Tangled Up in Princes (Royal Romances Book 1), page 4
Amanda had fallen in love with London when their father, a professor of English literature, had taken them there on a family vacation during high school. In college, Amanda had done a semester abroad in London. After graduation, she landed a job at a museum of Georgian-era fashions. When a similar museum in Bath was closing, Amanda applied to the Rhys-Cooper Foundation for a grant to purchase the Bath museum's collection. Phillip was used to getting grant applications from hospitals, medical research facilities, green initiative nonprofits, and other charities. He said he had to meet the woman who had the audacity to ask for money to buy some old gowns and hats bedecked with peacock feathers. If there was one thing Amanda had never lacked, it was audacity, and her brash charm had clearly won him over. He'd been instantly smitten. Still was, if the way he looked at her as she scooted close to him in his Mini Cooper was any indication.
Carrie hoped Amanda appreciated just what she was getting in Phillip, and she hoped Phillip knew what he was in for by marrying Amanda. It's not my problem, she reminded herself for the hundredth time as she scrunched herself up against the car door, giving Amanda more room to put her legs on display. Oh well, at least Carrie was the smart one. As consolation prizes went, it would have to do. Edward hadn't seemed to mind.
Inside the bar, Carrie squinted against the assault of blackness and flashing lights that reigned in every bar she'd ever been in. Really, she'd hoped for something more original from her first experience in a European bar. Even the people looked the same. Men sporting varying styles of facial hair, and women wearing more eyeliner than clothing. It wasn't an establishment that was likely to be frequented by the upper crust of Britain's high society. Edward, with his air of British propriety, seemed above a common pub. Jamie--she could imagine him in a bar -- for all that he would someday be the king of England--but not Edward. Edward seemed like he would be more at home at a polo match. She was about to regret her decision to come when she felt someone close behind her, someone whose breath tickled the back of her neck as he spoke.
"The Spanx, I suspect, are a problem no longer?"
Her pulse went wild at the sound of that voice. She turned, hoping her longing for him didn't show on her face. One glimpse of him, and she knew she'd lost that battle. He looked amazing. He wore the same suit he'd had on earlier, sans the jacket. His tie was loosened, and the top button of his shirt was open.
"I never thought to see you here," she said, leaving out how much she had hoped for that very thing.
He nodded to where Jamie was at the bar talking with Phillip and Amanda.
"Right. You're chaperoning your brother."
"That isn’t the only reason I came."
There could be lots of reasons he'd come. He was friends with Phillip, after all. He'd probably come to celebrate the upcoming nuptials of his old mate from school. Or maybe he routinely shrugged off the mantle of royalty in favor of a wild night on the town, just as Jamie did. But the way he was looking at her made his motivation clear. He leaned forward and brushed a kiss, feather light, over the corner of her mouth.
"Where do you think the janitorial closet might be in this place?"
She whimpered. It wasn't pretty, but yeah, she whimpered. Kind of a desperate, take-me-now noise that started low in her chest. Or maybe even lower.
He cocked an eyebrow at her. What a deliciously seductive look.
"You smell really good," She said.
It was true; he did, that was why she said so. And because the synapses, they weren't firing up at her brain where they were supposed to be.
A slow grin tugged up the corner of his mouth. He put a hand on the small of her back.
"Come on. Let's get you a drink."
"Trying to get me liquored up, are you?"
"Do I need to get you liquored up?"
"No, not really."
He gave her a thousand-watt smile and led her to the bar. His hand resting at the small of her back did more than her glass of red to send a tingly warmth shooting through her.
Phillip, Amanda, and Jamie were seated at the bar. Amanda sat in the middle, of course, the better to soak up all the male attention. Jamie, for his part, kept his head low and posture slumped--not at all a princely pose, which Carrie supposed was by design. A group of middle-aged men clad in flannel approached hesitantly and began talking to Phillip. Phillip seemed thrilled to see them and introduced them to the group, omitting the royal titles, of course.
"These are some lads I worked with," Phillip said of the newcomers.
