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“Looks like the cavalry’s here, Miss Little.”
Eddie leaned casually against the pillar by the door, waiting for Clara with his hands in his pockets, appearing much more relaxed and in his element. He was dressed in a pair of gray slacks, white dress shirt, and tie. He looked tired, but much better than lunch earlier in the week. His eyes were clearer and brightened in excitement at seeing Clara.
“I’m here to lead you to David, but he thought it might do better for me to apologize again and give us a few minutes to chat.”
“It’s nice to see you again, Edward.”
“Please. You’ve seen me at one of my darker moments, and I’ve been told you have a photo of me drooling into my lunch. I believed we’ve moved onto the point where you can call me Eddie.” Clara ruminated on letting Amanda know about her secret photo of Eddie.
“Well, Eddie. I’m happy to see you’re feeling better.”
Eddie looked down to the gravel and kicked up some loose stones. “David made it sink in how much of a sod I’ve been and how unhappy I’ve become. I’m trying hard to take care of my problems, and I’m even giving up alcohol. The last thing I wanted was for someone else to get hurt because of me.”
“Eddie, I already accepted your apologies. Don’t look so stressed. Please, it almost hurts me to see you so depressed. I just want you to promise me that you won’t let it happen again.”
Eddie looked up and hugged Clara. “Thank you again. I really don’t deserve it. I need to stop making excuses for my behavior and become the mature adult that everyone expects me to be.”
He led her down the hall to a service elevator. Eddie let out a deep breath and didn’t speak until the doors opened.
“It’s a long walk to our private quarters. David thought you might be more comfortable with the chair.”
Clara was cognizant that Eddie was one of David’s closest relatives. She was sorely tempted to ask Eddie more about David’s private life. She just wasn’t sure how to breech the gap. She took a seat and handed her crutches to Eddie who placed them on the back of the chair.
Silence passed between them for another minute as Clara took in her surroundings. Clara had seen photos of some of the state rooms of BP in her guidebooks of London. It was surreal to be inside, walking past them. From the red and gold carpets to the elaborate glass chandeliers, Clara stared at everything. The room closest to the elevator exit contained a large portrait of the former queen. Clara studied her face, looking for any resemblance to David.
Eddie remained silent. Clara needed to lighten the mood. “Eddie, you don’t know me very well, but let me give you the words of wisdom I received from my company director when I earned my first professional ballet contract.” She paused to give her words an air of drama. “Do your dirty deeds discreetly and come to work prepared to work.”
Eddie stopped pushing the chair and looked down at Clara. She turned to find him staring at her with an eyebrow raised. “That was not what I expected to hear from you.”
“I’m not the type of person to judge someone I don’t know. In my line of work there are a lot of young adults who make poor choices. They aren’t used to having so much freedom, but as long as they keep their non-work related activities private and under control, there are no questions asked.”
“I think I understand. I’ve had a handful of conversations with my father, and he’s made it very clear what is expected of me.” Eddie began pushing Clara again as they walked past the throne room. The impressive red velvet curtains and tapestries adorned the room.Does this throne actually get used?she mused.
The portrait gallery in the next hallway distracted Clara. “I’ll let you consider what we’ve spoken about, but I’m dying to know if that’s a real Matisse on the wall over there.”
Eddie slowed his pace. “All the paintings in this gallery were gifted from France, Italy,and several other nations. I don’t know each one, other than the Rubens I wasn’t allowed near when I was younger, and the Picassos.”
Eddie was another person when he was out of the public eye. He wasn’t the party-goer and immature twenty-year-old the tabloids loved to write about. Clara saw that Eddie was a young adult who learned the hard way when he made a poor decision.
Clara’s eyes danced as they drew closer to the smell of chlorine and turned the final corner into the hallway that held David and Eddie’s suites.
”Eddie, Clara, you got here faster than I expected,” David called out to them as he entered the hallway at the same time as them. The towel he was holding around his waist fell to reveal a speedo and six-pack abs that tapered into a V shape. He scrambled to pick the towel up off the floor and cover his legs. Clara saw a flash of powerful thighs and a tight butt. “I was on my way to change up in my rooms. Eddie, you were supposed to be at least another twenty minutes,” David muttered. “I’ll be right out.”
David was clearly embarrassed. His face turned a rosy red hue and muscles tightened. Clara stared longer than she should have.Oh my. So that’s what’s hiding under his suits. I have some naughty thoughts I need to get out of my head now. Think about puppies, Clara.The image trick wouldn’t work. Clara would savor the moment of seeing David in a speedo for some time to come.
Clara and Eddie shared a good laugh at David’s expense as he walked, almost jogging, four doors down. Eddie brought Clara into his sitting room.
“It’s been a while since David was so embarrassed! I’m glad you could share that moment with me.”
“He shouldn’t be embarrassed. I’ve seen pretty much everything.” Male dancers were people she worked with. She couldn’t think of them like David. It was just different. Maybe it was the arms. Or the?...Clara you’re going off again. Focus.“The worst was during a quick change when the male dancers needed to change tights and—” Clara was cut off by Eddie.
“I think that’s a story I don’t need to hear, but I appreciate it!”
Eddie chatted with Clara for a few more minutes and ensured she had tea and other supplies. He presented her with a bouquet of roses and let her know he had to go, but David would know where to find her. A maid that had appeared, seemingly out of nowhere, took the bouquet from Clara and promised to have it placed in a vase of water and sent over to her room at the St. George.
The sitting room was a mixture of old world and new world. Antique furniture in rich mahogany adorned the room, but a laptop computer, television, printer, box fan, and a few other modern items made the room seem homey. A large portrait of Eddie’s father, King Reginald I, hung above the fireplace, with him in the famous state robes.
Dressed much more casually than before, David entered the room with wet hair, in jeans and a navy button-up shirt, and his trademark glasses.
