William’s reply is cold. “Perhaps if I’d had more notice, it wouldn’t be necessary, but at present we need a louder story to distract from the speculation. It gives them a bone to chew on for a while, and hopefully this online nonsense will die down sooner rather than later.”

My head is reeling. “An engagement,” I repeat. “Do my parents know this plan?”

“Your parents know, as you should, that a white lie is both necessary and sufficient in situations like this. It’s inconsequential to you; all you need to do is ignore it. If an engagement doesn’t eventuate, people will simply assume the source was ill-informed.”

“If one doesn’t eventuate?” I laugh. “I’m seventeen, William.”

“When, then, Rose. Please, let’s not focus on semantics while I’m using quite a lot of my brain space to douse out a fire you started. When will you learn some self-control?”

I hardly know how to reply. “Is there anything I can do for now?” I ask, stamping on my wounded feelings until they flatten.

“Yes. Stay away from cameras, for goodness’ sake. And keep your distance from Danni Blythe. At least until this dies down.”

I sit down hard on my bed, and I’m still sitting there half an hour later when Danni comes to visit.

“I’m even paranoid coming onto your floor now,” she complains in a hushed tone once she closes the door. “It feels like everyone’s monitoring us. I’m afraid to walk past someone on the stairs.”

We climb onto my bed, and she nestles into my arms as we lie side by side. “I spoke to William earlier,” I say. “He and my parents have already decided they believe the rumors. They’re telling the papers Alfie and I are going to be engaged soon.”

“Oh, joy.”

“Mmm.” I start stroking her upper arm, and she burrows closer to me. All I can smell is her body wash, and all I can feel is her warmth, and even with everything that’s going on, I’m already more relaxed now that I’m holding her.

“I’m afraid,” I tell her. “I’m scared that things are snowballing, and I don’t know how to rein it in. Even when I have the best of intentions, I always say or do the wrong thing. I fear I’m going to lose you, and we’ll both pay the price, and it will be my fault.”

“How is this your fault?”

“I’m too impulsive. I keep acting without thinking. I should’ve let Edmund help you when you fell. I know better.”