^“Are you sure you want to do this?” Marj asks, patting my arm.

We’re standing in the wings of the set where Leslie 360 is filmed. Leslie Mayer herself is onstage alone, recording the opening monologue of her popular evening interview show.

I’m going to be the subject of tonight’s show, and I’m trying to be calm and poised.

“I think I have to,” I tell her. “It’s been a few weeks since our scandal broke, on top all the crap with Mum and Prince Archie. And the video of Bram doing drugs… It’s not a very good time to be a royal, is it?”

“That it isn’t. I have to say, I heard that Rex might lose his position at his charity.”

“It’s true. I think… well, that’s what I’m here for, to fix things,” I sigh. “Set things straight. Rex asked me to come on and do the interview, because I’m more sympathetic than he is.”

“Well, that’s for damn sure. You’re going to be great, I’m absolutely sure of it,” Marj tells me.

I glance at Marj and smile, but we both know I’m beyond nervous. I’m wearing this knee-length lavender sheath dress that hides absolutely nothing, with my hair done up in a subtle knot and my grandmother’s pearls at my neck and earlobes.

It’s important that people see me like this, because the rumor that’s really run rampant this week is that I’m secretly pregnant again, but too famous to get a secret abortion.

The headlines went something like:

Katherine and Magnum: Inside Their Secret Relationship

Magnum Caught Racing, Fired From His Own Charity

Alasdair and Katherine: Their Six Year Long Affair

Katherine’s Ex: ‘She Was Pregnant Five Years Ago’

Lady Katherine: Miscarriage or ABORTION?

Katherine and Magnum Are SHACKED UP! See Photos Of Their New Pad!

Magnum’s Done It Twice: Lady Kitty Pregnant Again!!!

‘She’s Taken Care of It’: Housekeeper on Katherine’s SECOND Abortion

Queen to Lady Katherine: You’ll Never Be a Royal

Yeah, my life has spiraled out of control, really fast.

“Katherine? We’re ready for you,” a production assistant says. “As soon as Leslie calls your name, head on out there. Just like we rehearsed, okay?”

“Sure thing,” I say. I straighten my spine, she calls my name, and I stride out onstage to greet Leslie with a wide smile. She’s a fifty-something blonde done up in a chic Chanel dress not unlike my own, and her brown eyes sparkle with warmth when I reach her.

“Lady Katherine Saville, everyone!” Leslie announces to the live audience just a hundred yards. They applaud politely, though they seem a bit skeptical.

Leslie and I shake hands, I take the armchair next to hers, and she gets right down to business.

“Lady Saville…”

“Katherine, please,” I tell her.

“Katherine. There are so many rumors swirling about you and Prince Alasdair right now. Can you set the record straight for us?”

“Thank you, Leslie.” I take a deep breath and look straight at the camera. “Alasdair and I dated in high school. We weren’t terribly smart, and I’m afraid I did become pregnant. I had recently lost my father, and I was grieving. I moved away to college without telling anyone, and subsequently lost the pregnancy.”

“What would you have done if you hadn’t lost it? Would you have, as people suggest, terminated the pregnancy?”

I swallow and shake my head.

“Absolutely not. I believe in a woman’s right to choose, but I didn’t get that far. I have to tell you Leslie, the experience really changed me. When I was in crisis, I felt I had nowhere to turn, no one to talk about this with. I have a very privileged life, so I can only imagine what girls and women in more difficult financial and social circumstances feel. I’m planning to start a charity to help women through those times, actually.”

“The way your story came out in the press must be very difficult for you,” Leslie says.

“It really was. Charles Ford, the person I trusted most, recently sold my medical records to the tabloids. It’s not just tasteless and cruel, it’s illegal. Charges have been filed against him and against the persons who bought private information from him.”

“And it sounds like he’s told a lot of people other stories about you, things that aren’t true. How do you hope to sort fact from fiction?”

I take a deep breath.

“Well, this is the first step. I will do interviews, try to let people get to know me. Then they have to judge for themselves, I guess!” I tell her.

The audience actually applauds at that, which feels pretty good.

“Well, you seem perfectly lovely to me,” Leslie says with a smile.

“Thanks,” I say with a laugh. “I’m trying, to be sure.”

“Well, we’re not quite done with you, Katherine. We have a special guest here to see you,” Leslie tells me.

“Uhhh….” I say, looking around. The audience laughs. “Do you, now?”

“Prince Alasdair, will you come on out?” Leslie calls.

My heart leaps into my throat when I see Rex walk out onstage. He’s wearing this perfectly fitted navy suit, his blond hair artfully tousled, his ocean-blue eyes sparkling.

I stand up, confused, but I’m smiling.

“What are you doing here?” I ask.

“That’s not a very nice way to greet your man, is it?” he teases, and the audience applauds. I blush.

“Hi,” I say. He walks up and takes my hand, looking down at me. “What…”

Then he winks at me. Oh god, what is he doing?

Rex drops down onto one knee, keeping my hand in his.

“Rex, what are you doing?” I ask. I can hear the panicky tears in my voice, only moments away from becoming a reality.

“Lady Katherine Saville,” he says. “I’ve loved you as long as I can remember. We’ve been through hell together, and come back alive… because we’re strong together.”

“Rex, really.” I squirm.

He pulls out this white ring box and pops it open, showing me the enormous chocolate diamond ring inside. His mother’s wedding ring, I’m pretty sure.

I start to cry before he even gets the question out.

“Kitty, will you marry me?” he asks, arching a brow. The audience goes nuts, cheering wildly, and it just compounds my feeling of unreality.

I can’t help it. I let out this awkward chuckle, and Rex squeezes my fingers.

“So?” he asks.

I look at Leslie, then the audience, then press a hand to my eyes. I get really overwhelmed for a second, enough that I consider fleeing the stage.

Then Rex tugs my hand away from my eyes, and when I look down at him, I can tell that he’s not just playing to the crowd. I look at him and just… I know.

This is what I’ve wanted since the day I laid eyes on him.

“Of course I will,” I whisper, wrinkling my nose at him.

“Is that a yes?” Rex asks, trying to get me to say it loud enough for everyone else to hear.

“Yes!” I say, playing it up to the audience.

Everyone whistles and cheers. Rex slides the ring on my finger and stands up, pulling me close for a kiss.

I grin. “Is this real?”

Rex laughs and nods. “I’m afraid you’re stuck with me now, Kitten.”

I roll my eyes and press my lips to his again.

“I can think of worse fates,” I say.

“Until we tell my grandfather,” Rex says with a wink.

I pull a face as we walk offstage, laughing. I’m so excited I feel like I’m vibrating with it, drunk with it. Feeling silly, I slide my hand down and grab Rex’s ass.

His reaction is comical. First he’s surprised, then a little offended, then he gives me a scolding look.

“Princesses can’t just go around grabbing princes’ asses when they feel like it, you know,” he tells me. “As a Princess, you’ll have to behave with more decorum.”

Princess. Wow, that’s me.

“Is that so?” I ask, eyeing him.

“I fucking hope not, since I’m planning to drag you off into the coat closet and make you come every chance I get,” he says. “Show you why they really call me Prince Magnum.”

“You really are absolutely terrible,” I tell him.

“But I’m yours,” he says.

I melt into his arms, unable to stop the foolish grin that crosses my face because it’s true.

He is mine, and I’m his, and we’re really, honestly together.

At last.