Page 47 of Royally Benevolent

“What?”

“Leah Roughy. The Queen’s niece. She and I had a thing. It’s old news.”

“The actress?”

Mary smiled broadly, as if proud of herself. Leah was a sex symbol. I marvelled at Mary’s ability to chase beautiful women without apologising for it.

“I bow to you. That is… impressive.”

“She’swaycooler than I am. Anyhow, Odette doesn’t know I’m gay. We assume everyone does.”

“She’s a bit sheltered, I think.”

“But smart. Pretty. Too good for you,” Mary ribbed.

“She’s too young, a princess, and impossibly kind.”

“You’re gushing.”

“She’s great with Theo. Adores him.”

“Still gushing.”

I groaned. “You think she’s into me?”

“Wyatt, this is silly. Yes. She’s angry with me. Someone needs toassure her that nothing is going on. And, if you like her, you need tosaysomething about it.”

“I am not ready for?—”

“For what?”

“To fall in love with someone. Everyone wants me to move on and replace Isla?—”

“No one wants you to do that. Nor couldanyonereplace Isla. She was amazing. But you’re still young and relatively attractive. She’s a fox. You’d make a cute couple.”

“People would think I was just a billionaire having a third-of-life crisis.”

“You’re approaching middle age, my friend. Don’t flatter yourself. Do you like her?”

“I think she’s beautiful. We can talk for hours. That’s a new thing.”

“You realise you can date and care about someone without marrying them. That it’s not that deep unless you want it to be?”

“But Theo… he matters.”

“She adores him. What is the problem?”

“He likes her.”

“Again, I see no issues. Are you justtryingto be miserable?”

“You sound like my mom.”

“Well, as I recall, she’s pretty no-nonsense. And I would defer to her here.”

I rolled my eyes.

“Wyatt, tell me you don’t think she’s cute.”

---