Page 30 of A Royal Mistake

We hear The Princess Royal hosted a snooze-worthy garden party at the palace yesterday. Because nothing says ‘Take me, you sexy beast’ like a good old-fashioned garden party, are we right? We’re thinking HRH’s strategy is to bore her suitors into submission, because despite her actions, we know for a fact Princess Philippa is twenty-three, not ninety-three.

It wasn’t all tea and biscuits, though. Sources inside the palace say philanthropist Heinrich von der Recke crashed the party in a bold move, stealing the limelight from the royal suitors and leaving more than a few disgruntled dudes in his wake (twelve, to be exact). Don’t fret, my lovelies. Tempers may have been running hot, but nary a punch was thrown.

So who is this hottie with the heart of gold? Our sources say von der Recke (Jesus. Even his name is hot!) is the founder of von der Recke International. Look, we don’t know much, but we know that when you’re insanely hot, nothing can level up your game like busting your ass in third-world countries for the betterment of humanity.

Good thing, too, because VDR is up against some stiff competition (and we’re not just talking about Prince Yoshihito’s royal scepter). With VDR throwing his hat in the ring, that brings HRH’s official suitor count to thirteen. #GoBigOrGoHome

We’ve been scouring the interweb for photos of VDR (as one does) and we’ve got a theory that this dark horse is the same dude HRH was recently photographed canoodling with on the back of a motorcycle. #DemThighs

Sources say Her Majesty Queen Marguerite wasn’t happy with the intrusion as she’s determined to see HRH make a royal match, which has us wondering… Have we seen the last of von der Recke, and does he have what it takes to compete with this pack of titled, blue-blood suitors?

8

Pippa sailed into breakfast,head held high. The scent of pan-fried bacon hung in the air and she inhaled deeply, her stomach growling noisily in response. Breakfast was her favorite meal of the day, and today she was going to eat her fill. Bacon, eggs, sausage, toast. The whole lot of it. Because as it turned out, scheming worked up quite the appetite.

Besides, she deserved a celebratory meal.

Speed dating had been a smashing success, and she had no doubt word of her antics had reached Their Majesties. There were so many leaks in the palace, they’d probably been informed the moment she deviated from their carefully laid plans. Henry crashing the party had been an unexpected—albeit welcome—surprise.

One she’d pay dearly for this morning, judging by the look on her mother’s face.

Worth it.

Especially since she’d recruited Henry to her cause. With his help, she’d be suitor free in no time.

Normally, the fact that the queen looked like she was about to lose her shit would’ve unnerved Pippa. She’d grown up trying to appease her parents and meet their impossible standards, but now? Now that look only brought her a sense of deep satisfaction. Not that she’d be careless enough to let it show on her face. Nope. She had to play it cool. As long as they wrote her off as clueless and naïve, she could use it to her advantage.

Besides, they had to believe she was taking the courtship seriously. Otherwise, she’d never get the money she needed to launch Stanley International.

“Good morning,” she trilled, smiling sweetly at her family before taking her seat and pouring herself a glass of orange juice from the pitcher on the table.

“Good morning,” her brothers responded in unison as they shoveled food in their mouths. Lena and Evie’s greetings followed a beat later.

“Pippa.”

She took a sip of her juice before responding. “Yes, Mother?”

“Could you please explain what has gotten into you lately?” the queen asked, cool and unaffected. It was the same voice she used when holding court, but Pippa had years of practice discerning her mother’s moods, and she could see right through the facade.

Pippa returned her juice glass to the table and reached for the platter of bacon, piling the greasy, crispy goodness on her plate like a mountain. “I don’t know what you’re talking about. Could you be more specific?”

There was a sharp intake of breath and she gave herself a mental high-five.

“You know exactly what I’m talking about,” the queen said, each word delivered with careful precision. “First the motorcycle ride, now the shenanigans in the garden?”

Shenanigans? Pippa bit the inside of her lip to keep from laughing. “The garden party was your idea.” She scooped a spoonful of eggs onto her plate before turning to face her parents, brows knit in confusion. “If you didn’t want me spending time with the suitors, then why did you arrange it?”

The queen huffed in indignation. To his credit, her father remained impassive. He just cut his sausage and took a bite as if this were a perfectly normal Stanley family breakfast. Although, to be fair, maybe this was the new normal. After years of bowing to her parents’ wishes, Pippa was beyond ready to assert her own will.

“The only person I don’t want you spending time with is that Henry fellow.” The queen lifted her napkin to her mouth and dabbed at the corner of her lips as if just saying his name were distasteful. “It’s inappropriate. And it sends the wrong message to your suitors. Not to mention the press.”

She dipped her chin, unable to fight the grin spreading across her face.

“Henry is a good man,” Liam interjected. “There’s no reason Pippa shouldn’t spend time with him, and she certainly shouldn’t be punished for what’s written in the populars.”

“Have you read the tabloids?” the queen asked, indignation creeping into her voice. “They’re questioning her virtue.”

“Oh, no. Not her virtue,” Xander deadpanned. “Whatever will we do?”