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Jackson tilted his head. “What royal family are ye?”
“Norway and Luxembourg medley.”
Alex pursed her lips. “Just imagine Dori’s family tree growing out of piles of gold rather than earth and you’ve got him.”
My two coworkers regarded each other.
Valentine quipped, “Not it if he gets bashed.”
Jackson shrugged at Dori. “You’re in.”
The count almost smiled then coughed into his fist to hide the emotion.
Valentine turned to Ben. “What do we do to motivate the fucker?” He made two hand gestures simultaneously, fingers rubbing together to represent cash and a fist to show pain.
Ben twisted his lips in consideration. “Whatever works. They’re playing dirty, so we will, too. Today is going to bring many truths to the surface, I feel. Alex, they might not all be nice ones. They rarely are when people pull moves like this.”
She sighed but kept her chin up. “I don’t care. I’m out. They can’t make me go back. Whatever they throw at me, I’m ready.”
As was I, in front of her or by her side. However she needed me.
Chapter 36
Alexandra
By air, we travelled to Lancaster House, Raphael touching down in a clearing in the thick private woods behind the mansion. I’d rung ahead to Perkins, and Dad plus his lady friend were expecting me.
He hadn’t heard my news yet. It was still early enough not to have made the mainstream headlines he might see, and for that, I was glad.
Nothing about this was good, but fear built inside me in anticipation of my father’s reaction and the resulting stress making him sick again. Maybe if I’d followed Dori’s advice and talked to him earlier, none of this would’ve happened, but hindsight didn’t help me now.
I had to explain this to Dad in person, taking all the care to limit it to what he needed to know. I’d already warned Perkins that there might be press hunting for me, and he’d talked to the security who patrolled the estate, texting me during the flight that none had been seen yet, and they’d close the gates.
Good. We’d beat them here, which meant there was time to do all I wanted in the right order.
Most people travelling up from London would take several hours on an airport hop, and could go to Raphael’s home first,if they knew his name, and Raphael’s team plus Dori would be an hour by road in their own vehicles. Valentine’s early action meant we were on the front foot at last.
When we left the helicopter to climb into a waiting Land Rover, my father’s groundskeeper behind the wheel, nerves over a new realisation cramped my stomach.
Raphael claimed my hand across the seat. “Okay?”
“Why is it in the middle of all the drama, the one thing I’m fixating on is introducing my dad to you?”
He sat up taller. “Now I’m second-guessing what I’m wearing. Should’ve brought a smart jacket.”
I glanced over at him and shivered. Raphael was in his standard wear of black jeans and a t-shirt. We hadn’t lingered in the cottage after making our plans, and he matched my casual vibe. He was so perfect, and all I’d ever brought him was hassle.
“That isn’t what I meant. What if you meet my father and want nothing more to do with me? He can be eccentric.” I’d already explained that he was frail and his hands shook. If he was tired, the evidence of his stroke would be in his face, too. But I hadn’t shared his mischievous side and how he loved to tease.
Raphael laughed and stroked my knuckles with his thumb. “Not happening. Your exploits didnae scare me off, so nothing will.”
“Exploits?”
“Leading me on a run around town, jumping in a lake, charming birds into a riot. Ye know, the typical princess-and-bodyguard dating scene.”
I laughed, but my amusement didn’t hang around for long.
Out of the woods, we zoomed up to the crenelated entrance to a private wing of the house, surrounded by an extensive lawn and tall hedges. The entrance hall was four storeys high with a narrow tower abutting one corner. It was the prettiest house, yet never truly my home.