Royal Pain in the Ass (17 page)

“
Because you . . .
”
Xavier glared at me and took several deep breaths.
 “
Because you got bored?
”
Xavier hissed.

“Yup,”

“You
’
re insufferable.
 
You are aware of this right?
”

“
Been called worse,
”

“
Lana was right.
”

“
What does that mean?
”

“
This may even be out of my hands.
 
Understand how infuriating your being at the moment.
 
I have never wanted to strike someone so badly in my life.
”

“
And to think, I
’
ve only known you for a few hours.
”

“
This isn
’
t a game Juliet!
”
Xavier shouted.

I took a step back.
 
Xavier was tall, I hadn
’
t realized quite how big he was until he shouted.
 
He was at least six feet tall and I was just over five.
 
He had the potential to be frightening but I got the feeling this side of him was rare.
 
I just happened to be the right pain in the ass to bring out the worst in everyone around me.

“
Do you have any concept of how your actions affect all of those around you?
”

“
Not really.
”

“
You are a selfish child.
 
You have no idea how to act as an adult, do you?
”
Xavier grumbled something incoherent under his breath.
  “
Very well, if you are going to act like a child, you will be treated as a child.
  You don
’
t get to make any decisions until you prove you can make grown up decisions.
”

“
Excuse me?
 
What did you just say?
”

“Gi
ov
anni!”
Xavier called and left the dressing room.
  “
You get to pick her outfits for her.
 
I want that bloody shoulder covered at all times other than that you can have free reign.
”

Two hours later I was pouting.
 
Xavier had spent the past several hours making all decisions for me.
 
It was aggravating.
 
Whenever I said something he acted as though I hadn
’
t and no one else was paying me any mind.
 

“
Juliet,
”
Xavier turned to me.
  “
Are you hungry?
”

“Yes,”
I grumbled, not looking at him.

“
Would you like to get some dinner?
”

“Yes,”

“
Very well, then change into one of your new dresses. I liked the blue one, personally.
”

“
What
’
s wrong with what I
’
m wearing?
”

“I
’
m taking you somewhere nice.
”

“
So what I
’
m wearing isn
’
t nice?
”
I snapped.

“
Now you are finally catching on.
 
Now, come now, hurry up.
”

I changed into the blue dress he liked and he handed me a pair of black boots that managed to cover all of my tattoos.

“You
’
re starting to look like a lady.
 
I have reservations.
”

Xavier took me to a fancy five star restaurant.
 
We were seated and I stared at the menu no sure what half of the items were as most of them were in Italian.

Someone I recognized came up to our table.
  “
Good evening, what can I get for you tonight, Mr. Lewis and . . . Juliet?
”

I looked up where did I know him from?

“
Lady Eastgate,
”
Xavier corrected.
  “I
’
ll have a merlot this evening for starters go ahead and be quick about it.
”

 “
That
’
s rude,”
I snapped.

“
Excuse me?
”

“Don
’
t talk to him that way.
  You
’
ve been bitching all day about manners this and etiquette that but what about please and thank you?
”
I snapped.

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.
”