Page 57 of Tabloid Princess

“Why’s that, Mummy?”

I knelt down, the silver skirts billowing around me. “Because the prince has said he will share his birthday with her. That’s why Molly and I get to go.” I lifted myself, careful not to stand on the tulle. “Now, you will be good for Nana, yes?”

“Yes.” She dutifully nodded, like a little angel.

“Mm.” I pretended to narrow my eyes. “You look highly suspicious.”

She squealed and pelted from the room. Chuckling, I gave chase only to find Nana on the sofa with a big bowl of popcorn. “Well this doesn’t look like bedtime.”

“You’re going to a ball.” Nana winked at me. “And so are we. We are going for Cinderella, the live action version.”

I laughed out loud. “Daisy, you know live action means it has actual people in it, not cartoons?”

She nodded, her face deadly serious. “I know. I’ve told Nana it won’t be as good.”

“No singing mice.” Nana smirked.

“Don’t knock the mice.” I wagged my finger at her and then spun slowly on the spot. My timing wasn’t to show off the dress to the best of its advantage, it was so I didn’t fall and cut my forehead open on the coffee table. Emilia would kill me if I got blood on it. “What do you think?” I asked Nana as I fluffed the skirt.

“I think you look simply beautiful.”

A car beeped its horn and my stomach dropped down to my toes. This was happening. I was going to do this.

I bent down and kissed Daisy. “You smell nice, Mummy.”

“So do you.” To prove the point, I took a deep inhalation of her freshly washed hair, filling my head with the scent of normality before I stepped into the unknown.

“Don’t turn into a pumpkin.” Nana wiggled her eyebrows. I leant in and kissed her cheek.

“I’ll probably be bored and home in an hour.”

“Nope, you won’t.” Molly hooked her hand around my elbow and pulled me away. “Come on, we are missing free champagne.”

I grabbed the silver wrap Emilia had left to go over the dress and opened the front door, doing a double-take when I saw the car.

“That’s not a taxi.”

Molly almost pushed me off the front step as she rushed to see. “Wow. No, it’s not. Did you do this?”

“Yes, I went and shook the money tree and ordered us a limousine.”

She turned and arched an eyebrow. “Does this have anything to do with the mysterious appearance of a royal bodyguard last week?” This wasn’t the first time she’d asked this. Actually, it wasn’t the tenth or the twentieth.

“No. I already explained that.”

When I say explained, what I mean was lied.

I was a liar on a fast track journey to hell.

The chauffeur in his uniform and cap got out of the car and handed us an envelope. I recognised the stationery instantly but didn’t let on.

Sliding it open, trying to stop my fingers from shaking, I pulled out the paper and showed it to Molly.

Dear, Miss Lawrence,

All Bright Futures VIP’s are to arrive at His Royal Highness, Prince Oliver’s Birthday in style.

Enjoy the ride.