Page 45 of A Royal Obligation

He glanced at Jules before answering. “I was making sure Jules was able to get down from the tree without incident.”

“How kind of you.” Charlotte smiled. “It looks like they are ready to begin the demonstration. Barrett, would you like to come join me at my station?”

“Are you ready, Your Highnesses?” The instructor asked.

“Certainly. Please begin,” Barrett said. He walked over and joined Charlotte at her station, leaving Jules and Liam together at the other.

“The normal, large-batch process for making cider at our mill is much different from what we will show you today. We will show you how you could make it at home.” The instructor faltered. “Not that you would ever be making it at home, Your Highnesses.”

Jules looked over as Barrett waved the comment off. “Completely understood. Please continue.”

The instructor let out a sigh of relief and slowly walked them through all the steps.

Jules and Liam worked together to follow the instructions, cutting their apples and a few oranges. They added those along with some cinnamon sticks and cloves to their pot and then filled it with water and turned on the heat, as instructed. After the liquid began to simmer, they covered the pot and lowered the heat.

She risked a glance over at Charlotte and Barrett and found him wiping her hands with a towel as the two of them laughed together. A hint of sadness flooded her emotions. She knew she shouldn’t feel that way seeing them interact. After all, he was even using the flirting methods she had taught him. Jules should be proud of him for doing so well, but all she felt was a flicker of jealousy.

“Like the view over there?” Liam nudged her with his elbow.

“Huh?” Jules jerked her head to face him.

“It seems you were admiring the … mills over there.” He nodded his head at the mills behind where Barrett and Charlotte were standing.

“Oh, yes. The mills are in great condition for being so … antique.” She pressed her lips together and tried to prevent a blush from rushing to her cheeks. Apparently, she needed to do a better job of keeping her feelings in check.

Liam chuckled and placed his hand on her shoulder. She tried to take a step back, but his grip held her in place.

“What are you doing?”

Liam leaned in close until his mouth was touching her ear. “I love messing with my brother. And he is looking at me full of jealous rage right now.” Liam pulled back and gave her a knowing smirk.

“I believe you must have misinterpreted his expression.” She pressed her lips together until they turned white.

“We’ll have to agree to disagree, sweetheart.” A cheeky grin covered his face.

After the drink had simmered for a sufficient time, they mashed the apples and oranges like the instructor demonstrated. Jules held a strainer steady as Liam poured the concoction through it. They added some sweetener and then poured some into their cups for the final tasting.

They joined Barrett and Charlotte, all clinking glasses before sipping on the cider they made. The warm, tangy juice made Jules’s tastebuds dance. The spices provided an extra hint of flavor while the oranges helped provide a needed tartness. Beneath it all, the sweet apple taste was unmistakable.

“This is the best apple cider I’ve ever had,” Charlotte exclaimed, taking another sip.

“It is delicious. Thank you for the lesson.” Barrett nodded to the instructor.

“Of course, Your Highness. I will have the rest of your cider bottled up for you to take back to the palace.” The instructor curtsied before hurrying away.

“You all appeared to be enjoying yourselves over there,” Barrett said to Liam through clenched teeth.

“I could say the same for you.” Liam shot Jules a cheeky, knowing smirk over his shoulder. She could almost hear him saying I told you so.

After their drivers loaded up the jugs of apple cider in their SUVs, Barrett and Charlotte got into the first car with his driver. Jules slid into the back of Liam’s car, thanking his driver as he held the door open for her.

Liam climbed in behind her and plopped down onto the seat, pulling at his tie to loosen it. “You still want to try to tell me that my brother wasn’t jealous?”

Jules let out a sigh and peered out the window. She wracked her brain to think of another reason Barrett had responded the way he had at the cider mill. But her confusion only increased. Truthfully, it didn’t matter anyway. Even if he felt a sliver of the feelings she had for him, they would never be able to do anything about them.

“Lighten up; I was only teasing. So,” Liam drew the word out. “What do you want to know about him?”

“I’m not sure I know what you’re asking.”