Page 118 of Tabloid Princess

The car began to slow, and I stared out of the window gulping as the high walls of St Mark’s Palace came into view. The press was there, of course, and I automatically slunk down in the back seat. Although I knew they wouldn’t be able to see through the tinted glass, it was unnerving all the same.

“The palace?” Daisy peered up and then turned her head to the side glancing around the courtyard.

“What are you looking for?”

“I wondered if we were going to see Daisy the pony. Maybe his car is here waiting for us again?”

We both looked, but the dark blue Land Rover wasn’t in sight.

He was though. Springing down the steps, in faded grey jeans and a casual checked shirt. My heart faltered the moment I saw him. I’d done a convincing job of acting normal so far, pushing the electric memories of the previous night to the back of my head so I could parent on a partway useful level.

One glance at him undid all that. I flushed and burned as bright as a bonfire. Images of his hands on my skin, our bodies tangled, flickered like an old-fashioned photo reel.

He opened the door and helped Daisy out, bowing deep to her as he did so. When his eyes lifted to mine, he smirked like he knew exactly what thoughts I had running through my head.

“Miss Lawrence.”

“Your Royal Highness.” I couldn’t help but glance at the roof, checking to see if the flag flew to confirm whether his parents were home.

He leant in, his breath brushing my skin. “Don’t worry, we have the place to ourselves.”

“Really?”

“Sure. This place is empty more often than people realise. It’s just us and the staff.”

“Staff?” I gulped.

“Again, don’t worry. We are going somewhere far better than inside the palace.” He turned to Daisy. “Would you like to see a real princess’ garden?”

She nodded, her eyes wide, before she flicked to them to me to check. I shrugged. This was far out of my hands now.

“Sounds great,” I mumbled.

He pointed at a path that led right down the centre of the lawns. It stopped halfway, becoming circular, holding an impressive fountain that poured water up and out. After the circle for the fountain, the pathway carried on further than the eyes could see. “Straight down there,” he said to Daisy.

She gave a shout and ran in the direction he pointed. I went to call her back, but his fingers slipped into mine.

“Oliver, people will see.” I pulled my hand away—unsuccessfully.

“Who?” He bunched his dark eyebrows.

“Staff? Anyone really.”

He stopped me, wheeling me around. “Leia. No one within these walls will hurt us. Every member of staff is loyal to us.”

“But surely they aren’t just your staff? They are your parents' too, right?”

“True. I have my own too, at Greystone etc, but it doesn’t matter. I’m the future king. Their loyalty is to me, whether they actually like me or not.” He laughed ruefully.

“So basically, you pay people to like you?”

“Sad but true.” He grinned and shook his head, his gaze searching me with that questioning glance. “You truly are unlike anyone I’ve ever met.”

My own grin smeared across my face. As swift as lightning he came closer, brushing a kiss across my mouth. The responding fiery storm that sparked inside me took my breath away. “Don’t, Daisy is here,” I mumbled against his mouth.

He pulled away, his eyes dancing. “Best behaviour.”

“One hundred percent.” His one hundred percent was only around eighty-five though, because he didn’t let go of my hand as we walked along after Daisy.