Hey, I just wanted to give you a heads-up that Molly asked if we can spend some more time one-on-one for a while. I think she needs some space. I’m going to be there for her for now but I want you to know I’m not mad at you, and I still consider you my friend. Is that okay?

I’m still staring at my phone in shock when the black square on my laptop screen bursts into video. Mum, Father, and William are gathered in a tight squeeze on the velvet cream couch in the drawing room. My mind is so blank, all I can do is drag my gaze up numbly and wait in silence for one of them to initiate the discussion they all so desperately wanted to have.

Father is the first to break. “Well, I suppose we should get into it,” he says. “There were many photos taken of you and Alfie today, Rose.”

What does “a while” mean, Danni? The week? A month? Is this a polite way to say “for the foreseeable future”?

“By that,” Mum jumps in, “he means there is going to be speculation. Rampant speculation.”

“Already has been,” William corrects, and Mum nods with a frown.

Of course, if Molly wants to pull away from me, it’s nobody’s fault but mine. And I can’t say it escaped my notice that Molly begrudged the fact that Danni and I have been growing close. I suppose she must feel as though her one escape only ended up tethering her tighter to me. And despite the fact that she doesn’t care about me anymore, I can’t help caring for her. I don’t want her to feel as though she has nobody, and if Danni intends to look after her, I can rest easy knowing she isn’t alone.

Father speaks now. “Of course, we discussed the possibility of a press embargo, but…”

Even though I understand why Danni may want space, that’s a different thing altogether from being fine with it. So, I won’t stop by her room to collect her for breakfast tomorrow morning? She won’t be by my side at meals, or walking with me to lessons, or popping by to watch a movie? I feel as though I’m plummeting in place.

“Frankly,” says William, “I believe speculation along these lines is a far preferable story to the headlines we’ve been seeing for the past several months. So, I have advised against it.”

It seems ridiculous to care so much about losing Danni from my life when she only entered it so recently.

“You see,” Mum says, “Alfie has a wonderful reputation.”

But I do care.

“Pristine,” William agrees. “He even managed to avoid getting in the photos during the Amsterdam debacle. And he’s a natural in the spotlight.”