Royal Pain in the Ass, page 2
I ran to my luggage and pulled out my bag of toiletries and ran into the bathroom. I looked around. It was huge! You could fit at least seven people in the black marble tub and a gold stand alone shower was tucked in the corner behind it. The floors were the same carved black marble with little veins of gold running through it as the tub. The walls were a cream color with hints of gold in it. I was in heaven. I brushed my teeth as I turned the water on. Next to
I giggled to myself as I let myself fall into the warmth of the water. It was positively delightful. I washed quickly and grabbed one of the huge fluffy red towels monogrammed with an E. I dried and realized I’d left my clothes in the room. I wrapped my hair in a towel and wrapped one around my body, I didn’t want to drip water all over the plush carpet. I snuck back into my room and found it surprisingly empty. I wondered where Laurel had gone as I went to my suit case and pulled out a pair of jeans, one of the few without any tears or rips in them, and a plain black t-shirt. I had a funny feeling that what I’d packed wasn’t what this family was used to seeing.
I shrugged and decided that it didn’t matter. I ran a brush through my still drying hair. If I left it to its own freewill, it would usually make pretty waves and I was feeling especially lazy today. I didn’t usually wear make-up, but I decided to wear some eye liner and shadow, just a little. I didn’t like it when it looked like I was wearing make-up, just enough to hint. One of the things my mom used to tell me was when you have to wear make-up to be pretty, you aren’t.
I sighed and looked at myself in the mirror. The eye liner always made my grey eyes pop and with a hint of silver on my eyelids I knew how I looked. My black hair was drying into nice waves. I smiled as it decided to cooperate with me today. It was the closest I came to lying low.
I didn’t know why I felt like I did today. It wasn’t like me. I usually didn’t give a damn about what people thought of me, but somehow I was feeling the slightest bit insecure. This whole situation had thrown me for a loop. After twenty-one years of accepting that my father was not more than an abstract thought, I may have found him, or rather he may have found me.
I opened the door to see Laurel waiting for me.
“Are you ready, my lady?”
“Yeah, were you waiting out here the whole time?”
“Yes, you asked me to wait.”
“Oh, you could have waited in there with me, I would have hurried more. I’m sorry.”
Laurel looked at me with the same bewildered look. “There’s nothing to be sorry for.”
“Um, okay then.” I shrugged. “What time is it?”
“It is almost seven.”
“That’s not bad, even for me.” I smiled. Getting ready was something I could do in a jiffy if I had to.
Laurel fought back a smile.
“Why fight a smile?”
Laurel looked taken aback. “Pardon?”
“If you want to smile, smile. Don’t fight it. Smiles are precious. Enjoy every one of them.”
This earned me a small smile. “The dining room is this way.”
She led me through a maze of corridors and hallways twisting this way and that. Yeah I was definitely lost. She presented me to an archway and at the table James was sitting so was Angelica and another woman who I could only guess was Millie, his wife. She looked like she was in her early thirties, but she had to be older, Angelica was at least sixteen. Probably older, but not based upon the way she acted.
“Good morning,” I offered, waving to everyone. They all looked up. James smiled, but Angelica and Millie didn’t. Millie looked much older when she scowled, I immediately added at least ten years to her.
“Breakfast is served at seven o’clock sharp,” Millie scolded.
I pulled my phone out. “Sorry I’m five minutes late. I kind of got lost. This house is a maze.” Millie had honey brown eyes, I’d never seen such a warm color look so cold. “I’m sorry if I offended you.”
“Don’t be silly,” James smiled. He shot his wife a warning look. “Come, sit, join us.”
“What are you wearing?” Angelica sneered. I looked down.
“Clothes last time I checked.”
“You’d actually go out in public dressed like that?”
“Yeah,”
Angelica shook her head and looked at me like I was insane.
“Anyway,” I looked around the table, only James was paying attention to me. Millie’s shoulders, which had been a graceful arch before she saw me, now held tension in them. I also noticed her jaw was clenched and she seemed downright angry with me. “So, what’s for breakfast?”
“Whatever you like,” James smiled. “The cooks here are really phenomenal. Eleanor,” he called and a plump woman looking to be in her early thirties came in, a warm smile on her face. There was something about her that just screamed ‘Mom’ at you. She just had this maternal heir about her.
“Yes, Master James?” she asked. “What can I get for you?”
“When will my eggs be ready?” Angelica growled.
“They’re coming, miss.” Eleanor smiled. I cocked an eyebrow. If some brat talked to me that way I wouldn’t be smiling. Then again, I just met her, maybe she wasn’t always this bad.
Somehow I doubted that.
“Juliet, what would you like for breakfast?” James asked.
“Um, I’m good with whatever.” I shrugged. “Maybe some French toast?” I asked.
Eleanor smiled at me, it was a different smile than she used for Angelica. This one seemed genuine. Interesting. “Most certainly, my dear. Would you like some tea?”
“That’d be nice.” I replied. “Anything with caffeine would be greatly appreciated.”
“Anything else?”
“I’m good with that.”
“Master James?”
“No, that’s all. Thank you Eleanor.”
