Royal Pain in the Ass (13 page)

“You don
’
t hear much about that on the news do you?
”

“Nope,”

“
That
’
s because it
’
s not tolerated.
”

“
Oh, that
’
s a good reason.
”

“
Ian is twenty-three, if he was sixteen they could use the whole rebellious teenager excuse.
  He
’
s twenty-three.
 
Twenty-three!
  He
’
s an adult and future ruler of this country.
 
He must appear stable.
”

I nodded, not knowing what else to do.
 

“
If you ever want to see him again, you will have to schedule it through me, and I will accompany you at all times.
 
Do I make myself clear?
”

I nodded.
  “
I really did have fun, he did too.
”

Lana shook her head.
  “It
’
s not about fun.
” 
Lana gave me a serious look.
  “
I hope you can grasp what you did today.
”

I shook my head.
  “
I really didn
’
t, but I won
’
t let it happen again.
”

“
I hope not.
”

“
But I don’
t know how . . .
”

Lana sighed.
  “I
’
d suggest you start by getting an advisor.
”

I laughed.
  “Are you,”

“NO! 
I have enough crap on my plate with Ian and Christine.
  I
’
m lucky Alex is still a little kid.
”

 “
Do you know anyone?
”

“I
’
ll make some phone calls.
”

I nodded.
  “
I really am sorry,
”

“
Unfortunately, sorry doesn
’
t fix this.
”

I nodded.
 
I had a lot of growing up to do.
 
And it was going to have to happen fast.
 
I didn
’
t want to be an embarrassment and I didn
’
t want to make anyone
’
s life more difficult.
 
Whether I liked it or not, I was going to have to change.

Chapter X

I was sitting at the table in a straight back chair wearing a dress that Carolynn had purchased for me.
 
It was a pastel blue sun dress that fell just below my knee.
 
I was wearing closed toe heels and hose.
 
I hated hose, they just weren
’
t comfortable to me.
 

“
Juliet,
”
came a shrill scold.

I took in a long slow breath, as my jaw clenched and my lips pursed.
  “
Yes, Madame Hubert?
”
I asked, sounding as polite as I could manage through clenched teeth.

“
That is the wrong fork!
” 
I sighed and felt myself slouch.
  “
Sit up!
  Ladies do not slouch!”

I rolled my eyes.
 
I couldn
’
t stop myself.

“
Juliet!
 
If you do not take this seriously, I cannot help you!
 
You will never be a lady at this rate.
”
With that Madame Hubert left in a huff.
 

I made a face at the door as she left and let myself slouch all the way down in the chair.
  “Oh my god! 
I am never going to get this!
”

“
You really suck at this,
”
came a soft familiar voice.
 
I turned to see Gwen.

“
Ugh, did you see that?
 
Why do you need three forks anyway?
”  I groaned. 

Gwen smiled.
  “
Would you like some help?
”

“Oh god
,
yes,”

“
Mum insisted on me going to finishing school.
 
She figured it would help with the whole knowing how everything works.
 
And she
’
s old fashioned on what she perceives as a lady.
”

“
Oh dear god, you are a godsend.
” 
I got up and hugged her.
 
Gwen let out a soft laugh.
   

By the grace of God and three hours later Gwen had taught me the different silverware and proper ways to eat.
 
I didn
’
t have all of it down, but I had a good start, or at least I thought so.
 

“
So, they
’
re going to announce you then?
”

I nodded.
  “
After the paparazzi there
’
s no choice now.
 
The world knows about me.
”
I hung my head.
  “
I really messed up.
 
I got Ian and Lana in all sorts of trouble and I don
’
t want that to happen again.
  It
’
s one thing if I mess my own life up, it
’
s another if I start ruining other peoples.
” 
I looked Gwen in the eye.
  “
I won
’
t do that.
 
I don’
t want to be responsible for this.
 
I have to figure this out.
”

Gwen smiled.
  “
It won
’
t come overnight, and you aren
’
t a natural.”

“
Oh trust me, I know.
”

“
The finer points won
’
t come easy, but you
’
ve got heart.
  You
’
re a good person in general.
 
That
’
s even rarer than any kind of noble blood.
” 
Gwen pulled me into a hug.
  “You
’
ll get it.
” 
Gwen held me at arm
’
s length.
  “
Have you been out since the incident?
”

I shook my head.
  Since ‘
the incident,
’
as everyone was referring to it now, I
’
d been on lockdown.
  I hadn
’
t been allowed outside without an escort, let alone off the grounds.
  I
’
m stuck on Eastgate estate until everything has been sorted out, by order of the king.

Gwen gave me a knowing look.
  “
Come with me.
” 
She led me through the servants
’
quarters and out to her house.
 
It was a modest two story with ivy and roses trailing up a trellis.
  “It
’
s not much in comparison, but it
’
s home.
”
She offered with a modest shrug.

“
I love it.
 
That house is too big.
”

She ushered me inside and the house looked lived in.
 
There was a fire going the smell of dinner permeated the air and I soaked it all in.
 
There was a blanket strewn across the couch and a thin woman who had Gwen
’
s blonde hair was sitting in a chair reading.

“
Gwen honey, oh, you brought company,
”

“
Mum, you haven
’
t properly met Juliet yet, Juliet, this is Mum.
”

I offered a hand.
  “It
’
s a pleasure,
”
I smiled.

“
So you
’
re the one we
’
ve been hearing about.
”
She smiled.
  “
My name is Margaret.
”

“I
’
m just kidnapping her for a while upstairs.
”
Gwen cooed.

“Don
’
t do anything foolish, darling.
”
Margaret called up the stairs as Gwen pulled me.

Gwen practically threw me into Ben with her dragging.
  “Oh, I
’
m sorry,” I muttered. 
I realized he wasn
’
t wearing a shirt and felt my face flush.
 

Ben laughed.
  “It
’
s alright.
Are you alright?
”

“I
’
m fine,
”
I couldn
’
t help but notice the muscles on his chest as Gwen pulled me into her room.
 

“
Watch where you
’
re going, Ben,”
she called before sticking her tongue out and closing the door behind us.
  “
Want to have some fun?
”

“
I do, but
  . . .”

“But?”

“
Am I going to cause any trouble?
”

“
Not if you go with me.
”
Gwen gave me an impish grin.

“
Gwen . . .
“

“
I will make you unrecognizable as Juliet Eastgate-Benn.
 
You will become Jules, Gwen McElroy
’
s friend and wing girl for the night.
”

“But . . .”

Gwen shrugged.
  “
Or you can go to bed and be up bright and early to deal with Madame Hubert
’
s teachings.
”

I sighed.
  “
I could really use a drink.
”

“
Great!
 
Just let me handle everything.
” 
Gwen handed me in a backless black top and a pair of skintight jeans and shoved me into the bathroom.
  “
I think that will look great on you!
”
she called through the door.
 
I came back out.
  “Oh my god . . .”

“
What?
”

“
That tattoo, they don
’
t know yet do they?
”

I shook my head.
  “
I don’
t really get the big deal, but Christine warned me they
’
re not exactly acceptable.
 
I figured I shouldn
’
t add fuel to the fire.
”

Gwen nodded.
  “
Probably right, what made you want that?
”

I shrugged.
  “
I got it for my mom.
 
About two weeks after she died.
”

Gwen nodded.
  “
Is there a story behind it?
” 
I nodded back.
  “
Well, out with it.
”
She smiled.
 
Something about her made me want to tell her.
 
She was one of those people who actually listened when you spoke to them.