It was still summer and the air was warm and gentle, blowing in through the open windows in the breakfast hall with the thick scent of freshly cut grass and roses. It would have been easier to enjoy the blooming flowers and gardens were it not for the men in black jackets marring the landscape. There were two outside the Ivy Wood gate, and the noise of the new fence being installed felt like a drill through Lottie’s skull.

I just have to make it through the day, she reminded herself. Then we can form a real plan.

Everyone agreed they needed to meet in the secret study after class the next day to recap and discuss the meeting with Ellie’s parents. In the meantime it was Lottie’s job to persuade Ellie they needed to tell the others about Haru.

Lottie should have noticed something was wrong when they’d entered the Ivy breakfast hall to find their usual place by the window had been taken. It wasn’t until she had carried her porridge and jam over to where Ellie, Jamie and Percy were sitting that she noticed the hundreds of eyes pointing at her like daggers. Hands covered whispers and giggles that made her feel self-conscious. When the rumour had spread that she was the undercover princess of Maradova – the rumour that had led to her becoming a Portman – she’d become used to people staring. But this was different. It felt angry and cruel.

She was just about to take her seat when it happened. Marcy something-or-other, a girl from her year with short red hair who’d always seemed perfectly nice, approached. Lottie could smell a sweet scent like baby powder.

‘Thanks for ruining everything, Your Highness,’ she hissed, and with no chance for Lottie to react she kicked her chair out of the way, causing Lottie to fall backwards, porridge spilling down the front of her purple tartan pinafore.

Ellie and Jamie were at her side in seconds, standing between Marcy and Lottie.

‘What’s your problem?’ Ellie growled, getting right up in the girl’s face, and Jamie put a hand on her shoulder.

‘I think it’s pretty obvious who the problem is.’ Marcy jutted her chin out at Lottie, still sprawled on the floor in shock. ‘This whole school would be better off if you’d just leave.’

For a second it looked like Ellie was getting ready to throw a punch, until Jamie yanked her back, and he towered above Marcy, looming over her in clear warning. ‘Go back to your table or I’ll drag you there by your ankles.’

Lottie could only watch, bewildered, as the Jamie she thought she knew transformed into someone angrier, someone threatening.

Marcy slowly blinked and then skittered away like a scared animal.