Theo couldn’t have asked for better weather. He stepped outside into the evening sunshine and felt the warmth kiss his skin. The sweet scent of summer hung in the light breeze that drifted through the open courtyard. The rose bushes and additional flower arrangements gave the scene both colour and perfume. All of the hundreds of fairy lights had been expertly wrapped around the gazebo, benches, trellises and stage, already giving the night an ethereal feel before darkness had even set in.

There were at least a hundred guests in attendance and more were coming through the castle. His magical rowboat entrances were a huge success according to Jemima, who was doing a sterling job running around on the floor in three-inch heels while permanently attached to her phone.

People’s heads automatically turned at the sight of James by Theo’s side. He didn’t even flinch, already waving and smiling at people he recognised, but Theo knew it was tough for him. James just wanted to be ordinary, not famous because of who he was born to be.

Theo wished that, too. But wishes were for fairy tales.

Instead, he moved with James through the crowd as he introduced Theo to guests as the man behind the ball. Theo shook hands and praised his hard-working team, doing his best to take compliments from people when they were given.

Especially when they were about his shoes.

He and James had agreed it would be okay to admit they were a present from James for all his hard work. No one else needed to know they had been given after a pair of spectacular blow jobs.

Theo loved them more than he could bear. Not because they were worth a lot of money, but because James had put such thought into getting Theo something so beautiful. Other people might disagree and call them tacky. But Theo didn’t care. They were the perfect present from the most perfect man he’d ever met.

One Theo was seriously at risk of ruining, if he didn’t watch himself.

Just for tonight. That was what he kept promising himself. They could have tonight. Then Theo would leave and not look back on the man who had stolen his heart.

That way hopefully the text messages would stop.

They all said the same kind of thing.

You thought you could be clever but I know what you’re doing

Does royal cock taste better than regular cocks?

The papers are going to love this, you little cocksucker

You are right royally FUCKED

Theo had kept an eye on Iggy all day. It seemed so beneath him to use language like that. To target Theo so viciously. But who else could it be? Iggy obviously hated Theo and thought he was reaching above his station. Iggy also made it clear he would do anything to protect the reputation of the Royal Family. He was why James was so firmly stuck in the closet.

Theo hadn’t dared tell James about the texts. It would only worry him and ruin their last night together. None of it would matter once Theo had left. The texter obviously had no proof of his accusations. Otherwise, he would have just gone straight to The Daily Mail. Theo refused to give in and be scared when they only had precious hours left together.

So when someone gasped and said how much they loved his Swarovski crystal trainers, he preened and pointed his toes. He told people James was a brilliant boss and he’d come back next year if he got a bonus like this again, which made the guests laugh.

He hoped James understood what he was really saying every time. How James was the best bonus Theo could have ever asked for. That he was going to treasure his gifted shoes for the rest of his life.

Of course, not everybody appreciated Theo’s modern style. Several incredibly wealthy and important people turned their noses up at him or openly laughed. Theo did his best to ignore them.

That was a little hard to do when it was the Princess of Wales saying it directly to his face.

“Dear god, James,” his mother spluttered as she sprung up in front of the two of them. “What on earth is your man wearing?”

Theo blinked and turned to James, unsure how to react. They’d not even been introduced, and the woman was insulting his shoes?

“House of Alexander McQueen, Mother,” James said smoothly without missing a beat. “Unless you’re referring to the Converse. I had them custom-made as a sincere thank you to Theo for doing such an outstanding job.” He smiled. “Theodore Glass, this is my mother, Her Royal Highness, The Princess of Wales.”

She was wearing a floor-length, sequined purple gown that twinkled in the evening sunlight. She sipped from her Champagne flute and eyed Theo over the glass.

“I don’t believe we’ve properly met,” she said, holding out her hand towards Theo.

Excellent. If she had remembered her manners, Theo could prove he had them in abundance. He did ham up his Essex accent a little, though. Just for kicks.

“I’m honoured to make your acquaintance, Your Royal Highness,” he said, bowing slightly as he kissed the back of her hand with the lightest of touches.

She gave him an assessing look and nodded. Theo felt James relax slightly next to him. He took that as a successful introduction.

It didn’t last long, though. “James, darling. Klara has been extremely keen to find you. Olivia?”

They all turned to where James’s sister, Princess Olivia, was talking with a delicate-looking woman in a floaty, floral dress. She looked very boho-chic, like one of those celebs who went to Glastonbury festival in designer wellies and stayed in camper vans nicer than Theo’s house. But she had a lovely, warm smile, not just for James, but Theo as well.

“Theodore Glass,” James’s mother said, “I would like you to meet the Princesses Olivia of England and Klara of Sweden.”

Theo had a soft spot for Princess Olivia. The papers were always running pictures of how ‘fat’ she was, when in actual fact she was just nicely curvy. She was rocking one of those fifties dresses Theo thought were dead cool, complete with kitsch pinstripe heels. For a royal, she was pretty punk.

They both murmured polite hellos and offered their hands for Theo to place chaste kisses on the backs.

“Theo is the new events organiser I was telling you about on Monday,” James said to the princesses. Theo’s heart ached at the pride in his voice.

Wait, Monday? The day James came back all pissed off? He hadn’t mentioned hanging out with any princesses.

“It’s a pleasure to meet you, Theo,” Olivia said with genuine sincerity, or so Theo felt. She turned to James. “Did you speak with Alex?” she asked. “He’s so sorry he couldn’t make it.”

“Yes,” said James with a look of concern for his older brother. “He said Laura wasn’t feeling well. I do hope it’s nothing serious.”

