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“A pleasure.” Mrs. Auguste smiled.
“She’s the patron of various charities and trusts,” Bettina inserted. “She and Jameson were very close. At one point we all thought they would get married. Isn’t that right, Mummy?”
Dani stiffened and Jameson clenched his teeth. What fucking game was his aunt playing at?
The queen must’ve wondered the same. Her tone was tight as she said, “If you will excuse us, I need to talk to my daughter and Lady Harrington.”
“And that’s my cue to check on my husband. Please excuse me,” Mrs. Auguste said.
Finally!He and Dani were alone.
“What’s going on?” he asked.
“Nothing. Everything is f—”
“If you say fine one more time, I’ll—”
“Do nothing,” she said, pressing a hand to the blue sash he wore beneath his tailcoat. “Your manners are too deeply ingrained.”
“Not when it comes to you. Tell me what’s going on. Why are you dressed like this?”
“Your grandmother pointed out that my way of doing things hadn’t worked lately and she suggested an alternative.”
“You don’t have to change. You’re perfect the way you are.”
“As Catherine said, they’re just clothes. I’m still me. I just toned things down.”
Now she was quoting Catherine?
The queen had gone too far. She’d purposely waited until he was away to summon Dani to the palace. Alone and without his protection.
He took her hand. Her skin was cold and her fingers gripped his. Alarm stirred the hairs at the nape of his neck. This wasn’t his imagination. Something was wrong.
“I appreciate you wanting to help me, but you don’t have to do this.”
She squeezed her eyes shut. “Yes I do.”
“No. You don’t. This is what she’s good at. Manipulation. Making you believe that her way is the only way. But if she’s requiring you to change who you are, it’s not worth it.”
Her lashes lifted. “It’s not what you think—”
“I’m quite aware of how my grandmother operates, love. When you don’t buy in initially, she finds another way to get what she wants.” Ah. Of course. “What did she promise you?”
Dani shook her head slightly. “Here they come. Can we discuss this later, please?”
“They are a striking couple, don’t you think?” Marina asked, as she, the prime minister, and Bettina, sans Imogen, rejoined them.
“Indeed,” Mrs. Auguste said.
Marina smoothed a hand down her white gown. “Some would say they are the future of the monarchy.”
Jameson inhaled sharply.What?“That might be overstating things a bit.”
“That’s outrageous.” Bettina fumed, before a look from Marina had her clamping her mouth shut.
Mrs. Auguste smiled derisively. “I thought the Prince of Wales and his line were the future of the monarchy?”
Jameson winced, embarrassed by the illogical twists his grandmother was employing to minimize Julian’s damage. He glanced at Dani but her expression remained blank.
