Page 102 of Scandal Queen

“Night, Prince Oliver.”

“Night, Princess Daisy,” we both said at once, but the little actress just snored louder and louder.

As we walked into the shelter, I realised that Christmas miracles did happen. It had nothing to do with the thoughtful presents under Nana’s tree that Oliver had stowed in the boot of the Range Rover, or the rushed purchases I’d made the day before Crimbo-geddon had kicked off at St Mark’s.

It was the smell of turkey and the trimmings coming from the kitchen. The shout of staff from local restaurants and hotels who had come forward to help and it was in the row after row of tables set out for many to enjoy.

“Oh my god.” I stopped in my tracks.

“What’s wrong?” Ollie glanced down at me in surprise, momentarily distracted from waving at a celebrity TV chef who was normally more famous for shouting at his staff than actually cooking.

Steam billowed from the hatch between the kitchen and the serving area.

“This is insane.” I looked around. What the hell. “I don’t understand how this happened.”

“Freya asked if she could put some calls out.” He shrugged and I launched myself at him, wrapping my arms tight around his neck as I kissed him for all I was worth on his lips. He staggered under the weight of my attack but then slid his arms around me, keeping me balanced as I tottered on tiptoes.

“I love you.”

His nose ran along mine. “That’s kind of what I’m aiming for.”

“Don’t aim any higher, you will ruin it for all men in the rest of the universe.”

“The universe, hey?” He slowly relinquished his hold on me.

“Aliens everywhere will be jealous.”

“Leia!” I turned at the boom of Bernie’s voice, finding her walking over from setting tables. “You, girl. I can’t believe this.”

“It wasn’t me. It was all him.” I pointed at Ollie but then tugged him in tight to my side. I could combust with happy vibes. If happy was a planet, I’d just blasted to the sky and taken up residence.

To my horror Bernie’s face crumpled and tears slid down her cheeks, leaving a darker trail across her skin.

“Whoa, why are we crying now?” I tried to pull at her sleeve.

She shook her head, palms pressed to her eyes. When she pulled them away her dark brown eyes looked up at Ollie with utter respect and my heart gave a little boom in my chest. “Since you guys met, things have changed a lot around here. It means everything.”

Ollie reached out and squeezed her arm. “It’s no time for crying though. I believe this is supposed to be a happy day. How many people are we catering for?”

Bernie laughed but more tears fell. “Turns out some idiot on Instagram told the world we had a full Christmas lunch available today.” She pulled her phone out of her back pocket and swiped the screen, lifting it to show him. I grinned.

The Tabloid Princess strikes again.

“You do know that the press will be here now too?” Ollie arched an eyebrow.

“There’s no point doing half measures. Let’s show people how the future king will do things.”

The future king grabbed me tight and kissed me full on the mouth just as a camera flashed. Laughing against my lips, he held out his hand in a ‘not now’ pose.

“Come on,” I could just about hear Bernie say to Daisy and Nana over the pounding in my ears. I broke the kiss and slid my hands down his chest. My eyes landed on the diamonds on my finger. My stomach dropped down to my feet.

“What’s wrong?” His eyes shone and I wanted to keep them like that for as long as I could. So I kept quiet, but I knew in my heart the press wouldn’t be writing about the wonderful things Prince Oliver had done for the people of London today.

They’d be talking about his second engagement of the year.

Unable to now change the moment—there would be no point taking it off now, that would make an entirely different story—I offered him a broad smile.

“Come on, Your Highness, I think Bernie might need help.”