Royal Pain in the Ass, page 8
I heard Xavier growl. “Please,”
The boy smiled. “I’ll be right back with that.”
Xavier glared at me across the table. “Don’t embarrass me again.”
“You embarrassed yourself. I just pointed out that you’re rude. I’m stupid, but at least I’m not rude.”
“Don’t say things like that.”
“Like what?”
“First off, I’m not rude. Secondly, you aren’t stupid. Ignorant perhaps, but you aren’t stupid.”
I looked at him considering. What was he getting at?
Xavier let out a long sigh. “What are you going to get?”
“I have no idea.”
“May I suggest the - ”
“Xavier, what are you playing at?”
“Excuse me?”
“What are you doing here, really? I believe there’s more here than you’re telling me.”
“What makes you think that?”
“You didn’t deny it which means I hit some level of truth. You act like I have the intelligence of a snail for half of the day but now we’re at dinner and you act like a completely different person. What I want to know is why.”
Xavier gave me a strange smile. “How astute . . . I shall have to watch myself around you more closely.”
“So you are up to something.”
“Get whatever you like,”
The waiter brought back two glasses of merlot and gave me a coy smile. “How are you feeling today, love?”
“That is not the way to speak to a duke’s daughter,” Xavier scolded giving the boy a scowl.
“Juliet?” the waiter asked giving me a confused look. “What’s going on?”
I looked at him for a long moment then it started coming back. “Oh I remember you!”
“Great?” Harper still looked confused.
“Juliet, you know this boy?” Xavier asked.
“Yeah, you were from the band last night!”
“Yeah,”
“Band? What band?” Xavier asked giving me a hard look and I realized.
“My band was playing at the pub last night,” he started.
I shook my head and covered my face.
“Last night?” Xavier asked as he raised an eyebrow. “Juliet, care you explain?”
“No, not really I’m good.” I replied. Now Harper caught on.
“Gwen brought her a recording. My band’s EP. Gwen introduced us.” He gave me a wink. “I am Harper Abby, lead singer of Flaming Penguins. This is just my day job.” Harper offered Xavier a hand.
“Juliet,” Xavier gave me a knowing look. “No wonder you were ill this morning.” He gave me a coy smile. “Harper, was it? Tell me more about what really happened last night.”
“I just met up with Gwen.”
“Where?”
I shook my head and Harper saw. “I don’t remember.” Harper finished. “I had a lot to drink last night. But I can’t forget a pretty face like hers.”
I felt my cheeks flush.
“Very well,” Xavier ordered for us and sent Harper away. “I don’t believe either of you have been completely honest with me. You have two options here. You can tell me the truth or I tell your father I believe you and a servant snuck off. If I suggest a name she may lose her job.”
I felt my shoulders hunch. “What are you going to do if I say something?”
“Gauge the severity of your actions and take action accordingly.”
“Meaning?”
“I need to know what I’m dealing with when it comes to you. You are strong willed, intelligent, fiery, and a free spirit. You have the potential to be great or a train wreck depending on three things. Your will, your training, and your choices.”
I nodded. “If I suggest something that may have happened, are you going to try to get someone fired?”
Xavier shook his head. “That would not be my intention.”
“Are you going to tell my father?”
“If there is no reason to, then I won’t.”
I nodded. “I want your word of honor as an Englishman.”
Xavier nodded. “My word of honor, but I need you to be honest with me. I cannot do my job if I don’t know what’s really going on with you.”
I sighed. “Okay, Gwen works for my father. She was trying to help me with table etiquette and I’m starting to understand a little. She saw me yesterday and let’s just say I’m not one for being cooped up alone in a room without freedom. I’ve never had that happen. So, she disguised me and took me out. No one saw me and no one recognized me. We just had a few drinks and then he brought us back to the manor.”
“No one caught on to who you are?”
“No,”
“And you didn’t draw attention to yourself?”
“No,”
“And you successfully disguised yourself?”
“Yes,”
“That doesn’t surprise me.”
“So now what are you going to do?”
“Accept Master Eastgate’s invitation to live in the manor.”
“Why?”
“To keep a closer eye on you. I’m going to need to be on full alert to keep an eye on you. Otherwise, you will take a chance and I will not be there to help you.”
“And you don’t plan on telling my father?”
“What good would that do?”
“And you’re not going to get her in trouble?”
“I believe that would do more harm than good.”
“Am I supposed to just trust you?”
“Am I supposed to trust you? Trust is a mutual thing, Juliet. If I am to gain your trust, I must also extend my own. I will make a deal with you. There are certain things you cannot do and I cannot allow you to do.” I nodded. “But I believe imprisonment would be far worse for you. You will rebel and do as you please either way. I would much rather be able to accompany you on such occasions to make bad decisions less severe.”
I watched him as I sipped my wine. “Maybe.”
Xavier laughed. “That is probably the best I am going to get from you. This is going to be an adventure.”
Harper returned with our food not long after that and gave me a shy smile. “It’s okay Harper, he knows now.” I smiled back. “It’s okay.”
