Page 43 of Tabloid Princess

It was horrific. Angry and humiliated as I was, I couldn’t help but feel a little pang of regret for the prince who lived his life like that every day. But then I remembered that it was his random hair touching that had got me into this mess and I got fired up with red hot anger again.

At the corner of the street the office was located on, I wavered. I’d survived the walk down the main road, and I’d got a taxi not the Tube—sure the driver kept staring at me—but the turning to our small side street took the wind out of my sails.

Press swarmed around the door, cameras at the ready.

Oh shit.

Reminding myself I hadn’t done anything wrong, that I’d barely even spoken to the prince—okay, maybe a few times—I hiked my bag up over my shoulder and walked down towards the now purple door of Bright Futures. When had it changed to purple? I hadn’t even noticed yesterday.

“Leia! Leia!” My legs wobbled at the call of my name.

This was unbearable.

My blood rushed so fast in my veins. I swallowed down a disgusting mouthful of sick that almost escaped.

“Leia, tell us about you and the prince?” shouted one guy, his phone held out, I’m guessing ready to record my response.

“Did Charlotte know about you when the wedding was cancelled?” Another called. I nearly tripped at this. In the back of my head I was counting dates. Wasn’t the royal wedding cancelled in May? Now it was September. How long did these people hold onto news for?

“How does it feel to be romanced by a prince when you grew up on a council estate?”

My blood ran cold.

“No comment.” The two words stumbled out of my mouth automatically. “No comment.”

I struggled at the door, trying to remember which way it opened, but then finally it swung inwards without me really touching it

Janine pulled me in, slamming the door behind us as soon as I was over the threshold. “Oh my god, Leia. Are you okay?”

Shivers wracked my body and I trembled with no control. “I don’t understand what’s happening.”

“I’m sorry.” That low musical voice I’d come to recognise all too painfully over the last few days spoke from the other side of the room.

I lifted wild eyes to meet his face. Anguished and torn, it was as though a masterpiece painting had been ripped in two.

“What are you doing here?” My voice trembled with the beat of my heart.

His deep gaze met mine, but there was no lingering twitch of his lips. “Can we?” He swept his hand in the direction of Janine’s office.

There was no way in hell I was going in there.

Not a chance.

That was why I was in this mess. For some reason I couldn’t quite fathom, a delicate web of unpredictable intimacy had bloomed in a place it shouldn’t. But only I could have been feeling that. This was his normal; but now he’d dragged me into it.

I shook my head.

“Please, Leia.” It was utterly unfair of him to say my name like that.

Dropping my bag on my desk, I turned without speaking and marched into Janine’s office. Once there, I folded my arms like a battle shield across my chest and rounded to face him. He shut the door with a gentle click.

I glared at him for a full minute while he watched my reactions.

“You shouldn’t be here. This is a nightmare because of you,” I grunted eventually when the silence became unbearable. I was being rude, again. But for once I didn’t care. All I could think about was Daisy in that playground with everyone talking behind their hands.

“Can we sit?” He gestured for the chair.

I dropped a deep curtsey—my best one yet—and replied, “Yes, Your Highness.”