This season, thirteen exceptional women are qualified to compete for the love of Royal Prince George, Duke of Buckinghamshire, however, when a random is accidentally thrown into the bunch, and actually catches the eye of the Prince's brother. What's...
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14 | A Royal performance from both the Opera singer and the faker
KATAMINA was awoken to a guard-man in her room, shuffling through all her things. She jumped up, ''What's happening?''
The man jumped in fright, as if surprised by the sudden voice.
''What are you doing in here?''
He dipped his head, ''My apologies, my lady, I was under stern instructions to -- ''
''Finnbar, I'll take it from here.''
He let out a breath of relief.
The sudden Duke's appearance startled her, but he seemed to be carrying the answers she was looking for. Addressing her. ''Lady Ellis.''
''Your grace,'' She smiled sarcastically.
When he cleared his throat, she demanded ''What?''
He gesturing to her nightgown that hadn't been properly fixed over her chest. He turned his back to her respectively as she fixed it, waiting until she wrapped herself in her robe, before turning to her.
There was simply no room left for embarrassment. She simply wanted to know why her sleep had been disturbed.
''What is going on?''
''My apologies for our sudden unannounced entry, my lady, but we are under strict orders of the queen to seize any and all of Fiona's belongings.''
''Why would any of Fiona's stuff be in here? This is my room?''
Judging from the look on his face, she knew she needed to cool it before he went all 'You need to hold your tongue in the presence of royalty,'
It was just too early in the morning for this, and she had barely gotten any sleep last night after heading back to the stables.
Wait-- why would they need Fiona's stuff?
Unless they had found out about her and Leopold.
Oh no.... she was screwed.
''You knew?''
Gaining a firm sense of common sense, she quickly wiped the look off her face. ''Knew what?''
He shot her a look that clearly read, 'I don't buy it' and she knew lying further would only dig her in a deeper hole.
She sighed. ''I only found out last night.''
''Doesn't matter, she's out.''
''What?''
''If a lady cannot stay faithful to man, then what is the point of courting her?'' Even for a Duke who had just discovered one of the five ladies he was pursuing, had gone off and cheated with his loyal manservant, he didn't seem to be too bothered by it.
''You can't send her home! Give her another chance to . . . '' To what? '' ... To redeem herself.''
''She's already gone.'' The Duke explained. ''We're just shipping off the rest of her things.''
Seriously?
''What about Leopold?'' There was no way they had sent Leopold home. That was just how the world worked, they blamed the women, and let the men go scot free.
His eyes downcast ''He's been let go, which saddens me, being that he's been a member of the staff since before I became a Duke, but it definitely had to be done.''
Bloody heck, Fiona!
She'd be lying if she said she wouldn't miss the tender-hearted Ginger.
''On the bright-side, at least they don't have to hide who they are anymore.''
A lady of the house, and a manservant in love.
She didn't miss the flicker in his eyes, before he masked it. Face hardening, nails digging crescents into his skin. ''Anyways, there is an Opera performance tonight happening at the Theater room in celebration of the last four left in the season, everyone's invited, and I've already extended the invitation to all the other ladies. So, don't miss it.''
''This is your last chance to redeem yourself with my mother, after leaving behind a lasting impression of your wedding departure, don't make a muck of it.''
She nodded, ''Can I bring a friend?''
''Fiona isn't -- ''
''I wasn't talking about her.''
His eyebrows scrunched up, as he tried to decipher who she could possible be thinking of taking to the performance, before realizing he didn't care at most.
''As long as they dress formally, and are familiar with basic table manners, andthe titles for when addressing a royal.''
Oh, he was more than familiar with titles.
'My lady' being the only word in his vocabulary, no matter how many times she would tell him to call her by name.
Hey! She then realized. That was a lowkey jab directed at her!
His lips lifted. ''See you then, lady Ellis.''
''Your Grace.''
''Just... George.''
She rolled her eyes as soon as his back was turned, she knew exactly who she was bringing to the performance.
--
''No, absolutely not!'' Were the first words out of Elijah's mouth.
''Why not?'' She demanded.
''I'm a stable boy, my lady, I don't belong in a Palace, sitting by Her Majesty, listening to Opera.'' He stated dryly.
She rolled her eyes at his dramatics. ''I literally asked the Duke, and he said it was alright as long as you dress formally, and are familiar with basic manners when addressing a royal, and you already are.''
''And what about the dressing 'formally' part?'' He gestured to his stable jacket, linen shirt, sheepskin trousers, and round cap.
''We have a seamstress, Eli. I'm sure she'll be up for styling you.''
''No, absolutely not!'' Ended up being the first words out of her mouth as well. ''I am not being an accomplice to whatever it is you are scheming.''
''Rosemary, I literally got the okay from Prince George, all he needs is something formal to wear, like a basic suit and tie.''
She looked pretty hesitant, but ended up agreeing anyways. ''Fine, Alice, get me some thread.''
''Okay!'' She exclaimed without a sassy remark, surprising both girls. Alice was known to be quite the mouthy bastard.
