Royal Pain in the Ass (11 page)

“
Oh, you do look like James.
”
Fiore beamed.
 
She got up off of Ian and circled me as I got out of the limo.
 
I felt like shark bait.
  “
I like you.
”

“
Thanks?
”

 “It
’
s a compliment.
 
Fiore doesn
’
t like many people off the bat.
”
Ian teased.

“
So, you
’
re new to the whole royalty spiel?
”
Fiore asked, focusing all of her attention to me.
  “
I have just the thing!
”

Chapter VIII

I felt more comfortable letting Fiore dress me than Christine.
 
Ian had changed into a pair of baggy jeans and a t-shirt and was wearing a pair of dark sunglasses and conductor
’
s hat. 
I had on a Ramones t-shirt, a pair of shredded jeans, a pair of bright orange aviator shades and a fedora.
 
Fiore was wearing a purple shirt-dress with black leggings and checkered converse and a top hat.
 

“
The media aren
’
t allowed on my property for fear I will stab them with one of the antique swords or something equally offensive.
 
But once you leave, you two are on your own.
  I
’
ve sent for a car, it
’
s less conspicuous, I
’
m leaving in the limo.
 
They
’
ll probably follow me, if they don
’
t do the car switcheroo.
 
Good luck, welcome to the chaos.
 
And Ian, come see me soon.
” 
Fiore pulled Ian into a hug and kissed him on the cheek.
  “
Just don’
t be stupid.
”
Fiore warned him before pulling me into a hug.
  “
Good luck.
”

We waited about fifteen minutes then got into the car Fiore called.

“It
’
s not so bad once you get used to it
”
Ian assured me.

I nodded.
  “I
’
m sorry if what I said earlier upset you.
”

“
You didn
’
t upset me.
”

“Okay. 
I have this tendency to open mouth insert foot.
”

“
That must taste lovely,
”
Ian teased.

“
I don’
t know what I
’
m doing here.
”
I admitted.
 

“Does anyone?”

“
It doesn
’
t make sense.
”

Ian sighed and leaned back into the seat
. 
Ian looked at me.
  “
Would it make you feel better if I said my life didn
’
t make sense either?
”

I shrugged.
  “Maybe a little.”

Ian looked at the roof of the car then back at me.
  “I
’
m torn.
  I
’
m the heir to the throne, and as such I have responsibilities.
 
I have to maintain an image, I have to prove to my country and the world that I am worthy of what has been placed upon my shoulders.
 
I have to base every decision on things like that.
 
Do you have any idea how frustrating it is to have someone telling you when and where to be twenty-four seven?
 
Someone telling you what you can wear, what you can eat, who you can talk to, or worse who you can love?
”

I shook my head.
  “
I have no idea.
  I
’
ve always just kind of done whatever I felt like.
” 
I hung my head.
  “You
’
re like something trapped at the zoo.
  You
’
re like a tiger, you
’
re pretty to look at, but you aren
’
t happy.
 
You want to be out free living as you choose.
 
Not having someone schedule your life for you .
 . . we
’
re incognito right now,
”

“Yes,”

“
Any chance you might want to go exploring?
”

“Exploring?”

“
Yes, exploring.
”

“
What would you like to explore?
”

“I
’
ve never been to England, so anything.
 
I haven
’
t really seen anything other than Eastgate estate.
  Can
’
t you show me the sites?
”

Ian sighed.
  “I
’
m probably going to regret this, but sure.
” 
Ian looked deep in thought for a long moment.
  “Let
’
s go to London.”

“Okay.”

“
But no one can know who we are.
”

I nodded.
  “
Want to use codenames?
”
I smirked.

Ian rolled his eyes.
  “
What did I just get myself into?
”

I smiled.
  “I
’
m a great idea.
”

Ian
’
s phone started buzzing and he turned it off.
  “
No more interruptions.
 
I haven
’
t been out in the city unhassled in ages.
”

Ian had the driver stop and we got out on a street corner and he led me by the hand.
  “
Welcome to London.
” Ian smiled. 

“
Can we ride a double decker bus?
”

Ian laughed.
 
It was a warm rich sound.
 
It was one of those laughs that just make you want to smile.
 
Again I had a feeling this wasn't a common thing for him.
  “
If you want,
”

He let me choose codenames.
 
Today, his name was Silver Duck and I was 0017.
 
I think he was regretting letting me choose now.

“
Juliet,
”

“
Who?
”
I interrupted.
 

Ian sighed.
“0017?”

“Yes, Silver Duck?”

“
Why can
’
t you call me Ian like a normal person?
”

“I
’
m not normal.
”

“
That
’
s for sure.
”

“
If you want we can go back.
 
I know I
’
m kind of a lot to handle, especially when you first meet me.
 
I mean, I
’
m loud, obnoxious, immature, have a tendency to do and say stupid things.
 
I mean, come on, I just told a prince what he will and will not call me and what he will and will not respond to.
 
Who does that?
”

Ian laughed.
  “It
’
s alright.
 
I haven
’
t had this much fun in ages.
” 
Ian looked at his watch.
  “I
’
m supposed to have a meeting in an hour.
”

“I
’
m sure we can make it back in time.
”

Ian shook his head.
  “I
’
m already in trouble.
 
I may as well make it worth my while, right?
”

I shrugged.
“
Well then, oh captain, my captain, where to next?
”

“
How do you like parks?
”

“
I love the nature stuff.
”

“
I know just where to take you then.
”

Ian led me to a tour bus and we boarded.
 
We played tourist ogling this and that, oohing and ahing at the appropriate moments.
 
Personally, I loved it all.
 
I felt like a kid on Christmas.
 
I was marveling in Queen Mary
’
s Gardens when I felt something hit my shoulder.
 
I looked up just in time for it to start down pouring.
 
I looked at Ian who kind of looked like a cat thrown in a pool.
 
His shoulders were tense and he looked annoyed.

“You okay?”

“Let
’
s go get some tea,
”

“It
’
s raining,
”

“
That
’
s why we should go get some tea,
”

I had a brilliant idea.
 
I felt the smile spreading across my face and shook my head.
  “
Tag!
  You
’
re it!
”
I screamed as I tapped his shoulder and took off.

“HEY!”
Ian shoulted chasing after me.
  “You
’
re going to get lost!
”

“
Come and catch me then!
”

“
Get back here, JULIET!
”

“
Who?
 
Silver Duck, I think you
’
re confused.
”

“You
’
ve got rocks for brains!
” 
I was darting through the gardens when I slipped.
 
I fell into the pond.
  “
Juliet, are you alright?
”

“I
’
m not Juliet, Silver Duck.
 
My name is 0017.
”

Ian burst out laughing.
  “
Yes, I think you
’re just fine.
”

“Can I get a hand?”

Ian sighed and offered me his hand.
 
I gave him a swift tug and he landed next to me.

“
That was uncalled for.
”

“We
’
re already wet.
”
I smiled.
 
Ian rolled his eyes, but I saw the smile.

“
You two!
”
we heard an official shout and I started and saw it.
 
My doom.

I froze.
  “
You are not allowed in there.
”
Shouted a man in a uniform.
 
I wasn
’
t certain, but I had this funny feeling he was a police officer and I was going to jail.

“Sorry, I slipped,”
I mumbled.
  “
My friend here saw me fall and tried to help me up and I
’
m just such klutz that accidentally knocked him in too.
”