Page 33 of Forbidden Bastard
Good point. He offered her his hand. “Let’s get back to inform the staff of our small party so they can prepare.”
He signed for the bag and then handed her the diamonds. At least everyone would see that he'd take wonderful care of Sandi. Soon he’d fly her parents in to Avce and they’d have their social standing back, so that should also put Sandi at ease. Clara would be able to retire in Avce as she wished.
Life was good as they got back into the car and rolled the windows down.
He heard birds singing and people laughing on the boardwalk they passed on the way back to his home. When was the last time he'd felt so happy?
Within fifteen minutes the Mercedes passed through the open black gates of his villa and he saw the perfectly kept yard. Hard to believe this belonged to him. Sandi took his arm and asked as they neared the house, “Your head housekeeper was Chiara, and head butler, Bernard, right?”
The driver stopped, parked, and went to open their door as Charles kept his voice low but admitted, “I’ve no idea.”
The driver opened her door for her and she slipped out. “You were there when they said their names.”
He followed on her heels. “I wasn’t paying attention.”
He stopped for a moment, then his arms wrapped around her waist as she held the diamonds in the black bag close to her chest. She said, “Please address them with names, Charles.”
Chiara. Bernard. He’d try. They made their way inside the house and he stopped next to the butler who held it for them. “Bernard?”
The older, bald man’s eyes widened. “Yes, Your Grace?”
Sandi brushed against his shoulder with approval clear on her face while Charles said, “The Earl of Sky and his wife, Cassidy, her sister, Chelsea, and her sister’s husband, Alexandre Travers, will be having an early cocktail with us this evening before we go to the royal dinner.”
The man’s posture stiffened like he had orders from an army commander. “The staff will be prepared. Also, we are expecting the royal stylist, Michael Colombo, at any moment. Where would you like to set him up?”
Another royal spy. This was why he avoided Avce and preferred Paris. At least there he pretended his life was normal and nothing had changed. He crossed his arms. “Why is he coming here?”
Bernard’s face lost its gleam while he lifted his chin. “He said he was scheduled for the hair appointment with Miss Smith.”
So, he’d watch his tongue.
There wasn’t any information he might have left around here. And supposedly the man was the best hair stylist on the continent. Sandi deserved the best so he nodded, and stepped back. “Very well then--send him to Sandi’s suite.”
“Who's Michael exactly?” Sandi asked. “If he bothers you, we can get another stylist.”
Her sweetness unmanned him. He met her gaze and softened when he said, “No, that's fine. When I tell the buying clientele, I am theDuke del Pescatore,from Avce, Michael is always asked like they hoped I knew hair and makeup designer.”
She tilted her head. “I see.”
For a second he waited for more questions, but she was silent.
The air was thick like he needed to make a choice but didn’t know the options. He returned his attention to Bernard, who had closed the door and then said to both of them, “We’ve not been informed which rooms Miss Smith has chosen, Your Grace.”
Sandi being here meant this house was his permanently as well as the money and title. Everyone needed to know her rank in his life. “Sandi has agreed to be my wife--she will inform you which rooms she prefers herself.”
Bernard stood at attention again and said, “Very well.”
Sandi tugged on his hand like she wanted to go as her face was slightly red. “I don’t know anything about where I should be, but we’re running late. I’ll check the house out later, in more detail, and choose then?”
Late? Sandi must be one of the early-to-bed, early-to-rise type of Americans with that answer. Her general optimism about life also made her novel and tonight everyone would see how much she was a treasure.
And she was his.
He walked her toward the room he’d chosen as his own. “For now, Bernard, can you have the staff choose the most efficient place for hair, makeup, and wardrobe? I don’t know the house as well.”
“Thank you. That’s perfect,” Sandi agreed with a smile.
“Yes, Miss,” Bernard said. The butler lowered his head and bowed. “I want to add that the staff is very happy you and His Grace are settling into the house, and we all hope you enjoy life here.”
