Never Have I Ever
Chapter 14 - The Beaumont Bash - Part 1
Book- TRR
Series- Never Have I Ever
Pairings- Bertrand x MC
Chapter Synopsis- Feelings get more complicated when the court arrives for the Beaumont bash.
Chapter Warnings- language, sensuality
Rating - Mature
Word Count- 2,010
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Chapter 14 - The Beaumont Bash - Part 1
The next morning Riley entered the kitchen for breakfast, and Bertrand followed a moment later. He smiled and acknowledged her politely, as if he hadn’t slept in her bed last night. “Good morning, Lady Riley.”
She grinned, “Morning Bert.”
The two locked eyes for a moment, exchanging private smiles.
“Uh, good morning Maxwell!” Max said in amusement, from his spot at the kitchen table where he was having a blackberry scone and tea. “Hope you guys didn’t miss me too much last night.”
“Yes, yes, good morning Maxwell.” Bertrand said, busying himself at the stove with a cup of tea. “I hope you didn’t get into too much trouble last night.”
Riley sat down beside Max with a grin. “Good morning, sunshine! Sooo, tell me how your date went,” Riley said, taking a bite of his scone.
Max smiled conspiratorially, “Let’s just say the Amazing Armando is indeed amazing. I swear I can barely walk today!”
“Ha!” Riley chuckled, “Same.”
She froze once she realized what she just implied. Bertrand still had no idea that she had told Maxwell about their arrangement, and Max had no idea that they had sex. Her eyes widened and she quickly glanced behind her at Bertrand, who had turned away, a telltale blush creeping up his neck. “I mean.. Because I was working so hard yesterday preparing for the court’s arrival! And my.. legs are tired.”
Maxwell’s jaw hung open and he looked between the two of them, though neither would meet his eyes. He kicked Riley’s leg under the table, and mouthed, “What the hell!? Details!”
Riley shook her head and checked behind her for Bertrand, but he had disappeared. “You seriously want details about what me and your brother did last night?” She whispered.
“Uh, if it involves Bertrand no longer being a thirty year old virgin, then yes I want details!”
Riley looked down, trying not to grin. “A lady shouldn’t talk about such things.”
Maxwell smiled delightedly, “You screwed him, didn’t you? Oh, you slutty queen!”
RIley laughed, “I should be calling you that! Spending the night with the Amazing Armand after one date!”
“Uh, it’s Armand-o!,” Max corrected her. “Can’t forget the ‘o’ because he sure as hell didn’t.” Maxwell sighed as he reminisced. “Several ‘o’s’ in fact..”
“Maxwell!” Riley chuckled. “Damn, you did have fun last night!”
“Sounds like you did too.” Max smirked, “And I’ll gladly share my title of slutty queen with you.”
The two friends laughed together and Maxwell sipped his tea thoughtfully. “You know, I called it from the beginning.”
“Called what?”
His mouth rose into a smirk, “You guys are totally in love now.”
“What?! You’re crazy!”
Max ignored her, shimmying in his seat excitedly. “I always wanted a sister!”
“Max! It’s not like that!”
Just then a maid entered the room and the conversation abruptly ended, much to Riley’s relief.
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Bertand couldn’t wipe the smile from his face. The court would begin arriving in a couple hours and normally he would be a nervous wreck, but not today. Today everything seemed right with the world. Nothing could bring him down.
His phone chimed with a text and he smiled even brighter when he saw who it was from- Riley. She had sent him a picture of herself in the dress she was planning to wear that day. God, she looks gorgeous. Of course he couldn’t tell her those exact words, it wouldn’t be appropriate. So he responded, “That dress is quite acceptable for the court’s arrival.”
She sent back a kissing smiley face with a heart, and butterflies fluttered in his chest.
Bertrand sat his phone back on the counter and grinned at himself in the mirror as he fixed his hair. I look pretty darn good today. Just then his phone chimed again and he quickly snatched it back up, excited to see what Riley was sending him now.
His heart dropped as he read it. “I can’t wait to see you today!” From Savannah.
Savannah. He had utterly and completely forgotten about her existence. Now she’s coming here and she’s excited to see me. He sighed and sat the phone back on the counter, and his stomach twisted with guilt.
The past few weeks he had been living in a fantasy world, but now it was time to wake up. The coronation was happening very soon and there was a chance that Riley would be chosen. In fact, the press was naming Riley, Olivia, and Madeleine as the ‘frontrunners’ for queen. Whatever Liam and Drake had between them clearly wasn’t anything more than physical.. and maybe he had read too much into the whole thing in the first place. It's not like he actually saw anything happen between them.
He should be happy. After all, Riley becoming queen was the plan from the beginning.
With a heavy sigh, Bertrand buttoned up his suit jacket and made his way downstairs, ready to play the perfect, proper Duke of Ramsford.
Just the way he was expected to.
The way it would be for the rest of his life.
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Riley, Bertrand, and Maxwell greeted their noble guests as they arrived in the grand dining room for dinner. Riley mingled politely with the other ladies of court while they gossiped and chatted about Liam and the Beaumont bash which was taking place after dinner that night.
Liam made his way over to the group and held his hand out to Riley. “If you ladies will excuse us, I would like a word with our hostess for the evening.”
Riley followed Liam to a private corner of the room where they sat together. “It’s lovely to see you again, Lady Riley,” Liam smiled that charming prince smile and she couldn’t help but return it.
“You too, Your Highness.”
“I thought I told you to call me Liam,” he grinned cheekily.
“I thought I told you to call me Riley,” she quipped back and Liam chuckled.
