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“I cannot promise that the halls would not talk, Your Majesty, but I plan to keep your secrets as well as I have any great lady I worked for. I vowed to care for you as I would my own and I continue to do that.”
“It’s not a moral failing? We aren’t married. What if we do it and he drops me?—”
“I suspect His Royal Highness cares little about the status of a woman’s virginity. I think he fancies you. And, given what I saw, would be only too willing to go a lot further than he just did.”
I blushed.
“Make choices when you are ready. You are young. Life is long. If you want to do more, you should, but let us take care of the practical problem first. I will get the pills.”
“Thank you,” I said, relieved.
I would be taking matters into my own hands. God, it felt glorious to do that! Every day, I would take a pill and stick it to Celeste, the Church, and the old men who told me what to do with my body.
Marta left me to sort myself. I revelled in the way it had felt when Rick touched me. I wanted more. I had no idea it could feel so good to have him run his hand between my legs. I wondered if we might do it again soon, but I suspected I should wait until Marta was able to procure the pill. I would have to try hard to avoid him. I still felt the pleasure of his fingers rolling over my nipple. I wanted him so badly.
I snapped out of the fantasy. I remembered Rick’s words. He didn’t seem the sentimental type. I found the bracelet box, still closed and undisturbed. The phone was inside, switched off. I locked the door, flicked the phone on, and waited for it to boot. The logo came on and I went through the steps to set up. I prayed no one bothered me. It took so long. No wonder why these things were impossible!
After minutes of trying, I got a message from someone I assumed was Rick.
Rick
Tonight, be ready to flee. I have a plan. Bring A with you.
Me
How?
Rick
Dress like normal people going out. Dress down, okay? Jeans.
Me
You’re mad
Rick
I’m not
I changed the caller ID to Rick the Prick. I’d played on these before since Astrid got one without any access to making calls or texting years ago. We used it to stream movies late at night sometimes when we were too lazy to get out of bed. Not that it mattered. After all, who would we ring? We knew no one.
Me
Okay
I smiled and powered the thing off, shoving it inside a big box of tampons. No one would go in there.
Twenty-Two
Rick
Martin was my ear to the ground for the past few days. He made nice and shared information with Alexandra’s lady’s maid. Marta appeared trustworthy, knowing about the phone but saying nothing. Obligated to care for the girl and help her along, Marta was the last staff member remaining after Alexandra's late mother's death. Marta was crucial for the weeks ahead. With the channels open, we pushed forward.
I heard the Dowager Queen was about to skip off for a few days. It was time for us to break out of the asylum. I planned to show Alexandra—but not only Alexandra—more of the world. We would bring Astrid, too. I liked Astrid and knew she brought Alexandra out of her shell. Astrid was also Alexandra’s key ally. If I was to keep Alexandra happy, I also had to keep Astrid happy. What better way than taking them both out for a night on the town?
I felt new pressure to bond with Alexandra as Celeste’s spies became even bolder. I wasn’t sure why Celeste intervened, but I would ensure Alexandra remained far from the clutches of Celeste’s nerdy plant. I was not about to lose her to that dolt.
I spent time reading about wallpaper. I learned more than any man should about the stuff. It was exhausting keeping up this ruse when I could spend little time with Alexandra. But in the limited time we had, I needed to make a better impression. Before, I assumed that merely agreeing to the ruse was enough. However, if Celeste sewed doubt or caught me in a lie, Alexandra may pull back before we even got started.
