Total pages in book: 102
Estimated words: 97287 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 486(@200wpm)___ 389(@250wpm)___ 324(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 97287 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 486(@200wpm)___ 389(@250wpm)___ 324(@300wpm)
“Uh-huh,” she says, taking another sip of her tea.
I finish my potatoes quicker now, afraid of where this conversation might go.
“So James is a nice man,” she says in a cheery voice. A little too cheery.
“He is,” I say, smashing the last potato in my mouth so I don’t have to talk.
“I have to admit, I found it kind of strange that you worked together for so long in London, hadn’t seen each other for at least a year, and then his first day here, you don’t even show up for dinner.”
I attempt to swallow. Was I that obvious?
I shrug, getting to my feet and taking the dish to the sink to wash it since the dishwasher is already running. “I was tired. How often do I get a night off to just be alone in my room?”
She thinks that over. “Maybe. Or maybe you don’t like James.”
I give her a very fake incredulous look as I rinse the dish, squirting out the soap. “What are you talking about?”
Her eyes dance beneath her blunt bangs. “That’s it, isn’t it? You don’t like him. Something happened at the Fairfaxes’, and now you hold a grudge.”
How is she this astute? She must be reaching.
I need to keep my cool.
As much as Lady Jane is a servant, part of the staff, like the rest of us nonroyals, I know I can’t confide in her. If I ever told her the truth of what happened between James and me, not only would she watch our every move like a hawk, but I have no doubt she would tell Ella. The lady can’t keep any secrets. And then Ella would go about finding another nanny. One who can control her beloved children better and hasn’t slept with the new bodyguard.
I dry off the dish with a towel and shake my head. “You’re the one who needs to get out of the house,” I tell her. “You’re making up fantasies.”
“I’m not. I’m just observant.”
I put away the dish and walk over to the table, resting my palms on top and leaning toward her. “Lady Jane,” I say. “I don’t have a problem with James. There is no grudge. I honestly didn’t know him very well. We weren’t together much. I was always with baby Madeline; he was always protecting Eddie. He was outside of their lives; I was in the middle of it. We’d be friendly when we saw each other, but that was usually in passing. Honestly. I don’t know James well, but I like him just fine, and I’m glad that he’s working for the prince and princess.”
I hold her eyes until it feels uncomfortable, and then she deflates, shoulders sinking. See, she wanted us to have a problem. What a drama queen.
“Oh, all right,” she says. “I guess I’m just imagining what’s not there.”
“That’s right. And I’m sure the two of us will be having many dinners together in the future.”
And with that I leave Lady Jane with her tea and head back down the hall to my room. I quickly use my en suite bathroom, then get into my pajamas and crawl into bed.
As I do so, the headboard of the bed jostles against the wall.
And then I hear a knock back.
Oh my god. James. His bed must be right up against mine. I’d gotten so used to having no one in that room.
“You up?” I hear very faintly through the wall.
Shit. How is it that I can hear him? How thin are the walls in this place?
I raise my fist, about to bang on the wall, but then stop myself. I don’t want him to think I can hear him, and I don’t want to start playing some silly game with him.
I turn around, more carefully this time, and switch off the light. I pull the covers up to my chin, totally conscious of even breathing now, hoping that I don’t snore.
“Good night, Laila.” His voice comes through the wall.
I put my pillow over my face.
Four
LAILA
Two years ago
“Good night, little princess,” I whisper to baby Madeline as she stretches her arms above her head, yawning deeply as her eyes flutter closed. A sense of relief pours through me, knowing she’s finally going to sleep. Duchess Monica is lucky that her daughter sleeps through the night, but I’ve never met an infant who rebels against her bedtime like Madeline does. Even though I’ve been putting her to bed at a reasonable hour every day this week, she’ll literally just lie in her crib and stare at me, as if I’m her entertainment and she’s waiting for me to do a dance, which of course I end up doing. I have to admit, it’s flattering to have a royal baby think the world of you, but I think she’s just working through the fact that her mother, who normally puts her to bed, has been gone every night this week. I know from experience that when the nanny first steps in, there are always a few growing pains, no matter the age of the child.