Page 9

CHAPTER 9

“ O kay, you literally need to stand still and stop spinning out. You’re going to have to talk to her when you get there. I can make you look drop-dead gorgeous, but if you’re foaming at the mouth with nerves, I can’t do anything about that.”

Ash’s stylist, Luke, was on the other end of her call, saying all the right things. He was the kind of man whose perfectly sculpted eyebrows could start trends, end arguments, and make Ash question every life choice that had led to her own tragically inferior brow game.

“I know, I know.” She was on the balls of her feet, willing her brain to stop somersaulting like an Olympic gymnast. She wasn’t sure it was working. She closed her eyes, and tried to employ the breathing methods that had helped throughout her career. The reason she could take penalties under pressure. Block out everything else, and just focus on your breath. She sucked in a lung full of air, then exhaled. She repeated it five times.

It helped.

It always did.

She’d try to remember that for later.

“It’s a daytime gig? Did you ask if it was casual?”

Ash nodded. “I did. She said it was, and to bring a swimsuit.” She was trying not to think about that. “But are royals ever truly casual?” What did ‘casual’ mean in royal circles? No tiaras, but still possibly diamonds?

“Yes! This is out of the spotlight. They don’t always wear posh gear. Believe me, I know. I’ve dressed a few people going to more informal affairs with them in my time. Plus, she’s told you to bring your swimmers. I say go with the beige tailored shorts, a white vest and a short-sleeved shirt, and pair it with your Gucci loafers. Low-key, but sophisticated. Not trying too hard, but still gorgeous. It’s a barbecue, not a state banquet.”

Ash nodded. “Okay, that sounds good. What if I get there and everyone’s in evening wear?”

“Ashleigh. It’s going to be 35 degrees this afternoon. Everyone will be sweating or in the pool. If you want to impress, make sure you pack your skimpiest bikini. I think Princess Victoria will approve.”

Did everyone suspect something?

“What does that mean?”

“Just that she loves fashion. She’s a style icon. As are you. You can icon each other off.” He paused. On the other end of the line, she heard shouting, and Luke cleared his throat. “Are we done? Is my favourite client calm? Know what you’re wearing?”

“Yes.” Factually, she did. But she was going to doubt it until the moment she walked in the door. Was that because it was royalty, or because it was Victoria? Possibly a little of both.

“Remember to wear your chunky chain necklace, too. And your rings. They might be actual royalty, but you go there and slay like the queen you are.”

She hung up, and took another deep breath. When she looked up, Cam walked in the door, sarong on over her bikini. She gave Ash a wink.

“Shouldn’t you be getting ready?”

Ash nodded. “I just got off the phone to Luke, so I will now.”

Cam stood in front of her. “Your makeup looks good.” She leaned in close. “How you feeling?”

“Like I don’t know what I’m doing.”

Cam smiled. “It’s just a summer barbecue. You’ve been to them before.”

“You sure you don’t want to come with me?” Ash had offered, but Cam had turned her down. Her on-off not-girlfriend, Hayley, had said she might stop by today, and that was enough to keep Cam here. Plus, Ash would prefer to do this alone. If it was terrible, she’d have one drink, then leave.

Cam shook her head. “But if you need me to make an emergency call to get you out of there, just message me. I’ll have my phone glued to my side.”

“Thanks.” Ash grabbed the shorts from the wardrobe, and put them on. She discarded her bra, and searched for a new one. Having shared changing rooms and bedrooms with Cam since she was eight, nakedness was nothing new to either of them. When she had her tank top on, she walked over to their window and stared down at the other girls, lounging by the pool, oblivious.

“Nobody’s suspicious?” She turned to Cam.

“Why would they be? You said you’re going for a drink with a friend. They all think it’s a friend-friend . But they’re not speculating over who it might be. They’d be here for hours and never guess that.”

