Read Online God Save the Queen by Amanda Dacyczyn - Free Book Online Page A
Authors: Amanda Dacyczyn
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was because of the top hat he wore, draped with cobwebs. Still, he was the best-looking masked dead man I had seen all night--so far, anyway.
Then quickly, before anyone noticed, he whispered, “I know I’m not supposed to speak, but miss, please don’t hurt yourself tonight. I don’t want to follow you around all night.” He started to walk away, and then with a little look added, “Unless you want me to…” And with that he was gone.
No sooner had he left and I was already trying to figure out who he was. Amazing how a simple mask can add such mystique to someone. I most definitely wanted to see him again tonight--or so I began to think as I walked through the crowd.
Based on what he’d whispered to me, he was obviously in the royal court. I also knew I had heard his voice before, and he was probably American. There were only eight Americans in my court--including Kevin, of course, but that certainly wasn’t him. My mystery man was far too kind and solicitous. Okay, I thought, who’s next?
I’d suspected the butler’s apprentice, Thomas, could be American, although I’d never heard him speak more than four words. That was the case with just about all the staff, because I hadn’t exactly been a chatterbox around the palace. Then I remembered that Thomas was about five inches shorter than me, so scratch him off my list of possibilities. Even with a top hat he’d never tower over me like my mystery man had. Not even in my highest heels.
I had found my dinner seat in the midst of my contemplating, and saw that I was sitting with who I thought at first was Mari and Avery. But would my ladies-in-waiting be invited to the party? Probably not. Still, I nodded and smiled as I took my seat. I noticed they were sitting next to two burly men. Antonio and Barnes? Definitely not. But then I noticed a lock of curly black hair that had slipped out of one of the men’s hats that identified him as Antonio.
I shook it off as I began thinking of my mystery man. Maybe it was Marcus, the head gardener…. No, his voice was too high-pitched. What about Lloyd, the night guard? That gave me a glimmer of hope (he was very good looking), until I remembered that he was visiting his girlfriend this weekend. And it wasn’t Paul, who had a mole on the side of his face that was visible from space. Still, he was about the nicest person I had ever met. Life’s unfair cruelties. He would be very handsome if it weren’t for that mole….
My thoughts about Paul and his massive mole came to an abrupt stop when I felt a tap on my shoulder. I slowly turned in my chair and saw my mystery man’s green eyes staring straight into mine. Now, I could go on about how his look fueled me with the fires of a thousand suns, but I won’t. It was more like ten thousand.
I struggled to look less eager when I saw him take a seat next to me. At this point I threw all my thoughts about who this man could possibly be out the window. It didn’t matter. What mattered now was that I had an opportunity to find out who he was.
Dinner was a distraction, it was that good. There was a delicious appetizer of scallops in wine sauce called Coquilles St. Jacques, followed by a prime rib and rosemary potatoes. When dinner actually started it was nearing nine-thirty and we were done around ten-thirty. The ladies I had thought might be Mari and Avery got up with maybe Barnes and Antonio. As I watched them slowly walk away, my eye caught sight of something sliding, then brushing against my hand. I looked down to see a small, crumpled piece of paper. I opened up to see a scribbled note written inside.
You don’t think writing notes is breaking the rules, right?
I mean, as long as I’m not talking to
Then quickly, before anyone noticed, he whispered, “I know I’m not supposed to speak, but miss, please don’t hurt yourself tonight. I don’t want to follow you around all night.” He started to walk away, and then with a little look added, “Unless you want me to…” And with that he was gone.
No sooner had he left and I was already trying to figure out who he was. Amazing how a simple mask can add such mystique to someone. I most definitely wanted to see him again tonight--or so I began to think as I walked through the crowd.
Based on what he’d whispered to me, he was obviously in the royal court. I also knew I had heard his voice before, and he was probably American. There were only eight Americans in my court--including Kevin, of course, but that certainly wasn’t him. My mystery man was far too kind and solicitous. Okay, I thought, who’s next?
I’d suspected the butler’s apprentice, Thomas, could be American, although I’d never heard him speak more than four words. That was the case with just about all the staff, because I hadn’t exactly been a chatterbox around the palace. Then I remembered that Thomas was about five inches shorter than me, so scratch him off my list of possibilities. Even with a top hat he’d never tower over me like my mystery man had. Not even in my highest heels.
I had found my dinner seat in the midst of my contemplating, and saw that I was sitting with who I thought at first was Mari and Avery. But would my ladies-in-waiting be invited to the party? Probably not. Still, I nodded and smiled as I took my seat. I noticed they were sitting next to two burly men. Antonio and Barnes? Definitely not. But then I noticed a lock of curly black hair that had slipped out of one of the men’s hats that identified him as Antonio.
I shook it off as I began thinking of my mystery man. Maybe it was Marcus, the head gardener…. No, his voice was too high-pitched. What about Lloyd, the night guard? That gave me a glimmer of hope (he was very good looking), until I remembered that he was visiting his girlfriend this weekend. And it wasn’t Paul, who had a mole on the side of his face that was visible from space. Still, he was about the nicest person I had ever met. Life’s unfair cruelties. He would be very handsome if it weren’t for that mole….
My thoughts about Paul and his massive mole came to an abrupt stop when I felt a tap on my shoulder. I slowly turned in my chair and saw my mystery man’s green eyes staring straight into mine. Now, I could go on about how his look fueled me with the fires of a thousand suns, but I won’t. It was more like ten thousand.
I struggled to look less eager when I saw him take a seat next to me. At this point I threw all my thoughts about who this man could possibly be out the window. It didn’t matter. What mattered now was that I had an opportunity to find out who he was.
Dinner was a distraction, it was that good. There was a delicious appetizer of scallops in wine sauce called Coquilles St. Jacques, followed by a prime rib and rosemary potatoes. When dinner actually started it was nearing nine-thirty and we were done around ten-thirty. The ladies I had thought might be Mari and Avery got up with maybe Barnes and Antonio. As I watched them slowly walk away, my eye caught sight of something sliding, then brushing against my hand. I looked down to see a small, crumpled piece of paper. I opened up to see a scribbled note written inside.
You don’t think writing notes is breaking the rules, right?
I mean, as long as I’m not talking to
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