Page 26

CHAPTER 26

V ictoria slumped against the leather seat of the royal car as it purred away from the stadium, replaying the image of Ash’s devastated face as she’d trudged off the pitch. And then how awful it was in the dressing room afterwards. She’d thought turning up would be a gorgeous surprise. That Ash would be thrilled. But instead, Ash had got a red card. In 12 years of professional football, it was Ash’s first one. Fair to say, the surprise had fallen a little flat.

Her phone buzzed. It was Faye, her press secretary. Victoria’s heart stuttered. Faye never called on weekends unless something was wrong.

“Your Highness.” Faye’s voice had that careful tone Victoria had learnt to dread. “We have a situation.”

The streets of Salchester flew past. “Go on.”

“Someone’s been following you. There are photographs. You and Ashleigh Woods at a small cafe in Scotland a few weeks ago. Also, outside your London residence. Multiple occasions of her car leaving your gates.”

The world tilted on its axis. Victoria’s fingers dug into the armrest. Beside her, Tanya turned her head, concerned.

Victoria imagined her own face had drained of blood.

Could this day get any worse?

That morning at the small cafe flashed through her mind. Driving from Balmoral to Aberdeen airport, and they’d both needed the toilet. As the place was practically empty, they’d decided to get a coffee before they got back on the road. Victoria recalled Ash’s sleepy smile across the Formica table, the way her baseball cap had been deliciously wonky. Victoria had wanted so badly to reach across the table and touch her hand. Maybe she had, she couldn’t recall.

She sunk down in the back seat.

“How many photos?” Her voice sounded distant to her own ears.

“Enough. Also, one very blurry shot of the two of you embracing on your doorstep. It’s taken with a very long lens, of course, and it’s hard to make out exactly who it is. That on its own wouldn’t be anything to worry about. But someone’s been talking to the Mail, claiming they talked to a source close to you both. They’re saying you and Ashleigh are involved. That the relationship with Dexter was orchestrated from the start.”

Victoria’s stomach lurched. She thought of the handful of mornings Ash had left her place. It’d mostly been early. On a couple of her days off, she’d donned a beanie and gone for a run, before returning for breakfast.

“Can we get an injunction?”

“Too late. The gossip sites are already having a field day. Especially after you showed up at the Ravens game today. I think that’s what sparked the tabloids deciding to run with the piece and the shots. People are putting two and two together.”

Victoria closed her eyes. She hadn’t thought it all through, had she? Michael’s words about three strikes and you’re out came back to her.

“I have to ask, Ma’am. Is there truth to these rumours? Just so we know how to deal with them? Because the photos could be taken that you’re friends, but the optics don’t look good.”

Victoria almost snarled. How was she meant to answer that? And how dare her press secretary ask it so quickly. Yes, she needed to know, but not right now .

“I’ll call you back,” Victoria managed, ending the call.

Tanya let out a breath she’d clearly been holding. “Bad news?”

Victoria filled her in.

She turned to Tanya, her cheeks ashen. “You haven’t said anything to anyone?” As soon as the words were out, she wanted to take them back.

“Goodness, no. I would never.” Tanya’s eyes were wide, honest. “Victoria, you know you can trust me.”

Victoria nodded. She did. Tanya had covered for her countless times, had turned a blind eye to late-night visits, had rearranged schedules to create those precious moments alone with Ash.

Her phone buzzed again: Faye.

“Sorry for the endless stream of bad news, Ma’am. Just to confirm, they’re running it,” her press secretary said without preamble. “The photos are already online. The story breaks properly tomorrow in the papers, but it’s spreading on social media. We need to get ahead of this.”

Victoria’s heart plunged through her body. She held the top of her nose between her thumb and index finger. She thought about Ash and the effect this would have on her. None of it was any good.

“What do we do?”

"Standard response. We deny any improper relationship. Say these are normal social interactions between friends. Ashleigh was at your residence for a charity planning meeting. It’s well known you’re supporting queer homelessness, and it’s a cause close to Ashleigh’s heart, too.”

Fuck. They were going to use that against Ash, weren’t they?

“She was also there to discuss FA stuff: very normal between the Lionesses captain and its patron. You get on. You’re friends. Which is why you had coffee when you accidentally met at the service station.” She paused. “Not that any of those details will come out unless we’re completely cornered. Less said, the better. You know the drill.”

Each lie felt like acid in Victoria’s throat, but she heard herself agreeing. What choice did she have? She thought of Ash again, how everything she touched seemed to turn to gold until Victoria came along. Including today’s match: Ash completely off her game, losing control, getting sent off. Was this what loving a royal did to people?

With trembling fingers, she opened her messages to Ash. Then she dropped her phone and put her head in her hands. What was she going to say? She had to tell the truth. That if Ash thought getting sent off was the worst thing that could happen this weekend, she better buckle up. But not in so many words.

