Chapter 9: Daphne — Summary and Analysis
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Summary
The chapter opens in a private medical practice, where Daphne and Jefferson are waiting for an ultrasound. The appointment follows their live engagement interview with reporter Dave Dunleavy that morning, which was arranged to project a positive image for the monarchy while Queen Beatrice's recovery is still being kept quiet. During the interview, Jefferson's answer to a question about when he knew Daphne was “the one” is notably devoid of any mention of love, focusing instead on how long she has been a part of his life. Daphne is acutely aware of the public scrutiny she faces, with social media critics analyzing her every move and her family's scandal making her a target.
When Dr. Carlisle arrives, she begins the ultrasound but struggles to find a fetus. She calls in two other doctors to review the images, and the silence in the room grows heavy. Finally, Dr. Carlisle delivers the news: Daphne is not pregnant. She explains that the result could be due to a miscarriage or, more likely, because Daphne's low body weight has disrupted her menstrual cycle. For a brief moment, Jefferson's face shows unmistakable relief before he quickly masks it and comforts Daphne. He asks how she is feeling, and she feels a pang of regret, realizing she has traded away a piece of her integrity in this relationship.
After getting dressed, Daphne checks her phone and finds an anonymous email. The sender threatens to expose her secrets unless she breaks off the engagement. The message implies the sender knows her personally, and Daphne's mind races through her many deceptions: sleeping with Ethan, hurting Himari, selling photos to the paparazzi, sabotaging Nina and Jefferson, threatening Gabriella, and faking the pregnancy. Panicked, she tries to hide the phone from Jefferson but drops it, shattering the screen. She dismisses it as clumsiness, but the threat hangs over her as she realizes she could lose everything.
Key Events
- Daphne and Jefferson attend a private ultrasound appointment following their live engagement interview. - Dr. Carlisle is unable to find a fetus and brings in two other doctors to confirm the result. - Daphne is told she is not pregnant, with the cause possibly being a miscarriage or her low BMI. - Jefferson shows a brief flash of relief before comforting Daphne. - Daphne receives an anonymous blackmail email threatening to expose her secrets if she doesn't end the engagement. - Daphne drops and shatters her phone while trying to conceal the email from Jefferson.
Character Development
Daphne is at her most vulnerable in this chapter. Her carefully constructed facade begins to crack as she confronts the reality of her deception. The ultrasound scene strips away her control, and she is forced to perform grief for a pregnancy she knows was a lie. Her internal monologue reveals a deep sense of loss—not for a baby, but for the last shred of integrity in her relationship with Jefferson. The blackmail email intensifies her desperation, forcing her to confront the sheer number of secrets she has accumulated. Her panic is palpable, and her shattered phone becomes a symbol of her crumbling control.
Jefferson is portrayed as more mature than Daphne expected. His initial relief at the news is quickly suppressed, and he chooses to comfort Daphne rather than question her. His question, “How are you feeling?” is surprisingly vulnerable, showing a genuine concern that Daphne didn't anticipate. He is committed to his promise of marriage, even though the original reason for it—the pregnancy—is gone. This suggests a growth in his character, as he is no longer the impulsive boy Daphne assumed him to be.
Themes, Symbols, or Motifs
Deception and Its Cost: The chapter is a deep dive into the psychological toll of Daphne's lies. The ultrasound scene is a literal unmasking, where the truth is revealed in a sterile, clinical setting. Daphne's performance of sadness highlights the emotional labor required to maintain her facade.
Public Image and Scrutiny: Daphne's constant awareness of social media, body-language experts, and fashion critics underscores the theme of living under a microscope. Her fear of being photographed looking “pudgy” reveals the extreme lengths she goes to control her image.
The Fairy Tale Facade: The engagement interview is described as a carefully crafted piece of public relations, with the official proposal story being more romantic than the truth. This motif of the fairy tale is central to Daphne's entire existence; she must appear more royal than the royals themselves to maintain her place.
Blackmail and Secrets: The anonymous email introduces a new threat, turning Daphne's past actions into weapons against her. The list of her secrets—Ethan, Himari, the photos, Nina, Gabriella, the fake pregnancy—serves as a catalog of her moral compromises.
Why This Chapter Matters
This chapter is a turning point for Daphne's storyline. The revelation that she is not pregnant dismantles the central lie that has been driving her engagement to Jefferson. It forces her to confront the fragility of her position and the lengths she has gone to secure her future. The introduction of the blackmail email raises the stakes significantly, creating a new source of conflict that will likely drive the plot forward. It also deepens our understanding of Daphne's character, showing her not as a cold manipulator but as a deeply insecure young woman who has made terrible choices out of fear. The chapter sets up a major crisis that will test her relationship with Jefferson and her place in the royal family.
Study Questions and Answers
1. How does the ultrasound scene reveal the true nature of Daphne and Jefferson's relationship?
The scene strips away the romantic facade of their engagement. Daphne is forced to perform a reaction to news she already knew, while Jefferson's brief flash of relief reveals his own doubts. His decision to comfort her anyway shows his commitment to his promise, but the lack of love in his earlier interview answer suggests their relationship is built on obligation and shared history rather than genuine affection.
2. What does Daphne's reaction to the blackmail email reveal about her character?
Her immediate panic and mental list of her secrets show that she is fully aware of the moral compromises she has made. The fact that she can't identify which secret the sender is referring to highlights the depth of her deception. Her fear of losing everything suggests that her ambition is driven by a desperate need for security, not just a desire for power.
3. How does the chapter use the setting of the medical office to underscore the theme of deception?
The medical office is a place of truth and science, a stark contrast to the world of carefully crafted images and public relations that Daphne inhabits. The ultrasound machine, which is supposed to reveal life, instead exposes her lie. The sterile, clinical environment strips away her armor, leaving her vulnerable and exposed.