Suddenly Royal
Page 72
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“You’re welcome.”
Surprisingly there were no cars following us except for our own detail as we drove through the winding roads. When we came to a thin driveway with a gated entrance, the first car pulled in and the driver punched a code into the small keypad. I craned my neck to try to see the house through the trees, but they were too dense.
I sat up in my seat and leaned forward as we pulled through the gate. Seeing this house in person would clinch the whole deal for me—it was where I thought I’d finally be able to understand my place in this weird direction my life had taken. The trees cleared and I was rewarded with a breathtaking sight. The house wasn’t really a house. With the stone walls it looked more like a castle.
A short burst of laughter exited my mouth. I had seen pictures, but they hadn’t done it justice. There was a large staircase that led up to a massive door with elegant statues and stonework on either side. There was a small garden in the center of the circular driveway, a light frosting of snow sitting on top of the sculpted bushes.
“It’s something out of a fairy tale.”
“Welcome home, Samantha.” Alex’s warm voice drew my attention from the house. His eyes were warm and there was a soft smile pulling at his lips.
“Thank you.” I whispered the words. I meant for everything—for coming with me, for not running away every time I pushed, and for being my friend when I needed one.
He reached out and wrapped his fingers around mine before lifting my hand to his mouth and pressing a soft kiss on my knuckles. There were no words, no explanations, but they weren’t needed. He had said he wouldn’t kiss me until I asked, but this didn’t count. It was less than the kiss I had wanted in the bookstore, but more than I could ask for right now.
He got out of the car and walked around to open my door. I stepped onto my family land for the first time while Alex stood next to me. It felt right for him to be here. A shiver ran over my body as my eyes drank in the surroundings. A long time ago, my ancestors had lived here. Not many people could trace their family as far as the queen had done for me.
The front door opened and a man stood at the top of the stairs. He was tall with a friendly face and silver hair. I took the stairs carefully, Alex a step behind me. The man at the door bowed and I held my hand out.
“Duchess Rousseau, it’s a pleasure.” The man shook my hand briskly. “I’m Stanley Wessex.” He motioned to the open front door. “Welcome home.”
Chapter Twenty-Five
Our Very Own Royal Upgrades Homes
—College Daily
The inside was much more spacious than I would have thought. Two women stood just inside and curtsied when I entered the house. Stanley introduced them as his wife, who was the cook, and a slight woman named Jeanette, who was the housekeeper.
I took the time to talk with them each, but I was itching to run through the rooms. The furnishings were elegant, but nothing too grand. It felt like an ideal French chateau. After depositing our coats, Stanley led Alex and me through the rooms. He took the time to point out important furniture pieces and rooms that were used for something special.
“Two years ago we decided to upgrade the kitchens and bathrooms. The queen felt like it was a worthwhile expense and now I know why. She must have been close to finding you.” Stanley showed me the lovely kitchen, large enough to make food for a big party, but nothing like the industrial kitchen of the palace. “Margie has really enjoyed the changes.”
“It’s beautiful.” I liked the counters and soft colors of the walls. “I don’t think I would have picked anything different.”
“I’ll have to tell Margie. She worried that you wouldn’t like the things she chose and wouldn’t feel at home.”
“No, I love it.”
“I’m glad.” Stanley ushered us through the formal dining room, sitting parlor, and the more relaxed living room. As he led us up the stairs, he looked over his shoulder at me. “I’m afraid that we kept most of the renovations and upgrades to the main levels. We felt that if any of the family came home they would want to have a say in their bedrooms. There are eight bedrooms total, six bathrooms on the top level, and two bathrooms on the bottom level.”
At the top of the stairs was a landing with a desk and two hallways that ran in opposite directions.
“The right wing is typically used for the family, while the left wing is used for guests.” He started down the right hall. “There are four bedrooms on either side, and four bathrooms on the family wing. The one on the end will be yours.”
He led me straight to the last room down the right-hand hallway and opened the double doors. The room was beautiful. While the furniture was on the older side, it had a more antique feel rather than being outdated. The ornate furnishings and decorations were balanced by a simple, white bedspread and gauzy curtains. This room spanned the entire wing, which meant there were plenty of windows and natural light. The detailing along the walls and ceiling was beautiful. I looked around, trying to believe that it belonged to me.
“What do you think?” Alex asked from his vantage point in the doorway. He was leaning against the wall, his hands tucked in his pockets as he watched me.
“It’s beautiful.” I shook my head. “I can’t believe it’s mine.”
“We did update the master bath, of course, and the mattresses.” Stanley opened a door so that I could look at the bathroom. “Simple and clean. If you want to change anything to have a more American feel, it should be simple enough.”
