Enticing Liam (Big Sky Royal 2)

“No. He said he didn’t know how to feel because the princess is so different from the woman. But—”

“Hold on,” Mum says calmly. “Did he imply that he feels that way all the time? Or just when you’re at public events?”

All three pairs of eyes are pinned to me, waiting for my answer.

“This all came about after the fundraiser,” I admit with a sigh. “But he also asked me how I can be around those people, meaning the guests. I am those people.”

“I wonder that all the time,” Anne says to Nina. “Were the others kind to him? I’m sorry I had to miss the event and didn’t get to see what happened.”

“The women my age are awful,” I reply. “And now that I think about it, most of the guests ignored him. They spoke with me and said hello when I introduced him, but they didn’t engage with him much.”

“Well, no wonder he feels the way he does,” Nina says. “Listen, I’ve been around the rich and famous for most of my life. I’m used to being snubbed—or liked—based on who my family is. As a publicist, I’m also accustomed to the tabloids, and all of the ridiculousness that comes with being a public figure.”

“So, you understand—”

“And none of that prepared me for being part of the royal family,” she continues, interrupting me. “Ellie, Liam has never had to deal with these things. Even when he’s working with one of us, he’s on the periphery. No one pays attention to him, as horrible as that sounds.”

“Oh, it was suggested at the state dinner that I use him as a sex toy,” I say, earning shocked looks from all of them. “Right in front of him, so they were paying attention because he’s handsome. It was just awful.”

“He’d been here for all of two weeks when he left,” Anne reminds me. “You were born into this, Ellie. This life is the norm for you. But I’ll admit that for those of us who came into the royal life because of marriage, it takes some serious adjustments.”

“You’re right.” I take a deep breath and swallow hard. “I can’t expect him to adjust immediately, and I should be more patient. But to accuse me of being two different people? That’s just preposterous.”

“Oh, my darling Eleanor.” Mum chuckles and then laughs harder when I scowl at her. “You’re such an intelligent, hardworking, wonderful woman. But you’re also young.”

“I’m not a child.”

“I didn’t say ‘child,’” she says. “I said young. Of course, you have a different persona when you’re Princess Eleanor. You have to put on a mask to keep the media and those you only know socially at arm’s length. We all have to do that. And perhaps it was a disservice to you that you were groomed to behave that way and not told why, or even made aware of it.”

“We all do it,” Anne says softly. “If we didn’t, everyone would think they’re our best mates. We have to keep a thin veil in place to maintain our sanity.”

“Do I really act that differently?”

“Honestly?” Nina asks. “Yeah. You do. It’s something I noticed right away, and it took some getting used to. It’s not so much that you’re cold or have your nose in the air. I would say that you tolerate more. You hold yourself differently. Because, let’s be honest, this is a business. So, perhaps saying you’re more professional is a good way to phrase it. If you’d been in a private setting, and those horrible women had said those things about Liam, you would have put them in their place.”

“I did anyway,” I confess. “And I felt awful afterward because I knew that there could be some backlash. Those women are terrible. You remember the horrible girl from your bridal shower, the one who kept claiming that she’d been sleeping with Sebastian? Her name is Gretchen, by the way.”

“I hate her,” Nina says. “She’s just an unhappy, jealous person. That’s not your—or my—fault. Or Liam’s fault, for that matter.”

“And she won’t be invited in the future,” Mum adds, her voice stern. “We don’t tolerate that. Never have, never will.”

“Are you all saying that Liam was right?” The lead ball in my stomach is growing. I start to sweat.

God, I feel awful.

“Stop torturing yourself,” Nina says. “We all make mistakes. And Liam should have talked it out with you more, rather than simply running back to Montana. He’s not a victim here.”

“Agreed,” Anne says. “Of course, you’re more relaxed in private,” she adds. “That’s perfectly normal for anyone. And perhaps if he’d explained how he felt in a calmer manner, you could have in turn explained to him that this is simply normal life for you. But now that you’re aware of it, you can pay better attention.”

I stare at my wonderful sister-in-law as if she’s crazy.