Page 41 of Tabloid Princess

“WHAAAAT! NOOOOO!” I launched myself at the telly. “Noooooo. Noooo.”

My brain went into complete shutdown, my body convulsing with what could only have been shock.

“Oh shit.” Molly’s words were barely audible through the buzzing in my ears.

“What was that?” I turned on my knees to face her.

She scrunched her face, choosing her words carefully. “That looked like the future King of England playing with your hair in front of the whole world.”

The pounding boom in my chest made it almost impossible to breathe.

“Listen, don’t worry. It will be forgotten about by tomorrow.” Molly said, but her expression didn’t match her words.

And that just about said it all.

Nine

The next morning it was gone eight before I stumbled into the kitchen. I’d only gone to bed at three, after watching endless news coverage on all sorts of gossip news television channels I hadn’t known existed.

By the time I’d finally admitted defeat and slunk to bed, the news about Prince Oliver’s mystery woman was worldwide.

I was worldwide.

There really couldn’t be anything worse.

I jumped in surprise to find Nana at the table, her hands wrapped around a black coffee. I grimaced at the tar-like drink and turned to make a milkier version of my own. There could only be one reason why she had arrived before school.

Daisy didn’t lift her eyes from her Disney book as she shovelled her cereal into her mouth. Dressed and with her hair brushed I knew I had Nana to thank.

I picked up my mug and turned for the table, sliding into the vacant seat. The kitchen was small and square. The little table Daisy and I ate our dinner at only had space for three chairs.

“We’ve got to go soon, sweetie.” I took a sip of my drink, not caring about it burning my tongue.

“Daisy, why don’t you go and brush your teeth while I get your mummy some breakfast?”

Daisy glanced up then, her wide gaze meeting mine. “Is your chest sore, Mummy?”

Hell, yes it was. A great big gaping hole of destruction had taken up residence there in the small hours of the morning.

My eyes filled with tears and I palmed them before the droplets could fall. “I’m fine, Daisy. Just tired. Does your chest hurt?”

She shook her head, her smile bright. “Not today.”

“That’s good. That’s very good.”

She slipped out of her seat humming a tune from Frozen as she put her bowl in the sink. Nana and I watched her go in silence. As soon as she was gone Nana turned to me.

“Leia, oh my goodness.”

“I know it’s awful. So awful.”

“What?” She frowned; those wrinkles she was determined didn’t exist creasing across her forehead.

“All this crap. People saying I’m Prince Oliver’s new girlfriend.”

“I’m guessing you don’t want to see the papers.”

“Papers,” I whispered faintly. “It can’t have printed already. Why? Surely they would have asked his spokesperson or whatever he has.”