to fend for herself.
* * *
In the morning an alarm sounded, reminding them both that she had a plane to catch in a little over four hours. It was odd that you could be sleeping in a royal palace, with a prince, no less, then have to battle your way into coach and cram your bags into the overhead bin and hope your neighbor didn’t drool on you while he slept.
She wanted to laugh, but nothing seemed too funny right now.
“Did you like my family?” Simon’s odd question came out of nowhere.
It startled her into a fib. “They were very nice.”
“Except Uncle Derek.” His voice sounded curious.
“Yes, except him.”
He sat up. “Did he say something to you?”
She hesitated for a moment. Why hadn’t she told him about this already? She didn’t want to spoil their last night together. And she knew it would upset him. “Kind of.” Simon took her hand and peered into her face. She wanted to run from his thoughtful and caring expression, not hurt his feelings by telling him what his uncle had said to her. “I have to get ready.”
“What did he say?”
“Oh, nothing really.” She tried to get up, but he held her hand firm.
“I don’t believe you. Come on, word for word or I’ll have to start in with the medieval torture techniques.” He acted like he was going to tickle her. But neither of them laughed.
“He said you’re going to marry Sophia Alnwick soon.”
“Which you already know is not true.”
“And he reminded me of what happened the last time a British royal got involved with an American.”
“You’re hardly Wallace Simpson.”
“I told him that. Not that it matters, anyway, since we’re barely even dating. It was silly. I didn’t think it was worth mentioning.”
“Did anyone else say anything?”
“Not really. Though the queen did seem fairly interested in when I was going back to the States. I suspect they’ll all be glad to see the back of me so you can go back to dating some nice, suitable English girls.” She smiled and tried to sound jokey. That was what would happen after all.
But Simon’s face was like stone. “I’ll have a talk with them.” He frowned. “I’m sorry they made you feel uncomfortable.”
“I was fine, really. It was fun. I’ve never been to a polo match before and I loved watching you play.”
“I shouldn’t have left you alone. I’ll sort them out.”
“There’s no need, really!” Her voice sounded too loud. Would they tell him what they’d told her? That he’d lose Whist Castle and his charity if he dared not to toe the royal party line? “I need to get dressed and throw my stuff back in my bag. And do you have the number for a taxi?”
“A taxi!” He wrapped his arms around her and hugged her tight. “There’s no way anyone but me is driving you to that airport. And it’ll be a miracle if I don’t make you deliberately miss your plane.”
“Then my partner, Scarlet, will kill me. She’s been holding down the fort by herself all week.”
“She can’t kill you if she can’t find you.” He raised a brow and mischief twinkled in his eyes again.
“She can send out a hit man. They’re good at tracking people. They can probably trace my cell phone.”
“They’d have to get past the palace guards.” He kissed her face and cheeks and lips. She shivered, hot pleasure rising inside her. “It can be handy living in a fortress.”
“I see that.” Her hands roamed over the muscle of his back. “I think I could get used to it.” It was so easy to talk to him and tease him. He never made her feel like he was a prince and she was a commoner. With him she felt they were on the same team and could take on the world together.
The alarm sounded again. She pushed him back, very reluctantly, and leaped out of bed. “Duty calls.”
“Being in the army I know all about that, so I suppose I’ll have to go along with it.”
They dressed and had a quick breakfast, then Simon drove her to Heathrow. They kissed in the car where no one could see, but he insisted on walking her into the terminal. She saw a photographer’s flash out of the corner of her eye as they said a chaste goodbye.
Move along, she wanted to say. There’s nothing to see here. She felt numb as she checked her bag and moved through customs. Would he really come to D.C. to see