Page 165 of The Unlikely Pair
A butler swings the front door open, and as I come into the hallway, I almost collide with Prince Nicholas, Callum’s younger brother. He looks nothing like Callum, his brooding dark looks a contrast to Callum’s blond sunshine.
Prince Nicholas is followed closely by his bodyguard, a tall, broad-shouldered man with a stern expression.
Toby!” Nicholas exclaims, coming to an abrupt stop.
I got to know Prince Nicholas slightly when he was Callum’s best man at Oliver and Callum’s wedding because I was Oliver’s best man. His reputation as a playboy prince proceeds him, but from our interactions, he seems like a decent chap.
“Your Royal Highness.” I dip my head in acknowledgment.
When I straighten, Nicholas looks at me with a concerned expression, his head tilted.
“How are you after your ordeal?”
I shrug and try to inject some joviality into my tone. “Oh, plane crashes are just a minor inconvenience for us politicians. It’ll take more than that to get rid of me.”
Nicholas doesn’t look convinced by my bluster. “I’m so glad you are all right. It was a miracle when they found you and Harry Matheson alive after all that time.”
“Yes, the whole thing was definitely some kind of miracle,” I say.
Behind him, his bodyguard shifts, his gaze fixed on Nicholas. Nicholas glances back at him, and there’s a flicker of something in his eyes. I can’t quite put my finger on it.
“Anyway, I won’t keep you,” Nicholas says, turning back to me. “I’m sure Oliver and Callum are eager to see you. Take care, Toby.”
He gives me a strained smile that doesn’t quite reach his eyes.
Then he brushes past me, his bodyguard falling into step beside him. The air seems to crackle with unresolved tension as they head down the steps.
I turn my attention to Callum, who has appeared in the doorway of one of the rooms.
“Toby.” He greets me with a wide smile.
“Your Royal Highness.” I incline my head.
“It’s good to see you. Oliver’s expecting you. I’m just on my way out to a charity lunch for the Origami Enthusiasts Guild.”
“That sounds like fun,” I say.
“Oh, it will be so interesting to learn more about it,” Callum says seriously as he steps into the hallway and starts to button his coat. “I did some research about origami last night. Did you know that people compete to fold the smallest paper crane using tweezers and a microscope?”
And this is why Callum is such a fabulous member of the royal family. His genuine interest in everything, no matter how obscure.
“No. I didn’t know that.”
“I was just saying to Nicholas that I hope they don’t expect me to compete. I’m not sure my fine motor skills are up to it.”
“Talking about Nicholas, is everything all right with him?” I ask. “I saw him as I came in and he looked slightly stressed.”
“Between you and me, he’s upset because they’ve switched around the bodyguard assignments,” Callum says as he finishes adjusting the sleeve of his coat. “He’s not gelling particularly well with one of his new bodyguards.”
After the revelation about Paul and his involvement in our kidnapping attempt, the highly secretive Royal and VIP Executive Committee, commonly known as RAVEC, is under extreme pressure to prove they can actually keep public figures safe. Especially as it was discovered that Paul had been investigated after the plane crash and cleared to work with Harry again.
It doesn’t help that despite the best efforts of our intelligence services, the ultimate perpetrators and motive behind our kidnapping attempt still remains unknown.
“Well, I hope Nicholas sorts out his bodyguard woes soon,” I say. “At least you’ll soon be able to advise him how he could use origami as a stress-reliever.”
Callum grins. “Hopefully, I will. Anyway, I must get going. Oliver’s in the library, by the way. He’s looking forward to seeing you.”
With a final wave, Callum heads out to his origami extravaganza, leaving me to navigate the halls of Clarence House alone.