I don’t know if you’ve seen the news, but someone has leaked us to the press. I don’t know who.

Maybe Victoria’s phone had been hacked? It wouldn’t be the first time. Maybe that tabloid reporter at the club last week had something to do with it. Or perhaps her brother…

No. She couldn’t go there.

Photos are already online. My press secretary, Faye, says we have to deny everything. I’m so sorry for dragging you into this mess.

She stared at the words she hadn’t sent. Somehow, after the week they’d endured, this felt make or break. Even thinking that cracked her heart a little.

I love you.

She pressed send.

It didn’t seem enough.

Ash would be travelling back on her bus right now, feeling terrible about letting her team down. She hoped someone on that bus put an arm around her when the news broke.

The notifications started flooding in before Ash could reply. Victoria’s thumb moved against her better judgement, opening the Daily Mail ’s website. The photos hit her like physical blows: moments she’d treasured turned tawdry by grainy long-lens cameras.

Ash leaving her house at 6am, hair mussed, her smile wide. Victoria remembered that morning: how they’d overslept, how Ash had kissed her goodbye with promises of seeing her the following week. Her heart had been so full of hope. The photographer’s lens made it look sordid, shameful.

Their ‘secret’ meeting at the Scottish cafe. Ash’s hand briefly touching Victoria’s back as they walked inside. Victoria had been so happy that morning: in love, getting a brief taste of normality.

She’d kidded herself, of course.

Her life could never be normal.

There was always a whirlwind ready to suck her in.

The Sun ’s headline turned her stomach: BEND IT LIKE WOODS: Princess Royal In Secret Lesbian Tryst!

The Daily Star ’s wasn’t much better: PALACE’S LESBIAN BOMBSHELL: Victoria’s Secret Lesbian Love Match!

She knew what her mother would say. “Do not click on these sites. It only ends in heartache.”

But today, Victoria simply couldn’t help it.

Her fingers scrolled through the comments, each one worse than the last.

No way the Princess is a lesbian. This Woods woman must have corrupted her.

Disgusting. What would her grandmother say?

Always knew that Woods was a dyke. Should never have let women’s football get so big.

The Dexter thing was obviously fake. He’s clearly a tooty fruity!

Abolish the monarchy. I always said they’re depraved. This proves it once and for all.

Victoria blinked back tears. No matter how much she thought she might be ready, she wasn’t. Plus, this wasn’t just about her, Ash and the monarchy. This was about Dexter and Sidney, too. She quickly messaged him.

It’s breaking. Just to let you know, your name is being dragged, too. Sorry. x

His reply was almost instant.

Saw it. Don’t worry about me. I'll survive the revelation that I'm not actually dating a princess, and am in fact, gay.

She’s meeting my parents on Tuesday. Perfect timing, right?

They say the thing you’ve been dreading is never as bad as you imagine.

I guess I’m about to find out. Thanks for being a sweetheart.

Of course. Anything for you.

Hours later, when the Palace gates closed behind her car, centuries of tradition pressed down like a physical force. Beyond these walls, the world spun forward; but here, time stood frozen, bound by rules etched in stone. An emergency meeting with her parents loomed ahead tomorrow, and she knew the conversation would be unlike any they’d had before.

Her phone lit up with a message from Ash.

Just saw everything. Coach took my phone after the red card to stop me doom-scrolling. I’m so sorry about today. About all of it. But I’m sorry you’re having to go through this, too. Not sure how this works now?

Victoria’s heart was like a tyre slowly losing air. What did that last sentence mean? This was exactly what she’d feared: Ash backing off.

Still want me to come Tuesday?

Victoria stared at the message. How Victoria had promised that her parents would love Ash once they got to know her. Things had just taken a different turn, but she could handle it.

Come. Didn’t we say we’d face it together? None of this changes how I feel about you. It just means that more people have an inkling. My thoughts haven’t altered: I’m tired of pretending.

The car stopped at the back entrance, because photographers had gathered at the main gates, their cameras dark in the night gloom. Her phone buzzed: her father’s private secretary requesting her presence in the King’s study first thing tomorrow morning.

A notification popped up. Another article, another set of photos. Victoria closed her eyes, remembering what it felt like today, watching Ash play, before everything fell apart. How proud she’d been, even when it was clear Ash wasn’t herself. Victoria still loved that Ash got on the field and gave it her all.

This afternoon, Victoria had visions of the pair of them walking out of a ground hand in hand within a few months.

Now, everything had been thrown in the air.

She clicked on to t he Daily Mail again. Mistake. She was on the front page. So was Ash.

This wasn’t just about her anymore. This was about Ash’s career, about the monarchy, about two worlds that were never supposed to collide.

To get to the other side, she had to go through it. They both did.

Even if it meant walking the whole way on a tightrope.