Page 44 of Tabloid Princess

It was utterly ridiculous that there was a large percentage of me who expected to see that lip twitch I’d become so familiar with. The fact I was looking for it told me all I needed to know. I’d stepped too far. This was the realm of dreams and fantasy; a dream I’d been largely sliding into by myself.

Because, he was a prince for God’s sake.

His lips didn’t twitch or flicker with a hint of anything other than total disapproval.

I sat in a chair and watched as he folded himself into the one opposite. “I’m guessing my type of headlines aren’t the ones you want?”

It was a ridiculous thing to say.

“Anyway, that’s not why I’m here.”

“So why are you here? I’d say enough was done yesterday.”

He glanced down at his fingers. “I’m sorry. I’m usually so careful in public.”

“With all the other women you hang out with at charities?”

His glare was as hard as flint. “No. In public, in general.”

His words still had the ability to make me think, to make me question. I hated him for it.

“Your Highness.” The frown grew but I carried on regardless. “Is there nothing you can do? This is not good for me.” I shook my head. “I don’t want to be associated with a prince.”

His eyes lit for a moment. “No?”

“Hell, no.” I flushed.

He slumped back in his chair. “Can’t say I’ve ever heard that before.”

I slanted forward, as though we were two opposing objects that moved alongside one another. “I’ve worked hard to protect my life. For it to be brought down in scandal and gossip now would be unbearable.”

My throat tightened as I thought of Daisy at school, with those girls, and those mums… all judging us. Me.

“It would hurt me.”

“Leia. I’d never want to hurt you.”

“They know my name…” Sweet Jesus, I nearly called him Oliver. “When will they know where I live? Where my daughter goes to school?”

He sat back at this. His face no longer carefully guarded. A flash of utter shock broke through his calm mask.

I shifted closer still, almost impossible not to. “You see. You said yourself, the people here, we’ve all been through something. I’ve spent a long time leaving that behind. You need to make the press drop this for both of our sakes.”

His Adam’s apple bobbed slightly. “I understand. I’ll arrange for a statement to be made.”

“Thank you.” It looked like I sagged with relief, but it was that searing pain in my chest that made me slump a little.

“Leia.” I looked up at the low call of my name. “I hope you know this was never my intention.”

“To tangle yourself publicly with a girl from Hackney? I can all too well imagine.”

“That’s not what I meant.”

I gave a short laugh. “It’s what you should have meant. Prince Oliver, please, if you can do anything to stop this, I’d be grateful.”

He pulled a face that was oddly un-princely. “Unfortunately, the British press resemble Bulldogs when it comes to a story, and they aren’t that opposed to fabricating what they can’t discover as truth. That much I know.”

“But they are saying I’m the reason you didn’t get married. That’s insane. I met you like…” I trailed off, was it really only four days ago?