Page 74 of The Last Days of Lilah Goodluck

“In front of her?” The princess gives me serious side-eye.

“Lilah knows how to keep her mouth shut. Come on. Out with it.”

“I have missed you, Hel. Your directness was refreshing...up to a point.” The princess turns away for a moment, staring at the sterile gray wall. “The political climate is more lenient at present.”

“It has nothing to do with the current negative public opinion of him, does it?” asks Alistair.

“There’s also his rumored separation from the queen consort to consider. You would make a wonderful distraction from all that, darling,” says Lady Helena. “You’re rather popular. The dashing Scotsman of royal descent who found success on his own terms. Embracing you now would breathe some life back into him and make him seem more human. It would also help drag the monarchy into the modern age. Something which is direly needed.”

The princess’s gaze is guarded. “These are all just suppositions. What’s your answer?”

“Why should Alistair help you? What have any of you ever done for him?” asks Lady Helena. “Your brother pays me handsomely to keep my mouth shut and stay on my side of the Atlantic. That, however, is a business arrangement. He’s yet to show his firstborn a single kindness. Given time, several great artworks, an estate or two, and a lot of jewelry, I could perhaps forgive him for hurting me. But not my child.”

A line appears between Alistair’s brows.

Dougal hands the princess a drink. You can be certain Her Royal Highness doesn’t cough or choke. She cocks her head. “If they’re engaged, where’s her ring?”

“Oh. I knew I forgot something. How silly of me.” Lady Helena wrestles with one of the many rings on her fingers. “Shit. It seems to be stuck. Dougal!”

“Coming,” says the Scotsman. “Been a while since you’ve taken that one off. Let me just... Oof. There we go.”

The princess gasps. “You’re not giving her the Lennox diamond.”

“Of course I am. It’s the pride of our family. A cherished heirloom that’s worth a small fortune. Here, Lilah, catch.” And Lady Helena tosses the ring.

I lunge for the ring with my usual sporting finesse. But Alistair plucks it out of the air with ease. It’s an obscenely large emerald-cut diamond in a platinum setting. His smile is bemused as he slides it on my finger. He stares into my eyes, and I know this is all just a joke, but it’s hard not to get all up in my feelings. And those feelings have nothing to do with amusement and everything to do with him. Then he gives my fingers a squeeze and turns away, which is for the best. My ability to keep a straight face is at an all-time low. At least I can go to the grave saying I was engaged. Sort of. That’s something new, unexpected, and quite daring. What I really want to know, however, is if I am about to be dumped by my friend in favor of his father.

“Thank you, Mother,” he says eventually. “I couldn’t have done better myself.”

“I’d hope not, sweetheart. Nice to see family come in handy now and then, isn’t it?” Lady Helena takes a sip of her drink and turns back to our royal guest. “Lexi, why did he send you and not one of the firm’s flunkies?”

“I daresay, given the topic of conversation, he knew none of them would get past the front door,” answers Her Royal Highness. “I don’t know. Ask him when he calls you again tonight.”

Alistair frowns at his mother. “You’re talking to him that often?”

“I have been lately. The king is in a rare state of agitation. It had been a while since we butted heads. I don’t think I’d heard from him since you dislocated your shoulder surfing a few years back.Tell him there’s to be no more extreme sports. I forbid it.He truly is hilarious. But he enjoys yelling at me and I enjoy yelling at him. It’s a win for everyone, really.” Lady Helena frowns at her empty glass. “This conversation requires further refreshments. Sweetheart, you wouldn’t happen to have a decent bottle of champagne on hand, would you?”

“No,” says Alistair. “Sorry.”

“Time for us to depart, then,” says Lady Helena. “My place or yours, Lexi?”

The princess gets to her feet. “Yours, I suppose. But we can’t be seen together. And you mustn’t tell him I told you these things.”

“No one’s going to tattle. Do stop fussing, old girl.”

They head for the door with Dougal and the security guards in tow.

As soon as they’re gone, Alistair rises and paces the room. Back and forth he strides with a frown on his face. The man is obviously thinking deep thoughts.

“That was a lot,” I say. “A whole wide lot.”

He grunts.

Not knowing where I stand with him sucks. How has this conversation changed things? My family is important to me. The thought of not having a healthy relationship with my parents is horrible. I rub my sweaty palms on the side of my nice new black pants. “I just want you to know, whatever decision you make, you have my support.”

He stops and stares at me.

“You’ve wanted a chance to get to know your father your whole life. This is it. It’s finally here.”

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