Tangled Up in Princes (Royal Romances Book 1) (15 page)

No one could've blamed Phillip for hitting her brother if he had done it. Even though the public had only seen compromising photos of not Jamie, but Edward and his now-wife Carrie at Drummond Castle the week of the wedding, the inner circle knew the truth, that Jamie and Amanda had been about four minutes from committing adultery when Edward had discovered them together. In her heart, she thought Jamie was still acting like an ass, demanding his comeuppance as publicly as any spoiled child. What kept her from remarking on it was the fact that every word she'd use to describe her adorable, infuriating brother--brash, impulsive, with a good heart but a terrible track record--could be applied to herself as well. Lizzy wondered if she ought to step between them, alerting bystanders to what could easily escalate into a fight, or if she ought to keep her countenance and try not to betray her concern.

"Leave off, Wales, I'm not going to hit you," Phillip said. "Now, I reckon I'd rather you hadn't--done what you did--but in the end it was a service to me. It would be worse if I'd married her and then she--found someone else she liked a bit better." His voice was low and Lizzy could hear the hurt in it. She laid her hand on his bicep again, meaning to be comforting but feeling utterly useless. "Every girl I've fancied since we were lads has looked right past me and thrown her knickers at you. I can't imagine why I thought the American would be any different."

"You're not to be serious, Phillip? I've betrayed you. I've no right to ask your forgiveness. I only thought to turn up and--"

"Give the grand gesture as always, James." Phillip shook his head indulgently. "You're bollocks at apologies, but you've been a brother to me since Eton. Now stop taking the piss and say you're sorry so I can forgive you and we can all quit standing on the dance floor causing couples to crash into one another while they stare," he said.

"Lord, Lizzy, he's a better man than we either of us deserve," Jamie said under his breath, obviously moved by his friend's grace. "I'm sorry, Phillip. Truly I am. I haven't the smallest excuse for my behavior."

"Then let's have an end of it. Next time round I shall take care to choose a bride with no interest in the monarchy," Phillip said ruefully and shook Jamie's hand.

Lizzy had to blink hard, an unwanted welling of emotion hitting her from the depth of their friendship and Phillip's forgiving heart. He deserved so much better. God, but that American was a stupid slapper to give up such a man. Anyone could see Phillip Rhys-Cooper was worth ten of Jamie. Lizzy couldn't quit looking at him, long after it became awkward. The two men walked away together and she stared after them, after Phillip really, and couldn't help thinking how fit he was looking, how--remarkable he really was.

She went back to her table. Lizzy had secured a promise from Mr. Belford to donate to the cause and it was time to work on the other gentlemen at the table. One of them was dancing with his wife already and the other had excused himself. That left Magnus, who had pots of money and no social conscience. She might separate him from some of his money before she dropped him cold, she reasoned.

“Care to dance?”

“You were awfully chummy with that last bloke,” he said.

“He’s family.”

“If I dance with you do I have to give money to this charity? I thought turning up was gift enough. It’s right dull.”

“So are you, Magnus,” she snapped. “You can dance and be pleasant or you may leave.”

“Quite the princess tonight, are we?”

“Do let’s take a turn on the terrace,” she said with false sweetness.

“You’re being very icy. Am I in trouble?” he mocked.

“That depends on how you look at it, actually,” she said and hauled him across the room to the French windows.

They stepped out into the cool night air. Lizzy allowed herself one breath of that sweet stillness before she launched in on him.

“I’m finished, Magnus. You’re free to sit in your flat and snort dodgy things up your nose and look at pornos. I’m bored of it myself and your behavior tonight has been an embarrassment.”

“You were looking for a bit of fun at the start, Liz. You knew who I was.”

“Not really. When I read ‘international playboy’ I thought you were more of a James Bond sort.”

“I’ve got plenty of birds like me as I am!”

“Super. You ought to go find them now,” she said. “I don’t want this to drag on, Magnus. Please.”

“I’ll not be tossed over by some bitch in a crown.”

