The Controversial Princess (The Smoke & Mirrors Duology #1)(63)

“At my hotel. I’m at The Dorchester in the Harlequin Suite. It’ll be private, I promise. Tomorrow night. Say yes.”

“Yes.” It’s an easy yes. Probably the easiest agreement I’ve ever given. I can’t say no to him, and what is more, I don’t want to.

“Have Damon bring you to the staff entrance at the rear at eight o’clock. I’ll have my security team meet you there.”

Wandering into my bedroom, I perch on the edge of my bed. “Okay.”

“Adeline?” he murmurs softly, waiting for my acknowledgement.

“Yes?”

“I look forward to it.”

I smile, looking at my lap shyly, butterflies exploding in my tummy at the thought of being alone with him. “Warming up your palm?”

“I’ll be gentle with you.”

“Maybe I don’t want you to be gentle with me.”

“You’re a very bad girl, you know that?”

I hum, thinking it is he who has unearthed this particularly bad side of me. Or is it bad at all? Maybe it’s the best thing that could happen to me. Or maybe the worst. It hurts too much to think the latter, so I’ll try my hardest not to and focus on savoring the company of my ultimate vice while I can. “Good night,” I whisper.

“Sweet dreams, Your Highness.”

“Sweet dreams, my American Boy.”

He chuckles lightly and hangs up, and somehow my heart rests. It’s as though his call, his assurances, of being with him, calms me. I can finally breathe again. He wants me to be with him.

I can’t even begin to explain how into you I am.

Don’t try to fool me that you don’t love the sense of freedom you get from me restraining you, of letting me have all control over you.

He’s only known me for a tiny moment of my life, yet he knows me. How is that possible?

Our conversation whirls around in my mind for the rest of the evening and well into the night.

Why do you like that? Why do you like whipping me?

You need it.

I do.

I also need him.





THE NEXT DAY, I KEEP myself busy at the stables doing everything the stable girls would usually see to. I muck out, clean saddles, and even tidy up the tack room. I’m lost in all things horses, as well as my thoughts, for most of the day, and when I’m on my way back to the car, I see Sabina for the first time since I found out about Colin.

I pull off my gloves as I divert toward the hay barn. “Won’t be a moment, Damon,” I call to him by the car, breaking into a jog. As I approach the stable doors, I hear a raised voice and slow to a cautious walk. The voice isn’t only raised, but it’s angry too, and it isn’t Sabina’s voice. It’s David’s.

“I cannot believe all this time,” he yells.

I make it to the door and peek around the corner, seeing Sabina holding his upper arms, trying to placate him. “David, please. You must calm down.”

He shrugs his mother off and stomps his way to the other end of the barn. “Were you ever going to tell me?” He swings around, and I pull back quickly to avoid being seen. “I should have known.”

“Some secrets should never be told,” Sabina replies, rather meekly. “You should be mourning your father’s death with me. Helping me arrange his funeral.”

David scoffs, loud and coldly. My mind races, my curiosity piqued more than is safe in my world.

“I’m busy,” David spits heartlessly, and I frown, almost cynically. He’s busy all right, interfering with me and my life. I hear David’s footsteps hitting the concrete, getting louder. He’s leaving the stable. I quickly dash toward the car, ignoring Damon’s questioning face when I make it there. I’m just dropping into the back seat when David appears through the door, Sabina following quickly after him, though they’re not speaking now. Not when they’re in earshot of others.

“You okay, ma’am?” Damon asks, winning my attention.

“Yes, I’m fine.” I look at the back of his headrest. “Home, please, Damon,” I say when he is in the driver’s seat, my mind refusing to slow down.

What is going on?



MY MIND HASN’T SLOWED MUCH by the time Damon pulls into the gates at Kellington. Olive greets me at the door and takes my coat. “Will you be joining Prince Edward for supper, ma’am?”

I let her pull my coat from my shoulders. “Not this evening, Olive. Please let Dolly know I’m eating out.”

The flash of surprise that flickers across Olive’s face makes me smile on the inside. It’s warranted. Whenever do I “eat out”, especially at such short notice? “As you wish, ma’am.” She scuttles off, and I turn to find Damon looking at me for answers. Oh, of course. I haven’t told Damon of my plans yet. In actual fact, I haven’t told anyone. The less people who know the better, but since Damon needs to accompany me for obvious reasons, I can’t very well keep it from him. I smile nervously, and he rolls his eyes.

“Where am I taking you?” he asks.

“To The Dorchester. Eight o’clock.”

“Am I to assume no one else knows?”

I nod.

“And you will be seeing Mr. Jameson, yes?”

I nod again.