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“Or the fact that you’re a charming, intelligent, attractive and outspoken young woman,” said Chase, which earned him a laugh from Tessa and a smile from Odelia.

“Thanks,” said Tessa. “It’s nice to know that there are still some people in the world who don’t think I’m the worst thing to happen to this country.”

“Let’s focus on finding the person trying to kill you,” said Odelia. “Speaking of which, what do your protection people say?”

“Well, my cousin says it must be someone with access to my schedule, so presumably someone in my inner circle. For instance the fact that I was going to be at the Newtmore Summer Show at that exact time.”

“Who would have known about that?”

Tessa held up the list.“Everyone on this list, and the people on my protection detail, of course.”

“Could they be behind this?”

“Oh, I don’t think so. My cousin vouches for them. They’ve all worked for the royal family for so long—they’re really devoted.”

“That could be the reason they’re doing this.”

“If they see me as a threat to the monarchy, you mean.”

“Exactly.”

Tessa blinked.“If that’s the case, then this list isn’t nearly long enough. There are probably thousands of people who wish me harm right now—maybe millions.”

Chapter 13

I didn’t mind being locked out. What I did mind was being locked out in an environment that was basically unknown to me. No familiar faces here, or even familiar sounds of the night. No, it was all very new and frankly a little scary. So I did what any sensible cat would do: I cleared my throat and politely asked, “Um, could anyone please let us in?”

“Yes, please,” echoed Dooley. “I would like to go to bed now.”

When that didn’t seem to yield immediate results, we tried a different tack: we both started yowling—loudly! Unfortunately Baby Silvy chose this exact moment to start yowling, too. And as much as it pains me to admit it: she beat us squarely in the yowling department. Apparently we have much to learn, and Silvy was leading the way. So our yowling was drowned out by the noise of the royal baby, and we had to pursue other avenues to resolve our situation.

We checked the house for a possible means of egress. And that’s when I saw it—or, rather, him. A man was sitting in a car, parked nearby, with one of those very large cameras obscuring a large part of his face, shooting pictures of the house. I could hear the shutter going clickety-click as he did.

“Who’s that, Max?” asked Dooley.

“That’s a paparazzo, Dooley.”

“What’s a paparazzo?”

“It’s a kind of parasite. It breeds on other humans, sucking their lifeblood.”

“Nasty things.

“Very nasty,” I agreed.

“Is he taking our picture, you think?”

I darted a quick look at the house, and realized he wasn’t. Through the window, Tessa’s profile was outlined. She was holding Silvy, consoling her.

“Bad paparazzo,” said Dooley, who’d noticed the same thing.

“Very bad indeed,” I said. Taking snapshots of a private scene for the sole purpose of exploiting it for monetary gain.

And Prince Dante must have had the exact same thought, for at that moment he returned from his walk with Fluffy and spotted the man sitting in front of his cottage.

“Hey!” he bellowed. “What the hell do you think you’re doing?”

The man, caught, instantly started up his engine. In response, Fluffy started yapping like a mad dog, and then, before Dante could stop her, launched herself through the open window of the car and onto the paparazzo, who was making frantic efforts of putting his car in gear and driving away.

The man yelped in dismay as the thirty-pound English bulldog landed in his lap, and the next moment the car lurched forward, the dog still inside, with Dante running after it, yelling and screaming all the while for the car to stop.

It was pandemonium out there, and just as I wondered what had happened to all the security people who were supposedly guarding the royal couple, a burly man came running out of the house, still clutching a sandwich, took one look at the Prince, racing after the car, and went in pursuit, sticking a finger of his free hand into his ear for some reason and yelling to himself.

Instantly, three more men came running out of the house, and now the gag was complete: the paparazzo was obviously in the lead, with Dante right on his heels, and four security people chasing after him. It would have been funny if it hadn’t been so serious, and I really felt for Fluffy, being abducted like this without a moment’s notice.

I would have run after the group, if I had the kind of body made for exertion. As it is, I’m more of an intellectual than an action hero. Dooley obviously felt the same way, for he stayed put right next to me.