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“Sir, come with me.”
Jameson nodded, then held out his hand to Dani. She took it, and her firm grasp grounded him. They needed to get someplace private where they could talk and figure this out. Together.
He turned to his PPO. “Can you find my mother and bring her to me, please?”
“Your mother? Jay, it’s not that deep.”
“Dani, please. Trust me.”
“Yes, sir,” Roy said. “But first, let’s get you out of here.”
In minutes the gathering had increased threefold, but the invited press and guests were way too polite to carry themselves like a mob. Still, their heightened curiosity was palpable as he and Dani followed Roy through a concealed exit out of the ballroom and down several hallways to one of the family’s private sitting rooms.
Passing through the door held open by the guard, Jameson stopped short when he realized they weren’t going to be alone inthe spacious chamber. The queen, his aunts and uncle, and Louisa waited. Then he noticed the yellow silk draperies and the oil portrait hanging on the wall.
The Den of Despondency. Perfect.
Not liking this turn of events, he warily eyed his grandmother where she sat on the same ornate yellow chair as during their first visit, all those months ago.
Julian rushed Jameson, his face flushed. “Now I understand why you got an attitude when I mentioned fucking her. You were already doing the deed. It appears you’re a chip off the old block after all.”
Dani’s grip on his hand tightened.
“Say another word,” Jameson said, anger overriding his usual decorum, “and I will kick your bloody ass, heir to the throne or not.”
“That’s enough,” the queen said, her voice cutting through the tension. “This isn’t helpful to anyone right now.”
“He’s lucky we’re not back in the States,” Dani said. “I know people.”
“Why is this necessary? I was looking for Liam Cooper before I was summoned,” Bettina said. “Only a few people saw them. Easy to contain.”
“Are you really that stupid?” Julian spat. “Everyone saw, including the press and staff. It’s only a matter of time until it’s beyond the walls of the palace.”
“It’s going to go viral before that happens,” Louisa said.
“Is this what you meant by your family inserting themselves?” Dani muttered beneath her breath.
“This is only the beginning.”
Dani huffed out a laugh and rolled her eyes.
“What?” Jameson asked.
“Genesis won’t have to worry about me and Samantha Banks now! I wished it was for how I conducted myself this week, but I’m pretty sure this will blow both of those stories off the front page.”
Julian ceased pacing. “That’s it! Her true motivations have been revealed.”
She eyed the crown prince with the same disdain Jameson had once seen her give his pint of Guinness, before saying, “I should probably call Bennie.”
“Who?”
“My manager.”
“Absolutely not,” the queen said. “I haven’t made a decision.”
“I’m not stopping you,” Dani said. “Although... where is my clutch?”
“What decision?” Bettina asked, still managing to pout and look confused. “She’s leaving. That’s what you always want from the men I’m with.”
