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Dani laughed. “Last time I checked.”
Candice raised her hand to cover her mouth and began to sob.
“Oh no. Candice, are you okay?” Dani asked, with a look of concern. “Where are your parents? Do you need a br—”
“No, no.” Candice dashed the tears from her eyes and took a deep breath. “I’m sorry. I don’t know why I’m crying.”
“Give me one sec.” Dani hurried over and whispered in an aide’s ear.
The aide looked startled, but she reached into her bag and handed something to Dani, who patted her arm and hurried back. She gave Candice a tissue. “Here you go. It’s okay. You can’t always help your emotions. I totally understand. This is all a bit overwhelming.”
“It’s not this,” Candice said, dabbing her eyes. “This is amazing and it’s wonderful to be recognized for your work. No, it’s you.”
“Me?” Dani pressed a hand to her chest.
“You can’t imagine what it feels like to be here and see someone who looks like you. Someone who looks like me. Here. Not just staff, but, essentially, as a member of the royal family. It’s major.”
“I can imagine. Not in this setting. I mean, I barely understand being here myself. But I do know how it feels to see women of color, especially Black women, in certain places and positions. Even more so when we’ve never seen them there before.” Dani held out her arms. “May I?”
Candice nodded and Dani gave the girl a hug. They must’ve been the center of attention because the room got quiet, save the incessant clicking of the cameras. But Jameson stayed focused on the interaction between Dani and the teen.
“I’m sorry it’s taken so long for this to happen, but if my being here helps you dream bigger and set your goals higher, then I’m proud to have been a factor in that.”
When they parted, they shared a smile and Jameson’s heart shifted in his chest. He felt silly remembering how hard he’d protested involving Dani in the business of the Company. If he’d gotten his way, this incident wouldn’t have happened, and he could see that meeting Dani would have a positive impact on this girl’s life.
Did he need to protect Dani or was he being overprotective? Dani had the ability to be an asset not only to him but to the Company. Maybe he was wrong in his assumptions about how Dani would be treated. Maybe things were changing. And the rules might be different for her. She was already famous, with her own fan base. The British tabloid media might think twice about trying the usual schtick with her.
Was it possible this could all work out?
Chapter Fifteen
Duchess Shares Sweet Moment with Student Essay Winner during Reception at the Palace
Evening Standard
Jameson leaned an elbow on the round rustic mahogany table and propped his chin on his fist. “Are we going to play anytime soon?”
“What’s the rush? You got someplace to be?” Rhys asked.
Not someplace to be, but someone to be with. When he’d originally been roped into hosting poker night, he’d thought Dani would’ve come and gone by now. He enjoyed his friends, but he hadn’t put a dent in making up for how much he’d missed Dani when they’d been apart.
However, Dani wouldn’t hear of him canceling his plans. “Go. Hang out with your boys. I’ll be here when you’re done.”
“That would be really rude, considering you invited us here,” Oliver was saying.
“And how long has it been since he’s done a proper poker night?” Jasper asked.
“All right, all right. I get it.” He leaned back and picked up his tumbler of whisky. “Who needs to actuallyplaypoker on poker night?”
Oliver took a homemade sausage roll from the tray of highly curated snacks and popped it in his mouth. “Margery prepares the best spreads.”
“That she does,” Jasper said, picking up and studying a bacon-wrapped date. “Hetty told me I couldn’t come home unless I found out where Margery got those marvelous tea cakes she served when we were here for Dani’s party.”
“Is thisThe Great U.K. Baking Championshipor bloody poker?” Rhys drank from his whisky.
Oliver’s brow rose. “You either need to hit the gym or get laid.”
“Please,” Jameson urged. “You’ve been far too grumpy for far too long.”
