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I STARE AT MYSELF IN the large, elaborate ed and teased into place at the nape of my neck by my personal stylist, Jenny She ensures I always resemble the enviable, beautiful princess I’m supposed to be I look like my mother—dark hair, dark eyes, olive skin My looks are the only thing I inherited froland Her doting, dutiful, compliant nature escapedAlfred of England Her husband My father
My old man is a stickler for tradition, values, and rules Antiquated rules, and frankly, unreasonable rules The s and queens
My black satin pencil dress is as noncoh as racefully red My look will certainly raise the bushy eyebrows of the King, and, as usual, I couldn’t care less
I close ht of my scandalous self, while Jenny spritzes my loose updo with hairspray “You could s my face “It is your birthday, after all”
I openinto the dark, e back at me in the mirror I’m thirty years old today I’m supposed to be married by now to some blue-blooded member of the aristocratic world, so’s lifelong friend and one of his trusty advisors, is my father’s choice of husband for me It’s a shame Haydon is not my choice I will not marry him Ever “Tell me what I have to smile about”
“Not everyone gets a garden party thrown at the palace in honor of their birthday”
I aze to Jenny “You think today is all about me?”
Ignoring my question, she picks up my clutch and places a lipstick and a few otheras I can rearden parties, and rubbing shoulders with royalty and aristocracy “Try to have fun”
I look past Jenny when Kim, my private secretary, enters my suite She looks as forrey trouser suit, her red hair held off her face with a clip secured low on her nape I disregard her raised brohen she takes in ”
“Thank you” I breathe in soe to face the afternoon ahead, and accept my clutch from Jenny “My phone?”
“In the side pocket”
I nod my thanks and wander out ofdo I have to endure this afternoon?” I ask as we round the huge gallery landing of ton Palace, one of many official royal residences in central London It’s elaborate and sparkling, everything a royal palace should be I take in the walls as I go, portraits ofevery available space, all dressed respectfully, all inti beside the as royal as they do Except my portrait will be smoke and mirrors A lie
“Youdo you have to endure your own birthday party?” Kim asks, amused “I’d say you’re there
for the duration”
I grimace “Wonderful”
“About Friday night,” she says
“What about Friday night?”
“Your little indiscretion with a certain banker”
I s the indiscretion well Gerry Rush, president of Britain’s largest bank He uished and delicious “What about that indiscretion?” I look at Kirand staircase, not liking the forht lips “He’s married”
“No, he’s separated,” I say, reo in one of the tabloids
Kie of Gerry Rush with a woman on his arm His wife “When was that taken?”
“Thursday Seems they reconciled”
My handout “Oh oodness,” I breathe “The dirty rat He never said”
Kim is quick to dabup the beads “Of course he didn’t”
“Does the press know about us?” If they do, then my father does, and that will be a headache of epic proportions that I really could do without And it would have been even before I knew the lying cheat wasamends with Mrs Rush
“Felix took care of it”
I deflate a little, silently thanking the head of coton Palace He won’t be happy withto take care of?”
“A few pictures”
“How did they get them?”
“They must have followed you from the Royal Opera House” Kioing from the same venue to the same hotel?”
“It was his idea”
“And I bet your ar and pulls so out “There’s this in Woman Far more respectful, don’t you think?” Ki the cover I take in the picture ofshielded by Damon, my driver and head of security The headline reads: “To be blessed with beauty, style, and a royal title What is it really like to be Princess Adeline? Let us tell you!” I roll e spread, where they detail ? Fulfilled? I snap it shut and hand it to Kiown looked fabulous, so they got that ht”
“I bet it looked fabulous on Gerry Rush’s hotel room floor, too”
“Funny,” I quip, taking the last step and hitting theby the door He nods back, his usual sharp acknowledgment His custo so a discreet smile from his worn-in face
“Happy birthday, ma’am” His deep, baritone voice does what it always does Soothes me Relaxes me Damon has been my driver and head of personal protection for ten years and is a perood job I’ht resent him and his intrusion on my life
“Thank you, Damon How is your lovely wife?”
“Very well Thank you for asking, ma’am”
“Wonderful to hear Now, let’s get this afternoon out of the way, shall we?”