Eleanor disappeared again and I was left sitting at the table feeling awkward. This was a new feeling for me. Another servant came in and whispered something into James’s ear.
“Ah, I have an important phone call, I’ll be right back. Everyone play nice.”
I watched James leave the room.
“I’m Juliet, it’s nice to meet you,” I offered my hand to Millie.
“I am the Duchess Mildred Agatha Harrison Eastgate.” She responded coldly.
“Well, it’s a pleasure.” I replied, my tone flat as I dropped my ignored hand. The silence was thick. I started taking in the dining room, it was done in yellow and green tones, and it was overall a comfortable room. The table was a ten seater and looked almost forlorn with only the three of us.
Millie and Angelica were having a silent conversation with their eyes. Honestly, I was surprised they weren’t talking about me right now in front of me. I couldn’t wait to hear what they’d say behind my back. “Well, it’s delightful chatting with you. By the way, what would you like me to call you?” I asked to Millie. “I know James calls you Millie,” I saw her visibly flinch when I called her that. “and I’d imagine Angelica calls you Mom. So, what would you like me to call you?”
“Your Grace, is fine.”
I cocked an eyebrow. “Your Grace?”
“Yes,”
I tried to fight back a laugh, but sniggered anyway.
“What is so humorous?”
“That just makes me think of calling a dog.” The look on her face was priceless, I saw her shoulders hunch and the look of raw indignation on her face. I’d seriously just insulted her. I forced myself to stop laughing and regained control over myself. “I’m sorry, it’s just what it makes me think of.”
“Why are you even here?” Angelica sneered.
I shrugged.
“We aren’t stupid.” Angelica continued.
Eleanor picked that moment to bring in everyone’s breakfast. Angelica had ordered fried eggs, Millie some rye toast and my French toast with powdered sugar. My mouth started watering.
“Thank you Eleanor,” I beamed.
“Would you like syrup?”
“Yes, please!”
“Maple or blueberry?”
“Maple please.”
“I’ll be right back with that,”
Eleanor was almost out of the room when Angelica made a noise of disgust.
“Excuse me!” Angelica hissed. “Didn’t I tell you I wanted my yolk not runny?”
“I’m sorry, my lady,”
“Sorry isn’t good enough! How hard is your job? Or Ferdinand’s for that matter? I give one simple order and you can’t even do that right!”
“Will you chill out?” I snapped.
“What did you say to me?”
“Don’t talk to her that way. I’d say her job is pretty difficult if she has to put up with you every day. And if it’s so easy, as you claim, let’s see you fry an egg.”
“Who do you think you are? You can’t tell me what to do!”
“I’m not going to just sit here and watch you scream at her when first off, it’s not her fault, secondly, it’s not that big of a deal, and thirdly, no one else is going to stand up for her.”
James chose this moment to walk back in. He saw me glaring at Angelica, who had quickly put an innocent look upon her face. Millie was giving me a scathing look.
“Ladies, what did I miss?”
“James, darling, this girl just started screaming at Angelica. I wonder if it was wise to invite her here.”
“Juliet?” James asked, eyeing me closely.
“Mr. Eastgate, I’m sorry but your daughter is a brat. Yes, I yelled at her. I yelled at her because she was yelling at Eleanor about a little bit of her egg yolk being runny. It’s a simple fix, and where I come from, civilized people don’t talk to one another like that. Perhaps things are different here. Or maybe you guys have a different opinion than us Americans of civilized. Either way, I don’t like watching others being publicly berated, especially when it isn’t their fault.”
James nodded, and his face was stern. “Juliet, please come with me.” I stood and followed him out of the room. Great, between his wife and his daughter I was already an object of hatred. Now I had him too. Maybe I should just go home. He led me a little down the corridor. “First of all, I would like to apologize for my daughter’s behavior,”
I was taken aback. He wasn’t taking her side?
“Angelica is, as you put it, a brat. She has a tendency to be overdramatic and put things out of proportion. Please don’t think ill of her. She can be that way, but she also can be a sweet, loving, sensitive girl. She is spoiled, but that tends to go with the lifestyle we lead. She doesn’t know how to act around you yet. I ask you not judge her, at least not yet.”
I nodded. This was so not the direction I expected this conversation to go.
“I also have a small request.”
“What’s that?”
“I have an expert here that can give us a definitive answer about us. If we are as I suspect.”
“Um, sure? What do I have to do?”
“He’ll just swab the inside of cheek, and we can have a result by the end of the day.”
I nodded. “Okay, where do I have to go?”
“I’ve brought him here. It would look at bit ostentatious for us to go anywhere. Especially if the press saw.”
I nodded. “Don’t want the media to get a hype over nothing.”
James gave a bitter laugh. “Something like that.” James nodded. He led me to a nice looking man in a lab coat; he got the sample and was off. James sighed and watched the lab tech walk off. “Now that that’s settled,” he started after a long moment. “would you like a tour of the grounds?”
“That would be amazing actually.” I smiled.
