Page 95 of Under Your Spell

Theo makes a sound of concern but I’m already dialling.

‘Clemmie?’ Serena sounds pissed.

‘Yes, hi, are you okay?’

She lets out a long breath. ‘Of course I’m okay. Are you okay?’

‘Er, yeah, I’m fine,’ I say and I look over at Theo, bemused. He shrugs. ‘I’m with Theo. It’s the wedding today.’

‘Oh my God,’ she says, dazed. ‘You don’t know? How do you not know?’

‘Know what?’ My heartbeat picks up. ‘What’s happened? Is everyone okay?’

There are a few clunking noises, the murmured sound of voices as Serena moves away from wherever she is. When her voice comes down the line it’s soft and gentle. That’s how I know something is really wrong.

‘Okay, Clemmie, don’t freak out,’ she says soothingly.

‘Don’t ever start a conversation that way!’ I exclaim. ‘Now I’m definitely freaking out.’

Serena makes a noise of exasperation and it makes me feel a bit better. ‘Look,’ she says, ‘it’s nothing to panic about, but there are some… pictures doing the rounds.’

‘Pictures?’ I’m totally lost now. ‘Pictures of what?’

‘Pictures of you and Theo. They got picked up online early this morning and it’s turning into a bit of a story. The PR people here were supposed to have been in touch with Theo about it already.’

‘Theo just woke up,’ I say, and I put the phone on speaker so that he can hear.

‘Okay, don’t need the details on that.’ Serena takes another deep breath; I think it’s some sort of calming breathing exercise, but it’s making me want to scream. ‘It’s good that I got hold of you. We think there might be some paps waiting outside the hotel and we’re a little worried some of them may try and sneak in with the guests.’

‘Paps?’ I repeat, bemused. ‘You mean paparazzi? Here? At the wedding?’

I glance over at Theo and his hands have fisted the bedsheets.

‘Yes,’ Serena says, ‘because of you and Theo. The pictures.’

‘Right,’ I say slowly, trying to sound calm for Theo’s sake. ‘I mean I suppose they were going to find out about us some time but I didn’t think they’d come here…’ I trail off.

‘There must be some other reason for them to be here,’ Theo says, his voice rough. ‘They wouldn’t bother if it was something innocuous. This isn’t a celebrity wedding. What aren’t you saying, Serena?’

‘It’s not just you two being together.’ Serena’s voice has gone soft again, and I know I’m going to hate whatever comes next. ‘It’s the pictures, they’re pretty… errr… salacious.’

‘Salacious?’ I snort in disbelief. ‘I don’t think you’ve ever used that word in your life. What are you talking about?’

‘They’re extremely fucking horny, Clemmie!’ My sister snaps, the thread of patience she’s been clinging on to clearly frayed right through.

Theo almost falls off the bed.

‘What do you mean?’ I croak.

‘Just… make sure you talk to hotel security right away. I’m stuck in meetings here, but I’ll call back as soon as I can. And tell Theo he needs to answer the fucking phone. It’s all going to be fine, okay? I promise.’ She hangs up then, but the anxiety in her voice leaves an icy feeling spreading through my chest.

As soon as the call disconnects, I type Theo’s name into the browser on my phone and the articles pop up immediately.

THEO ELIOTT AND RIPP’S DAUGHTER CAUGHT IN STEAMY CLINCH, the first headline screams. I click through and there are the pictures.

‘Oh my God,’ I whisper, feeling all the blood drain from my face.

‘What is it?’ Theo asks, his voice tight. He leans over to look at my phone.