“It’s an important matter, my boy.”
I grimace beseechingly and mouth “please” to Max, feeling extremely ill at ease, but he gives me another headshake.
“It’s about Arnaud,” Felicia says.
Max frowns and murmurs, “Who the hell is Arnaud?”
“What about him?” Theodor asks.
“The date in your father’s will is fast approaching, and we still haven’t decided how to go about it. We need a plan.”
“No, we don’t.”
“Theodor!”
“Mother.” Theodor’s voice turns icy, well… icier than usual. “We’ll do what Father wanted us to do, and then it’s up to him.”
“It’ll be brutal.”
“Life’s brutal.”
I wonder if he’s referring to his disfigured face.
At last, we hear retreating footsteps. I lean against the wall, collecting myself.
Max checks his watch. “We still have a few minutes, so listen to me. Theo is a jerk. Forget everything he said, OK? Focus on what Mother said. You’re very welcome here, Lucie. You can stay as long as you want.”
I give him a grateful smile. “You’re sweet.”
“I mean it! It’s great fun having you around.”
“It’s fun being here,” I say honestly.
He smiles before narrowing his eyes, no doubt reminded about the rest of the conversation we overheard. “I’ll have to ask Mother about this Arnaud. And why Theo is in the loop while I’m not. And why she claims that Father mentioned him in his will. I’ve read it. I don’t recall anyone named Arnaud in it.”
“Maybe you read a redacted version.”
“Hmm.” He checks the time again. “We have to go.”
Ten minutes later, I’m standing in front of Prince Richard, while he praises my bravery during Operation Key Number One. Max is smiling and nodding while hisuncle talks. Prince Richard’s assistant opens a very fancy-looking box and holds it up for the monarch.
Prince Richard takes a round object out of the box. “I hereby award you the Royal Mount Evor Order of Chivalry and declare you a Lady of the Brassiere. Come closer, Lady Lucie.”
He pins a heavy medal to the lapel of my suit.
I’m fairly certain it’s gold and not foil-wrapped chocolate, and I’m thrilled to become a Lady of the Brassiere. This is so much better than a gift card! Less useful, for sure, but definitely more debonair.
25
MAX
Lucie and I are walking back to my apartments in the palace after a soirée that my second cousin Celeste held at her Pombrio house a stone’s throw from the château. We’ve had some alcohol, but not too much. There was a bit of dancing and a lot of good food. Lucie seemed to enjoy herself.
Anders and Enzo are shadowing us as usual. Normally, it’s only Anders when I’m out and about in Mount Evor. His main job is not so much to protect me from threats as to keep away the groupies begging for a photo or an autograph. While Lucie is here, Enzo has been dispatched to give Anders a hand. I guess Carlo fears my female fans would attack Lucie just because I’m holding her hand.
Ludicrous!They wouldn’t do it. Erm… actually, some might.
Be it one bodyguard or two, I never understood why I needed security detail here in Mount Evor, but Carlo is immovable with regard to royal protection.
