Note: Chapter ten! Thanks for all the reviews; they really mean a lot and I'm glad you're enjoying the story. This is just a short transitional chapter, but read on! PS, if anyone can tell my why I can't indent paragraphs, please let me know :)
"We're changing it up for today's run, your highness." They were standing in the drive and she looked at him, eyes narrowed. "We should be alternating our routes for security purposes."
"Lead the way." She gave him a dramatic bow, holding her arms out. He just shook his head and the headed to the Mall, turning in the opposite direction from their normal route. He led her through St. James Park, over the bridge, and toward the clock tower. They didn't turn at Big Ben as she thought they would, but continued straight across Westminster Bridge, down the sloped embankment and onto the river path. It was quiet, no tourists at the early hour, and there was a nice breeze off the muddy river. It was also nice that there were barely any intersections. He led them through Battersea Park and back over the river. When they were at Lambeth Bridge, he slowed, stopping and looking at her, breathing heavy.
"Race you to the clock." He said between breaths.
"What're the stakes?" She said, stretching.
"Stakes?"
"You know, if I win…" she replied, a cheeky grin on her face.
"If I win, you skip the walkabout in Whitehall." He replied, thinking. They had been arguing about it all week. She had an engagement there tomorrow and he and Tom were adamant that she not do a walkabout, but go straight inside due to all the unrest lately.
"We're playing it like that?" She said, eyes dark. "I was thinking you buy me a cuppa. Fine. If I win, you start calling me by my name, David." She crossed her arms over her chest.
"No way, Princess." He replied.
"You'd better win, then!" She was off like a flash while he was still stationary. He chased her, pushing as hard as he could, but she beat him.
"No deal...you...cheated." He panted, hands on his knees. She was leaning against the railing at the entrance to the tourist attraction, chest heaving.
"I admit that I got a head start, but you have longer legs." He just looked at her, raising his head from where he had been looking down. "Fine. We both win? I won't do the walkabout and you start calling me Eleanor." She stuck out her hand. He was still just staring. "Shake on it."
"I'll call you something." He said, straightening up and shaking. That got a beaming smile out of her and he immediately let go of her hand.
"Alyssa told me you're coming to India." She said as they crossed the mall after having walked the little over half mile back to the house. "I'm glad."
Eleanor took the steps to the house two at a time. I'm glad!? Ugh! She knew she should stop being so friendly with him, but she couldn't help it. He was mostly quiet and serious, but under that, there was something else. He was obviously handsome and brave and she was inexplicably drawn to him.
Maybe it was the way he talked about his children or that he didn't act like it was chore to be on her detail. They talked easily now from all their time spent together and she didn't have to drag information out of him anymore. The past month with him as her main officer had worked out fine, much to her surprise.
Whatever it was, it unnerved her and she didn't like that she felt like she had to be around him all the time. She had plenty of friends and had had plenty of boyfriends. Sure, it had never worked out and ever since Max she had stuck to flings and casual hookups, but she certainly didn't need his attention. She just wanted it.
The engagement in Whitehall went off without a hitch and she even got him to call her Eleanor a few times. That night, she had an event at the museum, but Tom was handling it and tomorrow was a hospice center. They would be off to India in short order, so there would be a lull in activity for the next week or so.