Royal Pain in the Ass (21 page)

“You
’
re rushing the beats,
”

“
And you
’
re so much better?
”

“I
’
m a musician, I have to be,
”
I laughed.

“
Just follow my lead,
”

“We
’
ve tried that,
”

I heard a laughing and looked to see Gwen laughing at us.
  “
Wow, you really suck at that,
”

“
Thanks, Gwen,
”
I rolled my eyes.
  “
I take it you
’
re so much better?

Gwen nodded.
  “
I really am, you
’
re thinking too much.
 
Watch this,
”
Gwen cut in and gave Xavier a curtsy.
  “
May I?
” 
I watched as Xavier and Gwen waltzed around the room.
    “
See, it
’
s not so hard, but then again, maybe it
’
s not all you,
”
Gwen
’
s hand cupped her chin and she looked pensive for a moment.
  “I
’
ve got it!
” 
Gwen grabbed my hand and dragged me out down to the stables.
  “BEN!” 
Ben was dealing with a frantic stallion.
 
Great, Gwen had spooked the horses.
 

“
Whoa!
 
Easy there!
”
Ben soothed as he got the horse to stop rearing.
  “
Easy there, easy there.
 
Gwen,
”
Ben turned to Gwen.
  “
How many times have I told you not to come running in here or yell in here!
 
People can get hurt,
”

Gwen
’
s face fell.
  “Sorry, Ben. 
I just really needed your help.
”

Ben sighed and shook his head.
  “
Just be careful.
 
What did you need?
 
Hello Juliet,
”
Ben bowed to me.

“
Hey Ben, what
’
s up?
”

“You
’
re the ones who came charging into the stables, you tell me.
”

“
Ben, remember when I was little and you taught me how to waltz?
”

“Yes . . .”

“
Teach Juliet!
” 

“
What?
”

“
There
’
s some charity ball tomorrow and Juliet
’
s got rhythm, but Xavier
’
s a crappy teacher.
”

“
What is the meaning of this?
”
Xavier panted as he raced into the stables, startling the horses all over again.

“
Ben is a great teacher, he
’
ll show Juliet what you can
’
t.”

“
What
’
s that supposed to mean?
”
Xavier asked as his eyes narrowed.

“
Let me get these horses calmed down, and I
’
ll meet you outside.
 
Go on, you lot, out now.
”
Ben ordered.

Xavier opened his mouth to say something but I grabbed his arm and started pulling him out of the stables.
  “We
’
ll be out here, Ben.
”  
I called as I pulled a confused Xavier out of the stables, Gwen at my heels.

“
What just happened?
”
Xavier growled.

“
Ben is going to teach Juliet how to waltz because you can
’
t.”
Gwen replied with crossed arms.

“
I doubt some stable boy can teach what I cannot,
”

“
Xavier, this servant crap has to stop,
”
I snapped.
 

“
Yeah, you
’
re considered help too, just so you know,
”
Gwen replied as she stuck her tongue out.

“She
’
s kind of right,
”
I shrugged.
  “
All the same, we
’
re all people.
”

Ben came out and closed the stable doors.
  “
Now what
’
s all of this nonsense about?
”

“
Ben, you have one night to teach Juliet how to waltz.
”
Gwen shrugged.
  “Kay, go!”

Ben raised an eyebrow.
  “You
’
ve never waltzed?
”

“No,”

“
I don’
t know if I
’
m a great teacher, but sure, I
’
ll try.
 
Let me finish with the horses and I
’
ll meet you up at the main house.
 
I need another hour to finish up for the day.
”

“
Okay, thanks Ben, we
’
ll meet you up there.
”

We headed back up to the main house with Xavier sulking.

“
What
’
s his problem?
”
Gwen asked as she pulled out a package of cookies.
  “
Want one?
”

“
Be nice,
” I warned. “
Of course, why wouldn
’
t I want a cookie!
 
How do you always have cookies?
”

Gwen shrugged.
  “
Perks to being in the kitchen.
”

Not long after, poor Ben had to deal with me.
  “
Juliet, it
’
s simpler than you
’
re making it.
 
Just let me lead, relax, okay,
”

“
Like this,
”

“
You have to relax.
” 
I took a deep breath and forced myself to relax my back and shoulders.

“
Good, now Gwen put the music on.
” 
Ben placed his hand on my waist and took my other hand.
  “
Close your eyes and just let me lead.
”
He whispered as we started spinning.
 
Somehow my feet knew where to go.
 
I opened my eyes and felt the grin spread across my face.
  “
See, you
’
re a natural! 
You just have to think less.
 
That was your only problem.
 
Just relax and have fun with it.
”

I saw Xavier sulking in an armchair.
 
He was sitting in it sideways his face turned toward the back of the chair, his legs across the arm, his arms crossed.

“Xavier! 
I did it!
”

“Splendid,”

“
Xavier, why don
’
t you have the next dance with her?
”
Ben suggested as he led me over to him.

“
You seem to be doing just fine on your own.
”

“
Quit being such a whiney sod,
”
Gwen snapped.
  “
A gentleman doesn
’
t refuse a lady a dance.
 
So get up and dance with the pretty girl.
 
Why do I have to yell at you to make you do this?
 
You should be jumping at this opportunity!
”

“
Gwen, stop that.
 
If he doesn
’
t want to dance with me, it
’
s fine.
 
He can sit in his chair and watch, but this is fun!
  Let
’
s do that again!
”

Ben laughed.
  “
Okay, Xavier, are you sure?
”

Xavier looked over then settled into his chair.
 
Whatever.
 
If he wanted to be a baby, fine.

“
Benjamin, may I have this dance?
”
I curtsied to him.

“
It would be my honor Lady Juliet,
”
Ben bowed and we laughed as we danced.
 

Somehow in the middle of it, Gwen was suddenly there dancing with Xavier.
  Don
’
t ask me how, but somehow we switched and then they were just gone.
 
I don’
t know how long Xavier and I were dancing but it was fun and we were laughing for most of it.
 
The music stopped and I looked around.
 

“
I guess they went home,
”
I shrugged as I suddenly realized I was alone with Xavier.

“
It would appear so.
” 
Xavier sighed and he checked his watch.
  “
We missed dinner.
  It
’
s late,
”

“
What time is it?
”

“
Almost nine.
”

“Let
’
s go down to the kitchens!
”

“
The kitchen staff will have been dismissed by now,
”

“So?”

“
So, who will make us something?
”

“Me?”

“
You can cook?
”

“Yes,”

“
Is it edible?
”

“
Not for you if you keep this up,
” I warned.

“
I don’
t believe you.
 
I have to see this.
”

“
Is this a bet?
”

“
If it is?
” Xavier challenged.

“
What do I get if I win?
”

“
What do you want?
”

“
I want a day where you don
’
t boss me around!
”

“
That is my job.
”

“
Okay, you can stop me from getting arrested or getting the royalty in trouble, but other than that I decide.
”

Xavier narrowed his eyes.
  “
What do I get if I win?
”

“
What do you want?
”

“
A day where you do as you
’
re told when you
’
re told, no arguments, no tantrums, just obedience.
”

“You
’
re on,”
I held my hand out and we shook.
  “
What is our bet anyway?
 
What are the terms of it?
”

“
You just agreed to a contract without reading the fine print?
”

I looked around.
  “
I know the gist of it, I just have to cook something edible right?
”

“
Edible and tasty,
”

“You
’
re so on!
”