Stand By Me Darling
Chapter 248: Old Nightmare

Chapter 248: Old Nightmare

Sitting leisurely with her legs crossed in the garden chair, Talia watched Lady Jolene Montfort seriously going through the plans for the Spring Ball. As Talia’s Lady in Waiting, she had some responsibilities that are administrative and most of her responsibilities are just ceremonial.

With her short red hair flowing in the wind freely, Jolene was so immersed in the dinner arrangements for the Spring Ball together with the other lady in waiting Talia chose.

The other one Talia chose was Lady Celine Delafosse and she was the youngest daughter of the Duke of Sarlon. She, true to her name, had a Heavenly beauty, with beautiful curly blonde hair and beguiling blue eyes and pink, naturally plump lips. Her voice was so soft and melodious and she was very pleasing to look at and get along with. She had a very good understanding of decors and flower arrangements. Talia felt like Lady Celine compensate what she lacks and chose her to be with her.

Lady Jolene was wearing pantsuit and had a very simple makeup on. She was someone who never cared for what others thought of her and had the heart through plow through difficulties to attain her goal. Although she had the bad habit of speaking her mind without filters not caring of it hurts the listener or not, she had a very funny side to her too. Most of her humour would be self-deprecating and that made her easy to get along with and her charm made her shine.

Lady Celine on the other hand was a very delicate and soft-spoken woman who at most times won’t speak her mind although she had good ideas. She measured her words trying not to offend anyone and even when she gets bullied, she does nothing about it. At times Talia got reminded of Stacy when she looked at Lady Celine, but she knew Lady Celine had a very pure heart. She was raised shielded from the world as she had many elder brothers and sisters, but she was extremely smart as she had read many knowledgeable books. In a way she seemed like the test book version of how a lady should be and even Talia was amazed by her demeanour.

Talia spending more time with them, felt both of the ladies, entirely different, were very easy to get along with and she found them both impressive.

I’m not going to lose them both! Let Lambert find his own woman!

In the past, the ladies in Waiting weren’t allowed to marry without their mistress’ permission, but times are different now. The ladies in Waiting can marry whomever they want to.

But if the cute Lady Celine marries Prince Lambert, she’d become Princess Consort and she cannot be her Lady in Waiting anymore. But if she marries anyone else, she could still be her lady in waiting. Talia didn’t want to lose Lady Celine. The flower arrangements she suggested for the Spring Ball, were so amazing.

Lady Celine’s family is very rich and she doesn’t need to work on her life. But if Lady Celine starts a party planning company, she’d be the most successful one in the world.

But it is better if she is with me. I won’t have to bother with the stupid flower arrangements.

Talia as someone who is not very interested in the ’planning Balls and Banquets’, didn’t want to lose such a talented person like Lady Celine.

Thankfully Lady Jolene is not Lambert’s type. Although Lady Jolene looked very feminine and attractive, she still was very intelligent, bold and decisive. Lambert won’t find these kind of women attractive. He always liked those type of women who were fun-loving and very feminine with less opinions.

Talia finished the cup of tea and placed the cup on the table.

Don’t worry my precious little girls... I’ll protect you from that big bad Lambert. You’re mine!

Talia cackled evilly in her heart. She liked all her staff and the more she got to know them she liked them more. She won’t lose them for anything.

"Ah... Look what the wind blew in..." Talia mumbled with her eyebrows furrowed before standing up. "Prince Lambert! How pleasant to meet you here!" she changed her expression almost immediately seeing him followed by his staff.

"It is pleasant, isn’t it?" Lambert grinned widely at Talia and Talia had to hold back her urge to roll her eyes at him.

Ever since they both realised that they have to get along in front of their staff, this guy would just flaunt his ugly face in front of her to rile her up.

Without even looking at Talia, Lambert walked to the table where the two ladies were discussing the arrangements for the banquet, and started to give his input.

Look at that bastard.... Flirting with my ladies in waiting!

Talia wanted to pour the hot tea in the teapot right at his face. But she really cannot do that to him. His ugly face and his title are his only assets. She didn’t want to ruin half of his assets.

Talia casually inserted herself in between the ladies and pushed Lambert to her front. Lambert was tasked with arranging the security for the Spring Ball and based on the seating arrangements he had his arrangements to make. By using this excuse, he is bothering them daily.

"These Ladies are awesome!" Lambert smiled and slight dimples formed on his cheeks. "They are very skilled in arranging the seats. They even cared for the quarrel between Lord Rochford and Lord Danish and placed them separately..." he didn’t holdback his compliments for the ladies.

"I know right. Since I was busy they took on this arduous task. Maybe you should delegate your work too," Talia said with a smile. But in her heart, she was thinking differently.

Get lost Lambert! Don’t visit me often! Send someone else.

Lambert smiled and nodded. But his smile didn’t reach his eyes. Of course he is not a fool to not understand what she meant.

Seeing his awful expression, Talia felt happy. It’s not she who has to hide her hatred towards Lambert. He should do the same too.

Hahaha ha!

"Why is there an extra seat at out table? You’ve already found a date? I thought your girlfriend broke up with you." Talia asked. The main table will only seat the Royal family members and their spouses and dates. Along with the Dowager, King, Queen Consort, Talia and Lambert, there is another seat added only now.

So who is the extra seat for?

Lambert looked in Talia’s eyes for a while without answering. Talia couldn’t understand what he was thinking. He was angry for a moment, but then he looked at her weirdly for sometime without saying a word.

He was angry because I suggested his girlfriend dumped him... But what’s with this weird look?

"Join us for the grouse hunting tomorrow. They say the grouses are plentiful this year and it’s going to be a good hunt," Lambert said after a while, still with his weird look.

"... I’ll see," Talia said after taking a deep breath.

Wandering along the marshes with a bunch of people with hunting rifles... What could go wrong?

"The Queen Consort is attending. If you join, it would be fun for her too. I’ll pick you up in the morning. Be ready." Lambert said and without expecting her answer, left the garden.

"Why is he ordering you around?" Lady Jolene said with her eyebrows furrowed.

"I think he just wants you there because he likes your company," Lady Celine tried to soften the tension.

Talia herself felt odd by Lambert’s tone, but she didn’t find it offensive. She herself was a little interested in joining the hunt.

The next morning, with her staff preparing everything for her, Talia got ready for the hunt. She still didn’t know of she’d be comfortable with shooting a gun, but the other day she didn’t have trouble shooting the drones. So she thought she won’t have any trouble with this too.

Talia was sitting in the passenger seat of Lambert’s land rover as they travelled to the hinging ground, with their security details following them.

"You didn’t sleep well last night?" Lambert asked Talia who was yawning uncontrollably.

"I had nightmares that you shot me in the back and I couldn’t sleep!" Talia rolled her eyes.

In fact she had nightmares that kept her from sleeping, but it was a different one. She saw Cyrus in her dreams and that kept her awake.

"It would be a pretty good cover to ’accidentally’ shoot someone during a hunt, right?" Lambert couldn’t control his laughter.

"You’re an Olympic lever shooter. No one will believe you!" Talia gritted her teeth. Who knows? This guy might actually kill her!

"Who knows? Maybe an ant bit my toe and I accidentally missed my mark... Or... You slipped and fell into my-"

"Oh, shut up, Lambert!" Talia snorted and turned her head to look through the window.

"Don’t worry. Stay with me. I’ll give you the best bird and you can say you got the game." Lambert patted her shoulder and Talia just sat there without any response.

Ah... Do I look that scared that even this guy is offering me help? Pathetic!