James couldn’t believe what he was hearing. It was as if his whole world was crashing down around him.

“An idiot fucking toff?” he repeated faintly. That was what he’d heard as he’d got close enough behind Theo. There was ringing in his ears and dizziness rushed over him so fast he thought he might pass out.

Theo was looking at him in horror, his eyes full of tears. “James?” he said, his voice quivering.

The man he had been speaking to sniggered behind him. “Your Highness,” he said with a distinct lack of respect. “We was just talking about you. Weren’t we, Theo?”

James felt Klara step closer to him, so they were rubbing shoulders. James tried to take some comfort from her presence. But he was struggling with anything other than replaying Theo’s words in his mind.

Good riddance? Really?

Why was Theo discussing their relationship with this man in the first place? James knew he had made up his mind to find Theo and beg him to continue seeing each other. But to know he had outed them to someone without James’s consent hit him like a punch to the gut.

“Theo, what’s going on?” he asked.

“Nothing,” he said quickly. He placed his empty Champagne flute on the ground near one of the rose bushes. “My stepdad had some wild ideas about us. I set him straight.”

“You can’t stand me?” James said. “Is that right?” It was as if he could actually feel his heart cracking into pieces.

Theo’s eyes flickered from left to right as he looked at James’s face. “You’re just my boss,” he said quietly. “I’m leaving tomorrow.”

James glanced from Theo to the man behind him. Two men about James’s age were now flanking his sides with menacing expressions. James wondered if he should call security. “This man is your stepfather?” James asked, realising what Theo had said. “Why on earth would you invite him?”

“I didn’t,” said Theo through gritted teeth. “Look, can we discuss this later?”

James shook his head. “I’d very much like to discuss it now,” he said, unable to keep the hurt from his voice. Why would Theo tell this man he hated about them?

Was he just like all those other guys James had slept with after all? Simply in it for the kick of shagging a prince?

Had it all been a lie?

Theo’s lip trembled and he shot a look at Klara. “Why?” he hissed between his teeth. “What do you care what I think? I’m just an employee. One who’s leaving tomorrow. I told Jacob this was all just a misunderstanding and that’s that. Don’t make this more awkward than it already is.”

James was so confused and hurt and didn’t know where to start. “Theo, I really would like you to speak with me in private.”

“Yeah, and you always get what you want, right?” Theo said. The tears finally spilled down his cheeks and he angrily rubbed them away with the back of his hand. Even though they were being quiet, they were starting to attract stares. This was not how James thought they would come out to people.

What was wrong with Theo? Why was he acting like this?

“I think there is a big misunderstanding,” said Klara nodding her head. “I will be happy to entertain your stepfather while you and James clear it all up.”

Theo laughed hollowly. “I beg your pardon, Your Highness,” he said, shaking his head and hiccupping. “But there’s nothing to clear up. I think you should probably look after James now. I’m sure that’s what he wants.”

“Don’t tell me what I want,” James said, unable to keep the defensiveness from his voice. “Not you, Theo. Don’t try and control me.”

Theo balled up his fists and let out a frustrated noise. “I’m trying to protect you,” he hissed. “Jacob seems to think there’s more to us than there is. But the truth is I’m a raging poof and you’re just my boss. I’m sorry he levelled any kind of accusation at you. He was just leaving and I think I should, too.”

Accusation? What accusation? James looked at the man who folded his arms and glared back defiantly at James.

“Leave?” James repeated, shaking his head. “You can’t leave, Theo.” James wouldn’t mind his stepfather being removed from the premises, though. But not Theo.

Fuck. Did he mean leave James? For good?

“It’s for the best,” Theo said. “Jemima has tonight all in hand, and-”

“Mr Glass.”

Not now! James thought in outrage. He snapped his attention to Iggy as he positioned himself between Theo and James.

“Is there a problem?” Iggy asked Theo.

“No,” said Theo and James at the same time. Theo’s stepfather just chuckled to himself. James still had no idea what he was doing here when he clearly still had so little respect for Theo.

“Ignatius,” James said firmly. “We have this under control.”

“Forgive me, Your Highness,” Iggy shot back, his tone glacial. “That isn’t what it looks like to me. Mr Glass is distracting the guests.”

“It’s fine, Mr Bellamy-Walters,” Theo said with a sniff. “I was just leaving. I wouldn’t want to spoil your nice party.”

“Theo, please,” James said. He tried to reach for Theo’s hand, but Theo pulled away. As if James’s touch would burn him. “Why are you doing this?”

“It’s for the best,” Theo whispered.

Iggy turned and faced James with both his hands raised. Theo moved away from him, slipping into the crowd of people around them, some of whom were watching the altercation with interest.

