Page 104 of The Heir Apparent

“Don’t believe me if you don’t want to.”

“You told your father about what happened in the library with Colin.”

She groaned. “Familiesgossip, Lexi. That’s what we do. You never read about it in theDaily Post, did you?”

I leaned against the cold glass of the window.

“I suppose you’re right,” I said. “But I’ve come to a decision. Leaking by members of this family will no longer be tolerated. No more backgrounding reporters, no more palace aides doing our dirty work for us. If someone has something to say, they’ll say it in their own voice.”

She smirked. “You’re not in chargeyet, Lexi.”

“No, I’m not, but I can’t sit around any longer waiting for my turn to change things.”

She propped her chin in her hand and looked at me, amused. “Your own father used to talk to the press, you know.Constantly.He even leaked against you.”

I nodded. “And I hope you never know what that feels like—especially with a father like yours. He’d stop at nothing if you ever stood in his way. God help you if he knows any of your secrets.”

She stared at me. “I’m hisdaughter.”

“Yes, and I’m his niece. Louis was his nephew. My father was his only brother. He betrayed us all.”

I was unsure if Demelza knew what I was talking about. Her face gave nothing away. Maybe Richard had kept her out of his schemes. Perhaps she had no idea that he sheathed information like a blade, keeping it close to his body, until it was time to hold our secrets against our throats.

“Don’t ever forget that you’re a very pretty girl, and the tabloids are always going to prefer you over him,” I said. “And when he feels overshadowed—which he will—he’ll turn against you like he did almost everyone else in this family.”

She narrowed her eyes at me. “Whatever. You’ve always been a mess.”

“Lexi!” Birdie called from her bedroom. “Can you help me pick a shoe?”

“Coming, Birds.”

I started down the hallway, but when I stopped and looked back at Demelza, I saw that she had been watching me walk away.

“I’ll always be your cousin—I hope you know that,” I said.

“I’m not going to side withyouover my own father.”

I shook my head. “I’m not asking you to side with anyone but yourself. You’re much smarter than anyone gives you credit for. You see more than any of us realise. Personally, I think you act the way you do because you’re bored. So, my only question for you is this: don’t you think you have a bigger role to play in this family than just being someone’s pretty little daughter?”

Something passed over Demelza’s face, like the shadow of a winged predator flying above.

“Yes, I do,” she said.

In every portrait of Barbara, there is always a shadow behind her gaze: the dark bird of ambition that guided her extraordinary life. I saw now that Demelza might also possess the ability to train this wild thing.

I gave her one more nod before I walked away.

Every Christmas, villagers and camera crews lined the gravel path to watch us make the 300-metre journey to the church at the edge of Granny’s property. We’d hold on to each other, smiling and chatting, as if Stewart hadn’t meticulously planned every step of the way, drawing up charts to show us exactly where in the pack we must walk. Granny was driven in one of her Land Rovers, and this year she’d asked Florence to ride in the car with her, a great honour she had not bestowed upon her daughter-in-law for decades.

Richard and I were left to lead the family along the path through the snow-dusted trees. We waited at the gates of the house for our security team to give us the all-clear to begin. Stewart appeared in his overcoat with a clipboard under his arm, looking stony-faced.

“Happy Christmas,” I said.

“Happy Christmas, ma’am.”

I could tell he was still angry with me for going off-script during the reception, the fallout dominating the front pages of the tabloids for weeks. TheDaily Posthad taken to calling me the “woke princess.” In response, Stewart had banned me from speaking in public, taking back control of my diary from Mary to ensure that I only appeared at carol services and Christmas craft fairs until the end of the year.

“To reiterate,” he said, “you and Prince Richard will lead the way, followed by princesses Demelza and Birdie, and then—”