Chapter 8
eight
I wish I didn’t like him as much as I hate the life he lives. ~ from Gen’s diary
GENEVIEVE
Sam grabbed the dress from Genevieve’s hand and tossed it on the bed. “Not this one.”
“What was wrong with it? I love that dress.”
“Exactly. You’ve worn it a hundred times already.”
Gen sighed. “Not in front of them. They won’t know. It’s still in good shape.”
“You need to look your best. You know your mother will not let you out of the house in that anyway. It’s not fancy enough.”
Gen clenched the clothes in her hands. “It’s a picnic! It’s not supposed to be fancy.”
“Stop deluding yourself. Do you want my dress?” Sam gestured to the elegant soft blue sundress that featured small white flowers.
“You look amazing in that but you know it won’t look as good on me.” They were different ‘seasons’ color-wise. While some shades may overlap, the light blue was not one of them.
“Then do this one.” Sam reached in and pulled out a lilac sundress. It fell just below her knees, tied around her neck, and featured just a little too much cleavage in the front and had a low back.
“I won’t be able to wear a bra with it.”
Sam grinned. “I bet he will like that.”
“I bet I won’t like it when I lean over to get something and my boobs fall out. This is a date dress, but not a royal date dress. I’m wearing a bra.”
Sam stuck out her tongue. “You’re no fun. Then this one.” She pulled out a similar style dress that featured less cleavage and would allow her to wear a strapless bra, which was better than nothing. The print was swirls of pale pinks, yellows, and oranges.
“Genevieve! Where are you? Why aren’t you ready yet?” her mother’s screaming voice drew closer and closer.
Sam shoved the dress at her and whispered. “Hurry! Put it on.”
Gen nodded then gave Sam a wave as she quickly hurried out of the window. Her mother hated Sam and never approved of her coming over, so she usually snuck in.
Gen had just finished slipping the dress on when her mother burst into her room.
Gen immediately put her hands up, as if she were covering her body. “Mother! You must knock.”
As usual, her mother ignored her wishes and peered her critical eye at her. “Is that what you’re wearing? Tut-tut-tut. Whatever will the prince think? You are so useless. You can’t do anything right. You’re lucky you’ve gotten the prince in your clutches, because—”
The tirade only stopped because the doorbell rang.
Gen walked over to her little desk where she usually put on her makeup. “You should go welcome him, Mother, while I finish getting ready. Or do you want to keep the prince waiting?”
“If you had bothered to keep track of the time, you would already be ready. You don’t keep royalty waiting!
” She whirled and stomped out of the room, not bothering to shut the door.
Thankfully, both her sisters were not at home or she definitely would be hearing something angry from Henrietta, and something suggestive from Diana.
She put on some makeup to complement the dress, picked a simple pearl earring and necklace set that her father had given her years ago, and a pair of pale pink t-strap heeled shoes.
They wouldn’t be the most comfortable for walking around a ruined castle, but she couldn’t show up in something like flats or tennis shoes.
She quickly filled her simple purse, grabbed a moderately-brimmed hat and sunglasses, and started for the stairs.
She could hear her mother’s grating voice mixed with Gabriel’s deeper, resonant tones.
She had not thought of his voice as soothing before, but she realized now that she did like it and she did feel calmer now after hearing it.
“Oh there you are. You see? I told you my daughter wouldn’t keep you waiting for long. Again we do apologize for the inconvenience.”
Gabriel stood as she approached. “Not at all. I can see the effort was well worth the wait.”
She curtsied. “Your Highness. Thank you again for the invitation.”
“Of course. Shall we go?”
“One more moment, Your Highness. I brought a gift for you.”
He’d been wearing his ‘official’ smile but it deepened to a genuine one. “Oh?”
“Yes, some chocolates from Le Petit Pavé.”
“Oh!” Gen’s mother cried out, then began fake laughing. “Oh, you’ll never believe it, but I believe those were not delivered on time.”
Gen frowned. She had picked them up herself yesterday, and left them in the fridge to keep from melting. If her mother was making up stories, either she or Henrietta had eaten them, despite the note she’d left on the box.
Gabriel, of course, didn’t miss anything and jumped in to save her. “Probably for the best. We royals are selective about the food we eat, as I’m sure you understand.”
Gen shot her mother a look. “Of course, Your Highness.”
“Let us be on our way then. Good day, Mrs. Ruffin.” Gabriel put a hand to Gen’s back and gestured for her to proceed him out of the room.
Her mother followed close behind. “Don’t be too late coming back.”
