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“The Army of the British Republic,” I say. “The group behind the bombing.”
“No. No, of course not,” she says, a note of panic in her voice now. “I was just—I was only supposed to give him gossip, that’s all. For the Regal Record. He and Jasper started it, and he runs it now, and sometimes he has me write bits, but I swear, it’s all him—”
“It’s him?” says Maisie, still sputtering. “All that rubbish—it’s him?”
Rosie nods wretchedly. “I’m sorry, Maisie. I wanted to tell you, but—”
“It’s not important,” I say, and the three of them look at me like I’ve proclaimed marmite and ham to be the best sandwich combination on the planet. “Not right now, anyway. We need to prove that he’s connected to the ABR. Rosie, you’re positive he’s never mentioned it? Even in passing?”
“Yes,” she whispers, so faintly I can barely hear her. “I swear, I had no idea. I would’ve never…I would’ve never.”
“Yet you did,” says Maisie bitterly. “And now you have to find a way to live with that.”
Rosie stares at her for a long moment before dissolving into tears yet again. I sigh inwardly, but her emotional well-being is the least of our problems right now.
“Ben is being extraordinarily careful to ensure that none of this can be traced back to him,” says Kit as he tucks away his mobile. “The burner phones, being out of the country during the attacks…and if he’s using blackmail to get what he wants…”
“Then anyone could be caught in his web,” says Maisie, still glaring at Rosie. “Even the people we trust most. And unless we catch them in the act, then it’s highly unlikely anyone working for him will come forward of their own accord. Especially with treason on the line.”
“Treason?” says Rosie, anguished, and she’s crying so hard now that I think she might drown in her own tears.
“But the ABR is different—they have their own agenda,” says Kit, ignoring her. “It’s possible he’s using them, and they’re happy to be used, so long as they get what they want in the end.”
“Which, if you’ll recall, is the fall of the entire monarchy,” says Maisie. “How Ben thinks that will help his cause—”
“Wait,” I say suddenly. “I have an idea. Maisie—how far does your power extend?”
She squares her shoulders and raises her chin, as if just the thought of not getting her way is a challenge. “Significantly.”
“Good,” I say. “Because we’re going to need it.”
CHAPTER THIRTY-SIX
“Henrietta, with the news of a fire breaking out at Windsor Castle this morning, it’s time to ask ourselves the obvious question—is our royal family under attack?”
“After the shooting at Sandringham, the bombing of the Modern Music Museum, and now reports of a fire intentionally set in the private apartments of Windsor, I’m afraid there’s little room for doubt anymore. Our royal family—our monarchy—our country is under attack from the so-called Army of the British Republic.”
“For our viewers who may have missed our breaking news bulletin just minutes ago, the ABR has released another video taking credit for the fire and yet again thanking Evangeline Bright for the role she played. What do you make of this? With so much suspicion now being cast on His Majesty’s illegitimate daughter, why has she been allowed to remain on royal grounds?”
“Well, the answer’s clear, isn’t it? The palace doesn’t believe the accusations have any merit.”
“And yet the ABR insists she was the one who started the fire. Who are we supposed to believe?”
“There are those who will jump to the very worst conclusions without a second thought, of course, but I believe it is vital we all keep an open mind. Remember, Evangeline has only been in the country for seven months, and much of her time has been spent sheltered in Windsor Castle. How would she have made these connections? How would she have been radicalised so quickly?”
“We already know, of course. Lord Clarence, the nephew of Her Majesty the Queen and Evangeline’s rumoured boyfriend, also has proven ties to the group through his friendship with terrorist Aoife Marsh.”
“Perhaps, and perhaps I’m naive in thinking there’s more to the story. But something about this doesn’t add up for me. Evangeline was, after all, the alleged victim of the Christmas Eve hunting accident at Sandringham, which is now speculated to be the first of the ABR’s attacks on the royal family.”
“A hunting accident for which the ABR has never taken credit.”
“A point well made. But let’s put this all into perspective, shall we? What would the ABR gain by revealing such a well-placed member of their operation? And what would Evangeline gain by continuing to do their bidding after they revealed her supposed involvement in the bombing?”
“Perhaps she is being blackmailed.”
“The royal family employs some of the most highly trained and decorated security experts in the world. If anyone tried to blackmail a member of the royal family…well, let’s just say it wouldn’t end well for them.”
“Nor does it seem like this will end well for Evangeline. With calls for her arrest being made not only on social media, but by celebrities, international figures, and even members of Parliament, it is only a matter of time before the public loses their faith in the palace’s judgment.”
