Page 3 of A Royal Obligation
“I really would feel better if you got it checked out. Just to be sure.” Barrett’s tone implied that he was not willing to let it go this time.
“All right. I will call for Doctor West later, but you're fussing over nothing.” King Henry sighed and rubbed his nearly white circle beard.
Barrett nodded his appreciation and walked back to his seat as the wait staff returned with dessert. Barrett’s mouth began to water as a plate with a slice of perfectly cooked apple pie was set in front of him. The Wistonian apple was their country’s national fruit, and people came from all the surrounding countries simply to taste one. The street vendors across Wistonia made unique treats incorporating the famous apple in different ways. But Barrett’s favorites were basic desserts like apple pie, apple cobbler, apple tart, and apple crisp. He liked them the way they were: simple. There was no need to change a good thing.
Barrett made light conversation with his father as he finished his plate, but even apple pie couldn’t stop his mind from straying back to his father’s health.
Although the king said he was fine and that nothing was different, Barrett had noticed his father’s features change over the past few years. The bags beneath his eyes had deepened, and he was beginning to lose more hair. He coughed often for no apparent reason, and he became fatigued more quickly. His father acted like it was a side effect of aging, but Barrett couldn’t seem to brush away the sinking feeling that maybe he didn’t have as much time to find his queen as he originally thought.
Chapter Two
Jules
Asighofreliefescaped Jules’s lips as she realized her work was almost done. She walked over and adjusted the vase of pink dahlias on the entry table until it was centered.Perfect. With arms stretched open and a wide grin on her face, Jules briefly danced in place as she surveyed her handiwork. Knowing everything was in place allowed her nerves to finally settle.
The Findorra Children’s Center would officially be open to the public today, and Jules couldn’t wait to see the building filled with children playing and hear their laughter and cheers reverberate down the halls.
Her greatest passion was to care for people who couldn’t care for themselves. She felt the most content when she tutored children in local schools who needed it most and wouldn’t be able to afford it otherwise. She didn’t make much money, but she still left each day of work satisfied and that meant more to her than all the money in the world.
Growing up in Albury, a town in Findorra, Jules’s parents both had to work long days to be able to support her. That often left her in limbo after school, so she did random clubs or jumped between friends’ houses until her parents got off work. Jules was lucky enough to always have a place to go. Not every child was so fortunate, so she made it her mission to do whatever she could to provide safe places for kids to stay after school and during winter, spring, and summer breaks if they had nowhere else to go.
Lady Charlotte Croft had offered to keep Jules on as her personal assistant, and she had been mulling over the offer. It would mean she would have to move into the estate with Charlotte’s family and step away from tutoring for a while, which was the main reason Jules hadn’t come right out and said yes. But after thinking it over the past few weeks, she came to the realization that she would make enough money from this job to support so many more children.
She would even make enough to open the after-school program she had dreamed about for as long as she could remember. While the children’s center was a wonderful start, Jules wanted to run an after-school program at the children’s center to provide even more opportunities for the kids. She envisioned offering academic support for every subject area, an arts program, and workforce development workshops for older teens. Earning the funds to make that dream a reality was an offer she couldn’t pass up.
Jules couldn’t keep the smile off of her face as she walked through every room one final time. Seeing the months of planning and grueling work come to life before her eyes was surreal. She paused at the door to the room where everyone was waiting to adjust her knee-length, cocktail dress. It was A-line and made of a chiffon material that fluttered around her as she walked. Its deep plum color perfectly complimented her black hair that was done in a low bun updo she had found on Pinterest.
After she walked in, Lady Charlotte glided over and gave her arm a squeeze. Jules couldn’t help but compare herself to Charlotte, who was as graceful as she was beautiful. Charlotte made everything look effortless, from the way she remembered everything about those she met to her perfectly put together appearance. For the opening ceremony, she wore a cream-colored pencil dress with a puff shoulder that showed off her slim physique, and her dirty blonde hair fell past her shoulders in elegant waves.
“You have done a fantastic job, Juliette—er, sorry, I know you prefer Jules. But, truly, look at this place. You’ve created a haven here where children will be provided with the space and resources to thrive and be supported. I knew you were the woman for the job from the moment I met you,” Charlotte said.
Lily Croft, the Duchess of Albury and Charlotte’s mother, approached them while Charlotte was speaking, bringing along someone Jules didn’t recognize.
“Charlotte, you must tell Lady Mae how you and Jules met. I love that story.”
“Jules was tutoring students in a rural primary school in Albury when I came to speak there at a school assembly. We met where all women seem to meet—in the ladies’ room.”
Charlotte paused to allow all three women to laugh lightly before continuing.
“A child had accidentally spilled something on my shirt, and I was trying to get the stain out of it. Jules walked in and whipped a stain remover stick out of her purse right after she saw me. We got to talking, and Jules shared that she had been tutoring students in the school for a while and how she wished she could do more for them. She told me about some of the struggles of families in the area and the need for a place for children to go when their parents had to work.”
Jules nodded along, and Charlotte smiled gently at her.
“She gets very passionate about the topic and was talking a mile a minute, so I politely cut her off and offered to hire her on the spot to help create the Findorra Children’s Center. I knew she would be able to provide brilliant ideas about what the children in our country truly need.”
“I was so overjoyed and accepted instantly without knowing at all what I would be doing.” Jules’s enormous grin caused her face to scrunch, and her black bangs fell into her eyes.
Her smile grew as she thought about every idea Charlotte’s team had been able to implement. A place for students to stay after school. Assistive technology to help those who needed it. Recreational spaces to encourage physical activity. It was all perfect. Just as she had imagined.
“It sounds like you are always a prepared woman, Jules,” Lady Mae added. “You never know when you will meet the perfect person at just the right time.”
“Exactly. Now if you will excuse us, we need to speak with my husband before we go out.” Charlotte’s mother walked to the other side of the room, taking Lady Mae with her.
Turning to Charlotte, Jules said, “Thanks for taking a chance on me. You truly have no idea what this is going to do for the families in the area. I’ve also given your offer a lot of thought.” Jules paused for dramatic effect. “I would love to stay on as your personal assistant.”
“Oh, that’s great! I know it will be the perfect fit for you while you figure out your next step. Or you could work for me forever. Whichever works.” Charlotte smirked. “I can give you the employment paperwork later.” She looked around the room and smiled. “If this is any indication of what you can do, I can’t wait to see what else you have up your sleeve.”
“I’m a woman of many talents.” Jules shot her a wink. “All right, it’s two minutes ’til. Let’s get you and your parents to the entrance to say a few words and cut the ribbon.”