‘They never believed it.’

‘They did,’ he said. ‘The press believe what they want to believe. This makes a fabulous story. Prince found incognito in local theme park. Prince agrees to have dinner with local bigwigs for photographic opportunity. Prince excuses himself towards the end of dinner pleading jet lag but everyone’s got their photographs by now. So I slipped away.’

‘You had your dress uniform with you just on the off chance of a photographic opportunity?’

His smile faded. ‘I did suspect,’ he said, ‘that this journey might be discovered. Like it or not, I’m now head of state of Alp de Ciel. For me to come to Australia and not give a press conference at least would be an insult. The palace officials told me that in no uncertain terms. So yes, I brought my royal toggery. No, I didn’t want to unpack it but here it is, in all its glory.’

She was staring at the medals, fascinated.

‘So tonight,’ she said. ‘You just…slipped away from your royal reception. You called a cab-wearing that?’

‘Yes, it was hard giving everyone the slip but the limousine driver’s currently miffed because I took a cab and a cab driver’s happily pocketed a fare and a half for dropping me in the middle of nowhere and saying nothing. It was only a mile or so down the road and I kept to the shadows.’

‘Wearing your dress sword.’ She couldn’t keep her eyes off his chest. It was some…chest.

‘A prince has to be prepared,’ he said patiently. ‘In case of bogeymen.’ His smile deepened. ‘Stop looking like that. Pete let me in and he’s under instructions to say no one’s come. He’ll admit no one else.’

She shook her head in disbelief. ‘You think you’re clever,’ she said wonderingly.

‘I do,’ he said smugly.

‘Matty wants you to wake him and say goodnight.’

His face stilled. ‘He was okay with you?’

‘Yes.’

‘But he was asking for me?’