A takeover. Not a merger. Not Viking ships with warriors who will rape and pillage and kill but a treaty and if that can’t be agreed then something else will.
“Albaneeds protection. It can’t achieve that from England – look at what the last millennia has brought. Look at what it did to our mother. Has Blair, as you know her, said anything about following her brother’s ideals?”
Blair has said nothing. She’s thought a lot. She’s fucked a lot. She hasn’t mentioned Isaac since. Neither of us have. I’ve ignored his texts and his calls, just responding to his emails that are all officially sent on behalf of the Prime Minister.
The Prime Minister who now has even more reason to want to woo her.
“She isn’t political.”
“Everyone’s political to one degree or another. Will she abdicate?”
“It’s a possibility.” Majken isn’t going to sell this news to a paper. Courting the media has never been in her business plan.
“Which of her cousins is she closest to?” She’s clutching the coffee cup with both hands now and this idea is probably causing her more excitement than any of her current lovers.
“Neither. They see each other at family occasions, like funerals. At the moment she’s preoccupied with that.”
Majjie sighs. “Ben, I need more. We risk the country that took you in – that you fought for – going back into the hands of the place that killed our mother. Where do your loyalties lie? We talked about this before you accepted the job, that you were going to find it hard to separate what we’re doing with your feelings for Isobel…”
“Blair.”
She glares. “Really, Ben?”
“I’m close to her. That was what you wanted – remember?”
“I want you to do your job.”
I shake my head, slowly. “I’m no one’s bitch. You know that.”
“Not like you used to be.”
That makes me laugh because she still thinks I’m going to react to a hint about my past, one she left me in. “Not like I used to be.”
The colour and shine leave her face.
“Ben, I need info. If I don’t go back with something, they’ll think I’m lying to them to protect you.” She grasps my forearm.
“Tell them Blair has no interest in Goldsmith and that’s the absolute truth. The chances of any alliance between her and him are slim.”
She stands and nods. “Thank you. That will do for now. I have to…”
I don’t finish her sentence withbe careful.I’m not entirely sure I’m bothered about my sister being careful.
She rolls her eyes and tuts, the sixteen-year-old Majken still there beneath the fake hair and fillers that have been done well enough for it to be almost unnoticeable. “Our aunt is in the home still. She’d like a visit from you. She asks every time I see you.”
“She can go fuck herself.”
Majjie smiles because she’s finally got a rise but I don’t care. My sister always has a cause and it never loses, not when she’s behind it.
“We’re all fucked up, Ben. Sometimes it’s best we fight what fucked us in the first place. Just remember – you’re no one’sbitch.”
A woman sat behind us coughs at her language. Majjie turns round and apologises. Then bends down to whisper in my ear.
“Don’t kid yourself that you love this woman. She’s not the girl you thought she was and she’ll screw you over like every other fucking woman until she’s got what she’s wanted. Remember that.”
“Does every other fucking woman include our mother?”
Her face darkens and I doubt that she’s in any danger at all if she doesn’t go back to Norway with some snack of information.