“I agree,” Iggy said. “It’s for the best.”

“Get out of my way,” James said hotly. He tried to sidestep Iggy and follow Theo. He couldn’t leave! That was madness! James had just vowed he wasn’t going to let him go without a fight!

But James found his way blocked again. This time by the appearance of his mother.

“James,” she cried, looking around at the small gathering of people. His sister, Livy, was by her side. “What on earth is going on here? Why is there so much shouting? Why do you have Champagne spilled down your shirt?”

Klara threw her hands up in the air. “Everyone is going crazy,” she announced, then waved at Theo’s stepfather who still had his jaw set in a defiant manner. At least he was being quiet now. “This man has upset Theodore and then Theodore upset James and it is all very silly.” Klara seemed to realise James’s mother was actually allowing her to speak and her eyes went wide. “Oh, and I am very sorry, Celia, but I will not be marrying your son. He is lovely, but I am a very happy lesbian. Is that okay?”

James’s mother spluttered. “I beg your pardon?” she squeaked.

“Yeah,” Theo’s stepfather scoffed, jabbing a finger at James. “And he’s a homo. You’re all at it. You should have just let my useless stepson pay me off. I’m sure The Daily Mail will love the stories I have to tell them.”

James had enough. Fury tore through him. Had this arsehole been threatening Theo? Was that why he had said all those nasty things about James?

Before he could open his mouth to call for security, Quintin materialised from the crowd with Dave Mills, James’s head bodyguard and several of his team in tow. “We were told there was a problem, Your Highness?” Dave said, glancing quickly over the scene.

Although James wasn’t happy with Iggy, he did appreciate the look of outrage on his face as he glared at Theo’s stepfamily. Fuck. Every second James wasted here Theo could be heading anywhere.

“This man is acting in a hostile manner towards His Royal Highness,” Iggy declared. “I think it best he and his companions left.”

Dave immediately stepped forwards towards Theo’s stepfather. But the man shrugged off their attempt to take him by the arm.

“Oi!” he shouted. They must have had at least two dozen people watching them by now. “Get your fucking hands off me,” Jacob growled. “I don’t swing that way. Jesus, everyone round here’s a perv. Come on, boys. We was just leaving anyway.”

“Ensure they are escorted off the property,” Iggy instructed Dave as they began to move through the crowd.

James didn’t wait to watch them go. He had to find Theo. “Excuse me,” he said to his mother. Or tried.

“No, James,” she all but shrieked. “Just what is going on here! Why have you upset Klara? Who was that man?”

Klara shook her head. “I am not upset,” she said to James’s mother. “Although my feet do hurt very much.”

“That man was Theo Glass’s stepfather,” James said. “I believe he was attempting to blackmail him.” It made sense. “Theo is very upset and I must find him.”

His mother shook her head. “Why?” she said. “Let one of the staff deal with it.”

“Precisely,” Iggy agreed.

“No,” James said firmly. “No, I’m sorry, Mother. But I must find him. I think he was upset with me too and I need to discover why if I’m to set things right.”

“Your Highness,” Iggy practically snarled. “It’s not your place.”

“Why not?” Livy demanded. “James hired him. They’re friends.” Her eyes went wide. “Oh,” she said softly. James met her gaze. He couldn’t help but feel she had worked it out.

Klara was nodding. “James needs to be the one to go,” she said confidently. “He will ensure Theo is no longer sad.” She nudged him in the ribs.

But his mother was becoming more aggravated. “I am completely lost. Why does an events planner matter so much?”

“Because I love him!” James cried.

Of course that was the moment the string quartet finished the waltz they had been playing. James felt like half the courtyard turned to stare at him.

But he wasn’t going to take the words back. Damn the consequences. Because it was the truth.

He loved Theo.

His mother’s mouth had frozen in an ‘O’ of shock. Livy broke into the biggest smile. Klara clapped her hands. Iggy looked murderous.

“Your Highness-” he began.

“No,” said James, woozy from his bold declaration. But it was a good kind of giddy which came from finally being brave after so many years. “Enough. I am going after Theo. I won’t disrupt your evening any further. Hopefully we will both be back shortly to continue hosting the fundraiser.” He took his mother’s hands and squeezed them. She still hadn’t moved. “We can talk later.”

“Good luck!” Klara called as James nodded at her and his sister.

Livy nodded. “You’ve got this, Jimmy!” she called after him as he began pushing through the crowd. He couldn’t waste a moment more. “We love you!”

“Love you too!” he called back over his shoulder. He could feel people staring at him, but he paid them no mind. All he cared about in that moment was getting to Theo.

He was fine. He could fix this.

Because for the first time in his life he was in love. And nothing was going to stand in the way of that.