The Princess and the Pauper (Arabella) novel Chapter 1808

"We had spotted you the moment we stepped into the diner," Arabella's words sent Sean and Steward into a state of shock. Had their cover been blown so soon?

It must have been the diner manager’s poor attempt at discretion that led to their early discovery.

"My arm's been injured, you see, so I've got to avoid anything too raw, spicy, or with a hint of alcohol. I'm not a fan of that sort of thing. Dishes like pork are just too greasy for my taste," Arabella explained, making a point to add, "Romeo ordered according to my usual preferences. I even thought it was too much food for two people to finish."

"Knowing Bella's tastes, I made sure to order her favorites. The diner's menu was half filled with raw and spicy options, so that's why I didn't order much," Romeo chimed in.

Mostly because his fiancée wouldn’t allow it!

Hearing this, Sean turned sheepish. So, he was the one who didn't understand his sister's preferences, not knowing what she liked or couldn't eat. He had thought that by simply instructing the diner manager to serve the best dishes, he was doing what was best for his sister.

It turned out, the joke was on him.

It was at this point that Steward realized why Mr. McMillian hadn't shown Ms. Bella the menu when ordering. He already knew what Ms. Bella liked and would've just verbally checked with her on each dish, seeing if she approved before finalizing the order.

It wasn't that he was being presumptuous or disrespectful to Ms. Bella.

With this revelation, a wave of embarrassment washed over Steward as well.

"But your relationship is all happened so fast." Sean was implying that they were getting cozy, holding hands, and nearly kissing, all before making their relationship official.

Arabella glanced at Romeo and they shared a knowing smile, as if they had reached an unspoken agreement. She then said, "Actually, Romeo and I began seeing each other not long after I got home."

Sean's jaw dropped at this news.