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‘Erik didn’t get sent away?’

‘Different roles, different education. He wasn’t the heir. I hate Domenico for the time I missed with her, so I feel for you on that.’ He turned to her. ‘I hate him for a lot of things, but if it hadn’t been your mother it would’ve been someone else. There were several someone elses before Mum even died as well as after—he just decided to marry Elisa.’

‘She wouldn’t have given him much choice. She was a masterful manipulator.’

‘Neither she nor you are the reason why I never went back to live at the palace.’

‘It’s him,’ she said softly. She had a really bad feeling about his father.

‘Always.’

She waited but he fell silent. He’d said she could tell him anything—and she’d just told him the source of her deepest heartache. But he didn’t do the same in return. She wished he would. She had assumed that he’d stayed away because of her and her mother—that they’d been the primary source of his unforgiving rage towards his father. Now she knew it started long before she’d even arrived in Montaurella and she worried about how bad it had been for him.

‘We both have parents who messed things up,’ he sighed. ‘It’s why I’m never going to be one.’

‘Yes.’ Her heart ached.

‘There’s been another development.’ He pressed his lips together. ‘A bad one.’

‘What?’

‘The upload of that second video was traced back to a palace computer.’

‘What?’

‘It would appear that Hugo sent the link to a media outlet, but his anonymous account wasn’t so anonymous.’

‘Hugo?’ She reeled. ‘He’s your father’s most trusted aide.’

‘I know.’

Sickened, she couldn’t comprehend what he was saying. Had the first video been pushed by Hugo as well? ‘Why would he want to embarrass me like that? What did I do?’

‘Nothing. You did nothing.’ Anger ignited in Alex’s eyes. ‘This isn’t your fault.’

‘No, I’m really just a puppet.’

Alex bent his head. ‘Apparently Domenico is appalled to discover that a trusted palace aide was complicit in slurring the name of one of the family. He would like to hold a ball at the palace to celebrate our wedding and put this distressing time behind us. He’s putting out a statement denouncing the online bullying.’ He closed the laptop. ‘It’s to smooth over the suspected tensions, defuse the intense public speculation, but you don’t have to go. We can refuse.’

She bit her lip, aching. ‘If we don’t go, I might never go back. There are people I didn’t say goodbye to—my colleagues, you know? Plus I could get some personal things from my room.’

He looked pained. ‘That can all be arranged regardless. You don’t have to been seen in public if you don’t want to. You don’t have to perform at another ball…just say the word and—’

‘What if I want to walk in there?’ Frustration burst within her. ‘What if I’m sick of doing what everyone else wants me to do? What if I want to dance with you and hope the sight sticks in his craw?’

He laughed abruptly. ‘You want that?’

‘Petty revenge? Absolutely.’ She really, truly did. ‘I want to show him we’re together in every way and don’t give a damn about what he or anyone else thinks of it.’

‘Why, Tilly.’ He pressed his hand over his heart in theatrical appreciation. ‘Are you saying you’re Team Alex?’

‘I’d be CEO of the Domenico Abdication Campaign if I could.’

The guy was a slime ball and aside from what he wanted her to do, she was certain he’d hurt Alex in several far worse ways.

‘You’re not possibly suggesting that I would make a better king? Playboy, cynical me?’

‘You’re fishing for compliments.’ She rolled her eyes but was secretly glad to see his amusement back.