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FORTY-ONE

ROSE

My walk to the headmaster’s office is fueled by pure fury.

When I reach it, I rap hard on the door and throw myself into the nearest seat. The outside of the office has been converted into a small waiting area decorated with old staff portraits, chairs, and ornate end tables covered in copies of the school magazine. I resist the urge to kick the furniture.

As soon as the headmaster opens the door I’m on my feet. “This is discrimination,” I say, folding my arms. “And you know it.”

He sighs. “Come inside, Rose.”

I continue speaking as he ushers me through the door. “Me. Eleanor. Molly. Harriet. Amsterdam. International news. Drugs, alcohol. Someone died . You didn’t expel us. You never even threatened to.”

The headmaster lowers himself into his chair wearily. I haven’t noticed how slowly he moves before.

“Rose,” he says. “You four have history at this school. You have ties here. I know your families, your siblings, how you were raised. You had all proven yourselves to me long before your mistake. Danni’s circumstances are very different. She’s a new student. She has no record of good behavior to fall back on. I can’t justify keeping her here and denying another, more worthy student the chance to attend.”

“So your argument is you’re expelling her because she’s a scholarship student,” I say. “That’s also discrimination.”

“Rose, the school has a strict zero-tolerance policy toward alcohol.”

“Yes. One that seems like it only matters when it’s convenient. Would you like to have a look through a few students’ social media accounts at random, sir? I have access to some awfully good ones. I’m not sure you’ll have many pupils left once you’re done enforcing this no-tolerance policy of yours.”

We stare each other down. I have the feeling the headmaster expects me to apologize. I do not.

“And what about Harriet, while we’re at it?” I asked. “She was in those screenshots, too. That’s a second offense, no less.”

“Harriet,” the headmaster says, “like you, has a history here.”

“She has wealthy parents, you mean.”

“She received a formal warning,” the headmaster finishes.

I give him a humorless smile. “Right,” I say. “So, ‘no-tolerance, unless we like you more than the other student, in which case we’re impressively tolerant’?”

I’m pushing my luck, and I know it. He darkens. “Rose, you are not a guardian of Danni, and you were not involved in this incident, so it is not your place to speak on her behalf.”

“Sir, she needs this school—”

“As do many young women.”

“Half the school was at that party. She wasn’t doing anything everyone else wasn’t doing.”

“Rose, I’m happy to turn a blind eye wherever I can,” he says. “You know I will. But photos of Danni holding a half-empty bottle of spirits ended up in the papers. I’m left with no choice.”

“ Please, give her a second chance.”

“This isn’t my decision,” he says. “If it was, I would. Believe me.” The headmaster falters at this, his eyes flashing, and he presses his lips together. “Don’t repeat that, Rose. But I would. Unfortunately, too many others disagree with me, and my hands are tied.”

Too many others? Like who? Parents? Diocese figureheads? Then I remember Danni mentioned the alumni association. Why do they care so much about one mistake made by a fifth-year student? It’s hardly the first time a Bramppath student has been caught in an awkward situation, even setting Amsterdam aside. If Danni’s family had enemies in high places I might have understood, but Danni is just about the most inoffensive person I know.

“There’s nothing you can do to change my mind on this, Rose,” the headmaster says.

I give him a hard look and stand up. This is not over yet. I’m just getting started.

“Are you behind this, William?” I ask. “Or anybody else at the palace?”

On the other end of the line, William sounds genuinely drained. “No, Rose. You’ve kept up your side of our agreement, as far as I’m aware. Your parents are more or less placated.”

“But it seems like too much of a coincidence,” I say. “Last week, they wanted Danni gone from Bramppath, and now the alumni association conveniently agrees? Come on. My parents know half the board personally. The Kwons! The Paget-Harringtons!”

“Rose, I assure you, if your parents had a hand in this, I would be aware. It’s coincidental.”

I grit my teeth. I’m furious, but there’s something about his tone that makes me believe him. Whether or not it’s a blessing is another question altogether. What’s worse? The idea that my parents would separate me from my girlfriend without good cause, or the idea that my parents are unrelated to this, and therefore I’m not able to bargain with them to reverse the decision?

Although…

“Perhaps you can help, then,” I say.

“Help?”

“You’re my publicist. Manage this . If you talk to the headmaster, I’m sure you can make him see how unnecessary this all is.” And, failing that, I can always ask my parents to step in. What’s more intimidating, after all? The alumni association, or the monarchy?

William is silent for long enough that I know his answer without him needing to speak. “Why not?” I snap.

“I know you care for the girl, really, I do. But perhaps this is for the best. If she isn’t at Bramppath, there’s no risk of you being caught with her. Cold turkey, so to speak.”

“William!”

“I did my best to stop Danni from being punished for the crime of your relationship, Rose. But Danni got herself into this situation, and my job is not to protect her. It’s not to do what you want me to do. It’s to protect your reputation, first and foremost.”

I rise from my spot on the edge of my bed and start pacing my bedroom, agitated. “Well, perhaps if I lose Danni, I won’t much care what my reputation looks like. Perhaps I’ll take up a streaking habit. Or maybe I’ll pop a pill or two at a state dinner, god knows it’ll liven the night up for me. Or—”

“I think,” William interrupts wryly, “there could be a more productive approach.”

I stop pacing in the middle of the carpet. “Oh?”

“Yes. For example, if there were a bigger, more positive story concerning yourself, that would go a long way toward drowning out the speculation in all but the trashiest tabloids. And if that story gave readers cause to doubt the rumors regarding your sexuality…”

It doesn’t take a genius to pick up on the implication. “You mean something to do with Alfie and me?”

William proceeds carefully. “You know, your parents seem quite convinced you and Alfie may end up married one day. Were you aware?”

“It’s not the first I’ve heard of it, no.”

“Well, as far as a strategic match, you could do worse. He’s media competent, from a good family, he’s good-looking…”

I wait for him to get to the point, and, thankfully, he does.

“If this is something you feel would suit you down the track, then I would recommend an early engagement. The timing couldn’t be better.”

Though I knew where he was heading with this, it’s still astounding to hear him verbalize it. “I’m seventeen.”

“Yes, and marriage would be ludicrous at present. But if you were to undertake a lengthy engagement, would that be different in any substantial way than simply waiting to become engaged? Time will pass either way, but if it passes with a ring on your finger, you might see these rumors finally quelled.”

And then it won’t make a difference where Danni is, or if I accidentally glance at her.

“Unless you were hoping to wait until you meet the right man,” William says with an air of levity. I suppose, again, I see his point. But this is all happening so fast.

But Danni.

“What you’re suggesting is rather enormous,” I say. “All in exchange for you simply speaking to the headmaster?”

“This isn’t a deal for me. It’s a suggestion for you.”

“Oh, but it is, though. Because as you said, your job is to manage my reputation. This would make you look quite successful at that, wouldn’t it?”

It’s William’s turn to be silent.

“I would have conditions,” I say finally. “I would need a number of reassurances regarding Danni. Keeping her safe and happy will very much become a part of your job, because if it doesn’t, I swear to you, I will break off that engagement during a balcony appearance.”

When William replies, there’s a smile in his voice. It makes me queasy. “We can discuss conditions,” he says. “Lay out your terms.”