Olivia woke the next morning and took a moment to acclimatise. White walls adorned with a framed world map, clothes all over the floor, the satisfying twang of underused muscles in her groin… Oh yes, it was all coming back to her now — she’d had minimal sleep after a night in Rosie’s double bed. She rolled over and nuzzled the back of Rosie’s neck, receiving a muffled groan into the pillow in return. Olivia slung an arm around her lover’s waist and pulled her close, luxuriating in their closeness, breathing in her smell. When she licked the back of her neck, she tasted of salt and sex; Olivia emitted a satisfied sigh as a smile took over her face.

“Someone’s feeling pretty invincible this morning?” Rosie’s voice was still muffled.

Olivia wriggled closer. “Invincible and a little broken,” she replied. “But I like feeling broken, especially by you.”

Rosie rolled over and cracked open an eye. “A broken princess — that could be the title of a very sad romantic movie.”

Olivia grinned. “Maybe that can be your next career — screenwriter, breaking all the royal secrets one film at a time. You’d have a string of directors queueing up to work with you.”

“Are you sure your family would approve of that? Wouldn’t I get sent to the Tower or something?”

A fleeting image of her mother’s reaction skated through her mind, and Olivia shook her head. “Let’s just say, my mother is an acquired taste. I’m still not there yet.” She kissed Rosie’s shoulder. “But I’ll pull some strings to make sure you don’t end up in the Tower.”

“Thanks,” Rosie said, twisting now, and placing a kiss on Olivia’s lips. “Morning, by the way.”

A grin, followed by a surge inside. Yes, they might have been up all night, but staring down at Rosie’s naked breasts, Olivia just wanted more. “Morning.” She kissed her lips, then her perfectly full breasts. And then her phone buzzed, making Olivia cringe and flop onto her back. “I’d better get this, I promised Penelope I would.”

“Penelope?”

“Palace press officer.”

Rosie bit her bottom lip. “Right.”

Olivia grabbed her phone, before sitting up in bed, pulling up the blue-and-white striped duvet. “Don’t look so worried, you haven’t done anything wrong.”

Rosie frowned. “It feels like I have — I am involved in this.”

“Yes, but this is on me. I want you to know I’m going to keep you out of this for as long as I can. We might have to lie low for a bit, but I’ll sort it out. And remember — the press can speculate all they like, but until we confirm it, it’s not the truth. First rule of dealing with them: nothing looks as guilty as a denial, so the best thing to do is smile and say nothing.”

Rosie nodded, looking unconvinced. “I have a lot to learn.”

Olivia sucked on the inside of her cheek; she wanted to reassure Rosie, but she could only go so far. This was all new territory for her, too, and she knew the ride would be bumpy before it began to get better. She put her phone back on the bedside table and lay down, with Rosie scooching in beside her, laying her head on Olivia’s shoulder. Olivia would have been content to lie there all day, just like this. This was the window into the other life she wanted, and it was already so tantalising, she could taste the sweetness on her tongue.

“Do you have to go today?”

Olivia exhaled. “I do — got to go and face the music once the news is out. I should really be on the road by eleven.” She stroked a hand through Rosie’s hair, soft and dark gold. “I wish I didn’t have to go, but this will all calm down soon. It’s just the first hit that will be hard.”

“I know,” Rosie said, kissing her collarbone.

Even that slight touch sent a rocket of want through Olivia, and she kissed Rosie’s hair. “But before I do — what are you cooking me for breakfast?”

The sound of Paige swearing loudly somewhere in the flat made them both smile.

“Is she okay?” Olivia asked.

“She’s probably just late and being her usual morning self — Hilary’s opening up the cafe, and Paige said she’d give her a hand.” Rosie wriggled upwards. “I better just go and check.”

Rosie jumped out of bed, before turning back and scurrying over to Olivia on all fours.

“I thought you were going?” But Olivia wasn’t complaining one bit.

“You’re too delicious to leave,” Rosie said, eyeing her suggestively. “But I hope you’ll take pity on your subject and come back to fuck her again soon?”

Olivia growled and pulled her down, making Rosie shriek as she toppled onto her in a heap. “For you, I’ll make a special exception.”

Rosie kissed her again before clambering off the bed, putting on some denim shorts and a blue T-shirt and running a brush through her hair.

Olivia sighed. “You look sexy as hell, you know that.”

Rosie blushed. “Get up, princess, and I’ll make you some toast.”

Olivia gave her a salute as she left the bedroom, before throwing on yesterday’s clothes and following Rosie. Somehow, even being in a different room from her felt all wrong. Even as that thought ran through her mind, she wanted to slap herself. She really needed to get a grip, especially if she was doing a press conference with Jemima later.

That thought slowed her progress in the hallway as she heard Paige and Rosie’s chatter from the kitchen.

She had to push that aside: this morning was for her and Rosie and nobody else.

