The Controversial Princess (The Smoke & Mirrors Duology #1)(74)

“If we’re going to date, we can’t hide it forever.”

I laugh. “Oh, yes we can.” I get my hands behind my back and fasten the zip of my dress as high as my arms can reach, until Josh sees my struggle and turns me away, taking over.

“You’re not talking sense.” His tone is admonishing. “It’ll be impossible.”

“I’m talking perfect sense,” I assure him, positively dreading the thought of the hierarchy finding out.

He drops a light kiss on my shoulder through a sigh, displaying a little exasperation. “Maybe we should talk about this once we’ve dealt with the maid.”

“Maybe that is a very good idea.” I turn to face him as he pulls some jeans up his legs and a T-shirt over his head.

“I’ve never dated a woman who needs more security than me.” His lovely forehead wrinkles on a frown. “It’s … weird.”

I scoff. “I’m erring more on the side of annoying, actually, but if weird fits.” I brush my dress down and flick my hair over my shoulders. “God, I must look frightful.” Josh chuckles, and I stare at him in dismay. “Whatever’s tickled you?”

“You, Your Highness.” He collects my hand and leads me out of the room. “Your British lingo and posh accent.”

“Well, it’s how I speak.”

“And I love it.”

We find Josh’s men in the small room where they congregated last night, all huddled and talking quietly. But no Damon. “Excuse me,” I interrupt, breaking up their close circle. “Where is Damon?”

“Here.” His gruff voice comes from behind, and I pivot to see him entering the suite. “What’s going on?” he asks, taking in the scene.

Bates steps forward. “One of the hotel staff walked in on Princess Adeline and Mr. Jameson.”

Damon’s instantly alert. And mad. So very mad. “How was that allowed to happen?”

“I had a call about a fan trying to get to Mr. Jameson’s suite. I left to deal with it.” Bates looks to the other two members of his team. “I thought I left them in good hands.”

Both men cower back a few paces, even more so when Damon lands his deadly glare on them. “I hope you have other career prospects,” he grates, turning his eyes to Bates. “I’ll have an NDA sent to you. Get them to sign it before you fire them.”

I step forward, cautious. “Damon—” I snap my mouth shut when he turns his hard stare on me, effectively shutting me up. He gets his phone from his pocket, and I know it’s in readiness to call Felix. “Don’t the hotel staff know the protocol for high-profile guests?”

“The maid is new to the staff,” Bates says. “Seems she didn’t get the memo. I’m taking it up with management.”

“Good.”

I let go of Josh’s hand and sit down, giving Damon worried eyes. “Where were you?” I ask. It’s so unlike him to leave his post.

He holds up his mobile, his jaw tight. I can see he’s angry with himself. “Major Davenport. Apparently, the King would like to breakfast with his daughter at Kellington this morning. He’s there. And you are not.”

“Oh.”

Damon turns his eyes back to Bates. “I thought these guys were MI6 trained.”

“They are. They can use their newfound free time to go back into training.”

My mobile rings from my purse, and Eddie’s name fills my screen. I feel rotten for rejecting his call, but I need to debrief with Damon and find out what he has said before I speak to anyone.

“I don’t think we need to worry about the maid,” Bates assures us, going back to our original problem. Damon looks less than assured, and I don’t feel it. “She was more worried about losing her job. She won’t talk.”

“I don’t know about you guys,”—Damon waves his phone in their direction—“but we don’t operate on don’t thinks. Get her back here once we’ve gone and get her signature on an NDA.” He starts dialing, and I shoot up, placing my hand on his phone to stop him from calling Felix.

“Let us not be too hasty,” I say, glancing at Josh. “Maybe involving Felix would be a little presumptuous?” I’m trying to think sensibly amid my worry. The more people in the royal household that know, the more likely the King will find out. Felix ultimately answers to my father. Not me.

“We’ll talk in the car. Where’s your coat?”

“Here.” Josh collects my mac from the chair and helps me into it. “Call me, yeah?”

I nod. “Have fun at the premiere.”

“I’ll try.” A sweet, delicate kiss is pressed against my cheek, and I catch Damon’s eye as Josh pulls back. His expression tells me he knows beyond doubt that I am in deep. He’s worried for me, and that just makes the reality of this more unsettling.

I’m led to the car flanked by both Josh’s and my men, and I only breathe again once I’m safely in the back. Now I can register the pale complexions and tired eyes of Damon and his men, I feel rather awful about it. “I’m sorry for keeping you up all night.”

“We slept in shifts. It’s not a problem.” He brushes my concern aside as easy as that.

“I’m grateful. I want you to know that.”