Total pages in book: 66
Estimated words: 66387 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 332(@200wpm)___ 266(@250wpm)___ 221(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 66387 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 332(@200wpm)___ 266(@250wpm)___ 221(@300wpm)
I’ve barely seen Sebastian this week. We spend breakfast together each morning, but then he’s gone all day. I see him at dinner, and we spend each night together, having the craziest sex of my life.
It’s not so bad. I just wish I had more time with him during the day. I like Mary very much, but it’s not the same.
There’s a knock on the door to the apartment, and I answer it to find Nick, my new personal security guard, standing on the other side.
“Your presence has been requested at afternoon tea with the queen and Princess Eleanor,” he says formally.
“Oh, thank you. I’ll be ready in a moment.”
I need to change into a suitable dress for afternoon tea with the royal women. I still can’t help but ponder why on Earth I need a personal bodyguard.
I haven’t left the palace in a week.
It’s not like I need to be escorted here and there.
But I don’t question much. If the royal family wants to pay some poor guy to follow me around with no danger in sight, so be it.
Once I’ve changed and quickly brushed my hair, I join Nick in the hallway.
“I’m ready.”
He nods once and then leads the way to the room I was in when I first met Sebastian’s family. But rather than a whole audience, today it’s just Her Majesty and Eleanor.
“Hello, Nina,” the queen says. I offer her a curtsy.
“Your Majesty. Your Highness.”
“Please, have a seat.” The queen gestures to the chair beside Eleanor. “Thank you for joining us.”
“Thank you for inviting me.”
A servant pours my tea, adding sugar and milk just the way I like it. It’s amazing to me how fast the staff has learned my likes and dislikes.
It’s as if they’re all robots and they’ve been programmed.
I’ve only spent two dinners with the family since that first introduction. And I’ve quickly learned that just because we all live in the same giant building, it doesn’t mean we see much of each other.
“How are you settling in?” Eleanor asks, nibbling on a finger sandwich.
“Nicely, I think.” I sip my tea. “It’s been a busy week.”
“It’s about to get busier,” the queen says with a kind smile. “We have some wedding plans to make. I’ve already spoken with the event planner, and preparations are underway, but there are many things that, as a bride, you need to be involved with.”
I stare at her, suddenly terrified. I know that nearly every girl in the world has planned her wedding from the time she was roughly six.
But not me.
Because I never thought to get married.
“You look like you’ve seen a ghost,” Eleanor says with a laugh. “This is the fun part. You get to choose flowers and colors and your dress.”
“Oh, boy.”
“I didn’t mean to overwhelm you,” the queen says, narrowing her eyes. “Aren’t you excited about your wedding?”
Not in the least.
“Of course,” I assure them both. “Of course, I am. It’s just a lot to take in. Everyone has already been so kind and accommodating. It’s more than I expected.”
“You’re marrying a prince,” Eleanor reminds me. “It’s definitely a lot to take in. Catherine felt the same way when she married Frederick, and they had a seven-month engagement.”
“We’re here to help,” the queen says kindly. “We enjoy this sort of thing very much.”
“Thank you. Truly.”
I sigh and take another sip of tea.
“Nina, I don’t mean this to sound unkind, but you look quite exhausted.”
“I am,” I admit. “It’s been such a busy week that I haven’t even left the palace since I arrived.”
“You need a break,” Eleanor says with a nod.
“Why don’t you two go to the spa?” the queen asks. “I’m quite sure the Ritz can take you for a few hours. Have some champagne, get pampered a bit. Relax.”
“Oh, that sounds lovely,” Eleanor says, turning to me. “Nina?”
“Yes, please. That does sound lovely.”
“Wonderful. I’ll arrange it right now.” The queen signals her assistant, who immediately pulls a cell phone out of her bag and starts making calls.
“They can see you in forty-five minutes,” she says.
“Lovely,” the queen replies with a smile. “Have a wonderful time, girls.”
***
“Good God, I needed that.” I clink my glass to Ellie’s and smile over at her. Now that we’ve been naked together and are a little buzzed, she insisted that we cut the formalities.
“Me, too. I have to go to Scotland tomorrow on official business, and this is a great way to charge my batteries before the trip.”
“I have to plan a wedding.” I stare down into my glass. “I don’t know what to choose.”
“Anything you choose will be lovely,” Ellie says with a smile. “And we have event people to help steer you in the right direction.”
I glance over as Nick and Philip, Ellie’s bodyguard, talk amongst themselves.
“Do you ever get used to having security with you all the time?”