Free Going Royal 02 - Some Like It Scandalous by Heather Long Page A

before—and the only reason they weren’t together was her photo shoot in Greece.
    Licking the chocolate off her lip, Anna punched the fork into the cake again. If only it were that snotty, arrogant woman’s face. Blowing out a breath, she was glad when the reporter switched tracks and an image of Alyx filled the screen.
    “It was just a few months ago that the grand duke was reunited with his cousin, Grand Duchess Alyxandretta, who unbeknownst to the family grew up in foster care in California. Sources close to the family have stated categorically that had the family known of the princess’s existence, they would have reunited with her sooner and are profoundly grateful to have the opportunity to welcome the darling princess and her new husband.” The camera angle switched and the blonde reporter turned to look at the camera. “The prince and his brothers attended the small wedding ceremony in Sacramento and the grand reception later. The princess will be presented to the European contingent and allies this coming New Year’s at a special ball in her honor. But the question on everyone’s lips is will the grand duke be escorting Anna Novak and do the ladies of the world have to give up on their chances of dreaming this prince will come for them?”
    She rolled her eyes. Could they become any more melodramatic?
    “To add to the mystery spice of this secret love affair, ACE has learned that in the decade since their split, Anna Novak has been engaged twice—”
    She choked.
    “—her first engagement took place just two years following the reported breakup with the then recently crowned Andraste Grand Duke, Armand Dagmar. As you may recall, the grand duke’s father and titular head of the family passed away from a heart attack during the prince’s senior year at college. Sources have reported that when the prince returned to the family estate in Norway, Anna Novak actually accompanied him but left before the final ceremony that sealed the grand duke’s new role. Two years after this, announcements were posted in the Tampa, Florida, newspaper regarding her engagement to firefighter Chad Dowds. ACE requested an interview with Mister Dowds this afternoon, but he refused to answer our questions.”
    Oh crap. She needed to call Chad and apologize.
    “Her second engagement, however, is the one that interested local reporter April Menendez—” The screen cut away to a lovely Hispanic woman standing in front of a Los Angeles police station.
    “Thank you, Kim. I’m standing here at police station in Los Angeles where a certain detective works. Four years ago, this police detective—who has not allowed us to use his name—was engaged to Anna Novak. Because the officer works undercover, ACE was allowed to interview him but only if we did not take cameras inside or use his image. The officer in question had nothing but praise for Miss Novak. He wouldn’t comment on their engagement or why it ended. He also dismissed the prince’s involvement in calling off his engagement to Miss Novak, assuring us that it was a mutual decision.”
    “April.” The screen cut back to the woman in the studio—she angled so it appeared she was speaking right to the image of April in the upper right hand of the screen. “Have you had a chance to sit down with Miss Novak?”
    “No, Kim. I haven’t. All attempts to reach Miss Novak have been rebuffed, though we have it on good authority that she was seen entering the prince’s Petersburg Towers here in Los Angeles. Now, as we reported last month, the prince maintains a residence at the top of the tower. His security also picked her up at her house.” The image cut to the circus outside her little cottage and Anna sighed. “As of ten this evening, Miss Novak had not returned home. Her office is declining any comment as has the spokesman for the royal family...”
    Richard was shown leaving an office somewhere in Los Angeles. He nodded politely to the cameras, but kept right on