“It’s a tiara. Pink diamonds from the Argyle mines of Australia,” a voice came from the French windows. “If you don’t wish to be tossed over by the bitch in the crown, how about at the hands of a commoner? I’ve no qualms that a bit of defenestration might set you up nicely. Teach you manners,” Phillip said, brushing his hands together.

“Easy, mate,” Magnus said, putting up his hands. “We were having words is all. Liz gets a mite uppity when she’s on her drink.”

“Right then,” Phillip shucked off his bespoke jacket and set about unfastening his cufflinks and rolling up his sleeves. “Here,
Liz
,” he said. “Hold these. They were Grandfather’s and I’d hate to get blood in the engraving.”

Magnus darted back to the ballroom. Lizzy put a hand over her mouth to cover her laugh.

“He’s not going to stop running till he gets to Hampstead, Phillip. What’s got into you?”

“I didn’t like how he spoke to you,” he said.

“I thought you were going to slap him with your glove and ask him if he prefers pistols or swords.”

“Nothing wrong with a duel. Completely effective way of settling differences.”

“Yeah, it proves who’s right and who’s dead.”

“You never have to have the same argument twice that way. It’s efficient,” he said. “On a more serious note—“
“More serious than death?”

“Yes. Was Magnus often that way with you?”

“Which way?”

“A complete arse.”

“Ah, no he was quite a lark at first. I went round with him to spite Father, you know. He wanted me to go out with that beastly Latvian prince.”

“So you taught your dad a lesson by making an even worse choice for yourself?”

“I thought it would be all roulette and topless beaches,” she shrugged.

“I’m fairly certain you’re not allowed to shrug in a tiara. The royal bones interred at Westminster just rolled over.”

“I’ve given them quite the workout I imagine,” she said. “By the fourth or fifth time he tried to get me to try something he’d seen in a porno I was finished with him.”

“He sounds a right bastard. Wish I had hung him up by the ankles.”

“Thank you, Phillip. I’d have been fine on my own but it was nice of you just the same.”

“That isn’t how you persuade a man to donate to your cause. You’re supposed to flutter your lace fan and say you nearly fainted and thank him for coming to your rescue.”

“Right. Silly me. I don’t seem to have a lace fan about me. I do have lace knickers on. I suppose I could wave them,” she said and he grinned.

It was the first time she’d seen him smile all night, which wasn’t surprising since his fiancée had jilted him. He had a nice smile, she thought. Really nice. Somehow, she wished she could have five minutes in a room with Amanda, his former bride-elect. Five minutes in a room with no security cameras.

“I’d rather get out of here,” Lizzy said.

“Would you like some company?”

“Yes. Maybe cheer us both a bit. I’ve finished with Magnus and you recently dodged an unfortunate marriage. Want to go have a tattoo?”

“That’s actually the first time anyone’s ever asked me,” he said. “I reckon at school they thought I was too straight.”

“So do you want to?”

“Emphatically yes.”

“Let’s go then.”

“This sounds the most fun I’ve even thought of having in a while.”

“I can be relied upon for fun. Most of my mistakes are a delight at the time,” Lizzy said.

“My mistakes are drab and I’m sick of thinking of them. I’d rather make one of yours for a change.”

“Take me to my place so I can change. It’ll take me five minutes. Ten at the most with this corsetry on,” she said.

“Where do you live?”

“Oh, okay. You don’t know? Pop round to the back at Kensington Palace.”

Phillip dropped her off and said he would wait in the car.

“It’s not as though it’s a sacred space. It’s just my house. I bet yours is bigger.”

“It is bigger, but not nearly so grand. It’s new.”

“So it’s got better heating, I suppose, and the plumbing lacks that quaint rattle when you flush.”

“We do have whisper-silent flushing. You should visit sometime.”

“Come inside!”

“I’ll wait here,” he said, and she bounded into the house as quickly as a woman encumbered with that much dress could bound.

***

© 2016 by Kimberly Parsley

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