Page 105 of Tabloid Princess

“It’s in Guildford. Are we going before it gets dark?” His expression flashed with exasperation.

“Guildford! That’s miles away.”

“It’s not that far. Although it will be if we never actually get on the road.”

“London has lots of parks we can go to.”

“Leia! Please get in the car.” His eyes twitched up to the windows of the palace.

I pulled on the handle and went to step up into the high car, but my foot slipped on the gravel and I almost went down.

He caught me, his hand smooth around my arm, his body pulling me close. “You okay?”

I flustered. “Sure.” Scrambling in the car, I pulled the door closed and tried to take in deep breaths. He got in the driver’s seat saying nothing, but the confused glance he sent me said it all. With the car started, he pulled up to the gates. There in a small sentry box hidden from view was a solider with a maroon cap. Oliver gave him a wave and the solider saluted.

“Wow. That’s one way to leave a car park.”

He didn’t respond but I watched his fingers tighten on the steering wheel.

We were cruising down the outside lane of the A3 to Guildford when he spoke. “What’s wrong?”

“Nothing,” I returned truthfully. Nothing was wrong, so long as you didn’t focus on the fact the future king was taking my daughter and I out for a Saturday afternoon jolly.

“Nothing? You looked like you wanted to bite my head off when I helped you into the car.”

Sighing, I rested my head against the cool window. It soothed my agitation a little. “You just shouldn’t be touching me in public that’s all. Someone could have seen us.”

“We were in the palace. That’s not public.”

“Well it kind of is, Oliver.”

He drummed on the steering wheel, his gaze thoughtful as he changed lanes in the traffic. “You don’t mean the public, do you? You mean my family. What if one of them saw us?”

I scowled. He’d hit the truth quicker than I thought. I probably shouldn’t undervalue his attentiveness. “Probably best they don’t see us together. I’m sure their questions would be ones you’d rather not answer.”

To my utter surprise, he pulled over onto the hard shoulder and turned off the engine.

“What are you doing?”

“I can’t focus on driving and I won’t take risks with you guys in the car.” His lips creased into a firm line I hadn’t seen before.

Daisy continued to hum to herself. Her attention focused on one of her dollies she’d brought into the car.

“Let me explain this to you, so it’s utterly clear.”

My throat tightened at the severity of his voice and the sheer determination that shone in his eyes.

He waited for me to nod, confirming that I was actually listening to what he had to say.

“I wouldn’t have come to your house today and met Daisy if I wasn’t one hundred percent committed to whatever we have here.”

“But—”

“No, Leia. I can assure you, my family are of little consequence in the situation.”

“But your family are the King and Queen. They might not hold much consequence to you, but I can assure you from where I’m standing their disapproval will mean a lot.”

“I thought you didn’t care about rich, poncey people?” His lips quirked a little and the storm on his expression seemed to be blowing over.