Page 11 of Royal Darling
Emma
If Jackson drops me off at the next port, where will I go? Could I travel solo incognito and explore a bit? Maybe by train. The weather is turning cooler now that it’s November. I consider France, Spain, Italy, all familiar to me. I speak all three languages. I have an ear for languages. God, I’m tired. I rest my head on my arms and give my poor brain a break. It’s been a crazy day.
My phone rings a few minutes later. It’s a private palace number. It could be Anna. It could also be my mother with a final kiss-off or Gabriel ready to read me the riot act. “Hello?” I answer softly, as if that will soften the person’s outrage on the other end.
“It’s Anna. Okay. I’ve got a couple of possibilities. Adrian can get you a room at the Fairmont Monte Carlo. He’s such a frequent spender at the casino, they always accommodate him. He says you wouldn’t even have to leave the hotel. They have everything you could want, restaurant, spa, casino. Hey, now I want to go! What do you think?”
Adrian is my younger brother and an accomplished poker player. My chin quivers. He’s supporting me despite the mess I’ve made. I take a calming breath, trying to think it through. I’m sure he’s well known at the casino, which means I will be recognized, and my chances of a quiet retreat at a casino are slim.
“Sounds busy. What was the other possibility?”
“A villa on Lake Como, Italy. Lucas knows the owner, an A-list movie star, he won’t tell me who, but he says it’s only used in the summer. The only issue is, it’s kind of isolated. Do you think a friend would be willing to go with you? Or maybe we could send Lina? I don’t think you should be alone right now. You need the support of a friend. And you’ll need guards. It’s not safe, especially with the press’s interest in your bridal flight. That’s what I’ve been calling it privately to the family to make the point about you spreading your wings.”
“I suppose that’s as good a metaphor as any.” It’s twisted, but I kind of like it. I consider who I could ask to go with me to the villa. I have a handful of friends from other noble families. They wouldn’t understand needing a break from royal life. They adore it. And my maid, Lina, would only remind me of home.
“I’ll invite my friend along who owns this boat. His name is Jack.” I go with a shortened version of his name, not wanting to share too much. He must’ve wanted privacy if he was taking a long trip solo. I doubt he’ll want to accompany me, but it will make my family feel better to think I’m not alone. Actually, Idon’twant to be alone. I will do my best to get Jackson to consider it. The prospect sounds much easier than making myself useful on a boat.
“Ooh, Jack. I like the sound of that. Last name? How did you meet? Where’s he from?”
“We met at a charity event.”
A beat passes before she exclaims, “That’s it?”
“Yes. He’s looking for privacy.”
“Sorry, Emma, that’s not gonna fly. I had to push Gabriel hard to get you this week. He was frantic over your disappearance and, once he knew you were safe, furious that you left this mess behind.”
“I’m sorry. I truly am. If I could do it over—”
“I know, but the fact is Gabriel could order you back here and you would be forced to obey your king. I am the only thing standing between your freedom and your duty. I want you to have this time, but there’s a lot we’re dealing with back here, and we need to know what you’re doing and who you’re doing it with. We can’t manage the message with more surprises coming at us. You understand that, right?”
I hold the phone close and whisper, “It’s Jackson Walker from Ignite.”
She gasps. “Oh my God.”
“He’s been most kind during this whole, um, unexpected—”
“Emma, do you have any idea the scandal following him around right now? Do you know how bad it would be to have you associated with him? All ofyourscandal on top of his?”
“I haven’t been following his press—”
“Well, it’sbad. The press turned on him. A lot of his fans are speaking out against him. He insulted the British prime minister and the US president. He went too far. Oh, geez. And now we’ve got Abdul’s kingdom and his allies turning against us. I’m sorry, Emma, and I say this as ahugefan of Jackson as a musician, but he’s the worst person for you to spend time with right now. And do you have any idea of his reputation with women? It’s worse than Phillip’s! Manwhore to the extreme.” Phillip is my older brother, formerly known as the royal hottie, with a rutting reputation to match. He’s redeemed himself through his dedication to his fiancée, Ruby.
This new information only makes me think Jackson is the perfect person to hide out with for the week. If he’s like Phillip, then I do understand part of him at least (commitment issues), and he would understand like no other person in the world the kind of scandal I’m embroiled in. He would want to keep things quiet, same as me. “I’m not worried about his reputation or his scandal. We would lie low. Besides, Jackson and I are just friends.” Sort of. I’m not sure if he finds me quite as fascinating as I find him.
She makes a derisive noise. “That is not the way he plays. How long do you think that friend thing would last alone at a villa? And he is not the kind of man you could ever bring home. Nobody would approve of him.” She sighs. “I can only do so much.”
My gut knots, a sour taste in my mouth. I’ve already disappointed my family with the Abdul fiasco. I don’t want to risk disappointing them again. Obviously, I cannot get any romantic notions in my head where Jackson is concerned.
Anna goes on in a gentle tone. “You’re not thinking straight right now, so I will do it for you. No to Jackson Walker. I’m sending you two guards and one of your brothers. And I know a brother is not your first choice as support, but, unfortunately, your sister is due back at work and leaving for the US soon, and I’m busy with everything here. It’s the best way to keep this quiet. You get a one-week reprieve to get your head together, and then you have to return home and deal with your life.”
I tense. She’s sending me a babysitter. This is just like my old restrictive life. Everything chosen for me, my duty to my family and the kingdom overriding any of what I want. I don’t even know what I truly want beyond a chance to discover who I am away from the palace. Maybe then my true desires will finally be clear to me and I’ll have a chance at happiness.
I keep my voice level. “It’s not even a sure thing that Jackson would accompany me, but I’d like to ask him. I will accept the guards. No brothers.”
She lets out a long sigh. “Don’t make me play the queen card.”
Everything in me rebels. I hate feeling like I have no control over my life. I’ve had only the briefest taste of freedom, and the walls are closing in on me again.
