Page 87 of Scandal Queen

Molly dropped her bag onto the gravel. “We know you hate celebrating, but it doesn’t mean we haven’t been with you every year not doing it.”

I nodded, a smile growing. “So long as you haven’t bought me any presents. You already took me shopping in Primark, remember?”

She pretended to scratch her head. “Nope, I don’t remember that at all.”

“Come on.” I gestured for them both to follow me.

“Aren’t we going in there?” Patrick eyed the palace with speculation.

“Come and see the cottage first and then I’ll see if I can get you a tour.”

Molly grabbed hold of my arm. “What the fuck is that on your hand?”

“Oh.” I blushed, mainly because I wanted to hide it from blinding everyone. “Last night, Oliver…”

“What! He did not?! Bloody hell, this is amazing. I can’t believe you didn’t call straightaway. Wait…” Her words tumbled. “Why hasn’t it been on the news today? Aren’t you supposed to go and do one of those walkabout things where everyone waves flags?”

I cringed, my cheeks burning hot. “It’s complicated.”

“Complicated?” We needed to move this inside. It was bloody freezing out in the courtyard and I really didn’t fancy pneumonia for our first family Christmas.

“Well you know, because of what happened with Charlotte and John, the King doesn’t want everyone talking and questioning yet another royal engagement.”

Patrick and Molly stared at me and I realised my mistake. “Oh God, please don’t ever repeat that, please, promise.”

Molly frowned. “Of course not. How long have you known?”

“Uh, since Ollie and I met.”

Patrick frowned. “You know I don’t think I’ll ever get used to you talking about the heir to the throne like that.”

“You’ll like him when you get to know him, I promise.”

Patrick’s lips set into a straight line and I could kind of get it. I mean, we’d spent years being friends, with our Friday night drinks and the two of them always being there for Daisy and me. They were almost an extended family for Daisy. Yet in the last few weeks I’d hardly seen them at all. Palace walls separated us.

“So let me get this right.” Molly scratched her face, her enthusiasm for my birthday dimming in light of my newest announcement. “You can’t announce to everyone you’re getting married because it will be bad press. Because Oliver has already been engaged to someone before and it ended badly.”

Well when she put it like that. I shook off the thought. “It was last night and it’s just until January; it’s not a big deal.” I didn’t add that we’d had enough to cope with last night what with Russian presidents and tripping princesses.

“Guys, are you coming or not?” I started to walk for the pathway to our cottage. “It’s freezing out here and honestly…” My words trailed off. Out on the lawn between the palace and Fenmore Cottage was a marquee. Not a small one. A big one.

“Eeeee!!! Happy birthday.” Molly squealed. “And happy Christmas party. Whoop whoop.”

“Uh, whoop what?” I stared between her and the marquee. Oliver’s Range Rover was parked in front of it. “I don’t understand. I was only in the apartment with Bell—” I stopped myself for finishing that thought. “For an hour or two.”

“Apparently everything is possible when you have an army of staff at your hands. It’s the Bright Futures Christmas party, and your birthday all in one.”

“But I…” I glanced down at my jeans and sheepskin boots, the first things I’d pulled on once I’d woken from my extreme lay in and wanted to go and see Bella.

Molly lifted the bag she was holding. “I knew you’d be utterly underprepared.”

I narrowed my gaze. “That doesn’t look like Primark.”

“Darling, no princesses wear Primark. Believe me that’s a title you don’t want: Princess Primark.” She chuckled to herself, although I failed to find it that amusing.

Daisy came out of the marquee, a beautiful silver chiffon party dress paired with a red cardigan and some welly boots. “Mummy!” She rushed into my arms and I swept her up.

“How did you guys do all this?”