Page 10 of Depraved Royals

I shove the door and almost fall over as it rotates, ejecting me onto the wet sidewalk. Knightsbridge is bustling with shoppers and commuters, jostling one another. I dash into the throng and follow the flow until I spot another hotel.

I need a phonenow.

I peel off from the stampede and fling myself through the doors, making for the desk. A man with a name badge is standing behind it.

“Good morning—”

“Please,” I say, reading his badge. “Please, Clive. Let me use your phone. It’s an emergency.”

I must be a pathetic sight. My jacket is soaked, and my hair drips onto the carpet. He beckons me with a finger and points to the door behind the desk.

“There’s a phone in there. Dial zero for the operator if you’re not sure of the code. Be quick.”

I open the door and disappear through it before Clive changes his mind. I find the phone mounted on the wall.

When did I last use a landline? I have no idea. I dial zero and give the operator Pippa’s number in New York.

It rings for a while before I hear Pip yawning down the line.

“Hellooo,” she says, “who is this?”

“It’s me. I need your help.”

“It’s three in the fucking morning! Whereareyou?”

Shit. New York is five hours behind.

“I know, babe. I’m in London. I need you to book me a flight to NYC right now.”

Pip is waking up now, and she hears the urgency in my voice. “What happened? Are you alright? Why haven’t you called your dad?”

I choke back a sob.Because I’ve done the one thing Papa might actually disown me for.

“I can’t explain now. Just get me anything out of Heathrow. I’ll go there now and check with the departures desk when I get there to find out which airline you’ve booked me onto.”

“Okay,” Pip says. “Hurry home. You’re scaring me.”

I hang up and go back out to the lobby. Clive is waiting for me.

“I’m sorry, but I overheard. I called you a cab.”

I feel like crying. “Thank you. Why are you being so kind?”

“Because you look terrified. Whatever is going on, you need to get away, and I’m not gonna start asking questions over one bloody taxi.”

“Thank you. I don’t have any money, but I can...”

“Just go, love.” He points at the door. “Your taxi will be outside any minute.”

4

Dani

“Iasked you to do a simple thing, Dani.”

My father is standing by the fireplace in the lecturing posture I know so well.

“All you had to do was get back for the anniversary dinner. Why didn’t you book an earlier flight?”