Free Royal Date by Sariah Wilson

Paris this evening, and he would like for you and Signorina Beauchamp to accompany him.”
    “And you are?” More strangeness in the Monterran castle.
    The man bowed to me, and I could see the shiny top of his head. “I am Giacomo Rossi, assistant secretary to Her Royal Highness, Queen Aria. I have been sent to assist you while you are staying with us.”
    Oh yeah. Nico had mentioned something about this guy last night. That probably meant I should get up. But my head felt heavy, and my eyes were burning. “What time is it?”
    “Six twenty.”
    I groaned. “They have one of those in the morning, too?”
    “May I get you some coffee? An espresso?”
    “I don’t drink caffeine, thanks.” I didn’t like to take in anything that would alter my body’s chemistry. Giacomo looked unfazed. Most people looked ready to give birth to kittens when I told them I didn’t drink coffee.
    “Hot chocolate then?”
    “Sure.”
    “We have a busy schedule today,” was his response. “I have taken the liberty of packing a bag for you, signorina .”
    “Please call me Kat.” I was already being darlin’ and bella -ed to death. I didn’t need another name. I mean, I understood that Monterrans used endearments at the drop of a hat with people they’d only just met, but it would be nice to be Kat again. “And that was very nice of you, thank you, but I don’t really have anything to wear to Paris. Or to a ball.”
    “I have already purchased several dresses and suitable pants outfits for you and packed them.”
    That made me sit straight up in bed. “What?”
    “I used your current clothing to get the correct sizes. I also purchased matching shoes and some other accessories for your use.”
    Another girl might have been exuberant about free clothes. But I hated charity. It made me feel small and pathetic. I did not want something for nothing. “I . . . I can’t accept it. That’s too much.”
    Giacomo gave me a pointed look. “It’s already done. There will be expectations when you are out with the prince.”
    I didn’t care about anyone’s expectations and was about to tell him that when he said, “It would be upsetting and offensive to the queen and her family if you refused this gift.”
    That took the wind out of my sails. How could anyone say no? “I’ll leave everything here when I go back to the States.”
    I got a disapproving face that reminded me of a grumpy Tim Gunn. “I do not think His Highness will have any use for them when you are done. You may take them with you.”
    He lifted up the tablet he had been carrying and turned it on. “You have approximately ten minutes to shower and dress, and a car will be waiting for you by the west exit. From there we will drive to the airport, and spend an hour and a half in flight until we reach Paris. I have scheduled several designers to come to the suite where you and Signorina Beauchamp will select gowns for this evening. I have also arranged for hair and makeup artists to be there. You will have some free time today to shop or explore the city, if you wish.”
    Much as I appreciated his attention to detail and planning, I wasn’t sure I much liked somebody else making plans for me. Plans that nobody had bothered to run past me first. “Do I have any say in this at all?”
    “No, Signorina Kat. I’m afraid you do not. Now you have nine minutes.”
    I wanted to be stubborn and refuse, but I had promised both Nico and Lemon. If I went back on my word, that would open a door for Nico to go back on his. Not to mention that I always kept my promises. I jumped out of bed and ran to the shower, taking the fastest one I had ever taken. I got out to brush my teeth and saw a bag on the counter. I peered inside. It was a toiletry bag, with almost everything packed except for the stuff I was currently using. I rinsed out my mouth, threw the toothpaste and toothbrush into the bag, followed by my brush once I’d put my hair in a ponytail.
    In the closet Giacomo