"They just don't get any better than Phillip," Edward said, low enough so that only she could hear, "Those men work for the factory Phillip's father owns in this area. Phillip made a tour of the facility a year or so back. Let's just say that things improved greatly for the workers after that. Notice how Phillip said that those lads worked with him instead of for him? Phillip is as fine a human being as you'll encounter anywhere."
Edward's gaze slid to where Amanda was flirting shamelessly with Jamie as Phillip stood a few paces off in conversation with his friends.
"I do hope she appreciates what a rare man he is."
"I hope so too," Carrie said.
"No thanks, love," Jamie said when a server asked if he wanted another drink.
"Go on," Amanda urged.
She swatted Jamie on the arm.
"I'm having another. This is a celebration. And it isn't as though you're driving. I mean, I'm sure you have a limo around back."
"A limo," Jamie said in a voice much softer than Amanda's, "Hardly."
"A Rolls Royce then,"--she took a healthy slug of her drink--"What's another fancy British car?"
"I know very little about cars. I don't even know how to drive one."
"Seriously!" Amanda shrieked, "You don't know how to drive?"
"Shhh," Carrie shushed.
She met the bartender's eye, looked pointedly at Amanda's nearly empty glass, and shook her head. The bartender only shrugged noncommittally.
"I am an awesome driver," Amanda boasted, "I could teach you to drive."
She leaned forward, putting her impressive cleavage on full display. Carrie jumped from the stool, which pained her because it meant that even the minimal contact she had with Edward was gone. She shoved in between Jamie and Amanda.
"I have pictures of our dad's new car. It's a Mini Cooper. Phillip found it for Dad. Our father loves all things British. Want to see?"
"Oh Carrie, he isn't interested in those pictures."
"Sure I am," Jamie disagreed. "I think I might have seen that pic earlier, but I was flipping through so fast I didn't get a chance to notice much."
"Earlier?" Amanda looked dubious.
"Oh yes, your sister and I had an interesting interlude in a closet earlier. Had my brother not been there as well, it might have proven even more interesting."
He gave Edward what could only be described as a cheeky grin. Edward did not look amused. Jealous perhaps? Of course not, but she'd have sweet dreams tonight with such thoughts under her pillow. She began swiping through her photo album. Jamie leaned over her shoulder and made comments. Most of the photos were of Carrie's Labradoodle, Toodles, and of Jeannie's two-year-old son, Cooper, and Jamie oohed and awed appropriately.
"Here it is!" Carrie proudly displayed a photo of Amanda during one of her visits back home, wearing ratty sweats and an old T-shirt, washing the new car.
"That is a nice car," Jamie said.
"Yes, it's a great car," Amanda said.
She plucked the phone from Carrie's hand and rested her elbow atop it.
"So when might you take me up on my offer?"
Jamie's eyes got wide.
"My offer to give you a driving lesson," Amanda clarified though she did so with a pout and a thrust of her chest that left no doubt as to what she was really offering. Carrie groaned inwardly. Saving Amanda from herself, this was not new territory. All righty then. She rolled up her metaphorical sleeves and got down to business.
She laid her hand atop Jamie's.
"Now Amanda, you know how busy you are just now with your wedding," she said emphatically, "so if Jamie needs driving lessons, then I'd be more than happy to oblige."
Jamie's eyes twinkled. He knew exactly what Carrie was about. He draped an arm over her shoulder.
"That is the most appealing offer I've had in some time. Driving, eh? I really ought to add it to my list of skills."
Amanda slapped her empty glass down on the bar.
"Another drink," she barked.
Jamie slid the phone from beneath Amanda's elbow. "I know how much this means to you."
With a look over his shoulder at Edward, he leaned in closer to Carrie under the guise of looking through more photos. Edward plucked the phone from Jamie's hand and passed it to Carrie.
"That phone has caused quite enough difficulty this evening."
