Page 24 of Scandal Queen

“Bill, for goodness’ sake.” I swung the door back and stared almost stupidly into the flash of a camera.

“Leia. Where’s Oliver?” A man who looked like he’d been up all night thrust a phone into my face. Startled, I lifted my gaze over his head to where more people than I’d seen all week were crowded around.

I pushed at the door, my heart pounding in my chest. Once the lock had caught in the latch, I leant against it, but the front door didn’t stop the questions. They shouted through, loud enough to wake the whole of the South West.

What do the palace think?

Why had Oliver denied the romance?

Did the King and Queen approve?

Had I forgiven the prince’s lies?

My fingers shook, my legs wobbling.

“For fuck’s sake!” I jumped out of my skin at Oliver’s voice behind me. Hearing him swear made it very real; the future king didn’t often lapse into profanities. “Someone at the pub must have sold us out.”

Frozen, I couldn’t get myself to move.

Lights flashed outside; I could see them through the small glazed pane in the centre of the wooden door. The sound of doors slamming echoed. A herd of journalists seemed to be stampeding on the small village. Daisy bolted down the stairs, slipping with her pace. “What’s going on?”

Oliver pulled her close and kissed the top of her head. If I hadn’t been in a shocked stupor, I would have mind-snapped the moment to keep forever. “It’s just the press, sweetie, we will get out of here soon.” Him calling her the same nickname I’d always used kickstarted me a little.

“How do we get out of here?” I asked. “There are hundreds of them. They must have travelled all night to get here.

“Bill will get through don’t worry.” Oliver scrunched his face. “I’ve been foolish thinking we could stay here like this.”

I reached for his arm. “No. We were fine; everything’s been fine.”

His dark gaze flickered over my face. “Nothing is ever fine for long. I’ve left us exposed.”

“So where do we go now? Aren’t they always going to find us?”

“Mummy, we need to go home.” Daisy pulled at my attention. “Nana will be waiting for us.”

Why, oh why, oh why, did I always leave important conversations to the last moment? I needed to work on this as a life skill.

“Sweetie…”

Oliver placed a hand on my back, soothing a circle with his palm. “Let’s get out of here shall we, then we can find Nana,” he spoke for me.

At that moment a different knock fell against the door. One Oliver recognised because he visibly relaxed. He opened the door, tucking Daisy and I behind his back as he used the door almost as a shield. Bill strode in like a cowboy in the Wild West.

“I’m just going to say it once, Sir.”

Oliver smiled but held up his hand. “It’s okay, I’ve said it to myself.”

I watched the exchange between the two men. The high esteem Oliver held Bill in showed more of the prince’s personality.

“Okay. I’ve arranged for you to fly back to London from Newquay. There’s a plane waiting that will take you to City Airport.”

“Fly?” I asked. That was not how we’d arrived.

Bill turned, but he had his professional and deadly serious expression on. “It’s safer, Ma’am. The press wouldn’t be able to follow you all the way in the car, but it might make the journey hazardous.”

“I’m scared.” Daisy jumped as another bang landed at the door and I glanced up at Oliver. Suddenly his outrageous act of paying for secrecy, for putting a restraining order around my house made a lot more sense.

A lot more.