“Morning,” Olivia said as she walked into the kitchen, giving Paige a grin as she sat down opposite her, banging her shoulder on the bright yellow wall as she did. The kitchen was just about big enough for a small wooden table shoved up against a wall with three chairs, but Olivia was impressed at how homely it felt, with posters on the walls and kitchen gadgets the colour of sunshine everywhere she looked.

“Morning,” Paige said, her cheeks colouring red.

Rosie spun round and gave Olivia a smile that could have stopped traffic. “Tea or coffee?”

“Tea would be great,” Olivia replied, as toast popped from a yellow toaster on the counter.

Rosie fished it out, swearing at the heat before flinging it onto a plate and placing it in front of Olivia. A tub of Utterly Butterly and a jar of marmalade already sat on the table, a trail of crumbs in the spread showing Paige had got there first.

When Rosie brought their teas seconds later and sat down — leaning in to give Olivia a peck on the lips — she looked at her breakfast companions before raising a single eyebrow.

“What’s going on — why is nobody talking?”

Paige chewed on her toast, looking down, avoiding eye contact.

Rosie reached over and nudged her. “What’s the matter with you?”

Panic ran across her sister’s features as she shook her head. “Nothing,” she said, before pointing. “It’s just… we’ve got a princess at our table and she’s eating toast and marmalade.” Her tone was incredulous. “I mean, that isn’t normal, surely? Don’t you usually have something posher? Caviar on toast at least?”

Olivia’s face cracked a smile. “Not really — my mother has toast and marmalade every morning. Kind of a royal tradition.”

Paige dropped her toast. “Your mum being… the Queen.” More head shaking.

“Last time I looked, yes.”

Rosie slapped Paige on the arm. “Stop being so rude. Just because she’s royal doesn’t mean she doesn’t like normal food.”

“My mother’s favourite meal, in fact, is fish and chips,” Olivia said, nodding to back up her claim. “But she can never have it at banquets — she always has to have venison or monkfish. But give her cod and chips any day.” Olivia wasn’t lying — although her mother’s watchful eye on her waistline also prevented her from indulging too often. Whereas Olivia would rather eat and work it off. She hoped with Rosie in her life, those workouts were only going to get more frequent and more strenuous.

Paige’s mouth dropped open at that before she frowned. “Are you winding me up?”

“No!” Olivia crossed her finger over her chest. “I swear on my sister’s life.”

“And she likes her sister, so no more quizzing her. Let Olivia eat her toast in peace.” Rosie gave Paige a look and Olivia knew that would be the end of it. She’d been on the receiving end of that look enough from Alexandra. Did they teach it at big sister school?

Paige shoved the last of the toast in her mouth and scraped her chair back, gulping down her tea. “Better go, otherwise Aunt Hilary will be moaning at me, too.” She gave Rosie a sly grin, before sloping out of the room.

“Paige!”

She popped her head back around the corner, her dark hair hanging in her eyes.

“Say goodbye to Olivia — she’s back off to London today.”

Paige gave her a wave. “See you soon?”

Olivia nodded. “I’ll be back — and I can give you the lowdown on Durham if you like.”

Paige grinned. “That would be awesome!” Then she disappeared, the front door slamming minutes later.

“You’ve done a brilliant job with her, you know — you should be so proud.” Olivia leaned over and gave Rosie a sticky kiss on the lips. When she pulled back, they stayed staring into each other’s eyes for a few beats, and Olivia’s heart swelled. It wasn’t going to be easy to leave again, but at least this time, it wasn’t for long.

“Where are we going travelling, anyway?” Her gaze never left Rosie, and she never wanted it to. It seemed insane that she’d even entertained marrying someone else in four weeks’ time, but she had. Still, after today, that would be old news. In a few weeks, she’d introduce the world to Rosie, the woman she really loved.

“The question is more where aren’t we going. Europe, South East Asia, Australia and New Zealand for starters. Gina told me we have to go to visit her family in Argentina, but I don’t know if I have the budget or the time to stretch to South America, but we’ll see.” Rosie sipped her tea, staring at Olivia. “Are you really coming with me?”

Olivia nodded. “I really am.” She couldn’t imagine a life without Rosie anymore. More to the point, having lived without her for the past few weeks, she was determined it wasn’t going to happen again.

“Does that mean I might have to change where I stay? I’m guessing you’re not really a hostel kinda girl.” Rosie crossed her right leg over her left as she spoke.

“How about you choose where you want to go and let me take care of the travel and accommodation. We might have to alter a few things, but if we’re savvy, we can still fly under the radar. So long as you’re happy with me wearing my glasses again, no make-up and you get to call me Charlie.”

A wide grin stretched over Rosie’s face as she got up, slinging an arm around Olivia’s neck and sitting in her lap. “I get to travel with you and I get the old Charlie back? The one who charmed me with her gorgeous smile and seduced me on a kitchen table? This trip is sounding more and more inviting by the second.”

Olivia wrapped an arm around her waist and squeezed her tight, holding Rosie’s sapphire stare before replying. “Stick with me, and I guarantee a wild ride.”