The Controversial Princess (The Smoke & Mirrors Duology #1)(111)

“Your Majesty.” I bow my head with respect that I’m struggling hard to find, my middle finger twitching. I’d love to give David Sampson and Sir Don my second, right after thrusting my first at the King. “How was shooting this morning?”

“You’re leaving for Spain this evening.”

The bones in my neck crack when my head shoots up. “Pardon?”

“Spain. This evening.” His cigar breezes through the air, leaving a wave of swirling, putrid smoke in its wake. “Your mother’s family is eagerly awaiting your arrival.”

“I don’t understand. My trip to Madrid was scheduled for next month.”

“It’s been rescheduled. Kim has the details.” Turning his attention to David and Sir Don, he points to a document in his hand, shaking his head. “Constitutional nonsense. But it’s not like I can object. Imagine that. The King objecting his government’s plans.” He chuckles. “That would bamboozle the Eton boys, don’t you think?”

I ignore his attempt to dismiss me so easily. “What about Sabina’s husband’s funeral?” I step forward, digging through my scattered mind for more words of semi-reasonable refute. “Shouldn’t I be there? Haydon is depending on me.” I’ve just gone below the belt, and I have not a shred of remorse.

“Haydon will be traveling with you. You’ll be back in time for the funeral,” David pipes up, and my eyes widen.

Oh God, no.

There’s a brief silence, a look passing between the men. “It’s for your own good, Adeline,” my father says. “It’s time for you to take stock and think about your future with Haydon.”

“What?” Words, words I know I shouldn’t say, dance on the end of my tongue. Words about Josh. Words that will expose our relationship. I want to scream, but I quickly rein myself in, reminding myself of Josh’s warning. He and his team have a strategy. They’ve been preparing. Well, I hope that strategy involves keeping me off that plane this evening. “Why are you doing this?”

“I do not need to give you a reason. But you need to learn your place in this world.” My father is up from his desk, hands wedged into the wood. “It is to serve your country.”

I need to leave before my secrets come pouring out of me. All of them. My jaw tight, aching from the tenseness, I pivot and storm out of his private office before I lose control of my mouth. I am not going to Spain. Not now, not ever.

I rush down the grand staircase and out of the door, desperate to escape the hell that is my life. Damon has the door held open for me when I arrive, as if he was fully expecting me to come running out. I drop into my seat and wait for him to get in the car. “The King is sending me to Spain,” I tell him, gazing out of the window. “With Haydon Sampson.”

“I’ve heard.”

I sigh, letting my body sink into the leather behind me, my mind ready to explode. “Home please, Damon.”

“Afraid not, ma’am.” Damon stops at the gates of Claringdon as they open, and instead of looking at me through the reflection of the mirror, he turns his big body in the seat, swallowing hard. “I have instructions to take you straight to the airport.”

“What?” I dive forward, narrowly missing Damon’s forehead with my own. “From whom?”

“His Royal Highness King Alfred of England.” He delivers my father’s full title, as if to serve as a reminder that his hands are tied. My heart sinks. I’ve been backed into a corner.

“What about my things? I need to pack.” When we get to Kellington, I’ll disappear. Hide. Scale the walls that are topped with glass shards if I have to. The King can’t fire Damon for being given the slip. I breathe out and retract that thought. That’s not true. The King can fire whoever he damn well pleases.

“Your luggage has been seen to.” Damon’s face is full of apologies, and my sinking heart plummets into my feet. “It’s in the car.”

“I don’t want to go.”

“Ma’am, I’m afraid you don’t have a choice, and neither do I.” He turns back in his seat and drives on, and with every precious second that passes, my anxiety grows, my flesh physically hurting from the chills spreading at a ferocious rate. And poor Damon. I can see he’s not happy about this unscheduled overseas trip.

“Damon, please, I …” My plea dies on my lips when a text drops, and I look down, my struggle for calm breaths getting the better of me.

How’d it go? x

I call Josh straight back, my shaking hand bringing my phone to my ear. “He’s sending me to Spain,” I breathe when he answers. “He’s sending me to Spain, Josh. They’re sending me to Spain. They’re forcing—”

“Whoa,” Josh blurts, alarmed by my high-pitched shouts. “Slow the hell down, Adeline.”

“They are sending me to Spain,” I whisper softly, my palm on my throat, massaging the swelling down. I can’t breathe. Can’t think. “With Haydon.”

Josh chokes down the line. “Over my dead fuckin’ body. Where are you?”

I swallow, pushing out some air. “In my car. Damon has strict orders to take me to the airport immediately.”

“What?”

“To the airport, Josh. I’m not even allowed to go home and pack my things. It’s been done for me.”