Harper sighed. “That’s good. Gwen told me how much trouble you’ve been in. I didn’t want to make any more for you.”
“You’re sweet.”
“I’d like to see you again.”
“I’d like that too,”
Xavier cleared his throat. “I could do with another glass of wine,”
“Of course Mr. Lewis,” Harper gave me a wink as he left to refill Xavier’s glass.
“What is going on between the two of you?” Xavier asked me raising an eye brow.
I shrugged. “He seems nice enough.”
“Stay away from him,”
“Excuse me?”
“That boy is going to make trouble for you. My advice, stay away from him. Far away.”
“You want me to be honest with you, right?”
“Of course,”
“Telling me who to associate with is not a great idea. If you tell me I’m not allowed to do something, I usually want to do it more, especially if I wanted to do it in the first place.”
“So I’m going to need to reverse psychology you?”
“No, just don’t tell me what to do.”
“Juliet, telling you what to do is my job.”
I rolled my eyes. “True as that may be, you’re going to have to find another way to do your job because I can’t be put in a box and made to be happy. Giving me lots of restrictions is a good way to piss me off. When I get pissed off, I do stupid things. Just a little heads up.” I gave him my sweet smile. And sat perfectly straight and started eating with the proper etiquette.
“You are truly a dangerous figure.” Xavier commented in between bites.
Harper brought back the bottle of merlot. “Any more for you, my lady?” Harper smiled to me.
“That would be lovely,”
“Anything for you,” he turned to Xavier. “And you Mr. Lewis,” as he refilled his glass. “I’ll leave you to for now unless there’s anything else I can get you?”
“We’re fine,” Xavier answered before I could and I shot him a warning look.
“Very well, I’ll come to check on you later.” Harper gave me another wink and was off to attend his other tables.
“Ehem,” Xavier coughed, I then realized I was staring at Harper’s backside. It was a nice backside.
“Yes?”
“Ladies don’t stare,” Xavier warned, his voice was cold. His entire demeanor had changed. What was his issue?
“I’m an American, I’m supposed to be rude,” I teased.
“You’re an American for sure.”
I smiled. “You wouldn’t love me any other way,”
“Calm, quiet, collected, and well behaved might be a nice change.”
I glared at him then realized he was teasing too and couldn’t help but laugh. “So tell me more about you.”
“What would you like to know?”
“What got you into this?”
“I went to Cambridge and studied in political science and I was considering teaching. Jobs have been a bit scarce so I decided to travel instead. I’ve been traveling around Europe for the past year or so and luckily for me, when I got back I got that call from Lana, and now I have a job. I must retract a previous statement though. I don’t know that you are out of my hands. Perhaps you are just a lot to take in at first.” He sipped his wine thoughtful. “I know one thing for certain though, I will not get bored.”
After we finished Harper handed me a plate of zeppole and a chocolate drizzle and a raspberry drizzle. “Oh the house,” he winked at me.
“Aww, how sweet! Who told you I love zeppole?”
“I’m just psycho like that, I mean psychic,” he teased.
“I’m sure you’re both,”
“I’d believe the former,” Xavier growled, I don’t think I was supposed to hear that.
“Enjoy, love.” Harper sauntered off again.
“Want some?” I asked pushing the plate to the center of the table. “Food is just better when it’s shared.”
Xavier smiled and we shared dessert. He paid the bill and hurried me out. I didn’t get to say goodbye to Harper, but had to fight my way through the paparazzi but this time I kept my mouth shut and just let Xavier usher me into the waiting car.
“I’m impressed.” Xavier smiled at me.
“Why?”
“You can keep your mouth shut.”
“Wow, you’re an advisor? Here I thought you were my own personal comedian.” I rolled my eyes. There was something about Xavier. He was stiff, calculating, and very much about work and business, but there was more to him that I wanted to get to know.
We spent the ride back teasing each other about everything we could and ended up laughing for most of it. When we pulled up to the manor James was waiting for us.
“Good evening, Lord Eastgate,” Xavier greeted with a bow.
“Good evening, Xavier, Juliet,”
“James,”
“I just received two very important phone calls. The first is that you two were spotted by the paparazzi and there was not an incident. Juliet, I must say I’m proud of you. The second was from my sister. She was phoned about the lack of incident, and after careful consideration, they’ve decided to give you one chance. There is a charity ball coming up in a two days. You are permitted to attend if you are able to behave yourself. If there is the slightest incident caused by you, well no one will be too keen to let you out of their sight anytime in the near future. Do you understand?”
“I can leave?”
“Yes,”
“I’ll do it!”
“You have to find a dress tomorrow though.”
“Okay.”
“Good night, darling. Tomorrow will be an early morning. Xavier, have you thought any more on my recommendation?”
“Yes sir, I’ve decided to accept your generous offer.
“Very well, have your things sent for.”
James went back inside and I beamed at Xavier. “I can have freedom!”
“If you can behave,” Xavier cautioned.
“Hey Xavier,”
“Yes?”
