Royal Pain in the Ass (37 page)

“
Well, try it on.
”
Xavier smiled and walked over to a chair.

“
Zis vay.
” 
I was led to a screen that I guessed neither of them could see through.
 
The dress fit like a glove.
 
I looked at myself in the mirror and I smiled.
 
I walked out and Xavier just stared for a long moment.
  “
I vould have razer not had sleeves, but Meester Xavier insisted upon it at least zee one.
 
So I did vat I had to.
  I
’
m not sure how I feel about zis.
”

“
I love it.
”
I smiled.
  “Thank you Paolo.”

“
As long as you
’
re happy.
  Zat is vat matters.  I
’
ll let you two discuss.
”

Paolo hurried out, closing the door behind himself.

“
Well?
”
I asked.
 
Xavier still hadn
’
t said a word.

“
You look, you
’
re so . . .
”
Xavier cleared his throat.
  “Wow. 
You look beautiful.
”

I smiled.
  “
You think so?
”

“
No doubt of it.
 
How are you feeling?
”

“Fine. 
Why?
”

 “
Is your face still tender?
”

I
’
d forgotten all about that.
 
I reached up and winced.
  “
Yeah, I guess it is.
”

“
I was afraid of that.
  I
’
ll warn the makeup artists.
  I
’
ll be sure they
’
re gentle.” Xavier
’
s hand traced around my face where his fist had made contact and I couldn
’
t read the expression on his face.
 

“
What are you thinking right now?
”
I asked, looking up at him.

“
How much of a monster I am for hurting you.
”

“
You are no such thing.
  I
’
ve met a few monsters, but you aren
’
t one of them.
”

Xavier gave me a sad smile.
  “You don
’
t know everything.
” 
Xavier ran his hand through my hair and stepped away from me.
  “
There is much you do not know, but this is hardly the time.
”

“
Xavier, whatever you
’
re afraid to tell me, it can
’
t be that bad.
 
I don’
t see anything wrong with you, other than your arrogance with servants.
”

Xavier shook his head.
  “
You are too kind sometimes.
 
Now, get changed.
 
They
’
ll wonder if we
’
re gone too long.
” 
Xavier left the room without another word.
 
That boy confused me beyond belief.
 
Whatever.
 
I pulled my jeans back on and the sweater and hung the dress over the screen.
 
Not knowing what else to do, I started wandering.
 
It wasn
’
t long until I, quite literally, ran into Ian.

“Sorry,”
we both muttered.

“
Juliet?
 
When did you get here?
”

I shrugged.
  “
A few hours ago.
” 
Ian offered me a hand and helped me to my feet.
  “
How are you?
”

“I
’
m well.
 
And yourself?
”

“I
’
m good.
 
What are you up to?
”
I asked raising an eyebrow.
 
He looked like he was nervous, like something important was going on.

“
Just, something.
”

I crossed my arms and shifted my weight to one side.
  “
Something?
”

“
Yes, erm, something.
”

“
Just tell me, I
’
m going to find out.
”

“
I have something very important to ask tonight.
”

“
Are you popping the question?
”

“Shh,”
Ian hushed motioning with his hands which I found hilarious and adorable.
 

“
Ah, so I
’
m right.
 
It better not be that Amelia I met last time.
”

“
Oh, no it isn
’
t.”

“Oh?”

“
You haven
’
t heard?
”

“No.”
I shook my head.
 
I felt so out of the loop.
  “
What have I missed?
”

“I
’
m seeing Lana now.
”

“
Mhmm, that makes sense.
 
I noticed the two of you before.
 
So, that
’
s the girl you were in love with.
”

“
Yes, yes, you were right.
 
Are you happy now?
”

“
Very.
”
I nodded.

“
I didn
’
t expect to see you, but can I get your opinion anyway?
 
You seem the sort to be honest no matter the consequence.
”

I shrugged.
 
That was true.
  “
Sure, what
’
s up?
”

Ian pulled out a small box and opening it.
 
Perched inside was one of the most beautiful rings I had ever seen.
  “
Well?
”

“It
’
s gorgeous.”

“
Do you think she
’
ll like it?
”

“
That girl is head over heels for you.
 
You could give her a quarter machine ring and because it
’
s from you she
’
d love it.
”

Ian sighed and seemed to visibly relax.
  “Thank you, Juliet.”

“
No problem.
 
I seem to have lost everyone else, do you need any help with whatever you
’
re up to?
”

“
Actually . . .
”

I was giggling like a school girl.
 
I was helping Ian set up for the big moment which would be happening later tonight.
 
I was so excited.
 
I loved having secrets.
 
Especially this kind.
 

“
And remember she mustn
’
t suspect a thing.
”
Ian reminded me for the umpteenth time.

“
Okay, so I should go find a bull horn and scream into it, right?
”

Ian smiled and let out a sigh.
  “
You might want to go get ready.
 
Christine is looking for you.
”

“
How do you . . . ?
”
Ian help up his cell phone and I nodded.
  “
That makes sense.
 
Where should I be?
”

“
Greg is on his way here, I
’
m sure he won
’
t mind visiting Christine for another moment.
  I
’
ll have him take you to her room.
”

An hour later Christine looked like the princess she was.
  “
Christine, you
’
re going to be the belle of the ball.
”
I smiled.

“
You too, just look at yourself.
”

“
Greg is going to love it.
”
I saw Christine flush.
 

“
Do, do you think so?
”
she stammered looking at herself in the mirror again.

“
Yes, if he doesn
’
t he
’
s an idiot.
”

“
So, why don
’
t you like Raleigh?
”

“
He blackmailed me into a date.” I answered, my tone flat.
 
“Then went to my father rather than asking me.
”

“
That
’
s because you said no to him.
” Christine smiled.  “
He really does like you.
”

“I
’
m just fresh meat.
  I
’
m the new girl without any history with them.
”

“
I can assure you Raleigh isn
’
t like that.
  He
’
s persistent when he wants something.
 
He really does like you.
”

“
Well too bad.
I don’
t feel that way about him.
”

“
Is there someone else?
”

I shook my head.
  “No, I
’
m not seeing anyone.
”

Christine raised an eyebrow.
  “
Then what is it?
”

I shrugged.
  “
I just don’
t feel like that about him.
”

“
If you could dance with anyone tonight, who would it be?
”

“
I have no idea.
”

Christine gave me a coy little smile.
  “Okay.”

“
What does that mean?
”

“
If you won
’
t be honest with yourself, then I can
’
t expect you to be honest with me.
 
That
’
s okay.  You
’
ll figure it out.
  I
’
m so excited.
”

“
Wait, Christine, what are you talking about?
”

“
Oh Juliet!
”
Christine grabbed my hands and spun me.
  “It
’
s about time!
”

Before I knew it I was on Raleigh
’
s arm and being announced to a room full of mostly strangers.
 
I was beyond excited to see Fiore again.
 
I watched with baited breath as Christine was properly introduced into society.
 
She was every bit a princess.
 
It was too cute the way she and Greg looked at one another.

“
May I have this dance?
”
Raleigh asked offering his arm.