Ash sucked on the inside of her cheek as she tried and failed to find the clasp on her Tiffany necklace, one of her many new sponsors over the past year. “Be honest. Am I stupid to be going over there? Will I be out of my depth?” Yes, she and Victoria had a connection, but did that mean they had enough things in common to talk about for longer than ten minutes?

“I guess you’re going to find out.” Cam walked over, stood behind Ash and took the ends of the necklace in her hands. She did up the clasp, then turned her friend around until they were face to face. “What you need to remember is that you’re Ashleigh Woods. You had to work to get your name known. This lot just got born, and boom! They were famous. You’ve got as much right to be there as them. Perhaps more. Hold your head up high, work the barbecue, then come home and tell me all about it. And please get a photo with Astrid and Sofia. Put that on your TikTok, imagine how it would blow up!”

The villa was as grand as she’d expected of a royal property: sweeping crescent driveway, elegant pillars flanking the entrance, vast windows drinking in the Mediterranean sun. In her childhood, she and her mum had always wondered who lived in houses like this. Debra Woods would never believe where her daughter was standing right now.

Ash pressed her palm to her chest, willing her heartbeat to slow. She had a talent for complicating her life, and today was an outstanding example. What had started as a simple sunshine getaway had somehow morphed into royal roulette. She knocked on the gleaming white door and waited, exhaling slowly. When it swung open, it wasn’t staff behind it, but rather Dexter Matthews. Princess Victoria's boyfriend, whose face graced the tabloids weekly. He flashed her an easy grin and gestured her inside.

He was not in a tux, which Ash was thrilled about. Rather, he wore pink shorts, a baby blue T-shirt and flip-flops.

“Ashleigh Woods, it’s my honour.” He shook her hand, his smile genuine. “Absolute pleasure to meet you. I’m not a huge football fan, that’s Victoria’s department. But whenever we’re together and you’re playing, it’s always on. Lionesses or the Royal Ravens. I even understood the offside rule by the end of the Euros, which I’m particularly proud of, being a gay—” He stopped, eyes wide. Twitched. “Gaaaaymer,” he said, almost shouting the word, “who truth be told is not really into sports. But I’ve kinda turned a corner with women’s sports.”

Ash stared at Dexter, his cheeks flushing red. Had he just nearly said what she thought he had? Her gaydar blared so loud, it almost deafened her. It would explain Victoria’s comments about them last night. Also, her telling Ash she wasn’t just an ally.

However, she pushed down those thoughts, because if any of that were true, her brain would scramble.

She was here to have a good time, eat a royal burger, and hang out with queer royalty.

And Princess Victoria.

Or were they one and the same?

Dexter cleared his throat. “You look gorgeous, by the way.” He furrowed his brow. “Fit. Athletic.”

Was he always this clumsy with words, or was he just flustered?

“You’ll fit right in with the garden full of gorgeous women in the back garden. I swear, there’s no point going to a lesbian bar right now. All the lesbians within a 20-mile radius are in Astrid’s garden.” He winced. “And Victoria, obviously.”

Ash wasn’t sure what to say. Her mind whirled like a Christmas kaleidoscope.

“Follow me.”

Dexter guided her down a sunlit hallway and into a sprawling open-plan space where two chefs worked in focused silence, their white toques bobbing as they assembled an array of salads and sides. It was surreal, like walking through a movie set — except the aromas were real, and the marble countertops gleamed under the Spanish sun streaming through floor-to-ceiling windows.

The first thing she saw as she walked into the garden was Princess Astrid, her arm casually draped around her wife, Sofia.

Ash came to an abrupt halt.

She couldn’t quite believe she was this close to Astrid and Sofia. One of the only couples who made her override her TikTok ban and watch their videos. She’d seen them shopping at crazy expensive stores for a to-die-for sofa, and then watched them snuggle up on the sofa to watch a movie. She’d gone with them to choose their new puppy from a shelter. Seen them getting dressed for galas. They were royalty, but with a side order of normal.