“Of course, Mrs. Ruffin. Though it may storm tonight, in which case we may be delayed. Worry not, she’s in safe hands.”
“Oh, of course, Your Highness.” Her mother curtsied at the door to him, gave her a scathing look, and then turned her smile back on.
As they walked the short distance to the waiting car and security staff, she took in a deep breath of the humid summer air. A haze had settled on the day, and the sun was bright above them. If there was a storm coming, it wasn’t visible yet.
“You look beautiful, my dear.”
She looked up at him, squinting slightly.
“Thank you. You don’t look too bad yourself.
” He was dressed the most casually she’d ever seen him, but still clearly very rich and royal.
Pressed slacks, (likely comfortable) boat shoes, and a navy jacket over a simple white collared shirt.
He gestured for her to enter the car first, then he walked around and entered from the other side, giving her mother a final wave as he did.
As soon as the car pulled away and was through the gate, he tucked her close. “May I kiss you?”
The privacy screen was up but she couldn’t indulge him. “No. You’ll ruin my makeup and people will know what you were doing since all my makeup would probably end up on that white shirt of yours.”
He nuzzled her neck, his mustache tickling her pulse. “I can be careful. Very, very careful.”
“I’m sure you can, and have been in the past. But I’m still saying no.”
He sighed but pulled back, then brought her hand up to his lips. “Maybe after the picnic then?”
She couldn’t help laughing at his hopeful expression. “Maybe. Is that why you invented a storm to delay us back?”
“No, it is supposed to storm tonight. We should make it through the picnic fine, however.”
“Oh. Well, I hope it doesn’t.” She gestured to the road they just turned from. “That road always floods if it rains too much. You’d have to drop me at the Kaur’s instead.”
“Nonsense. You’ll stay at the palace. We have many guest rooms.”
She laughed again at his grin. “You cannot be trusted.”
“Certainly not with you, at any rate.” He kissed her hand again. “Are you nervous? About the picnic, I mean?”
She nodded. “It’s nerve-wracking meeting royalty.”
“They’re only my siblings.”
“Easy for you to say.”
“You’ll do brilliantly.”
She hoped he was right. As Valentia streaked by them, she couldn’t help but feel as if she were about to take a test and maybe even fail it. Perhaps the princess liked her, but if Gabriel’s brothers hated her, would he still be so keen on her?
Only time would tell.
GAbrIEL
When they arrived at the Chateau de Crussol, everything had been set up by the staff and servants.
They bypassed the traditional parking and were driven straight to the ruins, where several blankets had been placed both for sitting and as tables for the food.
Platters of sandwiches, fruit, small desserts, and a variety of drinks were expertly arranged.
Food had already been plated, except for dessert. It was hot, as it often was in August, but here on the hilltop where the ruins lay, it was also breezy and less humid. Large umbrellas had also been arranged kept everything shaded.
Genevieve took it all in, her voice soft. “It looks wonderful.”
They weren’t holding hands, though he desperately wanted to. They needed to keep somewhat of a public distance, at least for now. His brothers would be ruthless if they knew how he really felt about her.
Just as he thought them, they suddenly appeared, Agnes not far behind with a few ladies.
“Ah! Here he is, our future king!” Gaston laughed. Gabriel could tell he’d already started drinking.
Lucien and Ferdinand were close behind, shaking their heads. It was easy to tell they were all related; similar dark hair, similar builds. They’d even dressed similarly, though their jackets were long gone.
“Brothers. Sister. Ladies. May I introduce Miss Genevieve Ruffin? Her father was the late Minister of Education.”
Genevieve curtsied. “Your Highnesses. It’s a pleasure to see you again.”
Gaston reached for her hand the moment she finished the curtsy and kissed it. Gabriel had a strong desire to punch him in the face.
“Have we met before? How terrible of me not to recall it.”
She gently pulled her hand from Gaston’s and smiled serenely. “At the ball a while ago. Though I’m sure you meet many in the course of your duties, so I am not at all offended.”
“What a perfect answer. I can see why Gabriel—”
Ferdinand pulled Gaston back. “Ignore him. He started on the wine a bit early. May I introduce the ladies?”
As Ferdinand escorted her to his sister and introduced Genevieve to Leticia (Ferdi’s date) and Clotilde (Lucien’s date), Gabriel staggered behind with Gaston.
“Rough night? You usually don’t drink like this unless you and Irene have broken up again. I notice she isn’t here.”
A sadness fell over his brother’s face that Gabriel wished he could erase. “She likes me. She simply doesn’t like…” he gestured around him but Gabriel knew what he meant.