Page 73 of Tabloid Princess

“I can count the amount of people I’ve met who haven’t been affected by who I am. Who I will be. What I could do for them. Everybody wants something. No one is ever themselves with me.”

“You are the future King of England. I think they have just cause.”

He shrugged and there was a helpless edge to it that brought to life that ping in my chest. “How many have you counted?” I breathed my question and then hid my flush behind my glass.

“One.” His stare bored straight into mine. “You.”

I stood rock still as he reached forward just slightly and trailed a finger along my cheek.

The fire that combusted throughout my entire body at that one simple touch constituted a massive overreaction.

“I’ve never met anyone who hasn’t given a shit about who I am.”

“I do give a shit; I can assure you.”

“But it didn’t change how you reacted to me, what you said. You saw who I was and then responded by being exactly who you are.”

Lifting my hand, I caught his fingers and pushed them gently away from my face regretting the lack of contact instantly. “Prince—”

“Oliver, please.”

“Oliver.” Saying his name out loud made my insides ache. “I can’t be anyone other than who I am.” I took a deep breath. “And the person I am, is not the kind of girl who should be having dinner with a prince.”

Unsay the words. Unsay the words.

“Even if the prince doesn’t care?”

“Even then.”

“It’s just dinner. Not even that yet. Right now, it’s just a drink.” The curve of his lips hinted at dangerous things.

“Can I ask one last question and then I’ll stop?”

His eyebrow quirked, but he inclined his head.

“Why was your wedding called off?”

The lingering smile on his face dropped instantly. “You saw that news item?” Sarcasm dripped from his words and it hurt to hear.

“There are hermits living under rocks who saw it.” I put my glass down, sure my shaking fingers would drop it.

He perched on the stool next to mine, spinning it slightly so our knees were almost touching. “Things have changed so much. A couple of hundred years ago you’d have married for strategy or allegiance. A marriage wasn’t founded on love.”

“I’m not being rude, but The Royal Family aren’t that important anymore. You can marry anyone, surely?”

“If I was John, yes. Isabella has it even easier. Mother and father would just be happy if she wasn’t drunk and high most the time.” His cheeks coloured a little. “Sorry, I shouldn’t have said that.”

I lifted my shoulders. “I know a good charity who could help her. But anyway, what’s the difference between you and John?”

“There’s a huge difference. It’s been there since we were infants. No one can ever ignore its existence.”

“You will be king, and he won’t,” I filled in the facts for myself.

He nodded, his gaze holding mine. “So, while yes, I can marry within reason who I want, I still have to make the correct choice. Choose a person who the people will love, who will keep our family relevant in these new times we live in. She should be a queen our people worship.”

“And that wasn’t Charlotte Macclesfield? I’m not being rude, again, but it sounds like a tall order for any woman to fill.”

“No, she wasn’t it.”