“Do you have Lana’s phone number?”
“Of course,”
“Can I get that from you?”
“Sure,” Xavier pulled out his phone. “It’s ringing.”
“Hello Xavier, oh my god what happened? Did she do something?”
“It’s Juliet actually,”
“Oh, sorry,”
“I haven’t done anything bad yet, well again.”
“That’s a good sign.”
“I want to start by apologizing. I really had no idea what I was doing or how it would affect everyone else. I don’t want that to happen again, and I’m really truly sorry. So, in order to prevent something bad from happening, I have a really unfair thing to ask of you.”
“What?”
“I have a favor to ask of you . . . I know it’s not fair but I think you’re one of the few people I can trust with this.”
“Why’s that?”
“Because you don’t like me.”
Lana let out an irritated sigh. “What is it?”
“Will you take me shopping?”
“Why in the world would I do that? Do you remember what happened last time?”
“I understand if you say no, the only reason I asked you is you seem to know what you’re doing. You know what to say, what to do, what to wear, and you’d be honest with me. I don’t want to make everyone’s lives harder, but I don’t want to lose myself either . . . forget I said it. It was a stupid idea.”
Lana grumbled something under her breath and sighed. “Fine, but the second you do something ridiculous I have permission to smack you.”
“I understand, I know you don’t like me, and wait? What? Really?” I asked. I hadn’t expected her to agree. “Lana, you’re amazing! Truly amazing!”
“Yeah, yeah,”
“Can you take me shopping tomorrow? Apparently there’s some ball in two days?”
“You don’t have a dress?”
“No, why would I have a dress? I didn’t even know about this thing until about ten minutes ago.”
“Oh god, I’ll be there first thing in the morning. Be presentable, please.”
“Lana! You are the absolute bestest! I hope you know that! I owe you so much!”
“You have no idea,”
“Here’s Xavier, thank you so much!” I handed Xavier the phone and was ecstatic. “Thanks Xavier!” I gave him a kiss on the cheek and ran inside, toppling Angelica over.
“Would you watch where you’re going?”
“Sorry Angelica, how are you?”
“Delightful,” she sneered.
“Me too! Angelica, are you going to the ball?”
“You’re going?”
“Yeah! James just said I could!”
“I thought you were under house arrest,”
“The king said I can go if I can behave myself!”
“He really thinks that’s possible?”
“Yeah, and if I’m good, I’m off for good! I’m so excited! Are you going?”
“Yes,”
“I have to go and get my dress tomorrow, do you have yours yet?”
“Of course, I’ve had mine for weeks. You’re getting it tomorrow? The day before?”
“Yes,”
“This is going to be rich,”
“Oh, what color is your dress? Oh, and Millie’s”
“Why?”
“I don’t want to accidentally show up wearing the same color as you two. I know you two don’t like me and I don’t want you guys to get mad that I’m wearing the same color as you guys or something. I really just want everyone to be able to have a good time.”
Angelica sighed. “Would you like to see mine?”
“Really? Yeah! Sure,”
Angelica rolled her eyes and led me to her room and pulled out a gorgeous crimson form fitting backless dress. “You are going to look stunning in that.”
“Yes, thank you.”
“Well, I guess I’ll let you get back to whatever you were doing. Good night, Angelica.” I walked out and to my room. I threw myself on the bed and smiled. I was going to get out of the house, legally. I was floating on air. Tomorrow will be interesting.
Chapter XIII
I was up bright and early. Laurel was surprised when I was awake when she came to wake me. “My, this is new.” She smiled.
“I’m excited!” I beamed. “I might be off of house arrest. Who knows maybe soon they’ll let me out on my own.” I laughed.
“Are you going shopping today?”
“Yup,”
“Xavier suggested an outfit for you that he deemed appropriate.”
“Of course he did,” I felt my mood flatten. “Show me,” I sighed.
The outfit consisted of a pair of flattering dark blue designer jeans, a neutral grey tank top and a black cardigan. Okay, it wasn’t me, but I didn’t hate it. To my delight there was a pair of brand new black converse. I got dressed and was the first down to breakfast for a change. I’m pretty sure this was the first time this had happened ever. Eleanor asked what I wanted for breakfast and I told her whatever sounded like a good idea as long as there was bacon. She laughed and told me she’s bring me something delicious. I was sitting at the table when James came in wearing a suit and looking concerned.
“Good morning,”
“What? Oh, my, good morning, Juliet. You’re up early.”
“I’m excited. Not to mention Lana said she’d be here first thing in the morning and I don’t want to make her wait.”
“I’m glad you’re taking this seriously.”
I shrugged. “I’m excited I might be able to do things on my own again. I haven’t had this many restrictions since I was twelve.”
“Well, I don’t have much time to talk right now, but I’d like to speak with you tonight.”
“Sure thing.”
James asked Eleanor to get him some dry toast to go and he was gone. Millie and Angelica were next in and they were starting to be less cold to me. I wouldn’t say they were friendly, but they seemed to hate me less.