“The estate is lovely. Bertrand told me that you had a hand in choosing some of the decor?”
“Oh, yes! Can you actually believe he gave up some control and let me and Max help?”
Liam chuckled, “Not really. The duke has always been a control freak.. Likes things to be just so. Which is why I find myself feeling a bit sorry for you.”
“What do you mean?” She asked.
“Being under constant scrutiny by Bertrand Beaumont must be exhausting.”
Riley watched Bertrand across the room, engaging their guests with a perfect air of confidence and propriety, and she couldn't help but smile fondly. “Nah. He’s cool.”
“Cool?!” Liam laughed, “I don’t think I’ve ever heard anyone describe Bertrand as ‘cool’, but I suppose you’ve gotten to know him better than most these past few months.”
Riley felt her cheeks heat up. She certainly had.
Just then, Savannah made her way over to Bertrand, leaning in and giving him a kiss on the cheek. Riley watched with rapt attention, trying to decipher what they were saying. Bertrand looked down shyly, while a faint blush colored his cheeks, and Riley felt her stomach drop. They were flirting.. And Savannah made him blush.
Of course he’s flirting with her. He likes her.
Liam cleared his throat, “Riley? Earth to Riley? Did you hear anything I said?”
Riley shook off her stupor, and turned to Liam ruefully. “I’m so sorry, Liam. I was just.. Distracted for a moment. I suppose I’m a bit tired.”
Liam smiled, “Well, perhaps dinner will help you get reenergized.”
“I’m sure it will.” Riley tried to smile, but her attention once again returned to Savannah and Bertrand while they laughed together.
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Riley found herself seated at the head table during dinner, Liam, Regina, and Constantine on her left, Bertrand and Maxwell on her right.
She smiled amiably, practiced impeccable table manners, engaged in polite conversation with the royal family, and by all means, was the perfect lady. But everything about the evening felt forced on her part. At one point, she crossed her legs and accidentally brushed her foot against Bertrand, who immediately blushed and jerked away.
So of course she had to do it again, intentionally.
Riley slipped her shoe off and casually stretched out her leg, sliding it along Bertrand’s ankle. He sucked in a breath and sputtered and coughed, face growing red.
“Dear boy, are you alright?” Constantine asked in concern.
Bertrand cleared his throat and plastered on a smile. “My apologies, Your Majesty. I’m alright now.” He glanced at Riley briefly and blushed all over again.
Riley smiled, wondering how far he would let this go. She slid her foot up Bertrand’s pant leg slightly, rubbing up and down his calf. His face was flushed, and his breathing was becoming labored, but the royal family were talking amongst themselves and paying them no mind.
Savannah who, she thought to herself with a smile.
She casually reached over to Bertrand’s lap and caressed his upper thigh with her fingertips. He shivered, but still didn't stop her.
Ya, he likes it.
Riley dropped her napkin on the floor and as she leaned under the table to pick it up, grazed her hand across the front of Bertrand’s crotch.
“Riley!” Bertrand gasped, and everyone at their table turned to look at him. “I, er.. “
Riley quickly sat up and formulated a lie. “Bertrand was just reminding me to take my.." The only thing that came to mind was the medication her mother took any time she ate dairy. “..lactase supplement.”
Liam turned to her in surprise, “I didn’t know you were lactose intolerant, Lady Riley.”
“Oh ya, I totally bloat up like a pufferfish if I forget my pill.” She tried not to visibly cringe at how unladylike she just sounded.
“It’s true,” Maxwell added, “Digestive health is no joke.”
Now she was beginning to sweat while the royal family gawked at her. Riley cut her eyes over and Bertrand was pinching the bridge of his nose, while Max held his hand over his mouth, shoulders shaking as he attempted to contain his laughter.
Regina cleared her throat. “Well, we wouldn’t want you to have digestive issues and miss your first Beaumont bash. Of course you should take your medication.”
They looked at her expectantly and Riley nodded. “Oh.. yes of course.” She dug around in her purse, pretending to remove a pill, before “swallowing” it.
Thankfully dessert was served, interrupting the awkward hell that this dinner had become. Riley supposed she deserved it after torturing Bertrand like that.
Regina leaned forward to speak to Riley directly. “If you will indulge me, I have a bit of a personal question for you, Lady Riley.”
Riley plastered on a polite smile. “Of course, Your Majesty.”
Regina’s face grew serious. “I know this isn’t the life you grew up in, and the past few months have been a big change for you. So, I have to ask.. if you are chosen as Liam’s bride, do you feel you would want to continue this life on a daily basis? And would you be ready, not only to marry, but also to be queen?”
Riley froze, as all eyes fell on her. She immediately looked from Bertrand, to Liam, then back to Bertrand. “I..”
Bertrand interrupted, “Of course she would be ready!”
Regina chuckled, “I know you’re invested as her sponsor, but there’s no need to answer for her, Duke Bertrnd.”
Riley’s heart crashed to the floor. Even after everything, he still wants me to marry Liam. She forced a smile. “No, Bertrand’s right.. Of course I would.”
Constantine clapped his hands together with a grin. “Well, that satisfies me. Unless my lovely wife has any more forthright questions for our son’s suitor?”
Regina swatted his arm playfully. “Oh, darling, you know I’m just concerned for Liam’s future.”
Bertrand tapped his glass, and stood to address the entire room. “Now that the dessert has been served, the grand hall is open. Please join us there for after dinner festivities as we celebrate the end of the social season with the annual Beaumont bash!”
While everyone excitedly exited the dining room, Riley made her way to the nearest bathroom, trying and failing to keep her tears at bay.
