Royal Pain in the Ass (18 page)

“
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,
”