“I would feel more natural if I could,” he agreed.
“Great. Gentlemen, he will do the speech standing. Let’s move the desk and adjust the teleprompter.”
I was surprised by my own ability to bark orders. I always knew I had it in me but now more than ever I needed that confidence.
After a flurry of activity, we’d been reset for the new approach.
“Better?” I asked.
Duncan nodded, relieved. “Yes. Thanks. That was brilliant.”
Yes, because I’m not an idiot!
I let it go. I wanted to go off on him for earlier but both of us needed him to not suck at this. I was grateful his ex agreed to put outherstatement. I suspected money changed hands somehow, but I ignored any concerns of impropriety.
This time, with more confidence, I asserted, “You will sell it just fine. Treat it like any other speech at any other thingy where you cut the ribbon or pull that stupid curtain chain to open it.”
He chuckled and scratched his chin. “Yeah, I see that. I don’t know what the technical name is. I think… a pull?”
I snickered. “Cool. Ya learn something new every day!”
“Sir, we’re on in one minute!” A staffer called, prompting the Prince to move to his mark. A producer directed him with hand gestures and eventually counted him in.
He looked at me like a scared child. I smiled back like an idiot. It could do no harm to give him some confidence. I still found him beyond infuriating but at least I was earning my pay. A raise could be just around the corner. I luxuriated in the thought of taking Jax’s office and tossing her shit into the hall.
That thought would get me through the next five minutes and onto the train home.
7
THE PRINCE’S SPEECH
DUNCAN
6 December
London Daily Times
Across Britain tonight, the pressure is on to hold The Prince of Wales accountable for his misdeeds. A short live speech is expected on a tv broadcast at 19:00. In London, people are piling into pubs to gather round. While we here at theDaily Timesdon’t expect much out of a perfectly choreographed royal apology, perhaps it will shed new light into how genuinely remorseful the prince is.
Can he learn to do better? Is he capable of reform?
Many Britons are asking today whether such a thing is possible. We hope for Her Majesty’s sake it is. Otherwise, people will be looking down the line of succession for a bright light. Maybe his cousin Prince Keir is interested in the job?
Istood, hands shaking before the teleprompter. My heart beat out of my chest, and my palms sweating profusely. I looked at Miss Mills, hoping for confirmation that I could do this. I didn’t usually freeze up before a camera. Instead, I baited photographers and got into it with them. The palace always gave me an earful for that.
I questioned everything.What if it wasn’t enough? What if it didn’t help? What if it all went south?
Miss Mills smiled back. She was still very, very pretty, but why was I still thinking with my cock? There was no way I got to touch her after all of this.Right?Again I thought.Well, maybe?Not if I fucked this up. No perky tits in my face. No round ass to grab. Nope.Better pull it together!
“And 5,4…” the producer switched over to mouthing the cues. I was up.
“Hello. Yesterday morning, screenshots of conversations between myself and Lady LeRoux were leaked to social media—the result of a hack. The words within them were private and never meant to be made public.”
I took a deep breath.
“To all of you, to my family, and to anyone my words have hurt, I am very sorry. The words I used were hurtful. I used harmful, unacceptable language directed towards a person I cared—and still care—deeply about. I never should have and I take responsibility for it.”
It was true. I did still care about her even if I wished I didn’t.
