Desire sparks to life, flaring like a match lit in the dark.
“I don’t know what your brother sees in her,” Ava’s friend whines. I’ve met her once before — Harriet Something-or-Other Weatherbee,TheThird. A pretentious name for a pretentious girl. “Besides the obvious, I guess. He wants to be king. Even if his queen sooner belongs in a trash bin than on a throne.”
“Alden will be a great leader, no matter what position he holds.” Ava sounds smug. “I’ve warned him not to hitch his wagon to a horse destined to lose the race. She doesn’t have the stamina to succeed at anything. It’s only a matter of time before she burns out… and they seek someone more qualified to take her place.”
“One of the distant Lancaster relations, you mean? Someone of thevon Straussline?”
Even Ava’s laugh feels calculated. “Perhaps.”
“They’re quite far down the line of succession, aren’t they? Five or six generations removed from power… Is their claim to the throne even strong enough to make a proper play for the throne?”
“With the Sterling family bankrolling them, it could be.”
“Strong enough to beat Emilia’s claim, though?”
“Did you hear about that farce of a feminist agenda she unleashed in Parliament this afternoon? My father says the ministers want her gone. Out of power, before she can destroy our kingdom. Many members of the aristocracy already fear she does not share our values. With the right push, they could be persuaded to turn their backs on her completely.”
There’s so much confidence in Ava’s voice, I almost find myself believing her.
“In fact…” she continues. “The only ones who truly seem toenjoyEmilia Lancaster’s royal imposition are the common people — and everyone knows their opinions don’t matter. Not remotely. They have no real power.”
I press my eyes closed, trying to get a handle on the sudden rage thrumming through me, but it doesn’t help. I’m seeing red.
So this is their plan. To replace me with some remote relation who lacks even a modicum of leadership experience. To insert a puppet on the throne, whose strings will be easily manipulated by Sterling bank accounts and corrupt aristocrats.
“They live abroad now, right?” Harriet asks. “The distant Lancaster cousins?”
“They do.” Ava pauses. “But there are plans in place to rectify that situation. In fact, as we speak, we have allies laying the groundwork overseas. Trust me… Soon, we won’t have to call that freak of naturequeenever again.”
“Cheers to that!”
The clink of two champagne glasses is accompanied by a celebratory chorus of giggles. The sound is grating. My teeth sink into my bottom lip, containing the torrent of angry words I’d like nothing more than to unleash on Ava.
That’s exactly what she’d want, though, isn’t it? It would give her plenty of ammunition to lambaste me in the public eye.
Queen Emilia attacks fellow attendee at charity function! Read the victim’s tearful testimony on Page 12!
One more piece of condemning evidence to support their campaign to usurp me.
A few more minutes pass with them toasting to my downfall. They pick apart everything from my uninspired hairstyle to my totally tacky dress to the small bump in the arch of my nose I’ve always been just the slightest bit self-conscious about. I do my best to stay still, to keep my breaths steady, but it’s increasingly tough to pretend their words have no effect. Without Carter’s presence at my back, keeping me in check, my composure would’ve frayed completely by now.
“It’s so unfair,” Harriet drones, nasally as a tissue commercial. “You would’ve been the best queen. Ava. A total fashion trendsetter. If only Prince Henry hadn’t…”
“Become a vegetable?” Ava laughs coldly. “Yes, that was rather inconvenient. I do wish he would just expire already. But Mother says I can’t break the engagement while he’s lingering in a coma. Bad for the family image, apparently.”
“Shame,” Harriet murmurs. “Especially when you’ve already set your sights on someone else…”
“Mmm,” Ava hums. “Tonight it seems my efforts have gone to total waste, in that regard.”
“That waitress was full of shit. We should have her fired for lying to us.‘Why yes, Miss Weatherbee, I saw Lord Thorne heading out onto the terrace a few minutes ago.’What a deceitful little bitch!”
Carter sucks in a breath at the sound of his name.
“Where could he have gone?” Harriet continues. “He’s not out here, and we’ve checked everywhere else.”
“Lately he’s been… more elusive than usual. I haven’t seen him at any recent events. Even Alden says he’s been unable to get in touch with him.”
“I heard he’s living back at the castle. With…her.”