Next in Line by Vanessa Acton

Author:Vanessa Acton
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Darby Creek, Family & Relationships, Fantasy, Fiction, Hi/Lo, High Interest, High-low fiction, Humor, Reluctant Readers, Royalty, Royalty, Royal, Royals, Romance, Family, Families, Family, Next in Line, Next in Line, Vanessa Acton
Publisher: Lerner Publishing Group
Published: 2018-07-31T16:00:00+00:00

7

At two o’clock that afternoon, Carly stood in front of her grandmother’s grave. Her Royal Highness, Princess Isabelle Emilia Alexandra Valmont was engraved on the elaborate headstone. The grave next to it belonged to her uncle, Sir Walter Valmont. Visiting these graves was even stranger than the times her mom had taken her to visit her dad’s grave back in Ohio. At least she’d occasionally thought about her dad, imagined what he was like. She had no frame of reference at all for this dead grandmother and uncle.

“Can I ask how Arthur’s dad died?” Carly said to Lord G, who stood beside her. She pointed to Sir Walter’s headstone.

“Car accident,” said Lord G grimly. “Walter was a walking stereotype to the very end. Much like his son.”

The words hit Carly like a bucketful of ice. How can he talk about his own son that way? “What does that mean?”

Something over by the cemetery gate caught Lord G’s attention. “It means you’d better look serious and somewhat grief-stricken because the photographers are here.”

Carly whipped her head around to follow his gaze.

“Don’t look at them,” Lord G said irritably. “That defeats the purpose. Just carry on as you were before. You were doing very well.”

Carly glared at him. “I wasn’t pretending.”

“Even better. Carry on with that. It’ll be good for the public to see you paying your respects.”

It boggled Carly’s mind that Lord G seemed so comfortable with the paparazzi intruding on this private moment. More than that: he’d invited them. And he seemed to think it was Carly’s job to perform for them.

Carly stepped to one side so that Seton blocked her from the photographers’ view.

“None of that,” said Lord G. “Seton, give us some space.”

“You’re supposed to protect me,” Carly hissed at Seton.

“Protect you from actual threats to your life,” said Seton. “Not from your life itself, your highness.”

Her bodyguard retreated to a spot about twenty feet away from them.

This is ridiculous, Carly fumed silently. This whole day is ridiculous.

And it wasn’t even over yet.

***

The prime minister of Evonia smiled at Carly across yet another plate of scones. Carly felt like she had eaten at least thirty scones today. She picked up another one.

“How lovely that you’re finally seeing Evonia,” said Prime Minister Clement. “And are you in finishing school?”

“Am I—finishing school? Yeah, I’ll be starting my senior year in September—”

“No, dear,” Lord G cut in. “Finishing school is a type of boarding school for young ladies. You’re attending a public school in the United States, yes?”

“Oh. Yes. Not a boarding school, no. But it’s a good school. I mean, my teachers say I have a good chance of getting into a top college.”

The prime minister looked intrigued. “You plan to go to university? That’s interesting. Most of the Valmonts don’t. Do you know what you plan to study?”

The honest answer was no. She hadn’t settled on anything, had been too torn by everyone else’s different expectations for her. But when she opened her mouth, she realized a different answer was on the tip of her tongue.

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