Page 8

CHAPTER 8

“ W hat’s the deal with this woman, then? Do you like her? Because if so, this is a plot twist I can so get behind.”

Astrid sat on the edge of Victoria’s small sofa and squinted at her. Sunshine blazed into the bedroom, until Astrid got up and dropped the blind. A darkened hush fell over them.

“I like a lot of people.” It wasn’t a satisfactory answer, and Victoria knew it.

Her friend duly rolled her eyes. “You’re avoiding the question. What I’m saying is, you never invite people to our parties. We invite people to our parties.”

Had Victoria overstepped? Heat rushed up her. “I didn’t think you’d mind.” She shouldn’t have assumed. “I can message her—”

“I didn’t say it was wrong. I said it was unusual. Our barbecues are very informal, and we’re happy to host your friends, too.” Astrid paused. “Plus, this is not just anyone. This is someone you like, who also happens to be the England football captain.” She raised an eyebrow. “I can totally see the attraction. The way she wears that uniform—”

“Kit,” Victoria corrected.

Astrid waved a hand. “Whatever. She wears it well. I never really got what you liked about women’s sports until I watched the Euros, and then I was like, I get it!”

Victoria shook her head. “I watch women’s sports because they’re all highly talented athletes at the top of their game. If some of them happen to look pleasing while they do it, that’s an added bonus.” She rolled her eyes at her friend, who let out a hoot of laughter.

“An added bonus. Got it.” She walked over to Victoria and sat beside her on the sofa in the room’s bay window. “I think it’s a good thing, by the way. A step forward. That you’re acting on your feelings. Being out there. You haven’t dared to show anything in public since you’ve been officially with Dexter. What’s that been now?”

“Three years.” She didn’t need to check a calendar or a diary. The amount of time she’d been pretending to be straight and loved up in public because “it was about time she showed an appetite for it” (her mother’s words) felt like a lifetime. At least she and Dexter got on. Could hold hands. Understood it was mutually beneficial for them both. But all good things had an end point, and theirs was looming.

Was that why she’d been so bold with Ash? Maybe. Because Astrid was right. She never invited people to these events. Astrid always had a string of available women. Victoria was well aware some of them were dear friends, and Astrid always held out hope that one of them might stick. Thus far, they hadn’t.

One of them, Hermione, had nearly worked out. She’d been kind, gorgeous, and so patient. She was Danish, and from a solid background. Her family were open, honest, loving. They’d encouraged Victoria to be the same, but it wasn’t as easy when you had years of aristocracy and tradition to contend with. Hermione had stuck it out for nearly six months, but then she’d called it. Victoria had never given herself over fully, because she knew how it was going to end. How it always ended. Badly.

“If you do like her, she lives in the same country at least. That makes it easier.”

“Or harder.”

Astrid gave her a look. “You have more power over this situation than you think. You’re the heir to the throne. Flex your muscles with your mother. She’ll have to listen at some point. You’ve let her get away with what she wants. But what you want has to come into it, too.”

Victoria nodded. That was easier said than done.

“Get your father on your side. The King has been far too silent in this for my liking. Doesn’t he have any sway?”

She exhaled. “He always tells me that his role is to support her.”

“That’s true, but he can support you, too.”

Victoria knew she was right. She had to stand up for herself at some point. But just the thought of it made her chest contract. Standing up for herself had never been easy with her mother.

Astrid put an arm around Victoria’s shoulder and squeezed her tight. “You know my favourite thing about this, though?”

“Tell me.”

“You haven’t denied you like her, and you normally do. Which tells me everything I need to know.”

Victoria closed her eyes. “I don’t even know her.” But she wanted to. More than she would ever let on to Astrid. It’d been less than 24 hours since their balcony chat, and she was already nervous about seeing Ash again.

“Sometimes, you don’t need to. You just feel it here.” Astrid pressed her hand to her chest.

There hadn’t been a thunderbolt. But as soon as Victoria had laid eyes on Ash, there had been a connection. Victoria couldn’t say any more than that, and didn’t know why.

It scared her to death.

But also, excited her more than anything had in a very long time.