Playing Dirty(157)

“Yes.” And I realized that it was only in this moment that I’d made up my mind. I did want to be King, a different sort of King; one who would really change things. “I do get to be King. And, for what it’s worth, I plan to be a damn good one. And since you’re so keen on a monarch keeping his people well-informed, how about I start now?”

“What?” Anxiety had crept into Michael’s snide features.

“I think they’re entitled to know that the second (soon to be third) in line to the throne is a bitter, jealous parasite, who would sell photographs of his own brother to the tabloids.”

Michael’s anxiety turned to genuine fear.

“You see, some of them might not like the idea of a prince and a commoner,” I continued. “And some of them won’t like the idea of an heir to the throne born out of wedlock. And I won’t lie to you, the next few months are going to be absolute hell for me and, more importantly for Keira. But here’s the thing. I love her and I’m marrying her. And that’s a fairytale happy ending that the public will love more than any sordid gossip. Once they get to know Keira, they’re going to love her like I do, because she’s pretty bloody wonderful. And all the petty stuff that they’re going to be up in arms about for the next few months will seem like a bad dream. But someone betraying his own brother? Well, that’s something I don’t see them forgetting. That’s the sort of thing that hangs around your neck for the rest of your life. And you don’t have the option of them forgiving you once they get to know you, because; a) they already know you and don’t much like you; and b) you’re just not a nice person.”

I shook my head and continued. “I hope you really enjoy the next few months of misery that Keira and I have to endure thanks to you, because the price of it is a lifetime of misery for you.”

Michael’s face had passed through fear and settled on hatred. Somehow he still blamed me for all that was about to befall him.

“Fortunately for you,” I finished. “I’m not about to make that call.”

Michael looked up, stunned.

“For one thing, it would upset our mother,” I went on. “But more importantly, I don’t want to be that person. That’s what you would do. And I don’t want to be you. This cycle of escalating blame between us has to end somewhere, and I say it ends here.” I put my hand on his shoulder, Michael flinching as it landed. “You are a despicable human being—and not in the cool way. I know you haven’t had it easy, and I haven’t made it easier, but I don’t think that in any way excuses what you’ve done to hurt my fiancée. I dislike you intensely. But I forgive you.”

With that, I walked away, leaving my speechless brother staring gormlessly at my retreating back. To my surprise, I felt rather good about what I’d just done. Keira had been absolutely right.

Well, I was going to marry her soon, so I guess I’d better get used to that being the case…





Chapter 27

Andrew



The response to the tabloid article was instant and as bad as predicted. One of the great inconsistencies of the general public is that a celebrity was allowed to be a lovable lothario, screwing his way around the world, right up until he got a girl pregnant…at which point his actions were heinous and he was to be despised.

The womanizing that these same papers had been enjoying for years was now mutated to paint me as a sexual predator, scattering my illegitimate offspring across the globe. I took it all on the chin, because to all of it there was a degree of truth. In the past, I’d abused my position and behaved like a horny dog, and it was about time I got my comeuppance. But the fact that I’d dragged Keira down with me was something for which I would never forgive myself.

As much as this was my fault, it was somehow also Keira’s fault, according to the media. They’d cast her in the role of scheming seductress, preying on wealthy men, and they’d even invented a whole list of former ‘conquests’. They claimed she was deliberately careless with birth control in her efforts to win a rich husband, and who knew what she might be doing behind that husband’s back? Obviously this wasn’t love, and so ‘evidence’ came to light of orgies in the servants’ quarters and Keira’s astonishing sexual exploits in America. Keira didn’t want to read it but found she couldn’t look away, and she kept musing on how she could’ve possibly had time for all these alleged orgies.

At least she’d kept her sense of humor throughout this debacle.

My mother had immediately come out in staunch public support, denouncing the liars and filth-peddlers who profited from this intrusion into people’s private lives and officially welcoming Keira into the family by announcing the date of our wedding. But it was destined to be a very bad few months despite that. We steeled ourselves, and we wished that we could protect our child from this.