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Marina’s eyes flickered with an emotion Dani couldn’t identify before it was concealed. “Thank you for coming. I know it couldn’t have been easy given our last interaction.”
Though her tone was brisk, the words were more considerate than Dani had expected.
“It wasn’t,” she conceded. “But Jameson said you wanted to see us both.”
“I do,” Marina said, settling on a blue tufted club chair with rolled arms and a gold frame.
Jameson clasped Dani’s hand and they sat on the love seat they’d occupied before the queen’s arrival.
United.
Dani appreciated the gesture.
“I understand the two of you have been getting out some during this visit,” the queen said, her hands folded in her lap.
Dani glanced at Jameson, noted the tick in his jaw and decided to take this one.
“In the past, my visits to London have been for work only, so I’ve never had the opportunity to just enjoy the city. I’m looking forward to doing more.”
“Doing more? Hmmmm.” She angled her head and nodded. “The press seems to have taken an interest in your activities.”
“As you are aware, ma’am, controlling the media can be difficult,” Jameson said, his gaze steady. “We did our best to keep our plans secret, but they found out.”
Guilt bloomed in Dani’s cheeks. He’d worded it to suggesthehad planned their restaurant outing and that the paparazzi being there had been a miscalculation. But Dani knew exactly who wasat fault for the photographer’s presence. She hadn’t seen the harm in them getting a few picturesafterdinner. She certainly hadn’t anticipated Jameson’s response!
Crap!This was too much. She didn’t want him to lie to his grandmother.
“I marvel at how they managed to discover your whereabouts,” Marina said, sarcasm coating her words. “Especially when the two of you showed up to a royal-sponsored event.”
They’d gotten it wrong? Thiswasn’tabout the incident last night?
Jameson shared a look with Dani before responding. “Dani attended the exhibit opening as my date.”
“I gathered as much.” Marina sniffed. “Although I recall a conversation where you insisted on attending these functions alone.”
Because he’d wanted to protect her.Dani placed a hand on his thigh and squeezed. “Don’t blame Jameson. I was the one who insisted on going with him.”
Marina’s gaze followed Dani’s action and it took many long moments before she responded. “It appears you’re being rewarded for your boldness. The coverage has been glowing.”
She pressed a button and a second later, a footman entered carrying a stack of print newspapers on a silver tray. He sat the platter on the side table and left as quickly as he’d arrived.
Dani was used to having people work for her, handling the tasks she could no longer do because of her schedule and her notoriety, but that kind of service was unreal. She had one of the best and most loyal teams around and yet she couldn’t imagine them jumping to attention without a look of acknowledgment or words of appreciation.
The queen pulled the first one off the stack and read the headline. “Has the prince found his Duchess Charming?Taming of the Wessex,” she read. Marina shook her head. “They always thinkthey’re being clever. Ahhh, and this one:Can this couple save the monarchy?” She spun the paper and Dani saw a picture of her and Jameson at the museum’s opening: Dani looking up at the large painting of Prince Richard while Jameson stares at her, his affection visible on his face.
It appeared the queen planned to put on a show. If Dani had known, she would’ve brought popcorn.
She was starting to see what Jameson had meant about his relationship with his grandmother. It didn’t feel like a family visit. They truly had been summoned byThe Queenwith all the pomp and circumstance it entailed.
“But they’re better than these,” Marina continued, brandishing more papers like they were case-cracking courtroom exhibits. “‘Julian caught cheating with American popstar!’ Then there’s ‘It’s over: Wales a’ Wailing as Fiona walks out on Julian!’ And ‘Can the love child heir take the throne?’”
Dani dipped her chin, willing her lips to remain neutral.
Wales a’ Wailing. Good one.
The queen, however, wasn’t in the mood to appreciate the clever alliteration.
“Centuries of service and our family has been reduced to descriptions of lurid novels!” She tossed the periodicals back on the tray. “This thing with the American pop star is unseemly. She refuses to go away.”
