Page 5 of A Royal Mistake

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Pippa slowedher steps as she entered the dining room. She hadn’t even taken her seat and she was already emotionally exhausted. Dinner with the royal family was like navigating a minefield, and the last thing she needed was a pre-dinner lecture from her mother, who firmly believed a lady never hurried.

Which was absurd. Had the woman never been to a freaking shoe sale?

Probably not. The last of a dying breed, her mother had a death grip on tradition and she was determined to pass it on to Pippa, whether she liked it or not. Pippa scanned the opulent dining room and gave silent thanks that her brothers and their better halves were already seated. At least she wouldn’t be the sole focus of the dinner conversation.

Not with the heir, the spare, a magnet for chaos, and a former gossip girl at the table.

She was literally the least interesting person in the room.

The youngest of three children, Pippa had been the only girl in the family for years, which she blamed for her parents’ overprotective machinations. It was sexist as hell, but it explained the fact that her elder brothers, Liam and Xander, had been allowed many privileges she’d been denied over the years. Pippa’s movements had always been restricted and monitored more closely than her brothers, which was probably why she was still a card-carrying member of Virgins-R-Us.

Fortunately, Liam had recently married and his wife, Elena, had joined him at the palace. Xander had also returned to the palace, although he was living at Primrose Cottage with his girlfriend, Everly. Pippa adored Lena and Evie, but unfortunately, having other twenty-something women on the palace grounds had done little to convince Their Majesties she was capable of making her own decisions and worthy of being treated like an adult.

Hell, it was a wonder they let her sit at the grownup table for dinner.

“You’re late,” her mother said as she slipped into her seat. “Dare I hope it’s because you were entertaining Prince Dominik? He mentioned it’s been difficult to get on your schedule.”

Of course he had. Bloody whinger.

“No worries, Mother. Pippa has rectified the situation,” Xander said with a smirk. “They had a lovely walk in the gardens today. Isn’t that right, Bunny?”

Pippa glared at her brother, who would henceforth be known as The Traitor. Selling her out to their parents was bad enough, but using her childhood nickname?

That was just dirty.

“Splendid.” The queen clasped her hands together, the corners of her lips curling into a coy smile. “It’s about time you finally showed interest in one of your suitors.”

“Oh, she’s shown more than interest,” Xander quipped. He chuckled, and Evie discreetly jabbed him under the table. Not that it did any good. He was on a roll and once he got going, there was no stopping him. “From what I hear, she showed him a swimmingly good time.”

The queen sat up straighter—if that was even possible—and turned to Pippa with narrowed eyes. “What did you do?”

Pippa sighed. “Why do you automatically assumeIdid something?”

The queen’s lips flattened, but her response came swiftly. “Because I am your mother and I know you.”

Okay. Fair enough. Pippa had more than her share of missteps over the years—thus the nickname Bunny—but honestly, would it kill her mother to have a little faith?

You don’t even believe in yourself. Why would she?

“It’s been a long day,” her father announced, turning to one of the servants and gesturing for the meal to be served. “I for one, would like to eat my supper while it’s still hot.” When he turned back to Pippa, he leveled her with a stern gaze that had cowed parliament and wayward royal children alike. “Is there something you’d like to tell us?”

Was he serious? What she’d like was for Their Majesties to change the archaic laws that required her to marry before she could join the Royal Foundation. But since that was apparently too much to ask, she’d settle for not being ambushed by random royals.

“Philippa Valeria Elizabeth Stanley,” the queen said, her voice rising to an octave sharp enough to shatter class. “You will answer your father this instant.”

Like hell.

The queen’s words echoed in the cavernous dining hall. Silence descended, and every eye in the room turned to Pippa. She did a slow scan of the table. They were all waiting to see what she’d do next. To see if she’d concede, as she always did to Her Majesty.

Well, screw that.

If her mother insisted on treating her like a child, then she’d behave like one. Oh, she’d answer, but she’d do it when she was good and ready.

Pippa slowly unfolded her napkin and placed it in her lap, making a show of smoothing the embroidered blue-and-gold fabric to ensure it covered her thighs completely.

When she was finished, she looked straight at her father, willing her voice to remain steady. “Prince Dominik took a swim in one of the fountains today.”