Carrie wasn't used to flirting, and she wasn't used to competing for men. She overplayed her hand with Amanda. The only thing her sister enjoyed more than male attention was winning that male attention by subduing female opponents. Amanda slammed back her drink and faced Carrie.
"Have you got any pictures of Kevin in there?"
"Kevin? Who's Kevin?" Jamie shot a look at Edward.
"He's Carrie's fiancé."
"Ex-fiancé," Carrie corrected.
"Everyone expects you two to get back together."
Amanda flipped a perfect curl over her shoulder. She was being bitchy, but what she said was true. Everybody probably did expect them to get back together. Carrie kept her voice low as she leaned down to her sister.
"But I'm not engaged. And you are."
At least, Amanda had the good manners to blush, but her shame was short-lived.
"Don't be such an old woman, Carrie. You think Phillip won't be living it up at his stag night? Of course, he will. I'm surprised that you of all people would be touting that tired double standard."
How did she do that? How did Amanda always know right where to aim the arrow? This time, her strike on Carrie's feminist heart hit true. Before Carrie could think of a suitable rebuttal, she saw Phillip inching back toward their group. She grabbed Edward's elbow.
"Please,” she mouthed, "help!"
Having done all she could, she intercepted Phillip.
"I claim a dance from my future brother-in-law."
"From me?"
That was all Carrie gave him time to say before tugging him onto the dance floor. Carrie could dance. Ten years of ballet plus yoga twice a week meant that she was comfortable moving her body.
"I'm a lucky brother-in-law."
"Careful, you. Amanda will get jealous."
"I meant that I’m a lucky man to have a sister so concerned for my feelings."
Carrie bit her lip. It was too much to hope that Phillip might not have noticed how Amanda was flirting with Jamie.
"I know Amanda. She's coquettish. It's harmless. It's a rare woman who could resist Jamie's charm. She'd never go beyond mere flirtation."
Carrie wasn't so sure.
”I know Jamie. Women have been flinging themselves at him for years. He's practically immune to it. He has an automatic charm about him. Prince Charming, I suppose."
"According to what I managed to Google, Edward is the playboy of the family."
"That's what he’d like everyone to think."
Hmm. How to dig for information without seeming to be too interested?
"So you aren't worried about leaving your bride in the company of Edward, the prince of scandal?"
"Edward is as solid as they come. All that rot in the papers, it's mostly Jamie's doing and Edward takes the fall. He's loyal to the family, is Edward. To him, that means keeping the heir to the throne, out of trouble."
"So all the stuff with actresses and models and pop stars, that was all Jamie?"
"Probably. Or else complete fabrication. Either is more likely than Edward himself."
Silly how relieved that made her. So they'd shared a kiss. Big deal. It wasn't like they'd be planning a life together or anything.
"Excuse me. Phillip, would you mind terribly if I cut in?" Edward said, and Carrie's knees went wobbly.
"Not at all."
"You left Amanda and Jamie alone?" she said when Phillip was out of earshot.
"Relax,” Edward whispered in her ear. "Your sister has, I believe the term is--passed out across the bar."
His lips grazed her skin.
"I might have encouraged her to drink a bit more than was strictly wise. She'll pay for it tomorrow, but at least, she won't embarrass herself further tonight."
"Thank you."
"Seeing to siblings with less than stellar judgment is something of a specialty of mine."
"So Phillip told me."
"Did he now? What else has the upstanding Phillip told you?"
They watched Phillip carry Amanda out to his car. Even unconscious, her sister knew how to make one hell of an exit. With Amanda gone, Carrie felt the tension draining away, so much so that she leaned against Edward.
"That's it. You can relax."
He wrapped his arms around her and pulled her against him. She sank against him.
"You are a better sister than Amanda deserves, I suspect."
She pulled away in order to send him a pointed look.
"You needn't deny it. I know whereof I speak."
He was right, and they both knew it.
"Do you ever think of just saying, to hell with it? And letting them lie in the bed they made?”
"I do. I think of it often, actually, particularly a few minutes ago as I watched Jamie encouraging your flirtation--the rogue--but there's a deal at stake for me. For my entire family."
