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)
“You sure about that?” he asks after a moment, studying me.
I meet his gaze dead-on. “Absolutely sure.”
I don’t know how long our staring contest goes on for, though in the back of my mind I know it’s not normal for a bodyguard to be staring down the prince he’s supposed to protect, but then Magnus raises a brow and gives me a wry smile.
“Good. Then it’s all settled.”
He turns in his seat and waves at Harold. “Harold, another please!”
Whew.
Six
LAILA
Two years ago
“Have you had dinner yet?” Duchess Monica asks me as she takes baby Madeline from my arms.
I shake my head and give her a wan smile. “Haven’t had a chance,” I admit. Food is the last thing on my mind when I’m busy like this, and even though all staff have access to the kitchen, it always feels a little wrong to go and get food for myself outside of mealtimes, like I’m scavenging a rich person’s house or something.
She tilts her head and gives me a dry look as she eyes me. She’s not much older than me yet acts like my mother sometimes, not that I don’t appreciate it every now and then. It’s nice to feel looked after, especially since I only ever get that from my grandmother, and she’s back at home in her village in Norway. Which reminds me, first vacation I get, I’ll be flying there to see her.
“Laila,” she admonishes me. “You need dinner. If I’d known, you could have eaten with us.”
I feel a little like a child who has gotten a scolding. “I’m fine.” Besides, even though I’ve eaten dinner with Eddie and Monica a few times since I started a month ago, I always feel like a charity case. Don’t get me wrong—the Fairfaxes are the most down-to-earth royals you could ever meet, and they always make me feel welcome. But I’m also very aware of my role in this house—that they are not only royals and I’m a commoner but that they are also my employers. Mistaking kindness for friendship is a mistake I’ve made before, and I know better than to get close to someone who can fire me.
“Is she off duty now?” James’s deep voice says from behind me.
I turn around to see him in the doorway of the nursery, the sight of him in his suit making my heart flutter against my will.
Monica blinks at him, adjusting her grip on Madeline, who is playing with her mother’s long dark hair. “Laila? Sure.”
“Actually I’ve got another hour,” I say, glancing at my watch, wondering what James is getting at.
“It’s fine,” Monica says to me. Then she narrows her dark eyes at James. “You’re not corrupting her, are you?”
His mouth curls. “I wouldn’t dream of it,” James says solemnly, though his expression says otherwise.
I can’t help but smile. I’ve worked for the Fairfaxes for long enough now to know that their interactions are always full of banter and humor.
“But I’m heading into the city to see Piper and Harrison before they leave tomorrow,” he continues. He fixes his eyes on me. “And I was wondering if you wanted to come along.”
Harrison was the Fairfaxes’ PPO when they lived in Canada, and Piper was the neighbor of the house they were renting. Piper and Harrison got off on the wrong foot but eventually fell in love with each other. Enough that Harrison ended up quitting his job and opening a bakery on the island. I met the two of them when they came by the other day for tea, and they are absolutely adorable, although they seem to be polar opposites, with Harrison very stoic and Piper a bright ball of sunshine.
“Oh, right,” Monica says with a wistful look in her eyes. “I can’t believe they’re leaving so soon. A week doesn’t seem like enough time to have a proper visit.”
“He has pies to bake, and she’s got children to teach,” he says. “I promise we won’t stay out too late,” he adds, knowing full well he’ll do whatever he pleases.
That’s one of the many differences between us that I’ve picked up on over the last month. While I haven’t had much interaction with James, it’s obvious that he likes to stay out late on his days off, and sometimes when I can’t sleep I’ll look out the window and see him coming home in the middle of the night, drunk and weaving down the path through the yard. I have to admit, I often feel a twinge of jealousy, wishing that I could just go out without having anxiety over it.
“All right, then,” Monica says, giving James a suspicious look. “But if she’s not in her room at ten, I’m coming to get her,” she adds with a wink.
“I’ll make sure she’s in bed on time,” James promises, making the sign of the cross over his chest.