The Next Duke

Eighteen

Lillian vowed never to never drink again.

She had to blame the wine tasting part of their appointment and Joseph wanted to taste all of the good stuff they intended to serve. Lillian being a former bar tender already knew where the good stuff were. However, the man decided they wanted to do the food tasting and the wine tasting at the same time. She really didn't plan on sleeping on them. But some idiot gave her the potent stuff making her cross her eyes and fall asleep.

Joseph looked at the sleeping Lillian. Her head was on his lap, they were still in the restaurant where they had their food and wine tasting. "Oh, dear, she's a lightweight?" the restaurant manager said.

Joseph had to chuckle, "Yes, she is. We will be sending you a list of the spirits we've chosen as well as the menu."

"Of course, your lordship," the man replied and looked at Matilda. "She's new, isn't she? First one I saw pass out in his arms."

Matilda chuckled, "First one I saw pass out after drinking two cocktails."

Joseph began to caress Lillian's hair in an absent minded fashion. "When will she come around?"

Joseph shrugged, "This is a first for me as well, we'll just let her sleep it out."

The doors to the restaurant opened making Joseph frown. He knew he had this place closed down. When he saw Prince William walk in with Kate Middleton, he gave the couple a wry smile. Matilda rose to her feet and bowed. "Joseph," the Prince said with a frown as he looked at him.

"I wish I can stand to greet you, your highness, but as you can see, I am quite immobile at the moment," he motioned for the prince to look at the sleeping woman on his lap.

Kate took a seat as the Prince assisted her, she frowned, "Isn't it a little to early to be binge drinking?"

Joseph chuckled, "I assure you, your grace, Lilly only had two glasses of  wine unfortunately, she is a lightweight when it comes to drinking."

Kate looked at the woman, "Must have been extremely sheltered while growing up. Is this her first time drinking?"

Joseph let out a bark of laughter, "She's an ex bartender and can make the best bloody mary. Only this bar tender is an extreme lightweight when it comes to drinking. Luckily she's only out cold when drunk."

"It must take extreme talent for her to become a bar tender and a lightweight when it comes to drinking," Kate remarked as their lunch was served.

Lillian slept through their lunch asleep on Joseph's lap. When she finally came to, she was inside a moving vehicle. She sat up and looked at Joseph and gave him the stink eye. He simply smiled at her and kissed her forehead. "You were asleep during luncheon. We had important guests, too bad you were asleep," he teased.

"Well, whomever they were, I'm glad I was asleep. I don't think I want to know who witnessed me in my most vulnerable position," she glowered.

"Then I would say that the future King of England and his girlfriend were sorry to have missed your gracious company as you spent the entire meal groping," he said as he recalled the way Lillian nuzzled the bulge on his pants. The woman even caressed him, he was unfortunately wearing slacks and could feel every touch and every squeeze of her curious questing hand. He was lucky their lunch was cut short because of the royal couple's other appointments otherwise he would have embarrassed himself and possibly arrested for public indecency.

Lillian narrowed her eyes at him, "Lying is a terrible sin, your Lordship," she said darkly.

He laughed, "So I have been told, but, I am not lying. I wanted to introduce you to them. However, you were indisposed or zonked out."