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Chapter Nine

Seeley was lying on his bed, attempting to read a book, when his concentration was broken by a knock at his door.

"Who is it?" he asked, not taking his eyes off the book, yet still not reading it.

"It's Jack," his assistant's voice came through the door. "Dinner is served in the dining room."

"I'll be down later. I'm not very hungry right now." Seeley called back.

"Not a good idea, man. Your grandmother says she wants to talk to you. Now." Jack said, with a warning tone to his voice.

Seeley sighed and tossed the book aside, making a note to put it back in the library later. He knew he was never going to finish it.

Groaning as his back cracked, Seeley got up and walked stiffly to the door. His feet had been bothering him lately with the rainy weather, but they were starting to get better, what with the beautiful day and all. And then there was that girl.

That beautiful, lovely blue-eyed Roxy Hart. God, she was gorgeous and Seeley just knew he had to see her again.

But, how? She thought he was some peasant named Tony Scallion, definitely not Prince Seeley Booth. And he was watched at all times. It was almost impossible to sneak away from the Palace, not that he even knew when she would be out in the village again nor did he know where she lived.

Seeley sighed. He just had to find a way to see her again.

Seeley was almost do deep in his thoughts that he didn't even realize where he was until he grandmother greeted him.

"Seeley!" she greeted. "So nice of you to join us, Sweetheart!"

Seeley blinked, coming out of his daze. "Uh, hi, Grams." he said, leaning down to kiss her cheek. "Hey, Pops." Seeley reached across the table to fist bump his grandfather.

"Nice to see you, Seeley." Pops said. "Feels like its been forever since you came out of your room."

"Pops, I was out of my room just a few hours ago. I-oof!" Seeley was shocked by Jack's elbow in his side as he walked past.

"My apologies, sir." Jack said, shooting Seeley a warning glance.

It was then that Seeley realized that his grandmother had not given permission for him to go to the village and Jack had probably covered for him, telling her he was in his room.

Jack had lied for Seeley. To his grandmother. Which was pretty heinous crime in Jeffersonian. One that could get you fired. Or even deported.

So why did Jack do this for him? Especially since he didn't want him to go?

"I mean...I was in the library most of the day. Trying to find something interesting to read, for once." Seeley finished, sitting down next to his grandmother, across from his grandfather.

Margaret looked at his, sympathetically. "I'm sorry you're so bored, Sweetheart. But I still don't think you're quite healed enough to go back out yet. But don't fret. Friday night, we are throwing you a masquerade ball!"

"A masquerade ball?" Seeley asked, trying to sound surprised. He wasn't supposed to know about the ball just yet but Jack had told him out of respect. "Why?"

"Well, for your birthday, of course!" Margaret exclaimed, giggling. "You'll be twenty this weekend. And if that isn't cause for celebration then I don't know what is!"

"But, a masquerade, Grams?" Seeley asked, exasperated. "Why a masquerade?"

Margaret scowled. "Because," she said, "it will be fun! And special."

"And it will help you fall in love eaiser, since you won't be distracted by all the beautiful women." Hank helped. Margaret glared at him. "What?" he asked.

"The beautiful women?" Seeley asked. "Grams, you're not trying to set me up again, are you?"

"Of course not!" Margaret insisted. Seeley gave her an incredulous look. "Well, maybe...but I just want you to be happy, Seeley. And you always insist on getting to know a woman before you begin to court, so I just thought that if you met a few eligible women at the Ball..."

"I might fall in love and marry her." Seeley finished for his grandmother. "Grams, I meant that I'd like to meet her on my own, like in the village or something. You know? Not at a ball that my grandmother set up for me."

"But, Sweetheart..."

"No, Grams! I'll go to the ball but I can assure you I will not be meeting my future wife there." Seeley said, digging into the food that Jack had placed in front of him.

"But, Seeley..." Margaret protested.

"I don't want to talk about it anymore, Grams." Seeley responded, quietly.

There were a few moments of uncomfortable silence until Hank spoke once more. "So, did you find any interesting books in the library, Shrimp?"

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