Page 31 of Twelve Nights In The Prince's Bed

‘I—’ Poppy faltered, her heart dropping. Oh, how she hated lying! To anyone, but especially Eleanor. Why, oh, why had she ever thought a fake relationship was a good idea?

‘This?’ Adrastos repeated, moving his fingers ever so slightly, so Poppy couldn’t help but be aware of the building of tension, the frisson of awareness rocketing through her. ‘It’s a relationship, Eleanor. You might have heard of the concept? When two people decide they’d like to get to know one another better, in a romantic sense, and commit to going on a series of dates?’

‘I know you’re more than familiar with the concept,’ Eleanor volleyed back witheringly, with no idea of how hurtful that observation would have been to Poppy were this relationship genuine. ‘I mean, specifically, you two. How did it happen?’

He sighed. ‘Is this a “protective best friend” thing? Do you need me to assure you I’m not going to hurt Poppy?’

‘That would be good,’ Eleanor agreed with an overly sweet smile as a palace staffer appeared with a trolley of drinks and food.

‘Ellie,’ Poppy interjected, but again, Adrastos spoke sooner, once they were alone.

‘I have no intention of hurting Poppy.’

‘I suppose that’s something.’

‘What more would you like, little sister?’

‘I want to understand how two people who almost seem to have made an art form ofavoidingone another have decided to date.’

‘People grow and change,’ Poppy said carefully. ‘We’re just dating. It’s not serious.’

‘It’s serious,’ Eleanor disagreed. ‘When you both come and stay here. When you go out on dates looking like this.’ Ellie gestured to Poppy.

‘What do I look like?’

‘Beautiful, of course,’ Eleanor supplied quickly. ‘But you also look...’

‘Yes?’ Adrastos’s voice held more than a hint of warning.

‘Like you’re being groomed for a specific role.’

Poppy’s eyes widened. ‘What do you mean?’

‘You look like a princess-in-waiting, Pops. I know you might not be taking this seriously yet, but you should be aware that everyone else will be.’

‘Everyone else will have to wait for an official announcement before they start ordering their wedding attire,’ Adrastos said quietly.

Poppy wanted to shake him. There was no ‘waiting for an announcement’. There would be no announcement, no wedding.

‘Maybe she’s right.’ Poppy turned in the seat, so she was facing only Adrastos, and suddenly it was just the two of them in the room. She lifted a hand to his chest, pressing it there, fingers splayed wide, mind racing. ‘Maybe this is too public. Too much, too soon.’

‘It’s not.’

‘But what if it is?’

He pressed a hand over hers and moved his face closer to hers. ‘Because I’ve anticipated that. There will be very little press intrusion into our night, Poppy. You must relax.’

But how could she? Everything seemed to be spinning completely out of control. As if he understood that she was on the precipice of a panic attack, he leaned forward and kissed her slowly, gently, keeping her hand between them, his own hand stroking hers, just as his mouth moved over hers. ‘Relax,’ he murmured, and she pulled back a little, somehow dredging up a smile, and it was not a smile for Eleanor’s benefit, but one that came to her naturally.

‘Okay.’ She realised Ellie wasn’t the only Aetos she trusted. He reached across and took the champagne flute from her spare hand, placing it on his side table, then turned to face his sister. Eleanor was watching them with unashamed interest.

‘We’re going to leave now, Eleanor.’

The Princess was very still for a moment and then finally nodded. ‘I can see that.’

Poppy wondered at the tone in her best friend’s voice. There was something there she didn’t like. Sadness?

‘Do you want to come with us?’ Poppy heard herself offer, so the hand of Adrastos’s that was holding hers squeezed a little tighter.

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