“She’s been seen by one of the physicians,” James’s mum said dismissively. “She’s in good hands.”

Olivia looked around at the fundraiser in full swing. “I don’t know if the castle has ever been so lively. James always said this place was perfect for a summer ball. You’ve proved him right, Theo!”

Klara nodded in agreement. James’s mum laid a hand on James’s shoulder. “My boy always was a dreamer,” she said. Theo was a little taken aback by the fondness in her words.

James shook his head, though. “I assure you, it was all Theo’s doing,” he insisted.

“Under your guidance,” Theo responded. “And with the help of the team. Jemima really is a star, and Mrs McDonald and the kitchen staff are responsible for all the catering. It’s the people on the ground who really put it all together.”

James tilted his head and smiled warmly. “But you coordinated it.”

The moment hung between them. Then Theo realised with horror what they were doing. Could they be any more obvious in front of James’s mother? He cleared his throat and quickly turned back to the ladies.

“So, you see, there’s no I in team. We all did our part.”

Olivia and Klara nodded and smiled. James’s mother was already looking disinterested.

“James, why don’t you introduce Klara to some guests?” she suggested. “I assume you know who most of these people are?”

He did. Theo had been testing him with photographs of the most prominent guests the past few days. That didn’t mean Theo was quite ready to let James go away without him, yet. But it seemed he had little choice.

As if materialising out of thin air, he felt a presence appear at his back. “Excellent timing,” Iggy’s voice drawled in his ear. He took hold of Theo’s elbow with a surprisingly firm grip. “I must steal away our fearless leader for a moment. It seems there might be a minor issue on our hands.”

“What’s wrong?” Theo asked, immediately concerned.

Iggy shook his head. “Nothing we cannot manage, I’m sure.”

Theo threw an apologetic glance at James. But James shook his head and smiled. “I’ll see you soon,” he said. “Go put out the fire while I enjoy the company of these lovely ladies.”

Theo nodded, then followed Iggy through the crowd towards one of the side entrances into one of the castle’s corridors. He wracked his brain for what could have gone wrong. He hoped it wasn’t a problem with any of the Yorkies. The five of them had been locked up securely in one of the suites upstairs for the evening. But Theo knew what an escape artist Bertie was. Had he got loose on them?

Iggy stopped when they closed the door and turned to face him in the cool shadows.

“You will refrain from disturbing His Royal Highness for the remainder of the evening.”

Theo took a moment to process what he’d just said. “Beg your pardon?” he said.

Iggy clasped his hands behind his back and stared Theo down. Dressed in a black suit and tie with a white shirt, it struck Theo how much his skinny arse looked like an undertaker.

“I am fully aware of how…enamoured you have become with His Highness,” Iggy said softly. His grey eyes were practically colourless in this dim light. He narrowed them dangerously. “But you will not distract him further. Am I understood?”

Theo scowled at him, no longer bothering to hide his contempt for such a homophobe if he couldn’t even be bothered to speak civilly to Theo. “Sorry to break it to you,” Theo said. “But you ain’t my boss. James is. This is our event. I take it there’s no actual disaster and you just pulled me over here to be a wanker.”

Iggy’s nostrils flared and he clenched his jaw. But then he smiled nastily. “You. You, Mr Glass, are the disaster. I should never have allowed you within a mile of His Highness. However, it is nothing that cannot be undone. I shall give you the dignity of not immediately being escorted from the grounds.”

“You’ve got no right to do that,” Theo interrupted hotly. Again, he wondered if Iggy had really sent those texts. Iggy only smiled more.

“As I said,” he carried on. “I shan’t have you escorted out. Yet. The optics would be less than desirable. But you will hear me when I say that His Highness is not interested in your little crush. His time will be spent with Princess Klara this evening. We all expect the happy announcement soon. He does not need you yapping at his feet like one of Her Majesty’s dogs.”

Theo’s blood ran cold. “Happy announcement?” he repeated before he could stop himself.

Iggy laughed softly. “How precious,” he murmured. “Surely you must be aware that His Highness is very much in love with Princess Klara. The family will be delighted to endorse their engagement in the coming months. Or weeks,” he added in delight. “Seeing how well they are getting along.”

A wave of dizziness washed over Theo and he placed his hand on the cool, stone wall to steady himself. He’d made peace with the fact that he would have to let James go. But to know he’d been lying to him this whole time?

But…he had been so unhappy when he had come back from seeing Klara on Monday. Could it be he didn’t really want to marry her?

Then again, he had tried to break things off with Theo that very night.

He felt sick. The Champagne swirled with James’s cum in his stomach. He felt so incredibly used.

“I trust we shall have no further issues tonight, Mr Glass?” Iggy said. Theo barely heard him. But he nodded all the same.

No. He would stay away from James. Theo’s time in this world had always been borrowed. He just didn’t think it would come crashing down before he got to say his final goodbye.

Although, if James had been playing him this whole time, it was probably best to let it all go now. Before Theo got hurt any further.

Iggy walked back into the courtyard without another word, leaving the door open behind him. Theo stood in the shadows and looked out into the sunshine at the people having fun.

He was a fool to ever think he could fit in with them. But his nan would be here soon and he would put on a brave face for her. He would smile at the other half as they raised thousands of pounds for his nan’s charity. Then they would go home to Essex, where they belonged.

Maybe he would be able to think fondly of his time with James in years to come. But right now, it was a bitter taste he wanted to get out of his mouth with the very expensive Champagne being served.

Just another couple of hours. Then he could leave this all behind him.