As though to underscore his words, a camera flash glared in the bar's dim interior.
***
Edward allowed himself an instant of denial. No, not now. Why now?
"Is there any chance you didn't just see a camera flash?"
"Afraid not," Carrie confirmed. "Looks like your friends from the castle are here."
"Damn it."
He looked toward the bar. There was Jamie, surrounded by women as usual. Where was Phillip? Gone. Too far away now for Edward to be able to turn Carrie over to his care. He grabbed Carrie's hand.
"I apologize in advance, but please, hold on."
Half dragging her, he dodged couples on the dance floor, keeping low so as not to be spotted by Dinah Adams, until he got to Jamie. He pulled a roll of one-hundred-pound notes from his pocket, leaned across the bar, and smacked down the wad of bills. He spoke in a low voice to the barkeep.
"This entire roll, you may have it all, no questions asked, only hurry and put out the lights. Leave them off for five seconds. That's all I ask."--he tapped the roll of money on the bar--"You have until I count to three to decide."
He counted quickly. He barely got past two before the man had pocketed the money and agreed.
"Good man," Edward said.
Jamie pushed through the crowd to stand beside Edward. The instant the lights went out, they moved. In the dark, they bumped, shoved, and pushed people out of the way. Edward knew where an emergency exit was. He always did. He dragged Carrie out of the bar and down an insanely narrow alley. At the end of the lane, they tripped over a vagrant, a drunk from the smell of him, and nearly tumbled into the street.
"Here,"--Edward hastily handed the drunk some pound notes--"when a man and woman come looking for us, we went that way."
He pointed down the street. When the now happy drunk agreed, Edward led Carrie and Jamie in the opposite direction.
"How are you holding up?" he called over his shoulder to Carrie.
"Fine," she gasped.
"I could carry you," Jamie offered.
"James," Edward said in his best imitation of their father's disapproving voice.
They stopped at another street crossing to catch their breath. They heard the drunk behind them, then footsteps pounded toward them.
"Bloody hell!" Jamie said, “Edward, you clearly didn't pay the man enough."
"Pardon me for not knowing the going bribery rate among Highland drunkards."
"What now?" Carrie asked.
"Now, I'll handle things,” Jamie said.
"Whatever you're planning, it's a bad idea," Edward said.
"You don't know what I'm planning."
"No, but I know you."
The footsteps behind them were growing near.
"Fine. Whatever it is, just do it."
Jamie straightened his tie and smoothed his hair. "How do I look?"
When Carrie didn't answer, he winked at her.
"On with it, James," Edward ordered.
Jamie watched the narrow street. He ignored the first two cars that passed, but when a third car, a Fiat with a single female occupant, pulled to the intersection, Jamie stepped into the street. He tapped on the driver's window.
"Hello, miss. My name is Jamie. His Royal Highness James, the Prince of Wales, to be precise. I find myself in a spot of bother, and I could use your help. This is my brother, Edward. Edward, come and introduce yourself. There's a good lad," he said when Edward bowed.
"This is a family friend, visiting from America. We find ourselves in need of transportation. I'm in a hurry, so I'd like to buy your car or perhaps just beg a ride of you."
The woman stared from Jamie to Edward and back again.
"You really are the princes, aren't you?"
"We are, and also in a rush. Could we impose on your generosity?" Edward said.
Jamie opened his wallet, but the woman shook her head. "I don't have to keep this a secret do I?"
As if she would, Edward thought.
"Not at all," he said.
"Get in."
They did. Carrie and Edward in the back and Jamie up front, giving directions and flirting shamelessly. This time, though, Edward could hardly fault him for it. Jamie's use of his charm and good looks had done what Edward's money and show of force had failed to do.
"It's to Drummond Castle you'll be going then?" The driver, a middle-aged woman with a thick Scottish burr, asked.
"I heard there was a posh do up at the castle this week. My cousin, her sister-in-law is with a swish catering outfit doing the food. It's neither of you getting married is it?"
