Pulling out my mobile, I type up a quick message.
Alice
Good morning. I know it’s early, but are you free?
Angela
Yes, I am. What’s on your mind this morning, ma’am?
I wince. Art must not be on duty until this afternoon. Angela has the duty phone. It doesn’t hit me until now that I don’t have his private mobile number. There must be a way I can get it. Except my brain is moving at a turtle’s speed. I don’t have the faintest idea of how.
Alice
My brother has asked me to join him for breakfast before work. Would you mind driving me over to Kensington Palace in ten minutes?
Angela
Of course.
Alice
Thanks! I’m sure there’ll be some breakfast in it for you too.
Angela
That would be lovely. The Prince of Wales always has top-notch offerings.
“Areyou holding up okay so far? I know this is the last thing you wanted to deal with,” Eddie says.
“I’m angry, but hanging in there. I haven’t had time to process it all. I knew at some point I’d become the target of the paparazzi again. I just was hoping the quiet would last a little longer.”
“I’m sorry, Ali. I wish I could do more to protect you.”
“You’re doing more than enough by being here for me and holding a council of war.”
Eddie pours a cup of coffee straight from his fancy expresso machine and sets it down in front of me. “I can make you something else if you’d prefer.” He puffs out his chest. “I can do anything a barista can do.”
“Has your fiancée verified that claim?” My hand closes around the cup and brings it closer to me, as if I’m clutching a lifeline.
“Well, no.” He deflates. “I wanted to surprise her. I’ve been testing out my creations on David.”
I raise my cup to him. “Well, he’s a heavy coffee drinker. If he says what you’re making is good, that means you’re probably doing a brilliant job.”
Eddie pours his own cup and takes a seat across from me at the round kitchen table. The shades are still drawn, and Amanda is asleep. It’s just the two of us. My brother’s dressed casually in a white T-shirt and a pair of navy-blue joggers. He was probably getting ready to go for a run when his plans shifted.
“So, you and the new Bruce . . .”
“Yes.” I stare into the mug. “His name is Arthur.”
“Arthur.” Eddie smacks his lips together and takes a sip of coffee. “What do I need to know about him?”
I lift my chin. “You haven’t asked for his personnel file?”
“I have,” he admits. “But all it told me is that if he did something stupid, like hurt your feelings and made you cry, I’d have to go after him with backup.”
I roll my eyes and hide a smile. That’s my protective older brother for you.
“What I want to hear is why you like him. What sets him apart from other blokes?”
