“Well, when you say it like that, it just sounds like a bad romance novel.” Sophie sniffed. “But in point of fact, yes. It turns out that up until this year, Garrett worked forGreen Waves Report. It’s a publication concerned with environmental issues and sustainability, I guess.”
I sat up straighter. “Sophie,Green Waves Reportisthepremier news magazine for environmental issues! Honey and Handsome have old issues all over the house, and they used to read aloud from it when I was a kid. Their first interview about Honey Bee Juices was with GWR. And you say Garrett worked for them?”
She nodded. “Until last year, when they had to make cuts because of budget reasons. He was hired by another paper, but they only had an open spot on their royal coverage—which is why he now follows you around. He’s hoping to get a foot in the door when a position opens in their science and technology section, and he’s been hoping to interview you—and the prince, if possible—about your work in agriculture and sustainability.”
I was silent for a moment. “So that’s why he’s been pestering the Palace for a chance to interview us?”
“Yes. He said they were so dismissive that he got his back up and didn’t bother trying to explain. But he’d love the chance to talk with you.” Sophie dropped her eyes. “In the interest of full disclosure, I, ah ... spent some time with Garrett over the weekend.”
I wanted to giggle and rub my hands together—I’d predicted this turn of events—but remembering that I was now meant to be a sophisticated almost-royal, I reined in my glee. “I’m assuming this was in a romantic capacity?”
Sophie’s face was now beet red. “It ... yes, it was.” She fiddled with a pen on her desk top. “If you’d like me to resign my position, I understand. Fraternizing with the press is not something that was on my job description.”
I sighed. “Probably not, but you’re not going to give Garrett insider information on Nicky and me, are you? I mean, Sophie, I trust you. You’re good at this job, and I honestly don’t want to have to learn to work with someone else. So please don’t resign.”
“I appreciate that.” Still, she looked miserable. “The thing is, Kyra, I just passed on an interview request to you from Garrett. The truth is that I’d have done it regardless of who the requester was, given the circumstances, but the fact that I’m now involved with Garrett does complicate things more than a little.”
“Maybe.” I gave in and crossed my legs, flouting the rule I’d just been taught by Lady Marjorie. “But what if ...” I fell silent. “Give me a little time, please. I want to think this over a little more.” I stood up and pulled out my cell phone to check the time. “I need to go now. Don’t say anything about Garrett or the interview to anyone else, please?”
“Of course not.” Sophie rose, too. “Thank you, Kyra—for listening and for at least considering the idea.”
“Sure.” I gave her a distracted smile. “You know, something occurs to me, Sophie. If Garrett’s the one who told you about the pregnancy story, he probably knows the person who wrote it, right?”
“He said she’s a regular contributor to the tabloid that ran the story, so yes, I assume he does. At least as a colleague. Why? Do you want me to have him talk to her, to ask her to write something else? To print a retraction?” Sophie frowned.
“No, that would only give the story more attention. I was thinking he could find out if she really does have a source in the Palace.”
Sophie reared back as if in shock. “You don’t really think someone from Kensington Palace is feeding information to the press, do you?”
“Don’t you?” I shot back. “I’m not saying that this story was necessarily prompted by whoever is doing the leaking—but if there is a leak, maybe this reporter would have some idea of who it is. Let’s face it, Sophie, we know that someone’s saying something. Too much of what’s showing up in these articles is accurate, or nearly so, for it to be coincidental. And we both know, too, that it’s far from the first time something like this has happened in the Royal Family.”
Sophie’s mouth twisted, and I could tell that she was struggling with the truth of what I’d just said. On one hand, as a reporter, she wasn’t so naïve that she believed leaks didn’t happen. But now she was on the other side of the fence, and she wanted to trust that everyone who worked with her had the same high standards she did.
Finally, she blew out a long breath. “I wish I could say that you’re wrong, but I can’t absolutely promise that you are. I’ll mention something to Garrett. I doubt he’ll know anything, but maybe ... well, he’s got connections, and no one would be surprised at him asking around.”
“Thank you, Sophie.” I hitched my purse onto my shoulder. “I appreciate it. I’ll be in touch about the interview.”
“Perfect.” She paused and then, with a twinkle in her eye, added, “Don’t let it throw you today when reporters toss out questions about the baby. And please, for the love of God, don’t say anything snarky when they do.”
I winked at her over my shoulder as I left.
“Can’t make any promises.”
On my way to the office, I thought about my conversation with Sophie. She and I both knew all too well that members of the Royal Family did not give interviews unless it was a special occasion or to commemorate a milestone, and even then, those interviews were granted sparingly, to reporters who had a long history covering royalty. I could go to the press office and tell them that I wanted to do this interview, but in the end, I’d be told that I couldn’t. Or more accurately, that I shouldn’t.
And maybe that was the best idea. After all, I wasn’t an expert in my field, not by a long shot. I had my graduate degree; I’d done research, and I was passionate about agriculture and food sourcing. But no one should be interested in what I had to say. I wasn’t famous for anything I’d done in my own area of study. I was only famous for being engaged to a prince.
But then again ... I remembered Kristie, Mary and John from the night at the ballet. I thought of the good that Alex had done for them. If I could raise some awareness about the need to adopt better, more sustainable agriculture, maybe that would be one way I could use my undeserved fame for something positive.
And then an idea began to take root in my brain. I smirked at my own pun. The Palace press office would never approve the interview, but what if it wasn’t done through the Palace? Right now, at this moment, I was still Kyra Duncan, a sourcing executive for Honey Bee Juices. If I gave Garrett the interview he wanted in that capacity, the Palace wouldn’t be able to stop me. Particularly if they didn’t know about it until after the fact.
A small twinge of unease floated through me, but I ignored it. Hadn’t Nicky told me that he didn’t want me to change who I was, simply because I was marrying him? Hadn’t he promised that I could keep my job at Honey Bee? And didn’t he say that I should make my new role my own, find my own unique niche?
Maybe this was it. Maybe I’d found my way of doing things.
And just maybe it was time to try out my wings.
The meeting I’d hurried back for had lasted nearly all afternoon, and by the time it was over, I was tired and more than a little cranky. It hadn’t been easy to focus on the topic at hand, either, given that I was preoccupied with both the stupid pregnancy story and the possibility of an interview with Garrett.
