Page 54 of A Royal Mistake
Pippa strolled through the door of the meeting room, which was as highly polished as everything else in the palace, grinning sheepishly as she dropped into her seat. “That went well.”
He stared at her in disbelief. Nothing about that had gone well. It had been a complete disaster from start to finish.
No, that wasn’t true. She’d started off brilliantly, but it was hard to recall anything that had come before the disastrous ending. “That was… something else.”
“Lord Chamberlain said he’d let me know in the next few days.” She sighed and crossed her arms over her breasts. “I suppose it’s the best I can hope for, given the situation.”
This was it. He would not get a better opening. He’d just need to tread lightly.
“You got lucky today.” He spun his chair toward Pippa and casually crossed his legs. “If the press had been in the room, I don’t even want to think about the headlines.”
“Can you imagine?” She snorted. “I can see the populars now:Van den Berg Gyrates Amidst Talk of Sparking Loins.”
Henry smirked. “I think you meanLordvan den Berg.”
“And have you familiarized yourself with all of my suitors and their titles?” she asked, arching an elegant brow.
Damn right he had. Because he had a professional responsibility as her mentor to know what kind of people she was surrounding herself with. Not because he’d wanted to see if even one of the Arschlochs was good enough for her.
Spoiler alert: they weren’t.
“Just the ones most likely to ruin your chances of securing funding for Stanley International.” He shook his head and glanced out the window. The palace’s front lawn stretched neat and pristine toward the main gate, the sun glinting off the gilded marble fountain that stood tall and proud at the front entrance of the palace, a Valerian falcon swooping down on its prey. It was a beautiful day. Too nice to spend cooped up inside the palace, but he couldn’t afford a day off. There was too much work to do. The VDRI fundraiser was just around the corner and though his assistant was more than capable of finalizing the details, he needed everything to run smoothly. For VDRI and for Pippa. “The press is going to learn of Lord van den Berg’s departure. You’re not in the clear yet.”
Pippa arched a brow. “I highly doubt he’s going to tell the world he was dragged out of the palace.”
“I wouldn’t be so sure about that. He might see it as a badge of honor.”
“Perhaps,” she agreed with a tight smile, “but I will not spend my time worrying about things that are beyond my control.”
“What about the things that are in your control?”
“Such as?”
“This whole situation with the suitors,” he said, making a circular motion with his hand. “Very little of the press has been positive. If it continues, it could damage your reputation. And your ability to fundraise.”
She chewed her bottom lip, considering. “My brothers have weathered far worse.”
“You should put a stop to it,” he insisted. The world wasn’t fair. Just because her brothers had gotten a free pass on their indiscretions, it didn’t mean Pippa would be afforded the same courtesy. Surely she understood that? Hell, she’d said herself that the rules were different for a princess. “We both know you aren’t serious about this farce of a courtship. Why not put an end to it? Announce that you’re not ready for marriage yet?”
“I can’t.” She squared her shoulders and pulled herself up to her full height. “I completely understand if you’ve changed your mind about helping me, but I have to see it through.” She hardened her jaw, showcasing the passion and determination that had swayed him to her cause.
“Why do you have to see it through? What are you getting out of it?”
Her gaze locked on his and there was steel in it. “You wouldn’t understand.”
They agreed on that much, at least. He damn sure didn’t understand. Why go through with the courtship if she had no intention of marrying? It was an unnecessary distraction.
One fraught with bad press.
Press that could ruin both of them.
“Besides, I don’t have an issue with marriage,” Pippa continued, softening, her voice almost wistful. “Call me old fashioned, but if I ever choose to settle down, I want the fairytale. Prince charming, the fireworks, the happily ever after. I just want it to be my choice when it happens.”
Fucking hell.
Frustration welled in his gut. Of course Pippa wanted it to be her choice. She deserved no less. Hell, she deserved so much more. More than the self-involved pricks who were only in Valeria to further their own agendas. To secure political alliances. To marry into royalty. To add to their titles.
She deserved to find a man who could see past the crown to the amazing woman who held it. A man who would put her needs before those of the court or the country. A man who shared her hopes and dreams, her passion for creating a better world. A man who appreciated her strength and humor, as well as her beauty.