Page 85 of Reveal Me
Avery snatches up the phone and peers at it intently. All eyes are thankfully on her now, instead of me. Thank God for small mercies. Her eyes are bright with excitement as she clutches her chest. ‘You’ll never believe it!’
Killian eyes his girlfriend lovingly. ‘Did you get the bridal contract?’
Avery is a model. Former model. Whatever.
‘No! It’s even better! The Queen just made a statement.’ She speaks about her like they’re on first-name terms. ‘Apparently they’re pulling forward Princess Sabrina’s wedding—to this weekend!’ she squeals excitedly. ‘It's never been done before in the history of the Royals. They’re even moving the public holiday. Do you know how much work that entails? This is wild! I would kill to know why. There has to be something scandalous going on!’ She clamps a hand over her mouth.
My stomach plummets. That can’t be right. Why would they do that? From what Layla has told me about her mother, everything is executed to perfection. The Royals don’t do rash. I’m only half listening to the conversation around me as I slide my phone out of my pocket. I glance down at the screen. There’s nothing from Layla. Surely she must have heard the news. Maybe she’s waiting to tell me in person. Naturally she’ll have to go back to London. While I don’t relish being apart, the quicker this wedding is over, the quicker she can step down, or step up, I should say—step into the life that she chooses for herself. Every night when I sneakinto her room, I thank whoever is up there that life includes me.
‘Fuck’s sake, woman.’ Killian rolls his eyes good naturedly. ‘I thought it was something important.’
‘It is important. It’s the wedding of the year. It’s going to be televised. I need to buy a hat!’ Avery’s waving her arms around dramatically. She and Killian could not be more different if they tried. He’s calm, and she’s chaos.
‘Did you get an invitation?’ Ivy shrieks.
‘Not exactly, but I always have my own Royal wedding party. You know, watch it stream live on TV, dress in something fancy, and drink champagne for breakfast.’
‘Sounds like every other morning, minus the TV,’ Killian drawls, a slow smile spreading across his face.
‘Has anyone else noticed that Princess Layla has been completely MIA since Christmas?’
It’s a battle to keep my mouth shut.
‘Maybe she's just taking a break from royal duties,’ James suggests diplomatically.
‘Princesses don’t just vanish,’ Avery insists. ‘Sure, she tipped that drink over some posh guy’s head, but it’s like she’s been grounded or something.’ Avery pretty much has it sussed. ‘She’s completely disappeared.’
Her last sentence slices through my chest. It’s my biggest fear—Layla just disappearing. Which is half the reason I have the castle surrounded by Killian’s men.
‘Scarlett, James, thank you so much for a lovely evening.’ I push my chair back and stand. ‘I’m going to head off. I’ve got a few things I need to do before bed.’
Rian snorts. ‘Like what? This mystery woman.’
‘Actually—yes.’ I need to make the most of her before her family sends the jet for her.
‘Have him followed,’ Rian says to Killian with a wicked gleam in his eye.
‘I’ll do no such thing.’ Killian scowls at Rian. ‘Maybe I should have you followed, then we’ll find out where you go every Wednesday night at six pm.’
Rian’s jaw almost hits the table. ‘What do you know about that?’ he snaps.
‘Not a lot. Because I respect people’s privacy.’ He draws the sentence out slowly to emphasise his point.
Wherever Rian goes every Wednesday, he doesn’t want anyone knowing. Interesting. Maybe he’s the one seeing a married woman. Right now, I don’t have time to ponder it.
‘I would normally say don’t rush off.’ Scarlett rises from James’s lap. I don’t dare look down in case he’s sporting a boner, ‘but none of us would begrudge you the chance to see your lady friend. We do want a full report—soon though.’ Scarlett rounds the table and presses a kiss to my cheek. Ivy, Avery, and Zara follow suit. My brothers shake my hand as they say goodbye. Rian walks me to the front door, then punches my arm. ‘Serious, bro, I know I’m always pulling the piss, but if you’ve found someone, I’m happy for you.’
‘Thanks, that means a lot.’ Perhaps my little brother isn’t such a douche after all.
‘Can’t wait to meet HIM.’
Dickhead.
I sigh, shaking my head as Ben pulls up in the Bentley. ‘Thanks, Ben.’
‘How was your night?’ He asks conversationally, as he negotiates James’s large sweeping driveway.
‘Weird.’ I pull out my phone again. Still nothing. I dial Layla. It goes straight to voicemail. Uneasiness snakes into my stomach, curling round my intestines. ‘Did you hear about Princess Sabrina’s wedding being moved forward?’ I type it into my search engine and, sure enough, every tabloid has an article on it already. None specify why the wedding’s beenpulled forward. I try Layla again. Voicemail—again. I don’t like it. Not one fucking bit.
