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‘Hi,’ she said on a small sigh.
‘Your Highness.’
Her heart trembled.
‘I’m on my way to meet Anton,’ he explained, though she hadn’t asked.
But Amelia heard what he hadn’t said: I don’t have time now.
‘Okay.’ She looked up and down the corridor. People were milling about, but no one from the family, no one they knew. Still, she didn’t feel she could tell him about her conversation with the Queen. Not here. ‘I’ll see you tonight?’
There was a beat of silence. ‘I’ll be with Anton,’ he said. ‘The night before the wedding, and all that. His groomsmen are staying in his suite.’
Amelia’s heart dropped to her toes. ‘Oh, right,’ she said with a nod. Then, hating herself for sounding so needy, but at the same time truly needing to confide in him, ‘Can you slip away briefly?’
His eyes bored into hers, and his jaw clenched visibly. It was the last thing he wanted. Her heart twisted. ‘I doubt it.’
Amelia could feel tears threatening. She bit into her lower lip. ‘Okay. But if you can...it’s important.’
She waited for him to agree, to promise to come, but he simply smiled at her, in a way that didn’t reach his eyes. ‘Have a good day, Princess.’
And then he walked away.
It was almost midnight and she’d given up any hope of him coming. She knew she needed to go to sleep, or else she’d have enormous bags under her eyes that even make-up-artist wizardry couldn’t disguise. But then, just as she was pulling back the covers, the small side door to her room opened and Benedetto came through.
Amelia’s body responded immediately, every cell seeming to reverberate.
‘Hi,’ she said.
He dipped his head. ‘I don’t have long.’
‘Anton’s still awake?’
‘And just getting warmed up,’ Benedetto added with a grimace.
Amelia pulled a face. ‘It’s going to be a long night.’
‘Yes.’
‘I spoke to my mother,’ she said quickly. ‘I told her everything.’
Benedetto’s brow quirked. ‘Did you?’
She nodded. ‘It went...well, actually.’
His jaw tightened. ‘I’m glad for you, Amelia.’
But he was so cool. So formal! Her lips pulled to the side. ‘We agreed not to mention anything to Dad, or Rowan and Anton, until after the wedding. But then, we’ll talk to them.’ She lifted one shoulder. ‘No more secrets.’
Benedetto’s eyes swept over Amelia’s face and for a moment her heart stopped beating altogether. He looked at her with the same fierce possession she’d become used to. But he didn’t move to touch her, and she wanted that so badly. ‘You did the right thing.’
She nodded, awkward, and she hated that.
‘And Daniel?’ he prompted.
‘I told her about him, too. She said they’d always been aware this might get out. They’ve made various high-ranking officials aware, there are contingencies in place for these sorts of things. If I hear from him again, I’ll go straight to the palace police,’ she said, the relief immense.
‘Good.’
