Royal Pain in the Ass (4 page)

Somehow I doubted that.

“
Juliet, what would you like for breakfast?
”
James asked.
 

“Um, I
’
m good with whatever.
”
I shrugged.
  “
Maybe some French toast?
”
I asked.

Eleanor smiled at me, it was a different smile than she used for Angelica.
 
This one seemed genuine.
  Interesting.  “
Most certainly, my dear
. 
Would you like some tea?
”

“
That
’
d be nice.
”
I replied.
  “
Anything with caffeine would be greatly appreciated.
”

“
Anything else?
”

“I
’
m good with that.
”

“
Master James?
”

“
No, that
’
s all.  Thank you Eleanor.”

Eleanor disappeared again and I was left sitting at the table feeling awkward.
 
This was a new feeling for me.
   
Another servant came in and whispered something into James
’
s ear.

“
Ah, I have an important phone call, I
’
ll be right back.
 
Everyone play nice.
”

I watched James leave the room.
 

“I
’
m Juliet, it
’
s nice to meet you,
”
I offered my hand to Millie.

“
I am
the Duchess Mildred Agatha Harrison Eastgate.
”
She responded coldly.

“
Well, it
’
s a pleasure.
”
I replied, my tone flat as I dropped my ignored hand.
 
The silence was thick.
 
I started taking in the dining room, it was done in yellow and green tones, and it was overall a comfortable room.
 
The table was a ten seater and looked almost forlorn with only the three of us.
 

Millie and Angelica were having a silent conversation with their eyes.
 
Honestly, I was surprised they weren
’
t talking about me right now in front of me.
 
I couldn
’
t wait to hear what they
’
d say behind my back.
  “
Well, it
’
s delightful chatting with you.
 
By the way, what would you like me to call you?
”
I asked to Millie.
  “
I know James calls you Millie,
”
I saw her visibly flinch when I called her that.
  “
and I
’
d imagine Angelica calls you Mom.
 
So, what would you like me to call you?
”

“
Your Grace, is fine.
”

I cocked an eyebrow.
  “You
r Grace
?”

“Yes,”

I tried to fight back a laugh, but sniggered anyway.
 

“
What is so humorous?
”

“
That just makes me think of calling a dog.
” 
The look on her face was priceless, I saw her shoulders hunch and the look of raw indignation on her face.
  I
’
d seriously just insulted her. I forced myself to stop laughing and regained control over myself.
  “I
’
m sorry, it
’
s just what it makes me think of.
”

“
Why are you even here?
”
Angelica sneered.

I shrugged.

“
We aren
’
t stupid.”
Angelica continued.
 

Eleanor picked that moment to bring in everyone
’
s breakfast. 
Angelica had ordered fried eggs, Millie some rye toast and my French toast with powdered sugar.
 
My mouth started watering.
 

“Thank you Eleanor,”
I beamed.
 

“
Would you like syrup?
”

“
Yes, please!
”

“
Maple or blueberry?
”

“
Maple please.
”

“I
’
ll be right back with that,
”

Eleanor was almost out of the room when Angelica made a noise of disgust.

“
Excuse me!
”
Angelica hissed.
  “Didn
’
t I tell you I wanted my yolk not runny?
”

“I
’
m sorry, my lady,
”

“
Sorry isn
’
t good enough!
 
How hard is your job?
 
Or Ferdinand
’
s for that matter?
 
I give one simple order and you can
’
t even do that right!
”

“
Will you chill out?
”
I snapped.

“
What did you say to me?
”

“Don
’
t talk to her that way.
  I
’
d say her job is pretty difficult if she has to put up with you every day.
 
And if it
’
s so easy, as you claim, let
’
s see you fry an egg.
”

“
Who do you think you are?
 
You can
’
t tell me what to do!
”

“I
’
m not going to just sit here and watch you scream at her when first off, it
’
s not her fault, secondly, it
’
s not that big of a deal, and thirdly, no one else is going to stand up for her.
”

James chose this moment to walk back in.
 
He saw me glaring at Angelica, who had quickly put an innocent look upon her face.
 
Millie was giving me a scathing look.

“
Ladies, what did I miss?
”

“
James, darling, this girl just started screaming at Angelica.
 
I wonder if it was wise to invite her here.
”

“
Juliet?
”
James asked, eyeing me closely.

“
Mr. Eastgate, I
’
m sorry but your daughter is a brat.
 
Yes, I yelled at her.
 
I yelled at her because she was yelling at Eleanor about a little bit of her egg yolk being runny.
  It
’
s a simple fix, and where I come from, civilized people don
’
t talk to one another like that.
 
Perhaps things are different here.
 
Or maybe you guys have a different opinion than us Americans of civilized.
 
Either way, I don
’
t like watching others being publicly berated, especially when it isn
’
t their fault.
”

James nodded, and his face was stern.
  “
Juliet, please come with me.
” 
I stood and followed him out of the room.
 
Great, between his wife and his daughter I was already an object of hatred.
 
Now I had him too.
 
Maybe I should just go home.
 
He led me a little down the corridor.
  “
First of all, I would like to apologize for my daughter
’
s behavior,
”

I was taken aback.
 
He wasn
’
t taking her side?

“
Angelica is, as you put it, a brat.
 
She has a tendency to be overdramatic and put things out of proportion.
 
Please don
’
t think ill of her.
 
She can be that way, but she also can be a sweet, loving, sensitive girl.
 
She is spoiled, but that tends to go with the lifestyle we lead.
 
She doesn
’
t know how to act around you yet.
 
I ask you not judge her, at least not yet.
”

I nodded.
 
This was so not the direction I expected this conversation to go.

“
I also have a small request.
”

“
What
’
s that?
”

“
I have an expert here that can give us a definitive answer about us.
 
If we are as I suspect.
”

“
Um, sure?
 
What do I have to do?
”

“He
’
ll just swab the inside of cheek, and we can have a result by the end of the day.
”

I nodded.
  “
Okay, where do I have to go?
”

“I
’
ve brought him here.
 
It would look at bit ostentatious for us to go anywhere.
 
Especially if the press saw.
”

I nodded.
  “Don
’
t want the media to get a hype over nothing.
”

James gave a bitter laugh.
  “
Something like that.
”
James nodded.
 
He led me to a nice looking man in a lab coat; he got the sample and was off.
 
James sighed and watched the lab tech walk off.
  “
Now that that
’
s settled,”
he started after a long moment.
  “
would you like a tour of the grounds?
”

“
That would be amazing actually.
” 
I smiled.

Chapter IV

Eastgate estate is huge.
 
The entire grounds span for acres, and are truly a thing of beauty.
 
James let me to the stables, which I loved.
  I
’
ve always loved horses, I grew up around them.
 
James had two of the horses ready for us when we strolled up.
 
The stable boy was quite the looker.
 
He curls that fell like a chestnut halo around his head.
 
His eyes were a warm honey brown and his skin was a lovely golden tan.
 

“
Master James,
”
he bowed.

“Thank you Ben,”
James smiled.
 

“And, I
’
m sorry, I haven
’
t had the pleasure.
”
He smiled at me.

“I
’
m Juliet,
”
I smiled back, offering a hand.
 
Instead of shaking it, he lifted it to his lips and laid a gentle kiss on it.
 
I felt my cheeks flush.
  “It
’
s a pleasure.
”