A Muse Her

Chapter 32

Maia gulped as she gazed at the tall ornate door, the deep, glossy mahogany wood glistening from the light of the iron scones on the white stone walls of the palace.

She took a breath and squeezed Mateo's hand as they walked up the steps to the door. "Wait."

"Everything's going to be fine, liefje," Mateo said, pressing a kiss to the side of her head. "I promise."

"I-I know, but," she bit her lip. "Do I...do I bow or curtsey when I meet your parents?"

"No, that's not necessary," he said, shaking his head. "This isn't a formal engagement. You're just meeting the family."

"Yes, a royal family," she hissed. "God, I'm so nervous."

"Don't be." He chuckled, turning to her and sliding his hands to her cheeks. "You can be yourself, here. I promise my family is just like anyone else's. We just have titles."

"You say that," she said, looking away from him to the ominous door. "But I've never met someone's family in a palace before."

"It's just an obnoxiously big house. The people inside aren't any different than you or me."

Maia took a deep breath. "Okay."

"Okay," he said, taking her hand. "Are you good now?"

She squeezed his hand and nodded. "Yeah, I'm good," she said as they continued up the steps and the glossy mahogany door slid open.

"Welcome home, Your Grace," an elderly man with black graying hair dressed in a black suit said, bowing to Mateo. "And welcome to Oost den Burg Palace, Miss Jefferies."

"Thank you," she said as they stepped inside on to the intricately woven rich navy blue and gold lined rug over the swirling marble floor of the foyer. Maia's eyes grew wide at the sweeping grand mahogany staircases that led up to an open walkway with a portrait of the royal family hanging on the wall in an ornate golden frame as the centerpiece of the palace.

"Maia, this is Ruben," Mateo said, pulling her out of her stupor and awe at the exuberant home around her. "He's been with my family since I was a kid and was an integral part of my escapes from the palace as a teen."

"Oh?" Maia laughed softly. "Well, it's lovely to meet you, Ruben," she said, holding out her hand to the elderly gentlemen. "I'm so sorry you had to be Mateo's accomplice in his escapes."

"Thank you, Miss Jefferies," Ruben laughed. "But there's no need to say sorry. Prince Hendrik kept me young doing all that," he said, taking her hand. "And it's lovely to meet you too. Congratulations on your engagement."

"Thank you, but maybe you and I should have a little chat. I'd love to hear some stories about this one," Maia said, squeezing Mateo's arm. "I bet you have plenty."

"Oh I do, but I'm sure you'll hear a few tonight," he said, chuckling. "May I take your coat for you?"

"Yes please, thank you," she said, as Mateo helped her shrug off her jacket.

"Is everyone in the dining room already?" Mateo said as he handed Ruben her coat.

"Yes, they're all waiting for you. Dinner will be served in the conservatory this evening," Ruben said, folding Maia's coat over his arm and nodding down the hallway. "I'm sure you remember the way."

"I do," Mateo said, slipping his arm around Maia's waist. "You ready?"

Maia nodded, smoothing a hand over her sculpted curls. "I'm ready," she said as he led her down the long swirling marble floored hallway toward a set of double stained glass doors. She could hear the rumbling of chatter behind them and the prickling of anxiety trickled down her spine wondering what his family was going to think of her. How would they react to them and what the hell was Jorien going to say about them?