Page 40 of Royally Redeemed
“We must tell Mummy you ride. This is important information. Relevant.”
“You expect me to be around long enough to act upon such information, Duncan?”
“A man can dream,” I shrugged. “Or, rather, I am indebted to you, Miss Mills, until this series wraps up, yes?”
“Uh-huh.” She crossed her arms. “We're not another species.”
“What?”
“American women. We're not a different species. Promise.”
“No, but you do approach things differently. I never said I disliked it. I rather like how domineering you are,” I said.
“You say lots and do little. Go destem the thyme and be useful,” Ella said.
“Yes, ma'am.”
26
DAVE
ELOISE
Iescaped to my room after dinner to take a call from Monique and her parents as they celebrated Christmas in the alps. The family wanted to hear about my burst pipe and other nonsense. I told them a sanitized version, leaving out that the other actor in it was the future King of the United Kingdom. To them, my boss was a rando called Dave. I did not mention our agreement.
“Okay, go on then,” Monique spoke French to her parents. “I want to talk to her alone.”
“They are too sweet, as per usual, Mo.”
“I know,” Monique said. “They miss you and wonder if you could visit. Come skiing?”
“I dunno. This client is... demanding.”
“Dave is the client, right? Dave is the guy?”
“Dave is the guy, yes.”
“And have you and Dave managed to find any time together while trapped in the middle of a snowstorm?”
I groaned.
“What? It's like every holiday rom-com in history. Your misfortune writes its own love story in which you end up with averyhappy ending with the handsome white knight on his horse—or maybe a prince?”
“He is no knight, that Dave.”
She giggled. “Okay, fine. But has anything... happened?”
“No,” I said. “Okay, maybe, but like... it's not sex.”
“What? So did you kiss Dave?”
“No, actually. There's this thing going on. He's like, into me. I thought for sure Dave would be the older man who wanted to treat me like a child. Instead, he's... he likes me to be in charge.”
“Oh, that's fun. I didn't have him in that category.”
“Nor me. He's like... totally okay with me giving him orders. It revs his engine. So much. And I am... liking it? Is that okay? Or is that... weird?”
“If you're both enjoying it and both consenting adults, why wouldn't it be okay, ma cherie?”
