“Your support following Florence’s party was especially helpful. Oh, by the way, it turns out some friends of yours were responsible for the photo leak. Speaking of consent, I’ve been thinking about our kiss. It’s funny to me you found it so strained in hindsight, because at the time, I thought you simply couldn’t tell I didn’t want to kiss you. You did it twice, after all. But I’ve had so many kisses since then, and now that I think about it, a wanted kiss feels absolutely nothing like a forced one. I’m not actually sure you were confused at all. Anyway, I digress. Edmund did mention to Danni that the video of her was put in a group chat he’s in with his Ashford friends. Of course, it’s impossible to know who sent it to the press from there. But, forgive me, I’m probably updating you on something you’re already well aware of. You were in that group chat, yes? Surely. With all your friends?”

“Rosie—”

“And now today. Once more, you’re here to put out the fire and rescue me. Although, do you think your mother would know who it was, exactly, in the alumni association that put on the pressure to expel Danni in the first place? I can’t think of anyone in there who would want to hurt Danni, but”—I wave a hand—“sometimes your enemies hide in plain sight.”

Alfie stopped smiling long ago. I wonder what he’s thinking. I wish I could draw it out of him by force, a scarf from a magician’s sleeve. It’s a shame, really. No matter what he says, there will never be a way for me to know again whether I can believe a word that passes his lips.

“I’m not your enemy,” he says. Truth or lie?

“You hurt me, and you hurt Danni. Repeatedly. And I don’t understand why,” I say.

“I’ve known you my whole life,” he says. “Rosie, I know you. And you are a wonderful person, but you are impulsive. And you have a laissez-faire approach to life whenever things are working out. You aren’t careful to keep it that way. Harriet found out about you and Danni, and people were discussing you online. More people would have found out if William wasn’t informed. So, I called him and made sure he knew, so he could help you. I only told the person whose job it was to look out for you.”

I swallow. “William … knew the tip came from you? He told me it came from Bramppath.”

“Well, the person who figured you and Danni out came from Bramppath, so it wasn’t a complete lie. But yes, I asked him not to tell you I looped him in, naturally. You wouldn’t have taken it well.”

“Wouldn’t I?” I ask dryly.