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“It’s how things are done.”
“How close are you to the queen?”
“Uhhh, not very.”
“No. Like, how close are you to being king?”
He laughed. “Why? Does the thought of that turn you on?”
She tilted her head and swayed side to side. “Depends on your answer.”
“Uhhh, not very.”
“Perfect. Because as much as I love the royal vitamin D you’ve been giving me, I’m not interested in turning over control of my life to anyone, and that includes abiding by antiquated notions of propriety to keep a monarchical system of government in place.”
Just as he’d said.
Smart.
He stared down at her. Many unlikely occurrences would have to happen before he could ever ascend to the throne. He ignored the twinge of his conscience that warned if she were a permanent part of his life, those notions of propriety would go into effect immediately. Becoming king wasn’t a requirement.
“Then you should be ecstatic to learn you have nothing to worry about.”
“Delirious.” She grinned, leaning toward him before she caught herself at the last minute. “Well, tell her hi for me. Or bow or whatever it is that people do.”
He ached to touch her but knew they couldn’t risk it. Too many people around. “I’ll be sure to do that. Enjoy the rest of your rehearsal.”
She gave him a two-finger salute and backed away from him before turning and heading into the barn.
“Alright, let’s run through it again and make it sexy!”
THIS TIME ITwas the Green Drawing Room.
He’d been coming to the palace since he was a baby. He didn’t need the color wheel tour of the drawing rooms, but it seemed that was the experience he was getting, whether he wanted it or not.
Marina sat in an emerald and gold upholstered chair. “You’re ready for next week’s events?”
“I am.”
He’d gone over the schedule multiple times, confirming where he was going to be, when he needed to be there, and what would be required of him at each appearance.
“And the award?”
“It will take some time until it’s ready, but I’m going to announce it at the ball. I thought it would be a fitting way to close out the celebration.”
“Excellent. So it appears I was correct to believe you were the right person to carry out this responsibility.”
“It appears so.”
Her gaze hardened. “Then how do you explain this?”
Jameson started at the slap of a manila folder landing on the table. The impact caused several glossy photos to slide out onto the burnished mahogany. With narrowed eyes, he picked them up. Shock chilled him from the inside as he stared at images of him and Dani from the past few weeks. Of them at Primrose Park, their evening at Baslingfield, their afternoon in the baking tent.
The pictures were innocent, portraying the two of them walking around the estate, watching the movie together, laughing as they attempted to bake scones.
Anger misted his vision. “Where did you get these?”
“Don’t question me!” she rebuked, her posture ramrod straight. “What were you thinking?”
