The Controversial Princess (The Smoke & Mirrors Duology #1)(58)

Kim appears at my suite’s door. “Time to go, ma’am.”

“I’m coming.” Air. Lots of air. I pull it into my lungs and leave, Kim flanking me. “Walk me through it.”

“You’ll be greeted by the gallery owner, as well as his staff. You will be introduced, you can say a few words to each of them, if you wish, and then you’ll unveil the plaque and declare the gallery open. Have you prepared any words of your own?”

“A few,” I tell her, taking the balustrade as we reach the stairs. “But what else am I required to say?”

“I gave you a prepared speech this morning. You were going to weave your own words throughout.”

I wrack my mind and find no recollection of that conversation. I shrug my apology and Kim sighs as she hands me a sheet of paper. “Here.”

“Thank you. Is there alcohol?”

“You may have one glass.”

“You are so generous, Kim.” I could do with a bottle. Or ten.

“We’re expecting gossip paps amid the press.” Kim flicks me a look as her steps match mine down the stairs. “Security will keep them as far away as possible, but questions will be called, given the recent headlines. Ignore them. The formal greetings were due to be outside the gallery, but we need to get you inside ASAP, so we have changed the plans.”

“Very good.” I smile at Damon when he nods and opens the car door for me.

“You look beautiful, ma’am.”

“That’s very kind of you, Damon.” I slide into the back seat and look up at him on a small smile. “But it’s all rather a waste with no one to appreciate it.”

His eyebrows rise slowly, as if he doesn’t agree. “If you say so.” The door shuts, Damon puts himself behind the wheel, and Kim drops into the passenger seat. She goes straight to her mobile, checking ahead of our arrival that everything is in place. I look behind to see a car tailing us, as well as one up front.

The door opens and Eddie slips in beside me, brushing through his dark blond hair with his hands. He looks dashingly handsome in his tux. “Evening,” he says, leaning over to give me a kiss on the cheek. Taking my hand, he squeezes, his way of telling me we are good. “How was Father this morning?” he asks.

“Oh, you know about that?” I sniff, returning his squeeze. “Your name wasn’t even mentioned during my royal dressing down.”

“I wasn’t the one caught eating a man alive.”

“You eating a man alive?” I laugh softly. “Now that would be real cause for a media frenzy.”

“We’ll leave the men eating men alive to Uncle Stephan.” Eddie grins, and I smile, then focus on adding my own words to the manufactured speech.



OH GOD, THE STREET OUTSIDE the building is swarming with press, cameras flashing, railings holding people back. Kim curses under her breath. “Bloody hell.” She unclips her seat belt and turns in her seat to face us. “Damon will walk you in, okay?”

“No walkabout?” I quip, counting endless press, as well as members of the public who have come to steal a glimpse of me.

Damon holds his earpiece as he reels off instructions to his men, scanning the vicinity. “Set?” he asks. “Good.” When he looks back at me, I give him a thumbs up and take a deep breath. He nods and exits, followed swiftly by Kim. A few seconds later, my door is opening and flashes are blinding me. “Fast but steady, ma’am,” Damon orders, placing his hand on my lower back. “And remember to smile.”

“Like you need to remind me?” I paint on my smile when the crowds erupt, letting Damon guide me into the gallery.

“Princess Adeline. Princess Adeline,” they shout. I wave to the sea of people being held back by railings, the press also being pushed back by the Metropolitan Police. Looking over my shoulder, I see Eddie emerging from the car, immediately flanked by security. The excitable crowd moves up a level at the unexpected appearance of Prince Edward. “Marry me,” one girl calls. “I love you,” another screams.

I laugh, being ushered into the gallery where a line of people awaits me. “Okay?” Damon asks, checking on Eddie.

“Yes, thank you.” I compose myself and slip my clutch under my arm as he takes a step back and falls into his silent but oh-so-very-present pose, his fingers resting on his ear to listen for the all clear.

Kim joins me, looking way too flustered. “Ready?”

I nod and perfect my smile as Kim walks me forward and announces me to the first person standing in the perfectly straight line, a short, rather round man, who I recognize as the CEO of the charity. Kim motions to him. “Your Highness, this is Gary Perkins, founder of High Spirits.”

“Your Highness.” He bows his head and takes my hand when I offer it. “Thank you so much for joining us on this special evening.”

“It is my pleasure,” I reply, claiming my hand back as he straightens and looks at me. I can see the nerves on his face, like most people I am introduced to on formal occasions such as this, so I quickly work on putting him at ease. One thing I have learned over the years of royal engagements is to make them laugh. It relaxes them in an instant, and therefore relaxes me, too. I lean forward, like I am going to tell him a secret. “I hope you don’t mind, but my brother was at a loose end this evening. I told him you wouldn’t mind if he gatecrashed your party.”