the palace and I’ll have to be there more nights than not.”
“Just like the old days, huh?”
“Not quite,” Magdalena murmured, thinking of how Salvadore had only grown more handsome—and infinitely more skilled at being impossible to resist—over the years.
“Well, I know you’ve got this. I can stay until after the to-do at the end of the month, and then my niece is coming from America to stay with me for a while.”
“That will be nice.”
“Yes, she’s one of those lost children that seem to be more and more common these days—like you, dear. She’s in her twenties and works as a glorified babysitter while she goes to school forever.” Juliet rolled her eyes. “In my day, all you needed to figure things out was good friends, a decent-sized penis, and a couple of orgasms a week.”
Magdalena laughed, despite the fact that she didn’t exactly enjoy discussing such things in front of her father. Juliet did always get right to the point. “I’ll try to remember that. Who needs professional fulfillment and true love?”
Juliet sobered, looking Maggie straight in the eye. “True love is for fairytales, darling. No matter what Prince Salvadore and the palace are trying to sell with this ball nonsense, that sort of thing doesn’t play out in real life.”
“I know that.”
Did she? Magdalena wasn’t sure, but she figured a woman like Juliet, who had been married three times, would know.
“You going out, bella mia ?”
Maggie went to her father and kissed his cheek. “I’m going to meet some friends for a quick drink and then head back to the palace. I’ll check in every day, though, okay?”
He patted her hand. “You don’t have to, but I’ll look forward to hearing your voice.”
Maggie headed for the door, motioning for Juliet to follow her into the hallway as subtly as possible. By the time they were alone, the expression on the older woman’s face made it clear she was looking forward to whatever gossip she was about to get.
“Could you keep an eye out for any letters or phone calls from someone claiming to represent a Matrigna Holdings?”
Juliet’s eyebrows went up, her hazel eyes flickering with interest. “Those people buying up all the land in the country? They’re after Gabriel’s little plot?”
“You’ve heard of them?”
“Sure. Half the people in my little town have already sold out. They’re spending money like nobody’s business.”
“Where are they all going?”
She shrugged. “The buyer is allowing them to remain in their homes and pay rent to him for the time being, but I imagine once he’s got all he wants, there will be some changes to the landscape.” Her lips twisted in disgust. “I’ll keep an eye out and let you know if anything comes in.”
“Thanks, Juliet. And thanks again for staying. I promise to be home by the time…what was your niece’s name?”
“Amalia.” She smiled, clearly taken with her niece despite her earlier criticism. “Lia. She’s a good girl.”
“I’m looking forward to meeting her. I hope we can all spend a little time together before you go back home.”
“I imagine she’ll love that. She’ll much prefer the excitement of Arcobaleno to my little country home.” Juliet smiled and nudged Maggie toward the door. “Don’t worry about your father. Just prove yourself with this job. Once the crown has accepted you as his replacement, the rest of the kingdom will do the same.”
“Thanks.”
Time had gotten away from her, and if the buses weren’t running on time she would be late to meet her friends. Not that any of them would care—both Barty and Camilla ran late like they didn’t own watches—but Maggie was anxious to get back to the palace. Her staff would arrive first thing in the morning and she still had to revamp Elisa’s costumes.
Her worries turned out to be in vain, as the bus dropped her off a block from the bar with two minutes to spare. She blew inside and, as she
“Just like the old days, huh?”
“Not quite,” Magdalena murmured, thinking of how Salvadore had only grown more handsome—and infinitely more skilled at being impossible to resist—over the years.
“Well, I know you’ve got this. I can stay until after the to-do at the end of the month, and then my niece is coming from America to stay with me for a while.”
“That will be nice.”
“Yes, she’s one of those lost children that seem to be more and more common these days—like you, dear. She’s in her twenties and works as a glorified babysitter while she goes to school forever.” Juliet rolled her eyes. “In my day, all you needed to figure things out was good friends, a decent-sized penis, and a couple of orgasms a week.”
Magdalena laughed, despite the fact that she didn’t exactly enjoy discussing such things in front of her father. Juliet did always get right to the point. “I’ll try to remember that. Who needs professional fulfillment and true love?”
Juliet sobered, looking Maggie straight in the eye. “True love is for fairytales, darling. No matter what Prince Salvadore and the palace are trying to sell with this ball nonsense, that sort of thing doesn’t play out in real life.”
“I know that.”
Did she? Magdalena wasn’t sure, but she figured a woman like Juliet, who had been married three times, would know.
“You going out, bella mia ?”
Maggie went to her father and kissed his cheek. “I’m going to meet some friends for a quick drink and then head back to the palace. I’ll check in every day, though, okay?”
He patted her hand. “You don’t have to, but I’ll look forward to hearing your voice.”
Maggie headed for the door, motioning for Juliet to follow her into the hallway as subtly as possible. By the time they were alone, the expression on the older woman’s face made it clear she was looking forward to whatever gossip she was about to get.
“Could you keep an eye out for any letters or phone calls from someone claiming to represent a Matrigna Holdings?”
Juliet’s eyebrows went up, her hazel eyes flickering with interest. “Those people buying up all the land in the country? They’re after Gabriel’s little plot?”
“You’ve heard of them?”
“Sure. Half the people in my little town have already sold out. They’re spending money like nobody’s business.”
“Where are they all going?”
She shrugged. “The buyer is allowing them to remain in their homes and pay rent to him for the time being, but I imagine once he’s got all he wants, there will be some changes to the landscape.” Her lips twisted in disgust. “I’ll keep an eye out and let you know if anything comes in.”
“Thanks, Juliet. And thanks again for staying. I promise to be home by the time…what was your niece’s name?”
“Amalia.” She smiled, clearly taken with her niece despite her earlier criticism. “Lia. She’s a good girl.”
“I’m looking forward to meeting her. I hope we can all spend a little time together before you go back home.”
“I imagine she’ll love that. She’ll much prefer the excitement of Arcobaleno to my little country home.” Juliet smiled and nudged Maggie toward the door. “Don’t worry about your father. Just prove yourself with this job. Once the crown has accepted you as his replacement, the rest of the kingdom will do the same.”
“Thanks.”
Time had gotten away from her, and if the buses weren’t running on time she would be late to meet her friends. Not that any of them would care—both Barty and Camilla ran late like they didn’t own watches—but Maggie was anxious to get back to the palace. Her staff would arrive first thing in the morning and she still had to revamp Elisa’s costumes.
Her worries turned out to be in vain, as the bus dropped her off a block from the bar with two minutes to spare. She blew inside and, as she
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