my bag to carry in the car. It would be a two-hour drive—nothing too long, but not a trip around the corner.
I finished up my breakfast while looking through the local papers. Thankfully some of them were in English. Unfortunately, my picture was on the front page of most of them.
“How can they do this? They just publish whatever they want without checking facts.” I held up the one I was reading. “I’m not pining away for some lover back home.” I set that paper down and picked up the next one. “I’m also not suffering from an eating disorder. Look at this! This one says I refuse to eat and the queen is worried. This other paper has a picture of me stuffing a burger in my mouth and calls me an American slob. Which is it? Am I anorexic or a fatty?”
“Best advice you will ever receive is to not read the papers.” Chadwick opened my closet.
“This is crazy! They just post whatever will sell.” I growled and threw the papers in the trash can next to the desk. “What are you doing?”
“Making sure we haven’t left anything.” He opened the drawers of the nightstand.
“I already checked.” I shook my head. “Are you okay? You seem flustered.”
“I’m fine.” His snappy tone made my eyebrows rise. “No. I’m not. I had a fight last night with my… friend. I apologize. I shouldn’t take it out on you.”
“Want to talk about it?”
“We don’t have time.” He sighed. “Are you ready? I believe I saw Alex leaving his mother’s sitting room.”
“Sure.” I pulled my coat on and grabbed my bag. “Chadwick, would you be interested in making this a permanent job? Work for me? I know you’ve been living here, so if you have a life out here and aren’t interested in moving, I get that.” I wrapped my scarf around my neck. “I really would understand, but I’ve gotten used to your brand of nagging.”
“You’re so darling. How could I resist?” Chadwick said.
“So, that’s a yes?”
“I’ve already packed.” He opened the door for me and we made our way to the main entrance.
“What if I hadn’t asked you?”
“It’s my job to be prepared for everything.” He looked down at his clipboard and a terrible thought came to me.
“That’s not why you fought with your friend is it?” He didn’t look up from his notes. “Chadwick, don’t move out there for me. I mean, I want you to move out there for me, but I don’t want you to leave something good behind.”
“I’m happy with my decision, but thank you.” He smiled at me. “Besides, I think we make a good team.”
“I think so, too.” I frowned as we walked a ways. “Maybe… maybe your friend could come with you. I wouldn’t mind, if that’s what you’re worried about.”
“That’s incredibly kind of you, but that’s not an option.”
“Oh.” I hated to see my peppy assistant so despondent. “Well, if that changes, the option is open.”
“I appreciate that.” He smiled at me but still looked sad.
“So long as I don’t find you in your underwear drinking milk out of the carton in the middle of the night.”
“What if I pour it in a cup first?” Chadwick was starting to loosen up and I was relieved.
“That’s mildly better. How about we agree on at least pajama pants or a robe with the glass of milk?”
“You do realize that there is an entire suite for me?” He looked over at me with a smile. “I believe in the States they are referred to as a ‘mother-in-law suite.’”
“Still. You might run out of milk and try to swipe mine.”
“Then I believe that’s an acceptable deal as long as it applies to you as well.”
“Hey, it’s my house.” I laughed. “No promises.”
We waited at the entrance for Alex and his assistant. I’d seen him a few times with Alex, an older gentleman who was very proper. While we killed time, I studied the paintings hanging in the entranceway. There was some beautiful work and some of them even looked vaguely familiar.
“Yes, yes. Tell them that I’ll be out there next week.” Alex’s voice reached my ears and my heart thumped. I was starting to feel like a schoolgirl. “I have some things to take care of at D’Lynsal and then I will go to Paris.” I turned to look at him and he smiled. His eyes ran over me like a man in the desert looking at a glass of water. My heart rate sped up