Dating the Prince(13)

"Hey, Mom, I've got to go," Libby said, cutting her off mid-sentence. "Someone's at the door. I'll call you later, okay?"

"Well, okay, dear. I love you."

"Love you, too," Libby said. "Bye."

She clicked off the phone and took a deep breath. "I think we might be in trouble," she whispered in Kenzie's ear.

Kenzie laughed and waved her tiny arms in the air.

Maybe Libby was wrong and they were selling vacuums or something. Only  one way to find out. She swung open the door and looked back and forth  between the three people framing it. "Can I help you?"

"Liberty Claybourne?" the woman asked, her words lilting with an accent  that suggested she came from the northern part of Durham.

Yup, she was definitely in trouble. Random salesmen didn't know the names of flat tenants. "Is there a problem?"

The woman didn't answer, but instead held up the ID badge that hung  around her neck on a lanyard. "I'm Maggie Stanton, the senior press  secretary for the palace."

Libby heart dropped to her toes and she pulled Kenzie instinctively  closer. "Listen, I'm really sorry about the penny. Okay, and the puke.  But I don't think-"

Maggie held up a hand. "You're not in trouble, Miss Claybourne. May we come in?"

Libby looked at the two strong men-bodyguards?-behind Maggie. Their  shoulders were as broad as any linebackers and their expressions a  thousand times more severe. They'd probably force their way into the  flat if Libby said no.

She quickly weighed the pros and cons. If she called the police, it  wasn't like they'd jump to her aid-these were palace officials. "I'm not  sure Connie would like that," Libby said slowly. "If you know my name,  then you probably know that this isn't my house."

"Of course, and I understand." Maggie pushed her red glasses up the  bridge of her nose. "We can discuss this at the palace, if you'd be more  comfortable with that?"

Definitely not. Libby assessed the trio one last time. Her gut told her  they wouldn't hurt her or Kenzie. She made a snap decision and held the  door open. "I guess it'd be okay if we talked here."

"Thank you." Maggie walked purposefully inside and the two guards followed her.

Thank heavens she'd straightened up the living room during Kenzie's  morning nap. Libby motioned to the couch, where the throw pillows in  bright, cheerful colors were artfully arranged. "Have a seat."

Maggie sank gracefully into the couch, her hands primly in her lap and  one ankle tucked neatly behind the other. The guards didn't sit,  however, and instead stood behind Maggie, their hands clasped in front  of them.

Libby claimed the chair, eying the guards uncomfortably.

"Ignore them," Maggie said. "The security is probably unnecessary, but it's standard protocol."

"Easier said than done," Libby muttered under her breath. Kenzie leaned  down and began sucking on Libby's thumb. It was almost time to feed the  ravenous infant. She must be going through a growth spurt this week.  "So, what can I help you with?"         

     



 

Maggie smiled. "Did you know a photograph of you and His Royal Highness at the café has been circling the internet?"

"Connie mentioned it to me."

"Have you read the comments on the internet?"

Libby raised an eyebrow. "Are you serious?"

Maggie just smiled.

Kenzie let out a squeal, then went back to gnawing on Libby's thumb.  "No," Libby said finally. "Shockingly, reading gossip about myself on  the internet isn't a top priority right now. I'm busy most of the day  with this one."

Maggie cooed at Kenzie, her eyes crinkling at the corners. "This little  one has created quite a stir, too. She's probably the most famous baby  in Durham right now."

Libby wasn't sure what Maggie wanted her to say to that. She wasn't  about to apologize-it wasn't like she'd meant for Kenzie to vomit all  over His Royal Snootiness. "I'm not sure what this has to do with me.  I'm not going to give interviews to tabloids or anything, if that's what  you're worried about. The whole thing was an accident. I'm not one of  those women interested in fifteen minutes of fame."

"That's not what I'm here about," Maggie said. The two bodyguards still  stood like stone statues behind her. Did they ever blink? Maggie held  out a printout of the photo of Libby and the prince, Kenzie caught  mid-hurl. "The feedback on this photo has been incredibly positive.  Everyone is talking about you."

