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He nodded. “I appreciate that, Alexandra.”
He disappeared into the darkness, heading back to the palace. I wanted him to say yes unequivocally. I hoped he would, anyway. I wanted to know if I would be free soon. I longed to tell my sisters the good news, but it would have to wait. I had to trust that Rick wasn’t the big asshole I assumed he was in the beginning.
Ten
Rick
Iwent to bed thinking Alexandra lost her marbles, but she made more sense with time and context. Her grandmother was vile, yes. But was she as bad as Alexandra made me believe? Alexandra wanted freedom, but why tie herself to me? If she made things up, what did she gain? I gathered she did not want me in a romantic sense—at least not yet—so she wasn’t here to trap me. She didn’t seem like that kind of girl. I mulled it over. The more I laced the threads, the more I believed her.
My father called me at half past six.
“Rikard, we need to talk.”
Never a good sign.
I sat up, cradling my phone against my ear. “What?”
“That bastard who blackmailed me wasn’t supposed to go to the press. Now, he’s gone to the press.”
“Who? What?”
“The woman’s husband.”
I snapped out of my stupor. “He went to the press?”
“He did. They want a comment. Rick, it is only a matter of time before this blows up. I cannot hold them off forever. No more pay-outs—I told you.”
“Give me a few hours,” I said.
“A few hours for what?”
“I have an idea.”
I did not have an idea. I had no idea. However, I needed to buy time.
“I will call you back at noon and we will… well, I don’t know what we will do.”
His voice wasn’t angry. It was frightening. My blood ran cold. A scandal of this magnitude could permanently end the institution. My father wasn’t perfect, but he was a good man who cared about the future of Lundhavn and its people. I still loved her. I probably always would, but this was my family. Even I could admit that I loved them. And, even if I did not care for my father—I did—my poor mother deserved better than what I dealt her.
Panicked, I pulled on enough clothes to go out and walk in the garden. I went back to the stream and sat. I thought about the way that Alexandra’s baby sister had been playing in the stream the day before, I took my shoes off, rolled up my trousers and sat there with my feet in the cold water. I needed something to wake me up.
I dialled her. She answered.
“You cannot call me.”
“Bridget… please do not hang up.”
“This… we cannot… my settlement is at risk?—”
“I know. This is not personal. Or, rather, it’s not an attempt to get back together.”
“Oh,” she said. “Alright. What do you need?”
“Anders went to the press. And he’s telling everyone about it.”
“I cannot control what Anders does.”
“Bridget, it’s my family. I need your help. Please, if not for me just know that this will hurt my mother?—”
