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But what could Akil do? It wasn’t his secret to spill, his call to make.
Before he could think better of it, he tapped the call button on his dashboard and commanded his phone to call Arrosa. It rang several times before she picked up.
‘Akil, is everything okay?’
‘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 couldn’t quite tell what the Princess thought of her father’s command.
‘He’s told Clem the same thing, that her time here is up,’ he said grimly.
‘I guess we always knew it wasn’t for ever,’ Arrosa said, a shadow of unhappiness in her voice.
‘You certainly couldn’t keep this pretence up for ever. At some point people will want to see the Princess’s face,’ Akil said dryly. ‘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?’
There was a startled silence at the end of the phone. ‘What do you mean?’ she asked at last.
‘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,’ he said deliberately. ‘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.’
‘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.’
There was another long silence before she asked, ‘What do you want me to do?’
‘I’m going to go 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?’
‘If that’s what Clem wants, then yes. I will.’
‘Thank you, that’s all I needed.’
Akil said goodbye then hung up, and headed towards the castle, parking in his usual spot just outside parliament, and striding into the building, flashing his pass at every barrier and guard post until he’d reached the doorway that separated the royal apartments from the parliamentary building. There he was forced to halt and give his name to a footman and request a meeting with Zorien.
‘He’ll see me,’ he said with a certainty that made the footman look taken aback. Sure enough, the man was back within minutes.
‘He said to bring you straight in,’ he said in obvious surprise. ‘Follow me.’ He led Akil through several corridors until they finally reached the heavy oak door that barred the way to Zorien’s private office. The footman knocked and opened it, gesturing for Akil to go in.
The King stood at the window gazing out, turning as Akil walked towards him and made a swift bow. ‘I was wondering if I’d see you today,’ he said.
‘Your Majesty.’ He straightened. ‘I think you know why I’m here.’
Zorien gestured towards a chair. ‘Sit down, d’Ortiz. Brandy? No? You’re sure?’ He sat opposite Akil and sighed. ‘It’s for her own good, you know,’ he said. ‘For both their good.’
Akil made himself consider every word, use his politician’s diplomacy, not the righteous anger that rumbled through him. ‘Isn’t that their decision to make now? They’re not children any more, Your Majesty. They are women, strong women who have been through a great deal in different ways. They need each other, want to support each other as the sisters they are. It should be their choice where Clem lives and whether they see each other, not yours.’
‘So this is an intervention on their behalf? I think both my daughters are capable of speaking for themselves.’
‘So do I. But thanks to you they both think silence benefits the other. I don’t know if that is deliberate manipulation or an unfortunate misunderstanding, but while they both think they are doing what’s best for the other they are not going to challenge you. I, on the other hand, have no such scruples. Instead, I wanted to give you fair warning.’ Akil held the King’s gaze. ‘I love Clem, I want to make a life with her, and I don’t care whether you are happy for her to stay in Asturia or not. Butshecares and that matters to me.’
‘So you’re here for my blessing.’
