Page 14 of Ways To Ruin A Royal Reputation

“That’s why it would be taken seriously.” She spoke fast as she warmed to it. “Women don’t make the claim unless they’ve actually slept with the potential father. Here’s what I like about this idea.” She excitedly ticked off on her fingers. “It’s a very human mistake that still makes you seem virile, and you’ll take the honorable steps to accept responsibility. But, because she’s not suitable as a queen, it opens the door for your sister to question your judgment and take over.”

“It won’t work.” He dismissed it flatly. “If I conceive a baby while I’m on the throne, my honor would demand that I marry her. That child would become the future ruler of Vallia and my sister would be sidelined forever.”

“There is no baby.” Amy opened her hands like it was a magic act. “We’ll keep the timeline very short. We leak that a woman approached you andthinksshe’s pregnant. You take the possibility seriously, but even while the scandal is blowing up, she learns it was a false alarm. She wasn’t actually pregnant. That way the trauma of a pregnancy loss can be avoided. The scandal will be about you taking reckless chances with your country’s future. Your sister can call you irresponsible and take the throne.”

His brow was still furrowed. “There’s no actual woman? I’m the only name in the press? I like that.”

“I think you need a living, breathing woman.” She wrinkled her nose. “Otherwise the public will search forever for this mystery woman. You’d have people coming forward for generations, claiming to be your long-lost descendant. No, you need someone you conceivably—ha ha—could have met and slept with. Perhaps a reality star or a pop singer. Let me go through my contact list. I’m sure I can find a few women who would be willing to do something like this as a publicity stunt.”

He cringed.

“You hate it?” She had been so proud, convinced this was a workable plan.

“I don’t love that I have to use someone, but if she’s in the know from the beginning and getting something out of it, I can live with it. This sounds effective without being too unsavory.” He nodded. “Run with it.”

CHAPTER FOUR

ADISTANTNOISEINTRUDED, but Luca ignored it and continued indulging his lascivious fantasy of Amy’s dress unbuttoned to her waist, held closed only by the wide black corset-style belt. Her lacy green bra and underwear would hold the heat of her body and have a delicious silky abrasive texture against his lips and questing touch. She—

“Signor?”His private secretary and lifelong adviser cleared his throat very pointedly, forcing Luca to abandon his musing and focus on the fact that Guillermo was standing in his office, awaiting acknowledgment.

“Yes?” Luca prompted.

“About Ms. Miller’s work with the charity...” Guillermo closed the door.

“Is she shaking things up? Because that’s what I hired her to do.” If she appeared to be an impulsive, misguided decision on his part, all the better.

Guillermo’s mouth tightened before he forced a flat smile. “The palace PR team is perfectly capable of handling this last-minute promotion of the gala. In fact, the foundation’s board could carry the event over the finish line without any help at all so I’m not sure why Ms. Miller is necessary.”

This was the sort of micromanaging Luca had suffered all his life and would have burned to the ground if he’d been planning to remain king. Given their lifelong relationship, Luca could also tell Guillermo smelled an ulterior motive and was digging to find it.

“The board of directors are my mother’s contemporaries,” Luca said. “They’re committed and passionate, but at some point, adhering to tradition only demonstrates a lack of imagination. We’re there.”

“Have you seen Ms. Miller’s contemporaries? Her online presence is very colorful.” It wasn’t a compliment.

“She’s well-connected and understands how to leverage that community.”

“But towhomis she connected,signor? That is my concern. She’s photographed with a lot of men, often in relation to a drug charge or the like.”

“It’s her job to mitigate scandals.”

“Are we certain she’s not actually the source of them?” Guillermo wasn’t being an alarmist. Their previous head of PR had been an enabler to the former king’s vices. “Even if she’s aboveboard, she wishes to pitch the directors on having the foundation’s logo embroidered onto pajamas to be sold as a fundraiser. She thinks celebrities could be encouraged to post photos of themselves wearing them. Might I remind you,signor, of your standing instruction that all those associated with royal interests project a more dignified profile than we’ve seen in the past? Have I missed an announcement that your attitude has changed?”

“You know it hasn’t,” Luca said flatly. “I’ll have Amy tell me about the pajama idea over dinner and judge for myself.”

Guillermo didn’t take the hint that he was dismissed. “Is dining with her a good idea? She’s very familiar. She makes frequent jokes.”

Dio aiutami, his patience was hanging by a thread. “Off with her head, then.”

“I’m merely pointing out that if she were a true British subject, she might understand the role of a sovereign, but she was born in America—”

“She has the gall to be an American? Whatwillwe do?”

“Signor, I wouldn’t want her levity or imprudence to cast any shadows upon you.”

“A moment ago, she was too colorful. Would she not cast rainbows?”

“She is already rubbing off on you if you’re not taking my counsel seriously. Ms. Miller is a poor fit for any palace endeavor,” Guillermo insisted.

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