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‘I know.’
There was a buzzer pinging over the door. ‘That’s the serious one,’ he told her. ‘The King-is-dead one.’
‘Should you answer it?’
‘No.’
‘So we just hide here till they decide?’
‘We’re not hiding,’ he told her. ‘Tonight, at least, we’re just Julius and Beatrice. We have at least one night of freedom—possibly many more. But for now no rules or protocols apply. So, what do you want to do?’
‘I didn’t come with a wardrobe...’
‘Jordan’s sorting that out for you. We can go out or stay in—you choose.’
‘Are we escaping by the tunnel?’
‘No. I told you—we’re not hiding. It can be like a first date.’
‘It actually is my first date,’ Beatrice said as she looked at him. ‘And I don’t know what I want to do.’
‘Go and have a shower, then get off to the hetaera’s dressing room...’ He nudged her with his head. ‘You can play dress-up.’
It was a very quick shower, and she came out dripping.
‘Put on a towel,’ he told her. ‘Jordan’s waiting.’
‘Oh, my God!’
‘What? Would you rather wear your grey dress again?’
‘No.’
She went through a door and down a rather long corridor and into the hetaera’s dressing room. And finally she found velvet. Deep red velvet walls and everything wicked—except for Jordan, who smiled.
‘I’m so happy...’
‘And me.’ Beatrice grinned and gave his very loyal PA a hug. ‘I don’t know what to wear. What do you wear for your first ever date? I don’t know where he’s taking me.’
‘I do.’
And apparently it required a black dress that scooped a little low at the front and far too low at the back, black stockings, and Cuban-heeled dance shoes.
Jordan put loads of liquid black eyeliner on her as Beatrice’s hand was shaking too much.
‘Is red lipstick over the top?’ Beatrice asked.
‘Loads of red lipstick.’
A silent palace staff stood reeling as the maverick Prince and his Cuban-heeled date made their way across the passageway and down the central stairs.
‘Your Highness...’ Phillipe was almost running. ‘The King wishes to—’
‘Tomorrow,’ Julius said, and he knew from Phillipe’s sudden reverence and use of his title that the decision had been made.
He would be King.
He just didn’t need to hear it tonight.
