Chapter Twenty-Seven: Respect

"Hello, lovely lady," chirped the cheeky and very sexy little waitress. She was smiling brightly as she collected the menus. "Fancy meeting you here! Something to start you off?"

"You . . . you're the girl from the spa! And now . . . you work here?" Mary Tudor felt dizzy, as though her head was spinning. All the laughter and the music and the commotion of the noisy crowded diner suddenly seemed very far away.

"I'm only part-time at the spa," the bright-eyed blonde explained, pulling out a pad and pencil to take Mary's order. "It's hard getting full-time work without a license, and the training course for a massage therapist's license is so expensive. What I'd really like is to find a full time job, so I can save a bit and maybe even travel!"

"I see you two have already met," Jamil Khan said, in a knowing sort of voice. His dark eyes were twinkling as he drank in the flushed look of bewilderment and utter confusion on Mary's face.

"Yes, the queen took me to her favorite London spa last week." Mary's voice was husky, and she couldn't look Jamil in the eye. She was remembering that afternoon at the spa, how she'd let the pretty new masseuse rub away all her aches and pains. The brisk massage had aroused and soothed her body in equal turns, ending in complete release and total pleasure.

"Sally, why don't you bring me a nice big juicy steak, medium rare, and a tiny garden salad for the princess. Is there anything you think Princess Mary might like for dessert?"

"I'll try to think of something, sir. The lady does love her sweets!" The waitress spoke quite seriously to Jamil. But she threw Mary a naughty wink as she left the table, her hips swaying provocatively.

"You know her?" Mary asked, in a raspy voice. She felt so thirsty that she had to take a quick swig from her old-fashioned American milkshake. It was thick and rich and really far too sweet.

"Of course," Kamil told her cheerfully. "I come here all the time. Mind you, I had no idea that Sally Weeks was a friend of yours. She never mentioned meeting you at the spa. Jane filled me in."

"The queen told you . . . I mean, just what did Jane tell you?" Mary frowned as she sucked away at her thick vanilla milkshake. It was really too rich and sweet and icy cold to drink with a straw. She remembered walking into the lobby of the expensive spa, how her beautiful young stepmother had suggested the new masseuse with a twinkle in her eye. Mary felt hot all over and quite embarrassed as she recalled Jane's knowing smile. That was afterwards. She slurped noisily at her thick vanilla milkshake, letting the icy coldness wipe everything else away from her mind.

"Mary, may I speak very frankly to you?" Kamil was smiling as he watched the princess slurp her milkshake with a frowning face. He smiled as though he understood exactly what Mary was feeling. "Both of us are being rushed into a very public, political marriage by people who don't really understand our deepest feelings."

"They just want to use us." Mary had just emptied her milkshake, yet she felt drained, as though she had been emptied out as well. Everyone seemed to know her secrets, to see right through her. "The queen wants me to marry you, Jamil. She wants us to have a baby. She's having trouble giving King Henry a son." Mary didn't mention that Jane was sleeping with younger and stronger men, just to increase the chances of getting pregnant. That was one secret she would never share with anyone. Jane was her friend.

"That's what I want too," Jamil said quietly. Gently he wiped the last of the thick vanilla milkshake from Mary's mouth. His eyes were knowing and kind. "I want you to have my baby, Mary. I do. But I want you to be happy too."

"Right, a nice juicy steak for the handsome billionaire, and a fresh green salad for my beautiful lady." Sally Weeks was back again, and she set down the food with a cheeky smile. Her eyes were sparkling as she looked at Princess Mary. "No appetite, lovely lady? I saw you make quick work of that thick vanilla milkshake!"

"My name is Mary," the princess said, giving the girl a direct look. "If you want to be my friend, you need to know who I am."

"Understood," said the waitress. Her cheeky smile was gone. She looked at Mary with an expression of admiration and respect.

Neither of them paid the slightest attention to Jamil Khan.