The Controversial Princess (The Smoke & Mirrors Duology #1)(92)

Olive moves swiftly from my path as she enters with a tray, and when my phone rings in my hand and Josh’s name appears, I be as bold as one can be, answering and greeting him by his name, just so Eddie knows exactly who I’m talking to. Call it blunt. Call it brazen. I don’t care. “Josh,” I breathe, taking the stairs steadily.

“You sound out of breath. Everything okay?”

“Not really. I just had a horrible argument with my brother.”

“Oh? About …”

“Us.”

“I won’t ask what he said. I caught the way he was glaring at me yesterday at the polo match. Are you all right?”

“No.” I make it to my bedroom and shut myself inside, collapsing to the couch. “Eddie is my favorite of them all. I hate fighting with him.” Leaning down, I start to pull off my riding boots. “And the worst thing is, what I just faced will be nothing compared to what is to come.” All the fortitude Josh filled me with yesterday wanes, and I flop back on the couch on a heavy sigh.

“Maybe I can help out.”

I would laugh, but that would be condescending, so I settle for an eye-roll instead. “And how do you propose you will help?”

“I’m going shooting with the King and my dad tomorrow.”

I’m sitting up straight all of a sudden. “Tomorrow? When was that arranged?”

“Just before I left the match. Some tall, lanky old dude told me where to be and when.”

“Davenport,” I tell him. “Looks like his face would crack if he smiled?”

“That’s him. Who shit in his coffee?”

I chuckle. “He has one expression. Has since I’ve known him.” I get up and wander into the dressing room, getting myself out of my jodhpurs with one hand. “He served my grandfather before my father. He is a piece of the royal furniture, and I’m pretty sure he hates me.”

“Why do you say that?”

“Just the way he looks at me. Like I’m a thorn in his side.” I pull my phone away to get my jumper over my head and drop it to the floor. As I’m wandering out, intending on heading for the bathroom, my eye catches my grandmother’s Spanish tiara. I nibble my lip, smiling to myself. “Guess what I’m looking at?” I lift the heavy piece and turn it in my hand.

“If you say you’re naked and standing in front of the mirror, there will be serious consequences.”

“I have my underwear on, and the mirror before me is hanging over my dresser, so I can only see the top half.”

“That’s still not fair play. Wait. Your dresser?”

“Uh-huh.” I grin, looking to my reflection. My eyes are sparkling nearly as much as the encrusted headpiece in my hand.

“Put it on your head,” he orders. I pull my ponytail free, letting my hair tumble over my shoulders, and then rest the heavy weight atop of my head. “Take a picture and send it to me.”

I don’t even think to question him. Pulling my camera up, I pout and snap a quick selfie before attaching it to a text and sending it on. “Done. Did it come through?”

“Oh Jesus,” Josh breathes.

“Is that a yes?”

“That’s my new screensaver.”

“Don’t be ridiculous.” I laugh, lifting the heavy weight from my head and placing it down. “People will see. How would you explain it?”

He grunts, annoyed. “Where are you?”

“Just about to take a shower.”

“Adeline!”

“Well, I am.” I laugh, entering the bathroom and grabbing a towel.

“Come see me.”

“I can’t.” I sigh, pouting as I flick the shower on. “Damon’s going home soon. I’m going nowhere tonight.”

“Then I’ll come to you.”

“Yes, you do that. Wear your invisibility cloak and all will be fine, I’m sure.”

“Damn it, Adeline, why’d you have to be so fuckin’ important?” He sounds utterly exasperated, and I have to admit, so am I. Although he’s a fine one to talk.

“You are hardly a nobody yourself, Mr. Jameson,” I point out. “I did tell you this would be impossible.”

“God, I need to see you. Tomorrow I’m going to blindside the King so much, he’ll be begging me to date his daughter. And if that fails, I’ll put my gun to his head until he agrees.”

I snort down the line. “I hope you’re ready to fail.” I stare at myself in the mirror, thinking how desperate I am to see him, too. So desperate. How could I make that happen? I gaze into my eyes, an outlandish idea coming to me. “I could sneak out,” I mumble, more to myself than to Josh.

“What?”

“Of the palace,” I explain. “I could sneak out of the palace.”

“Wanna borrow my invisibility cloak?”

I look at my phone quickly, registering that I have roughly thirty minutes until Damon clocks off. I need to be quick. “I’ll be there in an hour.” I hang up and shove my hair in a messy knot before I dive in the shower. I haven’t the luxury of time to wash and dry my mane. I fly over my body with soapy hands and quickly wash it off. A quick check of the time tells me I’m down to twenty-five minutes. Christ, it will take me ten minutes to get myself to the garages, possibly longer if I have to crawl combat-style through the palace to avoid being seen. My heart starts pumping fast with adrenalin and excitement.