Page 90 of Scandal Queen

It seemed utterly ironic.

“I think I have to go in there, Bill. I can’t get into Christmas knowing this is hanging over my head.”

He nodded but didn’t say anything else.

“You think I’m crazy don’t you?”

“It’s not my place to have an opinion, Ma’am.”

I chuckled softly. “Well Oliver values your unsaid opinion.”

“That he does.”

Bill turned from the driver’s seat. “I think, and it is only my humble opinion, that you have enough going on at the moment. The family are leaving in a matter of hours for Christmas and you don’t want to be the underprepared one scurrying around trying to get everything together.”

I inclined my head. He had a very valid point. The King had overruled Christmas. We would all be going to Wales to support Bella.

I’d spoken up to say that I thought she should stay here with Janine and start rehab regardless of Christmas, but my efforts had been ignored.

I glanced up at the flats again.

Had my entire life been a journey back to this place? Maybe I’d never truly escaped.

My fingers slipped with sweat as I pulled on the handle to the car door. Bill made to move to get out, but I called out to stop him. “Don’t let anyone see you. It’s best I slip in and out as unseen as possible.”

If Oliver knew where I’d been, he’d be furious. He wanted to find out the test results first. He wanted to deal with the issue in a methodical and manageable manner. I knew what the crown wanted us to do. I swallowed hard at the thought.

But I couldn’t. This was Daisy. But more than that, it was another woman’s life.

“I’ve got my phone; I’ll ring if I need you.” I patted my bag and then pulled out the piece of paper Janine had given me with the address on.

Bloody address. Like I needed to be reminded where to go.

The stairwell still stunk, but not as bad as I remembered. Acrid and cloying, the lingering scent seemed to be more bleach than urine now.

On the top floor I paused. The external balcony, exposed to the chilled air, didn’t look like anyone had woken and walked along it yet. I turned and glanced down at the car, black but not that discreet, it parked in a curve of the road.

I couldn’t stay long.

I just needed to know.

With a heavy heart, I pulled my ring from my left hand and slipped it into the pocket of my coat. I’d promised not to take it off, but then I’d also promised we would do this the right way.

My knuckles seemed to make the door shake as I knocked. But then maybe that was my hand shaking. Definitely that.

My heart pounded.

What if this was all a lie?

What if this Jacob man wasn’t dead? What if this was a trap?

Too late, I realised all the many reasons why the royals lived behind layers and layers of protocols.

I’d been an idiot.

The rattle of a chain jingled from inside, but I couldn’t get my feet to move; couldn’t run away. The collision course was set, and I couldn’t get off the ride.

A greying head poked out from behind the door; a thin face, eyes quick and darting. With hair pulled back, and sallow cheeks, she looked like a ghost from my past.