Page 18 of The Prince Falls First
“Is there a reason you don’t want to go inside?”
“Technically no.”
Gabriel moved a step closer and she tilted her head back further to see him. She had a fleeting thought that it might be difficult to kiss him, then got annoyed at herself for thinking it.
“Genevieve, what is going on?”
She already knew he was the stubborn type and all she wanted was for him to leave so she could get inside and go to bed, so she told him. “My mother has the key the front door, but I can get into the house from the back. Once you leave, I can break into my own house with some dignity.”
He looked shocked for a second, then burst out laughing. “Do you know, I’ve never thought about that before.”
“What?”
“House keys.”
“There aren’t any locked doors at the palace?”
“Of course there are, but that doesn’t mean I’m the one with the keys. Besides, we have guards and security everywhere. They’re better than keys. How will you get in?”
“My bedroom window is unlocked and there’s a very sturdy tree near it. I’ll climb it and get in easily. I’ve done it before.”
He smiled, his teeth flashing under his mustache. “Have you? Are you sure you don’t need a hand? I can’t imagine it would be easy in that dress.”
“I’ll manage.” She set off for the path that led to the backyard. Paused, curtsied to him, and resumed walking.
He chuckled. “I’m going to wait until I know you’re inside.”
She lost sight of him a moment later, but heard two car doors shutting. When she went back to peek and make sure they weren’t nearby, she saw both him and his security had sat inside the car again.
Once she got to the tree in question, she looked around again in case someone else was nearby but didn’t see anyone. She slipped her dress and heels off, climbed up, and into her room. She slipped the dress back on, but not the shoes, and hurrieddown the stairs. When she flipped the foyer light on, she peeked out the window.
Though the car windows were dark—and made even darker by the night—she thought she saw a wave before the car drove off.
She left the light on for her mother, then made her way back up the stairs.
“Achoo! Achoo!”
She groaned. She really hoped she wasn’t getting sick.
five
I merely want some fucking rest. Is that too much to ask? ~ from Gen’s diary
GENEVIEVE
“Someone get that!” her mother shrieked at the sound of someone banging on the front door.
Gen sighed and forced herself to get out of bed. She felt like shit, probably looked like shit, but she knew no one else would get it. Henrietta was just like their mother and wouldn’t lift a finger to help, and Diana slept like the dead.
She didn’t even have the energy to put on a robe and didn’t bother with slippers either. It was probably Sam anyway so it didn’t matter what she wore; Sam liked to stop by the morning after a party and take her out to brunch at their favorite spot.
She clung to the handrail as she went down the stairs, yawning the whole way and rubbing her eyes clear.
She winced as the knocks came again, this time just as she was behind the door. Her head was throbbing and she couldn’t stand the noise.
She sneezed, then sniffled, then opened the door. She blinked her eyes several times, sure that her fever had made her delusional. “Y-Your Highness?”
It was him, Gabriel, there on her doorstep. He looked just as surprised and gave her a long, intense look over. He started at the top with her unbrushed, bedheaded blonde hair, down to her very short pale pink cotton nightgown, which had a deep vee, ruffles that didn’t hide anything (including her lack of bra), and stopped just below her ass. His eyes continued down her naked legs and even lingered on her toes for a moment.
