Total pages in book: 192
Estimated words: 192810 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 964(@200wpm)___ 771(@250wpm)___ 643(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 192810 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 964(@200wpm)___ 771(@250wpm)___ 643(@300wpm)
“And I’m young,” she went on, clearly having given this some thought. She glanced at Allain then back to me. “But I don’t feel my age is a detriment. Yes, there are things I’ll have to learn, but I’m quick, and it’s a personal goal for me to do my job well, pull my weight but also take initiative. So instead of my age and inexperience being a detriment, I believe I’ll provide energy, fresh outlooks and an understanding of different generations of the citizenry of Night’s Fall that will be beneficial to you. Not that you aren’t of my generation,” she said hurriedly (this was true, though she was younger, being twenty-seven). “It’s just that”—another quick glance at Allain—“things can be a bit stuffy and outdated. I looked at the numbers, and nearly ninety percent of people aged thirty-five and younger feel the king is out of touch.”
She scooched to the edge of her seat, now animated.
“What you did today, with his royal highness, was very brave. And if you don’t mind me saying so, I personally think very beautiful. I’m not sure how the males will react to it, but many females have been conned by—” she cut herself off.
“I understand,” I said quietly.
She squared her shoulders and got over it.
Good for her.
“We felt for her,” she said. “It’s all over the tapes. And there were some who were getting upset that it wasn’t made clear that she was also a victim in that mess, and she paid the most of anyone,” she continued.
“We do have a PR Director, leading a rather large team, who guides the royals in such issues,” Allain put in.
Nata sat back, now seeming dejected. “I know. I didn’t mean to infer I’d overstep my bounds.”
“Actually,” I said, “I’m new to this too. It’s already been a ton of learning, and it’ll be more. No matter who’s selected for this role, I’ll be relying heavily on his highness, and Allain, and so will she. I take your point. The prince and Allain are old hands at this, they know it inside and out, but fresh perspectives never hurt.”
She brightened.
“It must be asked, considering your field of study and the work you now do, would it not be a disappointment to shift gears like this?” I inquired.
She stared a second before she glanced meaningfully around Allain’s office and came back to me.
“I haven’t had very much time to think about it. I’ve always had a passion for history, but it’s never occurred to me I might have some small part in making it. Since Allain approached me, I keep asking myself that same question, Mistress Laura. But every time I think about it, all I can think is that it would be exciting.” She gave me a tentative smile. “And the hike in salary would mean I’d be in a position to buy my own flat in a year, rather than the three my current saving schedule would allow.”
Future-thinking. Thoughtful with her money. Considered. Forthright. Ambitious.
All right then.
“Okay, now, I’ll turn it over to Allain, who can describe some of the duties involved and we can chat about them,” I said.
We did this for half an hour, but I’d already made my decision before Allain even got started.
If we could get around the king, I wanted Nata to be my aide.
She had just over four hours to prepare for an important interview, and she made it clear she used them well. She spoke her mind. She wanted the job and let that be known. And she was right. Instead of the two of us bumbling along, she was sharp, motivated, would help me forge my path, but as she and Allain spoke, she gave clear indication she respected him, was eager to learn from him, and would defer to his experience when necessary.
When we were winding down, a sharp knock sounded at the door, and then it opened.
Aleksei strode in.
We all rose. We all curtsied (well, Allain bowed).
Aleksei ignored this, came right to me and kissed my cheek when I rose.
“Hello, darling,” he greeted.
“Hey,” I replied.
He turned to Nata. “Nata, lovely to see you.”
At first, she gawped.
She got it together, bobbed and replied, “You as well, your highness.”
“Allain,” he said last.
“Your royal highness,” Allain replied.
“I’m sorry to interrupt. I thought you’d be done,” Aleksei said to me.
“We were just finishing up,” I told him.
“I’ll return some text comms while you do that,” he murmured, kissed my cheek again, and then went to an armchair in Allain’s huge office. He sat, crossed his legs and pulled out his Palm.
Seriously, just sitting in an armchair returning texts, he was gorgeous.
We finished up, and I walked Nata to the door personally.
“We’ll make a decision soon,” I promised her.
“Great and…Mistress Laura?”
“Yes?”
“Thank you,” she said very quietly but with deep meaning.