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‘I think she needs a doctor.’ In response to the sardonic lift of Casper’s eyebrows, Emilio coloured. ‘It’s just that, if there is something upsetting her, she might need to talk to someone.’
‘Talk to someone?’ Casper looked at him with naked incredulity. ‘Emilio, since when did a hardened ex-special forces soldier advocate talking therapy?’
Emilio didn’t back down. ‘Holly likes to talk, Your Highness.’
‘I had noticed.’
But he wasn’t talking to her, was he? Casper lifted a hand and rubbed his fingers over his forehead. ‘I’ll talk to her, Emilio. Thank you for bringing it to my attention.’
Still Emilio didn’t move. ‘She might prefer to talk to someone outside. Someone who isn’t close to her.’
‘You think she won’t want to talk to me?’
‘You can be intimidating, sir. And you’re very—blunt. Holly is very optimistic and romantic.’
Not any more. He was fairly sure he’d killed both those traits.
Reflecting on that fact, Casper sucked in a breath. ‘I can’t promise romantic, but I will make sure I’m approachable.’
‘May I say one more thing, sir?’
‘Can I stop you?’
Ignoring the irony in the prince’s tone, Emilio ploughed on. ‘I have been by your side since you were thirteen years old. Holly—Her Royal Highness,’ he corrected himself hastily, ‘Isn’t like any of the women you’ve been with before. She’s genuine.’
Genuine? Casper shook his head, not sure whether to be relieved that she’d done such a good PR job on his staff, or exasperated that everyone just took her at face value. They saw nothing beyond the pretty smile and the chatty personality. Apparently it hadn’t occurred to a single other person that this baby might not be his. That genuine, kind Holly Phillips might have another side to her.
That people and relationships were not always the way they appeared.
He wondered whether his loyal Head of Security had known Antonia had been sleeping with his brother.
‘Thank you, Emilio. I’ll deal with it.’
‘Will you still be attending the fundraising dinner, sir?’
Casper frowned. ‘Yes, of course.’
‘The car will be ready at seven-thirty, sir.’
‘One question, Emilio.’ Casper lifted a hand and the bodyguard stopped. ‘Which engagement did she cancel?’
Emilio met his gaze. ‘The opening of a new family centre for children from split families, sir. It was an initiative designed to give lone parents support and children the opportunity to spend time with male role-models.’ He hesitated and then bowed. ‘I’ll arrange the car for later.’
Casper stood still for a moment.
Then he cursed long and fluently, cast a frustrated glance at the volume of work on his desk, and turned his back on it and strode through the private apartments looking for Holly.
Holly lay on the bed with her head under the pillow.
She had to get up.
She had things to do. Responsibilities.
But her mind was so exhausted with thinking and worrying that she couldn’t move.
‘Holly.’
The sound of Casper’s voice made her curl the pillow over her head. She didn’t want him to see that she’d been crying. She didn’t want to see him at all. ‘Go away. I’m tired. I’m having a sleep.’
