He turned to look at her, eyes skimming the plain black pants and ash-gray sweater she had chosen to wear. Antoinette had a feeling he found her wanting. Lifting her chin, she gave him a cool look, her face stiff.
"My mother insisted on me being here. Would you like something sent up to your rooms?"
"That's not necessary, and you could have said no."
His thick brows lifted at her temerity, and it occurred to him that she had not bowed as was customary when in the presence of royalty. But he should have expected nothing less; after all, she was an American and by experience, he knew they were not noted for their polite behavior. Or even common social etiquette. They were rude, loud and brash. She had not disappointed him by proving him wrong at all.
"I could have, yes, but I chose to stay. Polite behavior is what we're most famous for."
"I'm just an employee, so there's no need to put out extra effort. I don't need to be coddled. Can you ring a bell or whatever it is you do to summon someone to take me to my room, please?"
For some annoying reason, her tone and attitude were pissing him off. He had rescheduled his plans with a very delectable female at his mother's orders to welcome this person, and she wasn't showing the right amount of gratitude. He was the bloody prince, and she happened to be an employee. They had a full complement of staff who bowed and scraped whenever he stepped into a room, but not her. She was just now arriving and, as he had predicted, was showing insolence to the one who would be paying her wages. It was not something to be condoned.
Anger blossomed inside him and had to be contained. As royals, they were not supposed to show any form of emotions, including ire, especially in front of servants, and that's what she bloodywell was. It did not matter that she would be assistant to his mother; she was still an employee and should know her place.
"Is it your plan to show disrespect to the people you'll be working for?"
Antoinette stiffened at the arrogant tone, eyes flashing. She was tired and getting cranky. She had been traveling for several hours. A car to the airport in the States, a long plane ride to Madrid, plus another car ride and then another plane ride and another car ride. She was officially crashing and in no mood to pander to the fragile ego of the man standing in front of her. She just wanted to get horizontal for a few minutes and close her eyes. She was certainly not in the mood to play verbal chess with this arrogant jackass.
And on top of it, he had brought back bitter memories of her ex-fiancé.
"Will I be working for you? I was under the impression that your mother hired me."
His lips tightened, his expression turning ominous. "The technicality matters not. You work for my mother, you work for me too, and I demand respect from one of your station."
"Of all the rude and condescending-" She stopped and took a deep, bracing breath. "Look, I'm exhausted and just want to lie down for a bit. You can sort out the technicalities with the queen. Now, do I have to wander around the palace and find someone to take me to my room, or are you going to do the honors?"
Anger exploded inside his brain as if a bomb had detonated. For the first time in his life, he was losing control of his emotions. His hands tightened into fists, and it took a Herculean effort to hold onto his temper.
"Señorita Carter, I demand you apologize-"
"I guess that's a no, then. I'll find someone myself."
He actually stood there, stunned, and watched as she marched from the room and slammed the doors shut behind her.
In all his thirty-five years, he had never been treated with such careless disregard and disrespect. He had been all over the world, and people from different countries treated him the way royalty was supposed to be treated. With awe and sometimes reverence. This...this woman had come into his home and had been nothing but rude and abrasive. She could not stay, of course. Taking a deep, fortifying breath, he nodded. He would confront his mother and send her packing.
Her behavior was an insult that would not go unpunished. It might be too late to put her on a flight tonight, but he would do so first thing in the morning. His mother would just have to find someone else for the position. Someone who knew how to behave in an appropriate manner.
*****
"My name is Carmen, Señorita Carter." The woman told her with a smile as she was escorted up the curving staircase. "Lucia said I'm to be assigned to you. Ah, here's your suite." She opened the double doors with a flourish.
"It's beautiful, yes?"
"More than." Antoinette felt her anger and annoyance dissolving as she stepped into the lime-green room with the sunny yellow trimmings. The sitting room was larger than her own bedroom at home and boasted antique furniture. The carpet was a combination of pale yellow intermingled with green.
"The bedroom is through here." Pleased at her reaction, Carmen led the way into a bright yellow room with floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking a garden and a balcony. "You can see for miles. Lucia thought you would love the view. The bathroom is through there and it has a bath and a shower. There's also asmall office and a kitchenette in case you do not feel like going down to supper."
"This is-" She took in a breath and let it out. "This is wonderful." Suddenly she remembered what the woman had initially said. "What do you mean assigned to me? For what?"
"I'm to take care of your rooms, tidying up and such, as well as be available if you need anything."
"I won't. Do you mean you're my personal maid?"
Carmen bobbed her head. Brushing past Antoinette, she hefted the suitcase and placed it on a loveseat and proceeded to start unpacking.
"You don't have to do that."
