“You do realise that it was for charity right?” Francesca said.
“Stop stalling and start talking,” Macee said.
Francesca laid there staring at the ceiling. She sighed before she spoke. She started telling them about the date. They giggled and laughed.
“He took you on a boat, that is so romantic,” Liane said.
“Oh, I can see him in a completely different light now,” Macee added.
“He is still the same man to me,” Francesca said.
“You are such a bore.”
“So you are saying that there was no moment where you wanted to kiss him?” Liane asked.
“No, there was not,” Francesca replied.
“Liar,” Macee said.
“There really wasn't.”
“And he did not try to kiss you?”
Francesca did not say anything as she blushed. She suddenly felt shy and wasn’t sure what to say or how to tell her sisters
“Frannie!” Macee shouted.
“What?” Francesca answered.
“There was kiss wasn't there?”
“No, there was not.”
“Yes there was, otherwise you would have replied by now.” Liane said.
“Where is Simone?”
“Oh my God!” Macee and Liane said at the same time. Francesca covered her face with her hands. She was bad at lying. Even Lord Jacques had caught her out so many times when she tried to lie to him. She rubbed at her cheeks.
“Was it good?” Macee asked.
“Macee!” Francesca groaned. She was not prepared to talk about it. She never liked talking about stuff like that because she did not know what to say.
“Don't hold out now.”
“I am hungry.”
“I bet you are,” Macee said as she and Liane started laughing. Francesca rolled her eyes and crawled out of bed. One of the perks of living in the palace was having quarters with everything she needed.
“Can I get some breakfast?” Francesca asked one of the maids. She sat down at the table as her sisters joined her.
“So what is going to happen now?” Liane asked Francesca.
“Happen where?” Francesca asked. She had no idea what her older sister was talking about anymore.
“Between you and Lord Jacques.”
“Nothing will happen.”
“You have no feelings for him?”
“I do not.” Up until then, Francesca was sure that she did not like him but after answering her sister, she found herself wondering if that was really true.
“Why not?”
“He is so much older than I am.”
“Oh Frannie, that is a poor excuse,” Macee replied.
“Macee don't call me that,” Francesca scolded her little sister who enjoyed teasing her.
“She is right. He is not that much older than you, that should not be your excuse,” Liane said.
“He is a nice man. Louis also likes him. He seems like a good guy and he is so attractive. Why don't you like him?” Macee asked.
“We can stop speaking about him now,” Francesca said as the maids brought in breakfast. Macee stared at her plate. “You haven't eaten yet?” Francesca asked her.
“No, I rushed over here as soon as I woke up,” Macee replied. Francesca rubbed Macee's head as she dug into her food. She may be the crown princess, but she was still the baby of the family.
* * *
Lord Jacques had just finished work. He had worked late and lost track of time. As he left his office to head home, he saw Francesca standing by a window looking out. He approached her and stopped next to her.
“What are you looking at?” he asked her as she jumped in fright. She turned in his direction and frowned when she saw whom it was.
“Something I can help you with?” she asked him.
“Is it so difficult to be polite?”
Francesca shrugged her shoulders. “Hello, Lord Jacques, how are you?” she asked. Olivier could not tell if there was sincerity or sarcasm in her voice.
“I am well, thank you,” he replied. He slid his hands in his pockets, as he looked her. “What are you up to this evening?” he asked her.
“Just looking at the stars,” she said.
“You like stars?”
“What girl doesn't?” Besides Macee, of course but he need not know that.
“What else do you like?” he asked her.
“Not speaking to you.” The words came out faster than she wanted, as she turned to face him. “I know you think I am ill-mannered and candid, so why do you bother speaking to me?” she asked him.
“You are actually not that candid,” he pointed out.
“You have not answered my question.”
“I want to kiss you.”
Francesca's eyes flew open. He was too bold for her. “Please restrain yourself,” she said. Her stomach started knotting up as she remembered how it felt when he kissed her and how much she wanted him to do it again.