Chapter IV
Eastgate estate is huge. The entire grounds span for acres, and are truly a thing of beauty. James let me to the stables, which I loved. I’ve always loved horses, I grew up around them. James had two of the horses ready for us when we strolled up. The stable boy was quite the looker. He curls that fell like a chestnut halo around his head. His eyes were a warm honey brown and his skin was a lovely golden tan.
“Master James,” he bowed.
“Thank you Ben,” James smiled.
“And, I’m sorry, I haven’t had the pleasure.” He smiled at me.
“I’m Juliet,” I smiled back, offering a hand. Instead of shaking it, he lifted it to his lips and laid a gentle kiss on it. I felt my cheeks flush. “It’s a pleasure.”
“I assure you, the pleasure is all mine.”
James cleared his throat and gave us both a look which I wasn’t sure how to take. Ben dropped my hand and led me to a black gelding. “This is Zeus, he’s the gentlest horse we have here, he hasn’t a clue how big he is.”
James easily mounted his white mare easily. “Thank you, Ben.”
“Would you like a leg up?” Ben offered, cupping his hands. I looked down at my converse, they weren’t exactly made for riding, but oh well.
“That would be lovely.” I let him help me up and it took me a moment to get situated. I’d learned to how to ride western. There hadn’t been a need for me to learn English back then. I figured I’d just go with it.
“That will be all, Ben. I’ll take it from here.” James said, his tone was curt, and despite the friendly look on his face, it was obvious that it was an order.
“As you wish, Master James. Lady Juliet.”
I watched Ben disappear into the barn and turned my attention back to James. James began to show me around the grounds, where the gardens were, the riding trails, the lake. James stopped his horse abruptly by the lake. “Juliet,”
“Yes?”
“You are so much like her.”
“What?”
“You are so much like Rose.”
“I have a question for you.”
“What is that?”
“Why didn’t you try to get a hold of me sooner? Why wait over twenty years? Why wait until after Mom . . .”
“I didn’t know.” There was a raw look in his eyes. “Apparently Rose had her will set up to send me a letter upon the event of her death. She must have written it years ago.”
I eyed him suspiciously. “How could you not know?”
James sighed. “Did your mother ever speak of me?”
“No, not really. Whenever I asked, she’d just get a faraway look in her eyes and always had a sad smile. She said you were her first love. She never mentioned your name, and it made her so sad, so eventually I just stopped asking.”
James nodded. “I did love your mother,”
“Then why didn’t you stay with her?”
James looked taken aback. “Pardon?”
“You broke her heart, you know that, right? Seeing me everyday couldn’t have helped. Come on, I look just like you.”
James was staring at the reigns in his hands. The look on his face stopped my rant.
“Why did you leave her?”
James looked up at the sky. “I was a fool. My father condemned us. I was blind and a fool. There has not been a day that has passed that I have not thought of her. I tried to talk to her. I sent letter after letter to her. She never responded. I had no idea you even existed. If I had known - ”
“Then what? Then you feel obligated? No wonder she didn’t tell you.”
A dark look crossed James’s face. “She had no right to keep this from me.”
“She had every right.” I growled back. “If you really loved her, you would have come for her. She didn’t want you to come back because you felt responsible to. She was a remarkable woman, and I have the utmost respect for her and every decision she made.”
James pinched the bridge of his nose. “You are so much like her, but you are still a child.”
“I am not a child,”
James let out a low chuckle. “I wish I had known. I would have liked to see you grow into the woman you are today.”
I eyed him suspiciously. “I don’t trust you.” I offered after a moment of silence.
James looked started by that. “Why is that?”
“I find it hard to trust someone that could just let someone they claimed to have love just walk out of their lives. Not only that, the circumstances are a little strange. Something in this equation doesn’t add up. I’m missing something. I don’t understand why out of the blue you would just invite me out here. You didn’t bother to come to me, you had me come to you, and I feel like there is a piece of this I can’t see yet. It bothers me. So, until I figure it out, I’m not going to be able to trust you, or anything in this situation. I don’t mean any disrespect, but if nothing else I’m honest.”
“You are wise beyond your years. Trust is something many people give out far too freely. I understand your reluctance.”
I didn’t know what to say to that, so I didn’t say anything.
“Please, tell me more about yourself.” James offered after a long moment of silence.
I shrugged. “What do you want to know?”
“Whatever you want to trust me with, anything you want to tell me.”
I shrugged again. “Um, I’m twenty-one, I have my own house, my own car, I manage at a restaurant back home. I worked my way through college. I play cello and surf. I like to read and paint. I don’t really know what to say.”
“You’ve done all that?”
“Yes,”
“All by yourself?”
“Yeah,” I replied giving him a questioning look.
“That’s extraordinary.”
“Thank you?”
“You have a degree?”
“Yes,”
“In what?”
“Litereature and Music Performance.”
“Are you planning on becoming a musician?”
I shrugged. “I’m not really sure what I want to do. I mean, I earned a spot in the Orlando Philharmonic, but I’m not sure if I’m going to accept yet or not.”
“Why wouldn’t you?”
“I don’t know if I want to commit my life to playing music. If I accept this position and I’m only half in it, I’ve taken it from someone who truly wants it. Until I’m sure, I asked for a leave of absence.”
“You play cello?”
“Yes,”
