Princess's Secret Baby(21)

                He picked up his phone and scrolled through it and called The Harrington, his temper mounting as, thanks to their bloody discretion, they still refused to even confirm or deny if Leila was staying there.

                ‘Put me through now,’ James shouted to the receptionist. ‘I know that she’s staying there, and I don’t care if it’s the middle of the bloody night—you will put me through now.’

                But again he was politely reminded of The Harrington’s policy on guest confidentiality and it dawned on James that she possibly wasn’t there. He looked back at the newspaper and acknowledged that this might not be some library image the paper had produced. She could be back in Surhaadi now.

                Pregnant with his child.

                His phone rang and James saw that it was Spencer but he ignored it; he did not need a lecture from his brother right now.

                He needed to know how to deal with Leila and so he called Manu in Dubai, the only person he could think of who might be able to help. ‘What do you know about Surhaadi, about their royals?’

                ‘Not a lot, but I’d guess that right now you wouldn’t be their favourite person,’ Manu tartly answered. ‘She’s a royal princess, James, from an extremely conservative country. I would imagine they’ll close ranks around her and she won’t be seen in public from this point on. I certainly wouldn’t be holding my breath for an invitation to dinner to get to know the grandparents. What the hell were you thinking?’

                ‘I wasn’t thinking,’ James snapped. ‘Leila was the one doing that.’ James was quite certain of it now.

                ‘You’re saying she set out to trap you...’ Manu gave an incredulous laugh. ‘I don’t think she needs money to support her child.’

                ‘It wasn’t about money,’ James said, remembering her walking into the bar that night. ‘I could have been anyone...’

                ‘Poor James,’ Manu mocked him. They didn’t get on, they never had. Manu thoroughly disapproved of his ways. ‘I’m sure there are many women applauding the fact that you’re getting a taste of how it feels to be used.’

                ‘I think she did this to get out of some marriage...’

                ‘Very possibly.’

                ‘What rights would I have?’

                ‘Rights!’ Manu gave another incredulous laugh. ‘You lost any right to a fair hearing from them long ago, James. The best I can suggest is that you attempt to sort things out with Leila before she returns there.’

                ‘She’s not gone back?’

                ‘Apparently she’s still at The Harrington,’ Manu said. ‘I just came off the phone with Spencer. He’s freaking out.’

                ‘I know,’ James said, ‘he’s trying to get through to me now.’ He rang off and took the call from Spencer.

                ‘This is a PR nightmare!’ Spencer shouted. ‘Have you any idea the damage that this is causing?’

                ‘Oh, and there I was thinking you were ringing to congratulate me,’ came James’s sarcastic response.

                ‘Have you seen the papers?’ Spencer sneered. ‘There’s nothing in them deserving of congratulations.’

                ‘I know.’ James let out a breath—it really was an appalling mess.