Page 39 of His Royal Request

She bit her lip and nodded. “I was a bit lost in you too. Nothing I’ve done in the past two days has been normal. You have to promise me, no more secrets.”

I nodded. “Of course. I promise.”

She studied my face, a tiny smile creeping on her lips. She stepped forward, into me, and wrapped her arms around my waist. I enveloped her, relishing the feeling of her and grateful she was still here.

11

Charlie

A sliding sound broke through my peaceful sleep as light poured into the room without warning. “Up, up, up.” Isla’s sing-songy voice was the last thing I wanted to hear in that moment.

I cracked open one eye and groaned.

“Come on, sleepyhead.” Isla had drawn the drapes back, which explained the sliding sound. “Cars are arriving soon and we have to be ready to greet the guests.”

I pulled a pillow over my face but it was ripped away within seconds.

“Why?” I asked, my voice raspy from sleep.

“Because you are a special guest of the royal family. It’s expected that you make an appearance, plus it will get the rumors going and hopefully divert some of the female attention off Aiden.”

I rubbed my eyes and sat up. Isla was already dressed in a stylish red dress that hugged her curves and was cinched in with a thin black belt. Her blonde hair was curled and she looked ready to greet the world.

On the other hand, I could taste my morning breath and I knew my hair was a tangled nest. I’d always been a violent sleeper and that translated to the worst bedhead of all time. Every single morning.

“Oh boy,” she said. “You get in the shower now while I get your dress laid out.”

I slowly swung my legs over the edge of the bed and sat trying to find the strength or desire to get all the way out.

“Chop chop! We have thirty minutes.”

I groaned and got up and headed into the bathroom to shower.

I walked back into the room in a plush pink robe to see that Isla had taken over. More makeup than I’d ever owned was sitting on the vanity and a dress, jewelry, and shoes were waiting for me.

“Let’s get started on your makeup while your hair dries a bit.”

I sat on the stool she pulled out. “Where did all of this come from?” I asked.

“I sent for some more last night when I saw yesterday how little you’d brought.” She picked up a brush and combed out the tangles in my hair.

“That was all the makeup I own.”

Her eyes met mine in the mirror while she paused. “Huh. Well, now you have more.”

I closed my eyes as she applied cream and then brushed my face with powder.

“Open your eyes,” she said.

I followed her instructions and she applied mascara. I fought the urge to blink and giggled when she swatted my arm. “Hold still.”

“Don’t you have someone to do this for you?”

She shrugged. “I have a makeup artist and stylist that come in for big events, but I actually enjoy it. Having someone else to dress up is fun.”

I laughed. “I’m not a doll.”

“Hush. Don’t ruin this for me.”