Page 20 of Her Royal Rebellion

I hadn’t thought of that. His team didn’t mention where they were flying from, so it was hard to estimate when he would land. Maybe his plane would get lost and he’d never show up. That would be too much to ask.

“Are the guests rooms ready?” Carolyn asked a passing maid.

The woman paused her steps. “Yes, ma’am. They were set up to your specifications.”

Carolyn grinned and immediately I knew something was going on. Once the maid disappeared down the hall, I took a step closer. “What were your specifications?”

She pursed her lips and looked away. “I simply asked that our guests receive special treatment.”

I narrowed my eyes. “And what does that entail?”

She looked to Isla before turning to me. “I told the staff to use new sheets and to be prompt with their wake up calls. A few other minor details.”

Shane now stood next to us, tilting his head toward us. “Those new sheets? They wouldn’t happen to be the same ones I’ve heard the maids giggling about?”

She gave nothing away. “How should I know?”

Shane chuckled. “I heard one of them say that they’re an all-natural fiber, and the best for the environment, but incredibly scratchy and stiff.”

I smirked. “That’s one way to make them feel welcome.”

“And the wake up calls?” Shane prodded.

Carolyn finally broke. “I have their butlers waking them at five thirty each morning to join Isla for her morning exercise.”

I held back a laugh. “But she doesn’t exercise until seven or eight, and that’s only a few days a week.”

She shrugged a shoulder. “We’re all willing to make sacrifices at this point.”

I glanced over at Isla and smiled. She might not be protesting this directly but she had a plan to drive them crazy.

“And all meals will be completely plant based. No exceptions,” Carolyn added with a wink.

This was going to be very interesting. Individually, each change wasn’t a big deal, but combined it might just drive a man crazy enough to run him off. I could only hope it had the desired effect.

“Please, let us know how we can help.”

She agreed before walking into the office. Shane pulled out his phone and sighed. “Peter is arriving.”

We turned together and headed to the main entrance. We stood at the top of the stairs and watched as two black town cars stopped in front of us. Carolyn and Isla came through the open doors and started down to greet Peter.

The moment he stepped out, Isla threw her arms around him and he spun her in the air. I clenched my fist, hating that I didn’t have the freedom to do that. I wanted her arms around me, not him. No matter how many times they both repeated that they were only friends, he was here for a purpose. I just needed to figure out what it was.

“Isla, my dear, it’s so good to see you.” He stepped back from her and took her in from head to toe. “I’ve missed you.”

She beamed up at him like he was the sun, moon, and stars.

I hated it.

“I’ve missed you, too. Now, let’s go inside. We have so much catching up to do.”

They breezed past us, and I turned to silently follow. Shane waited for Peter’s team so they could coordinate and find their rooms.

Isla led him to her office, and much to my frustration, shut the doors behind her. I wanted to knock or just let myself in. I could claim to be concerned for her safety, but I knew that would be hard to believe. Maybe with any of the other men coming, but not her beloved Peter.

I stared at the doors, trying to break them down with my glare, until I heard footsteps approaching. I glanced to my left to see the queen and her assistant, Marianne, approaching.

I bowed my head just enough; the family didn’t require us to formally bow since we were around them so often.