Page 47 of Reveal Me
‘The time ran away with me.’ I wipe my paint covered hands across my overalls and turn to her. ‘Will you join me?’
Without Kat, the days at Ardmore would be unbearable.
She pops her head out into the corridor and looks both ways before closing the door. ‘I’ve got one eye on your laundry.’ She winks. ‘Can’t have the rest of the staff seeing your new collection of lingerie.’
I bite back a smile. ‘It’ll give them something to talk about at least.’ The custom-made bodysuits imported from Italy are racier than anything they’ve ever laundered here before. They’re racier than anything I’ve ever left the estate in too, yet when I get to Reveal, I’m still overdressed.
‘Trust me, Princess, that’s the last thing we want to do.’ Kat places the tray down on the mahogany table overlookingthe castle’s pristine grounds. Even in winter, they’re glowing green and perfectly maintained.
She pulls a chair out for me, and I sit, motioning for her to take the seat opposite me. ‘What’s the gossip among the staff today?’
Kat usually regales snippets of information about who’s arguing with whom, or who’s sneaking around with whom. Some days it’s like listening to a soap opera. Fraternising among the staff is a sackable offence. I keep Kat’s secrets, just like she keeps mine. I’d hate to lose her, but if she and Grant ever decide to get married, one of them will have to resign. The prospect doesn’t bear thinking about.
‘Never mind that.’ She swats a hand in front of her face. ‘I want details from the weekend. You were out with him three nights in a row and you’ve barely given me anything.’ She hunches over the table, setting her blonde ponytail swishing. ‘What’s the billionaire like in bed?’
‘Katerina Magdalena Smith!’ I clutch my chest in mock horror. ‘Are you implying your princess is easy?’
She giggles and reaches for the teapot, pouring into two delicate china cups. ‘Oh, princess, I’ve seen your outfits. Don’t be coy with me now, Your Highness.’ She rolls her hand in a mocking gesture.
I splutter, then waft my hand in front of my face. ‘If you want details, don’t bring me tea! Bring me wine, Kitty Kat! And not that awful dessert stuff my parents favour.’
In truth, I’m dying to talk to her about Sean, but given the NDA, I need to be very careful. I trust Kat with my life. She’s covered for me more times than I can count, but there’s no way I could admit what we’ve been up to. Besides, it’s not just my secrets I’d be revealing.
She reaches into her apron and pulls out a hip flask, waving it under my nose. ‘I had a feeling you might say that!’ Her blue eyes glint with mischief. ‘It’s not wine. It’s whiskey.’
‘Better again.’ Every day of my life for the past five years, I’ve thanked the universe for this gorgeous creature opposite me. She’s held my hand before royal events, wiped my tears, and laid beside me when I’ve felt I had nobody. My sisters are amazing, but they have their own pressures from our parents.
‘Details first—then you can have a sip.’ She arches an eyebrow.
‘Trust me, we’ll both need a drink for what I have to say.’ I motion for her to take a sip and then pass the flask to me. She hesitates for a split second, glances at the closed door, then brings the hip flask to her lips, spluttering as it hits the back of her throat. Laughter bursts from my lips.
‘Christ, that’s strong.’ She hands over the whiskey, then dabs the corner of her eyes.
‘It’s not nearly strong enough, trust me.’ I take two large gulps; the liquid burns its way through my body. ‘Don’t tell me… Beckett’s Gold?’ I hold up the flask. When I haven’t been galloping past Sean’s place, hoping to glimpse him, I’ve been doing some serious googling. Beckett’s Gold is his family’s most expensive whiskey. After tasting it, I can see why.
‘Absolutely! It seemed appropriate given the circumstances. Now tell me, Princess, what else did you taste at “Mr Beckett’s club” last weekend?’ Kat squeals.
I bite my lip. ‘Enough to know that I’ve been missing out my entire life. And if my mother gets her way, I’ll miss out for the rest of my life.’
‘Was it that good?’ Kat’s eyes widen.
‘It was better.’ I take another sip of whiskey. ‘It’s hard to explain, but you know better than anyone, I’ve been treated like a royal vessel ready to be traded to the right family for my entire life. Sean, well, he treats me differently.’
‘Princess.’ Kat’s eyebrows crease into a frown. ‘That sounds… dangerous.’
She has no idea. How will I ever go back to London? To anormal boring life now my eyes have been opened? And my legs.
‘It’s dangerously sexy.’ I pass the flask back over. ‘But don’t worry. I know what it is. What it can only ever be. Which is why I’m determined to make the most of the next couple of months.’ Am I telling her that? Or myself? Because every hour I spend with Sean Beckett, I can appreciate how easy it would be to fall for a man like him. I already feel a bond with him that I’ve never felt with any other man.
Finally, I can appreciate why kissing on the mouth is a hard limit. Still, I bet he kisses like he fucks—passionately. The need to go there, where he doesn’t go with other women, is gnawing at me. I want to be different. Special. I want him to trust me, like I have to trust him. And I don’t want him to treat me like a princess—worryingly, it’s way worse—I want to be his Queen. But thoughts like that have the potential to burn down my world.
‘Just be careful, okay. I’m all for you having a bit of fun, but if the Queen ever found out…’ she trails off. There’s no need to finish that sentence. We both feel the weight of the implication. ‘You have the ball at The Shelbourne with Lord Ashworth next month. I was talking to Judy, the Queen’s lady-in-waiting. She has high hopes for this one.’
I roll my eyes and take the flask back. ‘She has high hopes for any bore with a title. But if it means I get to stay here for a couple more months, I’ll play along.’
‘Who knew when we got here that you’d grow so fond of this place.’ She waggles her eyebrows at me.
It’s not the place, it’s the people. Person, I mean. If she’d experienced what I’d experienced this weekend, she’d understand implicitly.
