Page 63 of The Princess Sister Swap

‘Papa,’ she breathed as she began to brush the mixture off her fingers. Even though he couldn’t see or hear her, it was as if she could sense his disapproval down the line.

‘I hope you’ve had a good break, Arrosa. I wish you’d been a little more discreet, but indiscretion seems to run in the family at the moment.’

Shamed heat flared up instantly. Of course he’d had her followed, she’d expected it. And yet she’d also allowed herself to forget it. Had her father’s spy followed her to Tresco? Had they watched her sitting with Jack on the beach? Flirting with him in the pub? Had they seen them the day after, wrapped around each other, unable to let go of each other’s hands as they explored the island? Reported on the kisses and the way they touched?

Of course they had. The thought filled her with revulsion.

‘Well, it doesn’t matter now, because I’m going to say to you exactly what I said to your sister. Holiday time is over, Arrosa. It’s time to come home.’

Her hands dropped to her sides, still sticky and covered with the flour and butter mixture. ‘No,’ she said to the phone, as if it weren’t a recorded message she was answering. ‘It’s too early, I’ve got another week.’

‘People are beginning to talk, Arrosa. Your sister’s absences from the palace with no explanation are beginning to be noticed. I need you back here doing your normal day-to-day duties to allay those suspicions. And you are allowing your personal life to become public. It just needs one person to recognise you in the background of one photo or video for the whole thing to blow sky-high. You are staying in one of the most photographed spots in the UK, the chances of you being spotted with this man you’re spending all your time with are too high.’

She had nothing to say. Of course, as usual, he was right.

‘Look...’ and suddenly he sounded kind and that was so out of character it felt worse than his usual hectoring tones ‘...I allowed the charade to go ahead because I understood that you needed a break. But you had your fun, and your sister’s had hers, and it’s time for you both to go home. Henri will be escorting your sister to Cornwall tonight and will collect you. I’ll see you tomorrow.’

The message came to an abrupt end. Mechanically, Arrosa carried on making the scones, but she couldn’t have said what ingredients she added. Instead, her mind repeated the inescapable facts. Her time was up. By this evening she would be back in Asturia and that would be it, her life prescribed and small and necessary. She’d known it was coming. She’d thought she was prepared.

Her phone pinged with a couple of follow-up messages from her father, arrangements for meetings over the next few days, but she ignored them, watching the scones turn the perfect shade of brown and pulling them out of the oven. They looked and smelled delicious, but she had no appetite, no sense of achievement.

The desolation overtook her as she sank onto a chair, eyes dry and sore. She wasn’t ready to go home, not yet. How could she be? She’d fallen in love and before she’d even had time to come to terms with what that meant she had to walk away.

Her phone rang again and this time after a few seconds’ hesitation she picked it up, noting Akil’s name on the screen. She summoned up her best princess persona.

‘Akil, is everything okay?’ She winced at the words. She knew Clem had grown increasingly close to Akil. She was unlikely to be looking forward to coming home either.

His voice was grim. ‘Not exactly. Have you spoken to your father?’

‘Funny you should ask that. He’s left me a voicemail and a couple of messages, telling me it’s time to come home.’

‘He’s told Clem the same thing, that her time here is up.’

‘I guess we always knew it wasn’t for ever,’ Arrosa said, unable to keep the unhappiness from her voice.

‘You certainly couldn’t keep this pretence up for ever. At some point people will want to see the Princess’s face. Clem needs to be able to leave the Palais without disguises and subterfuge. But that doesn’t mean that things should have to go back to the way they were. Don’t you agree?’

Agree? With what? ‘What do you mean?’

‘We’re about to begin a new era here in Asturia, spearheaded by you, Arrosa. Don’t you think it’s time for a new start in every way?’

‘Is this about Clem?’

‘I love her. And I think that she loves me, but she won’t stay here with me, she won’t put her happiness first, because your father has told her that if anyone finds out who she is the scandal would be too much for you and she loves you too much to be a burden to you.’

Of course he had said that.Of coursehe had. Zorien Artega, the arch manipulator. ‘But that’s not it at all, Akil. I would love everyone to know who she is, I am so proud of her, but how could I do that to her? Clem has never been the target of the press. She’s never been followed anywhere, she’s never been commented on, she’s never had her outfits dissected, her love life speculated on, her every expression misinterpreted until she had to learn to show no expression at all. She has a freedom that I can never have, and that freedom is the greatest gift I can give her. If anyone knew who she was, she’d lose that.’

‘I think that should be her decision, don’t you? Arrosa, don’t you see, you’re protecting her and she’s protecting you and the only people losing out are the two of you?’

‘And this is all altruistic on your part?’

‘I don’t deny that I would like her to stay in Asturia, that I would like to carry on seeing her, but this is beyond us, whatever we are. She is all alone, Arrosa. She is going back to Cornwall with no family, no one who really cares about her apart from you and me.’

Arrosa looked around the cosy cottage filled with memories. Akil was right. Clem’s future had stuttered to a halt the day her mother was diagnosed. She had friends, many of them, but her family—and the man who loved her—were hundreds of miles away. ‘What do you want me to do?’

‘I’m going to go and see your father to tell him that I think he should come out and acknowledge her if that’s what she wants. And then I am going to see if I can persuade your stubborn sister to give us a chance. I just need to know: will you back me up or not?’

Arrosa didn’t hesitate. ‘If that’s what Clem wants, then yes. I will.’

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