“Is this meant to be you praising me?” Francesca asked.
“She is scared of not being in control of herself. She is confused about me because she has never felt this way about anyone. Her excuse is that I am too old for her. She loves shrimp more than she will ever admit. She has never done anything reckless in her life. Perhaps being with me is the most reckless thing she has ever done. I could talk about her all day,” he added.
All three sisters stared at him with their mouths open. He knew her far more than they thought.
“Oh, he is so sweet,” Liane said.
“I know right,” Macee answered. Jean Pierre and Prince Louis looked at each other. That was not what they were expecting at all.
“What?” they said at the same time.
“I would like to get to know your sister even more if you would allow me. I guess I am asking for your permission,” he said to Liane and Macee.
“Of course,” they said at the same time. Francesca was staring at their interaction unsure what to say.
“That is it?” Jean Pierre asked.
“What?” Liane looked at him.
“I had it much harder.”
Liane and Macee laughed at him. The three had given him a much harder time. “I do not love shrimp that much,” Francesca said unsure what else to say as everyone laughed.
“You do,” Liane and Macee said at the same time. Francesca always tried to hide her eating habits. She thought it made her less of a lady if she showed too much enthusiasm for anything.
After dinner, Lord Jacques took Francesca back to the palace. The two of them sat in the back seat of his car as Francesca stared at him. “I never gave you permission to be with me,” she said to him as he turned to face her. “Who said I even like you?” she asked.
“You are awful at hiding your feelings,” he said to her. She rolled her eyes and looked away. He took her hand and placed a key in her palm.
“What is that?” she looked at her hand.
“A key.”
“I see that but to where?”
“My heart.”
“What?”
“I noticed that you say what a lot, especially when you don't know what to say or want to pretend you did not hear what I said.”
“What?” Francesca realised that she had done it again. “Shut up,” she said to him before he said anything else.
Chuckling. “It’s the key to my house. You had said that you have nothing to do at the palace and I want you to come and see me whenever you want. Francesca, I want you to be a part of my life and I think that we would both be more comfortable if we weren’t sneaking around like teenagers at the palace,” he said.
“Why?”
“Because I am falling in love with you. It drives me crazy when I do not see you. And then I have to walk around the palace or work late simply in the hopes that I might bump into you.”
Francesca raised her eyebrows. So those times they bumped into each other in the palace that was not a coincidence. They had been looking for each other. “Stalker,” she said. He smiled and pulled her towards him. He held her face in his palms and searched her eyes.
“Say you'll come,” he said.
“We'll see.”
He pressed a feather light kiss on her lips. “That is good enough for me,” he said to her and kissed her again.
“Oh you drive me crazy,” she said.
“I know.”
“And I hate that I like you this much.”
“I know.”
He caressed her neck with the back of his hand. “I like you touching me,” she said and took his hand.
“I know.”
“Take me to your house. I need you.”
“Okay. Pack your things.” He leaned closer to her and kissed her. They paused when they felt the car stop. They had arrived at the palace. Francesca got out of the car and strode towards the palace gates.
“I will see you when you come over,” he called out after her.
“If I come,” she answered as she walked away smiling. She clutched the key tightly in her hand as she turned around. “I love you!” she shouted after the departing car. She immediately regretted the words. She had said them first. The car braked abruptly and Lord Jacques’ got out and stood there staring at her for what felt like an eternity.
“I love you too,” he said to her.
Epilogue
Things had been going well between Francesca and Lord Jacques. They argued occasionally and it frustrated him that she did not address him as a Lord. He would correct her, but she never listened. She went to his house occasionally and they would spend time together kissing and touching, but he refused to take it farther, which made Francesca incredibly frustrated.