Surprisingly there were no cars following us except for our own detail as we drove through the winding roads. When we came to a thin driveway with a gated entrance, the first car pulled in and the driver punched a code into the small keypad. I craned my neck to try to see the house through the trees, but they were too dense.
I sat up in my seat and leaned forward as we pulled through the gate. Seeing this house in person would clinch the whole deal for me—it was where I thought I’d finally be able to understand my place in this weird direction my life had taken. The trees cleared and I was rewarded with a breathtaking sight. The house wasn’t really a house. With the stone walls it looked more like a castle.
A short burst of laughter exited my mouth. I had seen pictures, but they hadn’t done it justice. There was a large staircase that led up to a massive door with elegant statues and stonework on either side. There was a small garden in the center of the circular driveway, a light frosting of snow sitting on top of the sculpted bushes.
“It’s something out of a fairy tale.”
“Welcome home, Samantha.” Alex’s warm voice drew my attention from the house. His eyes were warm and there was a soft smile pulling at his lips.
“Thank you.” I whispered the words. I meant for everything—for coming with me, for not running away every time I pushed, and for being my friend when I needed one.
He reached out and wrapped his fingers around mine before lifting my hand to his mouth and pressing a soft kiss on my knuckles. There were no words, no explanations, but they weren’t needed. He had said he wouldn’t kiss me until I asked, but this didn’t count. It was less than the kiss I had wanted in the bookstore, but more than I could ask for right now.
He got out of the car and walked around to open my door. I stepped onto my family land for the first time while Alex stood next to me. It felt right for him to be here. A shiver ran over my body as my eyes drank in the surroundings. A long time ago, my ancestors had lived here. Not many people could trace their family as far as the queen had done for me.
The front door opened and a man stood at the top of the stairs. He was tall with a friendly face and silver hair. I took the stairs carefully, Alex a step behind me. The man at the door bowed and I held my hand out.
“Duchess Rousseau, it’s a pleasure.” The man shook my hand briskly. “I’m Stanley Wessex.” He motioned to the open front door. “Welcome home.”
Chapter Twenty-Five
Our Very Own Royal Upgrades Homes
—College Daily
The inside was much more spacious than I would have thought. Two women stood just inside and curtsied when I entered the house. Stanley introduced them as his wife, who was the cook, and a slight woman named Jeanette, who was the housekeeper.
I took the time to talk with them each, but I was itching to run through the rooms. The furnishings were elegant, but nothing too grand. It felt like an ideal French chateau. After depositing our coats, Stanley led Alex and me through the rooms. He took the time to point out important furniture pieces and rooms that were used for something special.
“Two years ago we decided to upgrade the kitchens and bathrooms. The queen felt like it was a worthwhile expense and now I know why. She must have been close to finding you.” Stanley showed me the lovely kitchen, large enough to make food for a big party, but nothing like the industrial kitchen of the palace. “Margie has really enjoyed the changes.”
“It’s beautiful.” I liked the counters and soft colors of the walls. “I don’t think I would have picked anything different.”
“I’ll have to tell Margie. She worried that you wouldn’t like the things she chose and wouldn’t feel at home.”
“No, I love it.”
“I’m glad.” Stanley ushered us through the formal dining room, sitting parlor, and the more relaxed living room. As he led us up the stairs, he looked over his shoulder at me. “I’m afraid that we kept most of the renovations and upgrades to the main levels. We felt that if any of the family came home they would want to have a say in their bedrooms. There are eight bedrooms total, six bathrooms on the top level, and two bathrooms on the bottom level.”
At the top of the stairs was a landing with a desk and two hallways that ran in opposite directions.
“The right wing is typically used for the family, while the left wing is used for guests.” He started down the right hall. “There are four bedrooms on either side, and four bathrooms on the family wing. The one on the end will be yours.”
He led me straight to the last room down the right-hand hallway and opened the double doors. The room was beautiful. While the furniture was on the older side, it had a more antique feel rather than being outdated. The ornate furnishings and decorations were balanced by a simple, white bedspread and gauzy curtains. This room spanned the entire wing, which meant there were plenty of windows and natural light. The detailing along the walls and ceiling was beautiful. I looked around, trying to believe that it belonged to me.
“What do you think?” Alex asked from his vantage point in the doorway. He was leaning against the wall, his hands tucked in his pockets as he watched me.
“It’s beautiful.” I shook my head. “I can’t believe it’s mine.”
“We did update the master bath, of course, and the mattresses.” Stanley opened a door so that I could look at the bathroom. “Simple and clean. If you want to change anything to have a more American feel, it should be simple enough.”
