“There’s more across the street knocking on the Singhs’ door, and Mrs. Beasley is giving an interview in her yard right now,” Mom says.
Black spots fill my vision. “What about Naomi’s parents?”
“They’ve closed their curtains and locked the doors like we have,” Mom says.
“My DMs are already filled with news outlets asking for an interview.” Naomi’s voice sounds far away. My life is slipping so far out of my control I can’t remember how to breathe.
Theo stands, places his hands flat on the table, and gives everyone in his entourage a hard look before returning his gaze to mine. Those blue eyes always make the rest of the world fall away. I want to believe that we’ve survived worse than this, but something about the raw fury in his expression makes me doubt myself.
Maybe this is worse.
He takes a deep breath, his eyes never leaving mine. “What’s happening now is the tip of the iceberg, and because the Firm refuses to give you security in America…” His next words land in my chest like an atom bomb. “You need to come to London.”
CHAPTER9
DAYS UNTIL THE CORONATION:TEN
Brooke, Naomi, and Henry all speak at once, but I can’t hear anything except the blood rushing in my ears. “Stop!”
Everyone shuts up.
“For how long?” I ask.
“You owe her security!” Brooke jumps in. “The marriage certificate never would have leaked if you hadn’t taken it from her.”
“Arranging full-time security takes time that we don’t have and money that belongs to the British taxpayer,” Graves says coolly.
“Sell one of your castles,” Brooke snaps.
“For how long?” I ask again.
“A week should give us enough time to protect you while we deal with the press and the marriage… problem. It will also give His Majesty time to appeal for the funds to hire security on your behalf, if he chooses to do so. We do not wish to keep you in London against your wishes, and of course you are free to decline our offer, but the King feels very strongly about keeping you shielded from the media, and I must admit, I do believethe situation will be less than ideal if you return to Chicago on your own.”
“A week is cutting it awfully close to the coronation,” the man on the laptop warns.
“We need to deal with this story so that it doesn’tovershadowthe coronation,” the communications officer points out.
“Heaven forbid.” Henry rolls his eyes.
I turn my attention to my parents, both of whom are choking back tears. “What should I do? I don’t want to make your lives harder.”
“Don’t worry about us, Birdie. This is about doing what’s best for you,” Mom says.
“It sounds like you should go with them,” Dad agrees.
“Classes start next week,” I protest.
“Nothing happens in the first few days of freshman year. And you’re smart. Find the class syllabuses online and get started on your reading,” he says.
I’m painfully conscious of Theo’s eyes on me. This is all happening so fast; we haven’t even had a proper conversation, and now he’s asking me to get on a plane. My stubborn side wants to refuse, but something in my gut tells me I’d be stupid to ignore their warnings about the press.
Underneath the table, Theo’s foot nudges mine, sparking another painful memory of us together on a train in Italy, his foot bumping into mine while his finger traced idle circles on my knee. Could we have that again?Do I want that again?I don’t know, but the brief contact still has the power to leave me scatterbrained.
“If she decides to go to London, I’m going with her,” Brooke says.
“No,” Graves says flatly.
“There’s no point arguing with me. I’ve made my mind up, and I won’t let a foreign government take my sister hostage—”
