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Dani’s eyes widened as the pop singer joined their group, delicate in a floor-length, cap-sleeved, chiffon gown, color-blocked inshades of teal, dark blue, and violet that actually managed not to clash with her hair.
It didn’t matter how she looked. Pretty faces could hide evil minds.
“Your Royal Highness,” Samantha cooed, holding her hand out.
Anger barreled through Dani like a wildfire, obliterating the contentment she’d managed to claim for herself just moments ago. She was so fucking tired of reacting to this woman and playing by her rules. Dani wanted to have it out, end this shit once and for all. But she was acutely aware of where she was, the growing interest around them, and everything she had to lose if she wasn’t smart.
Woosah, bitch!
“What are you doing here?”
Samantha curled her lip. “Why should you be the only one with royal connections?”
Dani’s black-and-red-ombré stiletto nails pricked her palms. Long acrylics were not conducive to throwing a punch. “This isn’t a game or stirring up trouble on social media. This is my life. My business.”
“Did you bring her here?” Jameson asked his uncle, his hand resting reassuringly, protectively, on the small of her back.
“I think Miss Banks has a lot of talent. If you could invite Duchess, I don’t see why I couldn’t invite her. Especially given the things I’ve been reading about Duchess. They haven’t been very complimentary.”
Dani stiffened. Prince Julian was the reason Samantha was here? Why would he invite her? What did he have to gain?
“Did you know this when you suggested her?” Julian tsked and shook his head. “If Mummy knew, I don’t think she would’ve approved of your choice.”
“Julian—”
“Excuse me,” Louisa interrupted. In a simple sage green gown, her usual cool composure was marred by the lines of tension bracketing her mouth. “Her Majesty would like a word.”
“Am I going to meet the queen?” Samantha breathed.
“No,” Louisa said. The dismissive disgust in her tone would’ve made Dani laugh if she wasn’t furious.
“This will be the perfect opportunity to tell Mummy what I’ve learned. I knew appointing you as the face of this event would be a bad idea. Your judgment is obviously skewed.”
“Not you,” Louisa said. “Only Prince Jameson and Duchess.”
Julian’s face registered his indignation. Dani glanced at Jameson, but he’d gone expressionless. He dipped his head and motioned for her and Louisa to precede him. Pressing her lips together, she followed the other woman. People stared, parting to allow them to pass, and she schooled her features to not give away her inner turmoil.
The queen sat on the dais at the far end of the room. She looked regal and elegant in a white dress and a blue sash. Dani wondered if she was aware that her hand rested on the arm of the empty throne next to hers instead of her own. Though there were close to two hundred people in attendance, on the dais under the canopied throne, they had a privacy Dani hadn’t anticipated.
“Your Majesty,” Dani said, dropping into a curtsy.
“Everyone is talking about your performance,” the queen said, in the cultured voice Dani remembered from the dinner.
Dani didn’t know how to take that comment—was it a compliment or a complaint?—so she answered in the same neutral vein.
“I was honored to be invited.”
“Yes, well, Jameson clearly saw something the rest of us didn’t.”
There was no ambiguity of meaning inthatstatement.
The queen looked out over the large assembly of guests. “It’s been quite a week.”
“It has.”
“I’ll admit I wasn’t sure about you in the beginning, but you proved to be very popular.”
First Samantha and now the queen. Dani’d had to bite her tongue so often, she was surprised the thing hadn’t fallen out of her mouth.
