating and Toby had finally paused for breath.
Jo’s eyebrows rose again and she straightened.
‘You’re a prince!’
‘Would you like to be a prince?’
Toby contemplated the question, twiddling with the buttons of his pyjamas. ‘Would I have to kiss girls?’
Theseus’s eyes flickered to Jo. ‘Not if you didn’t want to.’
‘Would I have a flying carpet?’
‘No, but you could have horses, and when you’re old enough sports cars like mine.’
‘I would like to be a prince,’ Toby said, as if confiding something important. ‘But when I’m growed up I want to clean windows on a ladder.’
‘You could do both,’ Theseus said gravely, fighting to stop his lips from twitching in laughter. ‘You see, Toby, you are a prince.’
‘Mummy says I’m a cheeky monkey.’
‘My mummy used to say the same thing to my brother Talos. He was a cheeky monkey when he was a little boy—just like you.’
‘I’m not little,’ Toby said indignantly, lifting his arm and flexing it to show off his non-existent muscles. ‘I’m a big boy. I’m going to big school in September.’
As she relaxed from her previously ramrod-straight position it was obvious Jo was fighting her own laughter. Finally she took pity and stepped in to save him.
‘Remember what Mummy told you about having a Greek daddy who was lost?’
Toby nodded.
‘Well, Mummy’s found him. Theseus is your daddy.’
A look of utmost suspicion crossed his tiny face. ‘My daddy’s name is Theo—not Theseus.’
‘Theo’s his nickname,’ she said smoothly, although her eyes darted to Theseus with an expression that sliced through his guts.
She really had spoken of him to their son...
‘Theseus is his real name.’
Toby contemplated him some more. ‘You’re my daddy?’
‘Yes. And because I’m a prince, that means you’re a prince too.’
The suspicion vanished, a beaming smile replacing it. ‘Does that mean Mummy is a princess?’
‘Kind of,’ Jo said, taking control again. ‘How would you like to spend the day with Theseus? He can tell you all about being a prince. Ask him anything you like—he just loves answering questions. And you can explore this brilliant house with him.’
Toby nodded really hard, his eyes like an owl’s again.
Theseus felt his own eyes widen too, at the underhand stunt Jo had just pulled, but knew he couldn’t say anything to the contrary—not unless he wanted to disappoint his son on their first meeting.
She kissed Toby’s cheek and threw Theseus a beatific smile. ‘He’s not a fussy eater, so ignore him if he tells you he doesn’t like carrots. Have fun!’
And with that she left the dining room, leaving Theseus with the miniature version of himself.
* * *
Jo turned her head in time to see Theseus step into the room that had been converted into an office for her. He closed the door behind him and folded his arms.
‘What?’ she asked innocently.
‘You are a cruel woman.’
‘It was for the greater good. Have you had a good day?’
A half-smile played on his lips. ‘It’s been something. I’ve left Toby in the kitchen with Elektra and the kitchen staff—he’s already got them eating out of his hands. They’re baking flapjacks for him.’
‘Flapjacks are his favourite.’
‘He made a point of telling all of us that.’
She sniggered. ‘You must be exhausted.’
He nodded. ‘Does he ever stop?’
‘Stop what? Talking? Or wanting to do things?’
‘Both.’
‘Nope. I swear he’s got rocket fuel in his veins. Still, he sleeps really well—that must be when he recharges his batteries.’
‘And he eats so much!’ He shook his head with incredulity.