Page 121 of American Royalty

“Are you and Liam an item?”

“How long have the two of you been dating?”

“Do you think the concert tickets are priced too high?”

“Do you think the Palace should’ve offered cheaper tickets?”

“What did you enjoy more, the formal welcome reception or your time with these kids?”

“Has the queen not made you feel welcome, Duchess?”

Shit.

“Keep walking and don’t answer,” she told Liam.

“I know the drill.”

Another voice shouted, “Hi, Duchess! Surprised to see me?”

As bad as the press was, this was even worse. Anger and irritation coursed through her, and she turned to see Samantha Banks, dressed in a short white skirt and bright pink shirt, standing to the far right of the crowd. She knew when Antoine spied the other woman because he moved to put himself between them.

“Hey, it’s Samantha Banks!”

“Samantha! Samantha!”

The clicks and flashes were frenzied as the press focused on the interloper.

“Welcome to London, Samantha!”

“Did Duchess ever apologize?”

“Come on.” Liam’s words penetrated. “You don’t want to be a part of this.”

“I can’t believe she’s here. Scratch that. Yes, I can. She’s like my fucking shadow.”

Did this girl’s audacity have no limits?

“Samantha, did Duchess invite you?”

“Are you performing at the concert, too?”

“I’m not performing,” Samantha said, propping a hand on her hip. “But if Duchess asks me to do a song with her, I would. That would be the proper thing to do, right?”

Dani saw red.

“You can’t engage with her. If you do, you’re giving her what she wants.”

“Fuck it, I know that, Liam.”

She did. And he was right, she needed to leave the situation. Now. The eyes of the world were on her. Genesis’s eyes.

“Get her inside,” Antoine yelled over his shoulder.

Taking a deep breath, she took Liam’s hand and continued up the steps.

“Duchess! You can’t keep ignoring me!” Samantha called out. “I won’t let you.”

The press jumped on that.