Prince Amos Read Free Page B

doorbell rang. Amos waited for Charles to answer it. It rang again.
    “Might as well make myself useful.” Amos turned down the video game on the big-screen television and opened the door.
    A woman wearing a brown fur around her neck bustled in. She planted a gushy kiss on Amos’s cheek. “How are you, my dear nephew? Harold and I were bored, so we thought we’d drop in for a visit.”
    Amos wiped the wet kiss off his face. A boy a few years older than Amos marched in through the door behind the woman. He stood so straight and his nose was stuck sofar in the air, Amos wondered how he could see where he was going. Three porters carrying bags and pushing carts with trunks on them followed the boy.
    Charles stepped in from the kitchen. He was obviously not expecting them. “Lady Sophie, how … nice to see you. May I take your coat?”
    “Of course you may take my coat, idiot. Do you think I want to wear it all day?” She threw the fur into Charles’s arms.
    Harold noticed the video game on the television. “What’s this? Taken to playing children’s games, Gustav? I would think a prince would have more important matters to attend to.”
    Amos looked at Charles. “I need to see you in the kitchen.”
    “Certainly, Your Highness.”
    Amos closed the door. “Who are these people?”
    “They’re your relatives. That is, they’re Prince Gustav’s relatives. His aunt Sophie and his first cousin Harold.”
    “Can we get rid of them?”
    “I’m afraid it would be very bad form toask them to leave. They might suspect something.”
    Amos sulked. “Okay, but I’m going to finish my game. I didn’t rack up all those points for nothing.”
    “As you wish, sir.”
    The doorbell rang, and Charles started for it. Amos stopped him. “I’ll get it. You keep the relatives happy.”
    Sophie gave Amos a phony smile as he walked past. He pulled the door open. Dunc and the prince tried to step in. Amos’s eyes widened, and he slammed the door. He looked at Sophie. “Room service. They have the wrong room.”
    The doorbell rang again. “I guess those guys just can’t take no for an answer,” Amos said. “I better go out and have a little talk with them.”
    He opened the door just wide enough to ease his body through and pulled it shut behind him.
    “Are you crazy?” Dunc started. “You nearly—”
    Amos held up his hand. “We’ve got trouble. The relatives from back home are here.Aunt Sophie and Cousin Harold. From the looks of their suitcases, I’d say they’re planning on staying awhile. Maybe we better switch back while there’s still time.”
    The prince patted Amos’s shoulder. “It won’t be long now. I’m expecting an important call at your motel room from my chief security officer. Then we should be able to clear up this whole matter.”
    “What am I supposed to do with them?” Amos pointed at the penthouse door.
    The prince grinned. “Do what I do—ignore them.”
    “You better get back inside before they get suspicious.” Dunc moved to the elevator. “We’ll get back to you as soon as we know anything.”
    Amos watched the elevator doors close. He took a deep breath and opened the door. Harold was turning off the television.
    “What are you doing?” Amos yelled. “Do you realize it took me a full hour to get that score?”
    “Surely you’re joking,” Harold sneered. “No one with any intelligence would wastetheir time with something as moronic as this.”
    “Oh, yeah? We’ll see about that.” Amos reached for the remote control. “I challenge you to a duel.”

Charles turned on the overhead light in the living room. “Sir, it’s two o’clock in the morning. You have an appointment in a few hours.”
    “Hold on one minute.… Yes! I win again.” Amos stood up and stretched. He looked at his list of winnings. “Okay, Harold, time to pay up. You owe me your foxhunting horse, your motorcycle, your new white limousine, and your estate in Suffork. I’ll take an