When he realised she wasn’t following him, Dexter turned back. “Everything okay?”

To her left, a group of men clutched flutes of fizz and laughed uproariously. She didn’t recognise anyone in that group, but they looked like they had money and status. She could tell by the way they took up space in the world. But then she recalled Cam’s words: “You’ve got as much right to be there as they have.”

Ash gave him a tight grin. “Never better.”

She’d met royalty before. Mixed with different people at plenty of events since she got the England captaincy. She could do this. Even if her favourite people to mingle with were disadvantaged kids who wanted to play football. Give her those over a corporate function any day.

She followed Dexter to where Victoria stood. At least all the women were in summer dresses, shorts or skirts. No evening wear on show.

Thank you, Luke.

“Look who I found on the doorstep?”

A quick smile flashed across Victoria’s face when she saw Ash. Quickly followed by something else which Ash couldn’t quite place.

“You made it! I’m so glad you came.” Victoria reached out and stroked the top of Ash’s arm, before quickly pulling her hand away.

It was a weirdly intimate gesture. Over even before it had happened. However, as soon as it was over, Ash wanted it to happen again. She wasn’t used to being touched by people she didn’t know. In fact, she usually hated it. But with Victoria? Things were different.

“You found us okay?” Victoria clasped her hands in front of her, knuckles white.

She wore a pair of pale-green tailored shorts, a green-and-white-striped short-sleeve shirt, and white deck shoes. Interestingly, the collar of her shirt was up, and when Ash had walked up, she’d had a hand in her shorts pocket. Classic queer signs. Should Ash believe what she was seeing?

“Found it just fine.” She smiled towards Astrid and Sofia. “Gorgeous home you have.”

“Thank you, we like it.” Astrid held out a hand, and Ash tried not to be too starstruck. “I’m Astrid, and this is my wife, Sofia.”

Like she didn’t know who they were.

The whole world knew who they were.

However, when Ash took Sofia’s hand in hers, it was she who swooned. “I cannot tell you how thrilled I am to meet you!”

“We both are,” Astrid said, her gravelly voice so familiar, it was like chatting to an old friend. “We were supporting Sweden in the Euros, obviously, but once you knocked us out, we totally cheered you on. We love that you’re a fantastic athlete and also a queer role model. When Victoria told me she’d invited you, I was itching to meet you.”

“Stop it, you’re making Ash squirm,” Victoria stepped in. “Dex, can you get her a drink? There’s some champagne in the bucket.”

“On it,” Dexter said.

Ash waved away Victoria’s concerns. “It’s fine. I’m fans of you both, too. Your TikTok stuff is sensational. I’m addicted, as are most queer women I know.”

“You see!” Astrid told Sofia. “We’re global, baby! Sofia thinks we sometimes overshare. I told her there’s no such thing. We’re working royals. We’ve got brands to promote, and charities to support. Plus, I think it’s great that we can show what a healthy, normal, loving relationship we’ve got. Not everybody with such a platform can or does.”

She glanced at Victoria.

Ash saw it.

Something flashed across Victoria’s face, and then she stuck both hands in her pockets and stared at the floor. This was not the Victoria she saw every day in the papers in her fitted dresses and tailored jackets. This was the real Victoria. Still not quite relaxed. With friends who knew her enough to make comments like that.

“It’s up to us to be the ones at the front,” Astrid told Ash. “Not leading, just lighting the way.”

Dexter approached, a tray of champagne in his hand. “Are you talking about you being TikTok sluts again?”

“You’re just jealous. What you wouldn’t give to be a TikTok slut yourself. I know you, Dexter Matthews. Any excuse to put on some glitter and be over the top.”

“Now I just have to convince Vicky here to do the same.” He stopped at Victoria’s side and kissed her cheek. “Isn’t that right, darling?”

Victoria rolled her eyes, but smiled all the same. “My glitter days were short, sweet and happened when I was five,” she said. “My champagne days, though…”