Page 37 of Glass Hearts
The foolish part of me wants to stay in the castle. I would be lying to myself if I were to say I hadn’t been appreciating the attention of the Princes. Even though it has been quite confusing.
A knock on the door has my furry friends scurrying away to hide.
“Are you ready, friend?”
“I will be right out, Bri!” My heart warms at the thought of gaining a new friend who isn’t an animal. I feel like Lo will love her just as much.
Bri spent the rest of the morning showing me around the castle and filling me in on my duties. By the time we finish, we head over to the ballroom where the high tea is taking place.
I had thought I was going to be clearing the dishes after the event, yet as I walk in, my stomach sinks as I see the large array of beautiful women. They are all dressed to the nines, with their makeup and hair perfectly done up. All four princes seem to be engaged in conversation with a few stunning ladies.
I try not to look their way again as I set about doing my job. Picking up plate after plate. Avoiding the misplaced emotional turmoil at the reality of the princes finding wives.
That’s when I see dear old Bernice. She walks up to me like a cat stalking its prey, never leaving my eyes. Once she gets close to me, she whispers with a chilly tone. “You and I will be needing to have a few words.” She continues to walk on as if she hadn’t just said the most ominous thing.
Trying not to panic at Bernice’s threat, I bring each new stack of dishes into the kitchen, where a moderately handsome young man has started the dishes. “The name is Mike, and you are?”
“Arabella, I just started. I am going to get a few more bundles, then I will help you out.”
Once I get back out of the ballroom, I chance a look at the princes. I find Grayer talking to the same lady with short, dark black hair and red lips. My heart sinks when I see how handsome they look together.
Koi is talking with a tall brunette who looks like a model, and right next to him is Archer, talking to one of the Quadias and a blue-haired beauty.
I can’t seem to find Sylas until I look over to the balcony. He sits outside with four ladies.
They don’t meet my eyes once, and my stomach sinks.They aren’t mine. Grabbing more plates and putting them into the bin, my eyes go up as I find a hand helping me. Mike.
“Thought you could use some help. Maybe if we do it together, it won’t be so bad?”
I return his kind smile. “That sounds like a great idea.”
We head back to the kitchen with a stack of dishes so high, we laugh as we almost drop them all.
“Now that would have been a shit start to my time here,” I say as we start washing the dishes together. Before I can even get any dishes fully soaked, the kitchen doors bang open.
I turn as I see Grayer stalk over, a vision of brutal violence. But he isn’t looking at me, he is looking at Mike, with murder in his eyes. He grabs Mike by the throat and leans in to get closer to his face.
“Don’t you dare try to go after Arabella. I saw you checking her out and collecting her smiles. Those are for me. Only. Me. Got it?”
“Yes, my prince,” Mike squeaks out. I pull on Grayer’s arm.
“Are you kidding me right now? Leave my friend out of… whatever this is. We have work to do. Now stop being a hypocrite and go back to your dates,” I grind out the last part. The audacity of men knows no bounds.
He softens his gaze as he looks at me.
“Duchess, it’s not what it looks like. Just playing politics. I will tell you later, okay?”
Archer joins the madness in the kitchen now. Looking pissed, nothing new with that, but comes to grab Grayer’s arm. Every member of the kitchen staff frozen mid-task, eyes wide, collectively gawking at the drama.
“Grayer. Stop fraternizing with the help. Winona wants to talk with you some more.”
Grayer shoots death glares at Archer, but still leaves the kitchen. The two princes leaving me in their wake of emotional destruction.
“Jeeze, that was a bit much. Sorry about that, Mike.” I awkwardly laugh.
“Maybe we should just focus on work,” he mutters, turning away from me red-faced. We fall into stiff silence, his eyes never reaching mine again, as we wash the remaining dishes.
So much for gaining another friend.