"Me?"

"Yes. I'm not sure how much you've heard about His Highness's recent  breakup. I know Ocean Meadow is  …  isolated." Her nose wrinkled almost  imperceptibly. Libby immediately felt her defenses rise. "But Prince  Alexander hasn't been Durham's favorite royal for a while.  Unfortunately, his breakup with Isla Martin was quite messy, and quite  public. She managed to get the press and public on her side in record  time, and His Royal Highness has yet to recover. I think this photo  could be our ticket to improving his image."

Libby glanced down at Kenzie, who still gnawed away on her thumb, drool  dripping everywhere. "I don't see how a picture of a puking baby can  improve his image."

"Public opinion is a very delicate thing." Maggie leaned forward, her  hands clasped in her lap. "Initially, the comments were about what we  expected-a lot of poking fun at His Highness and making crude analogies.  But then, about the time the story hit morning talk shows, something  interesting happened. Moms started defending Prince Alexander. It didn't  take long for them to start speculating about you."

"Me?" Libby squeaked.

Maggie nodded. "Durhams are totally obsessed with you."

Kenzie let out a loud grunt, as though she seriously doubted this. Libby  couldn't blame her for the skepticism. She'd have to ask Connie about  it when she got home.

"The royal family has a proposition for you," Maggie said.

Libby choked, pitching forward. Kenzie let out a squawk of displeasure,  and Libby placed her in the swing and set it gently rocking. She had a  feeling this conversation would require her full attention.

A proposition. Libby wasn't sure she liked the sound of that. "I'm listening."

Maggie smiled, and her eyes were bright and eager. "Prince Alexander  needs a relationship that will make citizens fall in love with him all  over again. Something that will convince everyone he's not the bad guy  Isla Martin has made him out to be."

Libby raised an eyebrow. "How did a breakup create so many problems for  him? People break up all the time." Take her parents. Thirty years  together, a little financial trouble, and bam, all the good times were  brushed to the side.

"Isla is very clever. But we can be more clever. You can help us solve  the prince's problems." Maggie snapped her fingers, and a thin folder  was thrust into her hand by one of the beefy bodyguards. "We would like  you to be the Prince's official companion for the next four months, with  an option to extend for another four months if things are going well in  the press. Once the people are again on His Royal Highness's side,  we'll craft a carefully staged breakup that will leave both your  reputations intact."

Libby's mouth fell open. In the swing, Kenzie let out another grunt. Her  fist wouldn't satisfy her growing hunger for much longer.

How was she supposed to date a prince while taking care of a baby?

"I'm sorry," Libby said. "I must be going either deaf or insane, because I swear I just heard you ask me to date a prince."         

     



 

"It would be purely professional, I assure you. We have a contract here  outlining your duties, as well as your compensation." Maggie flipped  open the folder and pointed to a line on the first page.

Libby took the folder, her eyes landing on where Maggie pointed.

Holy. Freaking. Cow. That was a lot of zeros. Like, a way lot. She did  some quick calculations in her head, converting euros to dollars, and  sucked in a breath.

If she did this-if she dated Alex-she'd earn enough to pay off her  father's medical bills. And maybe, without the constant debt adding  stress to their marriage, her parents would be able to work things out.

"We will provide you with an instructor to teach you about palace  protocol," Maggie continued. "But we don't want to change who you  are-some of what the public loves is that you're just like them."

Libby held up a hand, cutting Maggie off. "I'm sorry, but this is all  insane. Can't Prince Alexander find his own girlfriend-without paying  her?"

"Don't think of it as being his girlfriend. Think of it as a job."

"I already have a job." She pointed to Kenzie, who was squirming quite a bit and growing red in the face.

Maggie smiled at the baby. "Yes, we are aware. The entire royal family  owes this adorable little girl a debt of gratitude. We'll do our best  not to interfere with your duties as Kenzie's nanny. Most of the events  will be off the clock, and when the two do conflict, we can hire a  temporary replacement for you."