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Turns out I was a royalist. Not only was I in deep with a princess, but I obeyed princely orders without question.
Being alone for a minute had given me time to think.
All about my life and my response to threats. The dangers I anticipated, and those which hadn’t happened yet still scaredme enough to put up walls around myself. Walls a princess had scaled without even trying.
Alex’s da commenced our stroll again down the long gallery, the gold leaf on the paintings either side of us shining. He pointed at one. “That is Alexandra’s great aunt who she is named after. Can you see a resemblance?”
I took in the portrait of a woman in a shepherdess outfit complete with sheep at her feet. “I’m not sure.”
He snorted in amusement. “Neither am I. I have no eye for art, unlike my only child. I like that you didn’t pretend for my sake. Most would.”
I wasn’t sure how to answer that, so I stayed silent.
He walked on a few steps then wobbled. Unthinking, I caught his arm, and the man grouched but straightened, patting my hand.
“Everyone here protects me. Or perhaps I live in a bubble of my own making. It appears that I have entirely missed out on a very real threat to my daughter.” He swung his attention onto me. “Tell me, Mr Gordonson, do you love her?”
Fucking hell. I swallowed. “With the greatest respect, the person who should hear that first is Alex.”
He watched me for a beat then smiled and continued walking. “Good. You’re the one she turned to. It’s your team downstairs taking care of her, and your men standing by her when those of her own family did not. I have ignored what Perkins saw coming, choosing only to warn her of what not to do, neglecting to give her the tools or the time to handle this when it became a real issue.”
“I’m not sure what you mean.”
We reached a brocade settee beneath an enormous painting of a hunting scene.
The prince sat heavily and gestured for me to take the other side. “I want to know everything that has gone on with SirReginald, the workload he gave to my daughter, and how it was handled. Tell me now. Do not miss a thing.”
“I will. If ye don’t mind me telling Alex where I am.” I found my phone. I should’ve done this already, but I’d been stuck in my thoughts and drowning. I also had to check she was okay with me sharing. For all I respected her da, this was her call, not mine.
“Go ahead. She’s quite safe. I’ve locked the bastards up. I never did like that private secretary. Obsequious, backstabbing toad.”
Surprise stole the last of my reserve. Seemed I wasn’t the only one with a story to tell.
His eyes gleamed. “I mean to clear this up myself. And I’ve already set in motion how I’m going to do it.”
Chapter 40
Alexandra
I started at the message landing on my phone and jumped to read it.
Raphael: Okay if I share the full story with your da? He’s demanding answers. Happy to tell him no if you don’t want it.
A sob flew from my lips.
Alex: You’re still here? Of course you can share.
He might as well. Dad had already ordered two men locked up and would need to talk to the incoming police. I hugged my arms. Raphael hadn’t left me. Yet another reason to hate Sir Reginald.
Raphael: Where else would I be? Didn’t I tell you I wanted nothing other than to be around you?
He’d adapted the words he’d gifted to me in London. Upgraded us once again.
“Alexandra?”
I lifted my head to Sarah’s quiet enquiry.
Raphael’s team were in deep conversation across the entrance hall. From a relieved look Jackson shot me, Raphael had messaged him, too.