Page 30 of The Prince Falls First
She scrambled up and to the window to watch him, but by the time she got there, he had already vanished from view.
She turned away, then turned back to close the window and locked it. Then shut the blinds too.
A few moments later, just as she was slipping back into bed, there was a soft knock on her door. Without waiting for a response, it opened and Diana stepped in and shut the door behind her. “You’ve got some explaining to do.”
She sighed, then coughed, and reached for her water again. If only she had a lock on her door. Yet, she supposed a chat with her sister was a small price to pay for her silence. “Please get me some more water first, then I’ll answer your questions.”
With a broad, triumphant smile, Diana grabbed the glass and slipped out.
Gen only hoped Diana didn’t pester her all night. She really was quite tired.
seven
The women in his life rarely leave him alone. Usually he doesn’t mind it, but today… ~ from the journal of Prince Gabriel
GENEVIEVE
Gen had seen fancy buildings before, been inside fancy houses, and had been part of ‘high society’—whatever that meant—her whole life. Yet, nothing prepared her for the palace.
She’d never had a chance to visit while her father was a council member, but now she wished she had. The marble and gold wouldn’t have made her feel underdressed—even though she was wearing her best ‘professional’ dress—and she wouldn’t have felt so small. The ceilings were taller than she expected and the hallways so wide and the building so massive. It must take ages to walk from one place to the other.
And Gabriel somehow thought she could manage allthis? The man was clearly delusional.
Lady Louise, one of Princess Agnes’s lady’s maids and who worked in her office, escorted her to the princess. They had been walking for at least five minutes, and the woman was completely silent. Gen had tried to engage her in conversation, but she was having none of it. Had Gen offended her somehow? Was she wearing the wrong thing or did she greet her incorrectly?
The sharp sting of anxiety was settling in her chest. She’d only been in the palace for a few minutes and she was already stressed. There was no way she could manage living in the palace long-term.
Not that she wanted to, of course.
“MissRuffin is here, Your Highness.”
The princess was unperturbed by Lady Louise’s annoyed attitude. In fact, she seemed amused by it more than anything. “Thank you, Louise. Genevieve, it is so lovely to see you again.”
Gen curtsied. “Thank you for inviting me, Your Highness.”
“Oh, you must call me Agnes.”
Lady Louise let out an indignant squeak. The princess ignored it but smiled a bit broader.
“Oh, I couldn’t possibly, Your Highness.”
“Disobeying a direct request from the princess of your country?”
“Er, yes, actually?”
The princess laughed. “Louise, do get us some tea, won’t you?”
Through a fake smile, Lady Louise curtsied. “Of course, Ma’am.”
Once she disappeared, the princess looped an arm through Gen’s and escorted her towards the seating area in her office. “Louise is quite upset at the moment about your arrival. Pay no attention to her.”
They took a seat on the antique loveseat, which was much more comfortable than Gen had expected it to be. “But why? Have I done something to offend her?”
“No, I have. You see, you’ll be taking her place.”
Gen blinked several times, sure she had misheard. “I-what?”
“Oh, dear. I suppose Gabriel didn’t tell you that, did he?”
