Free Royal Pain in the Ass by Heather Trudy

my head.   “ I really messed up.   I got Ian and Lana in all sorts of trouble and I don ’ t want that to happen again.   It ’ s one thing if I mess my own life up, it ’ s another if I start ruining other peoples. ”  I looked Gwen in the eye.   “ I won ’ t do that.   I don’ t want to be responsible for this.   I have to figure this out. ”
    Gwen smiled.   “ It won ’ t come overnight, and you aren ’ t a natural.”
    “ Oh trust me, I know. ”
    “ The finer points won ’ t come easy, but you ’ ve got heart.   You ’ re a good person in general.   That ’ s even rarer than any kind of noble blood. ”  Gwen pulled me into a hug.   “You ’ ll get it. ”  Gwen held me at arm ’ s length.   “ Have you been out since the incident? ”
    I shook my head.   Since ‘ the incident, ’ as everyone was referring to it now, I ’ d been on lockdown.   I hadn ’ t been allowed outside without an escort, let alone off the grounds.   I ’ m stuck on Eastgate estate until everything has been sorted out, by order of the king.
    Gwen gave me a knowing look.   “ Come with me. ”  She led me through the servants ’ quarters and out to her house.   It was a modest two story with ivy and roses trailing up a trellis.   “It ’ s not much in comparison, but it ’ s home. ” She offered with a modest shrug.
    “ I love it.   That house is too big. ”
    She ushered me inside and the house looked lived in.   There was a fire going the smell of dinner permeated the air and I soaked it all in.   There was a blanket strewn across the couch and a thin woman who had Gwen ’ s blonde hair was sitting in a chair reading.
    “ Gwen honey, oh, you brought company, ”
    “ Mum, you haven ’ t properly met Juliet yet, Juliet, this is Mum. ”
    I offered a hand.   “It ’ s a pleasure, ” I smiled.
    “ So you ’ re the one we ’ ve been hearing about. ” She smiled.   “ My name is Margaret. ”
    “I ’ m just kidnapping her for a while upstairs. ” Gwen cooed.
    “Don ’ t do anything foolish, darling. ” Margaret called up the stairs as Gwen pulled me.
    Gwen practically threw me into Ben with her dragging.   “Oh, I ’ m sorry,” I muttered.  I realized he wasn ’ t wearing a shirt and felt my face flush.  
    Ben laughed.   “It ’ s alright. Are you alright? ”
    “I ’ m fine, ” I couldn ’ t help but notice the muscles on his chest as Gwen pulled me into her room.  
    “ Watch where you ’ re going, Ben,” she called before sticking her tongue out and closing the door behind us.   “ Want to have some fun? ”
    “ I do, but   . . .”
    “But?”
    “ Am I going to cause any trouble? ”
    “ Not if you go with me. ” Gwen gave me an impish grin.
    “ Gwen . . . “
    “ I will make you unrecognizable as Juliet Eastgate-Benn.   You will become Jules, Gwen McElroy ’ s friend and wing girl for the night. ”
    “But . . .”
    Gwen shrugged.   “ Or you can go to bed and be up bright and early to deal with Madame Hubert ’ s teachings. ”
    I sighed.   “ I could really use a drink. ”
    “ Great!   Just let me handle everything. ”  Gwen handed me in a backless black top and a pair of skintight jeans and shoved me into the bathroom.   “ I think that will look great on you! ” she called through the door.   I came back out.   “Oh my god . . .”
    “ What? ”
    “ That tattoo, they don ’ t know yet do they? ”
    I shook my head.   “ I don’ t really get the big deal, but Christine warned me they ’ re not exactly acceptable.   I figured I shouldn ’ t add fuel to the fire. ”
    Gwen nodded.   “ Probably right, what made you want that? ”
    I shrugged.   “ I got it for my mom.   About two weeks after she died. ”
    Gwen nodded.   “ Is there a story behind it? ”  I nodded back.   “ Well, out with it. ” She smiled.   Something about her made me want to tell her.   She was one of those people who actually