With a belabored sigh, Carmen hurried into the bathroom to fix her bath.
Minutes later, with steam following behind her, Antoinette stepped back into the bedroom and patiently allowed the woman to help her get dressed. "Have I been an exemplary maid, Señorita?" she asked conversationally as she drew the brush through Antoinette's long tresses.
"Of course."
"I would like to ask you a favor."
She met the woman's anxious eyes in the vanity mirror.
"Ask away."
"The maids are vying to see which of them will be assigned to the new princess and I was wondering if... that is... I hope you don't think I'm passing my place. I hope I can continue to take care of you after you're married to the prince."
It occurred to Antoinette then that her life was about to be irrevocably changed. She was no longer going to be just an employee, but a princess. Her heart fluttered anxiously and she had to tamp down the dire need to have a full-blown panic attack.
"Absolutely." She cleared her throat and forced a smile.
"Gracias. Gracias," the woman said gratefully.
She had never been to his suite. As a matter of fact, she had never been to that part of the palace, which was off-limits to everyone except the lofty servants who served the queen and her son.
The hallway was hushed and quiet, with elaborate etchings on the paneled walls. Expensive artworks hung there, and the carpet, a light golden color, hushed her footsteps. He actually had a valet, and the man had been sent to escort her. They traveled the long hallway until they came to a set of double doors.
The man opened them with a flourish, stepping back to allow her to precede him. She knew the Perezes were mega-wealthy, but she saw the evidence of it as she stepped into the lofty foyer and down the steps leading to a sitting room larger than her bedroom, done up in the palest of watercolor blue silk. Stepping from the sitting room, she stood just at the threshold to the largest and most opulent bedroom she had ever seen outside of a magazine.
A huge fireplace dominated an entire wall, and the fire was crackling cheerfully inside the hearth. There was no carpet on the hardwood floor. Instead, it was strewn strategically with beautiful hand-woven rugs. The bed was on a dais, with steps leading up to it. The man who occupied the room was dressed formally in tan dress pants, light blue sweater, and a dark blue sports coat.
"That will be all, Javier."
The valet executed a formal bow before leaving the room and closing the doors behind him.
It suddenly hit her what she was going into. This man, the one standing in front of her, was royalty. And he looked every inch of it.
"Antoinette?" He had obviously seen the look of sheer terror on her face and was wondering at the source of it.
"This..." She turned in a circle, with the intention of regaining her composure. "It's a wonder you managed to tolerate my room. This is like a whole apartment complex."
He advanced cautiously, not fooled by her evasive tactic.
Taking her hand, he turned her to face him. "What is it, darling?"
Her heart did a slow dive at the look on his handsome face and the tone of his voice.
"This is huge," she admitted shakily. "I don't know if I can do this."
"You can. All of this means nothing if you're not with me."
She laughed derisively. "You don't mean that."
"I mean every word." Drawing her in, he kissed her forehead, her eyelids, her nose and then her mouth. "I'm head over heels in love with you. I breathe for you. I carry you here." Taking her hand, he pressed it where his heart was beating a little unsteadily.
"And here." Lifting that same hand, he pressed it on his forehead. "My mind. And my entire being pulses for you. I am undeniably and completely yours."
Expelling a shaky breath, she walked into his arms.