“
Hey—we have a problem. You have some unexpected guests down at the gate. You should go check it out.”
Guests? Who would come here to see me?
I hop in the golf cart and drive down to the main gate. Just in time to hear Franny Barrister, the Countess of Ellington, tearing into a poor, clueless Matched security guard.
“Don’t you tell me we can’t come in, you horse’s arse. Where’s Henry—what have you done with him?”
Simon, my brother’s best friend, sees me approach, his sparkling blue eyes shining. “There he is.”
I nod to security and open the gate.
“Simon, Franny, what are you doing here?”
“Nicholas said you didn’t sound right the last time he spoke to you. He asked us to peek in on you,” Simon explains.
Franny’s shrewd gaze rakes me over. “He doesn’t look drunk. And he obviously hasn’t hung himself from the rafters—that’s better than I was expecting.”
“Thanks for the vote of confidence.”
Simon peers around the grounds, at the smattering of crew members and staging tents. “What the hell is going on, Henry?”
I clear my throat. “So . . . the thing is . . . I’m sort of . . . filming a reality dating television show here at the castle and we started with twenty women and now we’re down to four, and when it’s over one of them will get the diamond tiara and become my betrothed. At least in theory.”
It sounded so much better in my head.
“Don’t tell Nicholas.”
Simon scrubs his hand down his face. “Now I’m going to have to avoid his calls—I’m terrible with secrets.”
And Franny lets loose a peal of tinkling laughter. “This is fabulous! You never disappoint, you naughty boy.” She pats my arm. “And don’t worry, when the Queen boots you out of the palace, Simon and I will adopt you. Won’t we, darling?”
Simon nods. “Yes, like a rescue dog.”
“Good to know.” Then I gesture back to their car. “Well . . . it was nice of you to stop by.”
Simon shakes his head. “You’re not getting rid of us that easily, mate.”
“Yes, we’re definitely staying.” Franny claps her hands. “I have to see this!”
Fantastic.
”
”