Page 13 of A Royal Mistake
It was simple, all right. Simply ridiculous.
He started to cross his arms and caught himself, instead folding his hands in his lap. “How can you possibly guarantee Liam’s agreement?”
“Let me worry about that,” she said with an air of confidence. “All you need to know is that I can—and will—deliver when the time comes.”
The deal was more than fair, and it couldn’t hurt to have a backup plan. If negotiations with Liam went sideways, Pippa could prove to be an asset.
Scheisse. Was he actually considering this ludicrous offer?
“I’ve made up my mind, Henry.” Pippa’s gaze locked on his, and she smiled. Not the thin-lipped smile she favored for public appearances, but the wide, toothy grin that occasionally graced the tabloids when they caught her unaware and unguarded. It was the most radiant smile he’d ever seen, and when she turned its warmth on him, his defenses melted like a polar ice cap on the sun. “I’m going to do this. The only question is whether you’re going to help me.”
THE DIRTY DOZEN
Hope you’re thirsty, my lovelies! It’s taken a couple of greased palms and a lot of digging, but we’ve finally got a full lineup of HRH Princess Philippa’s suitors. And in true Daily Scoop fashion, we’ve ranked those hotties for your reading pleasure. #YoureWelcome
1. HRH Gabriel Carlos Alejandro Bastien de León, Prince of Asturias. Sexy AF and heir presumptive of Spain. #GonnaBeKing
2. His Grace, Christian Delacroix, Duke of Newcastle. Hometown advantage and a big fat bank account to go with it. Not only is Christian rocking a noblebodybloodline, he’s heir to the Delacroix hotel empire.
3. HSH Prince Dominik-twenty-seven names-of-Liechtenstein, Count Rietberg, (aka: The Spare). HSH has a reputation for being a ladies' man and we hear it’s well deserved. He might be doing his royal duty, but our money says that’s not all he’s doing…
4. Miquel Antoni Agustí Martell i Leoni of Andorra. We don’t speak Cantonese, but like our favorite sea witch said, don’t underestimate the importance of body language!
5. Prince Yoshihito of the Imperial House of Japan. This royal bad boy knows how to have a good time (we haven’t forgotten his naked shenanigans at the Rio Olympics), and we’re here for it.#EightInches #RoyallyEndowed
6. Raphaelle de Castries, Count ofÉvreux. Look, we get it. France doesn’t do the whole nobility thing anymore, but the guy can trace his bloodline back eight hundred years, so we’re going to do him a solid. Besides, we hear he’s great with his tongue. Ooh la la, monsieur!
7. Lord Johannes van den Berg. When he’s not busy doing whatever it is barons do, he’s on a one man mission to save all the world’s furry friends. (We’re not crying, you are!)
8. HRH Prince Leopold of Belgium. His military career might be DOA, but we love a man in uniform, so we’re giving him bonus points because… exploding ovaries.
9. Prince Thabiso Thato Sello Mokhele of Lethoso. Prince Thabiso keeps a low profile, but with this crowd, that’s not necessarily a bad thing.
10. His Grace Thomas Wellesley, Duke of Lancaster. The odds of a Valerian royal cozying up with the Union Jack seems like a long shot…because, you know, independence.
11. Sir Nicolas De Behr. Sure, he’s got a long sword, but does he know how to use it?
12. Philip-we’re-too-drunk-to-look-up-all-his-names-and-titles-Sheffield. Dead last, so who really cares? (Hint: not us.) #SorryNotSorry
PS. Are we the only ones who think this feels like the start of an epic reverse harem?
4
Pippa stoodshoulder-to-shoulder with Lena and smiled primly as her mother cut the red satin ribbon on the new children’s wing of the hospital. The groundbreaking facility had been funded primarily by the RFV and would ensure all Valerian children had access to the best medical care in Europe, proving once again that while Their Majesties might be a royal pain in the arse, they were committed to serving the people.
The crowd clapped as the ribbon drifted to the floor, a silent testament to new beginnings.
When the photos were done, Her Majesty made a brief statement before agreeing to take questions from the media. Pippa tuned out. She’d been to a million of these things and she knew her job; stand up straight and look pretty.
The precious crown jewel, tucked away in the vault and only pulled out on special occasions.
Her mind drifted, and she found herself thinking about Henry. It had taken some convincing—and a boatload of false confidence—but he’d finally agreed to mentor her. Their first meeting was in two days, and just the thought of it had her belly twisted in knots.
She had no idea what she should do to prepare for the meeting. Not that she had much free time with Their Majesties breathing down her neck about the suitors. They’d actually had the gall to send her dossiers on each of the men, as if she could just choose one from the bloody lot and be done with it.
Focus on the goal.
Right.