Malice at the Palace (The Royal Spyness Series Book 9)

 

“I doubt it. He’d be bound to run into one of his past conquests who might say the wrong thing. He has been far too friendly with far too many people.”

 

“Bobo Carrington, for example,” I said, realizing I might have a mine of information in my friend. “You move in smart circles. What do you know about her?”

 

“Who doesn’t know everything about Bobo?” Belinda laughed. “She’s one of the most visible people in London. So now that I think about it, you might not want to take Princess Marina to any nightclub. The risk of running into Bobo is just too high and Bobo is not always discreet in what she says, especially after she has had a few cocktails and has injected herself with something stronger. She’s quite likely to breeze up to Marina, introduce herself as George’s mistress and offer her some cocaine.”

 

“Do you think she was”—I corrected myself, not wanting to reveal the truth to Belinda just yet—“is still his mistress or has the relationship ended?”

 

“I don’t know. I don’t follow the ups and downs of Prince George’s sex life.” And she laughed.

 

“Have you seen Bobo with him recently?” I asked. “Is there anyone else she’s involved with?”

 

Belinda looked up, amused. “Why this interest in Bobo?”

 

“Oh, simply because someone at Kensington hinted that she’d been involved with Prince George and suggested that we try to shield Princess Marina from gossip,” I said hastily.

 

“Darling, Bobo has always been just one of many. There was Poppy Baring, the banking heiress. And let me see, who else? He’s worked his way through the top layers of London society, both male and female.”

 

“Bobo is in the top layer then, is she?”

 

“She likes to pretend she is. Between ourselves I think she started life more humbly and has learned to reinvent herself. She’s a great opportunist, our dear Bobo, I’ll tell you that much. Has a nose to sniff out anyone with money and then makes a beeline for them, turning on the full force of her charm.” She paused, thinking, then added, “One hasn’t seen her around as much as one used to. But then she’s not as young as she used to be. And drug use does take its toll.”

 

“So you haven’t seen her with anyone else recently, then?” I asked.

 

“Of course I’ve been away, but I hadn’t seen her for some time, until I bumped into her at Crockford’s the other night. She was being frightfully gay and witty as usual. Almost as if she was trying too hard. But then she went into another room and I saw her talking to some American. I don’t know who he was. I hadn’t seen him before, but Bobo suddenly started acting differently around him. Awkward. Uneasy. Maybe she had him in her sights and was playing the ‘innocent little miss and it’s my first time at a gambling club and I need a big strong man to show me what to do’ routine.”

 

“As you often do,” I reminded her.

 

She grinned. “It usually works wonders.”

 

“Did she go off with the American?”

 

“I can’t tell you. I think he left soon after. He didn’t look as if he was enjoying himself. Not the usual Crockford’s type. Didn’t look comfortable in evening dress, if you know what I mean.”

 

A strange look came over her face. “In fact the odd thing is I thought I saw her leaving with—” She broke off suddenly, then shook her head. “No, it couldn’t have been.”

 

“Who?”

 

“Nothing. It doesn’t matter.” She waved a hand expansively. “Take Princess Marina to the Café de Paris. That’s grand enough and staid enough that none of George’s or Bobo’s cronies will be there.”

 

“I’d better be getting back to the palace. I’m supposed to be at the princess’s beck and call,” I said. “Will you come with me when I have to take her around? It could be fun, shopping for a trousseau at all the salons.”

 

“Maybe,” she said. “I’m not sure if I’ll have time.”

 

“What do you mean? You’ve just come home. Of course you have time.”

 

As I stood up to walk to the front door I turned back suddenly. “And I have a brilliant idea—you could design her an outfit. If she wears it, it would really put you on the map.”

 

I didn’t get the response I expected. “I suppose I could,” she said hesitantly.

 

I’d expected her to jump up, hugging me and yelling, “Darling, you’re a genius.”

 

“Come on, Belinda,” I said. “This could be your big chance. If Princess Marina wears your clothing, everyone will want it.”

 

She nodded. “You’re right. I wonder if I have time to pull it off.”

 

“Time to pull it off? What else are you doing right now? Buck up and get on with it!”