The Bastard (Darling #2) [complete]

Chapter Fourteen

A S  H E stood in front of the door to his father's study for the second time in forty-eight hours, he wasn't anxious like he was used to being. That time it was different, and it was because things were different. Things had finally begun to make sense for Louelle and Thatcher. He would not allow his determination to be overcome by the constant anxiety he had when he was around his father.

He wouldn't allow it. His life was finally in his control.

After the secret meeting held in the queen's quarters, he marched straight for the king's study. Louelle Clemens, the lady he loved since they were children, was to be wedded to him in less than a month. He wanted to make sure it would happen, and to do so, Thatcher needed to confront King James with the lies everyone had prepared.

They had come up with a solution for anything the king would counter with so he'd be ready to counteract. He was confident the king would believe him. It would take quite a bit of work, but he would do whatever it took to ensure his part of the plan didn't fail.

Thatcher couldn't fail. He refused to.

The hopefulness that had been brought to Louelle's irises was enough to fuel him with the strength he needed to falsely persuade his father. The light in her eyes appeared to be brighter and her shoulders fell as if she had released a heavy burden she'd been carrying. The smile she wore for the remainder of the meeting was bright enough to outshine the sun.

It was then he realized how unhappy she truly had been. She had voiced it to him on multiple occasions, which he attempted to reassure her, but she hadn't looked that elated since before the arrangement was announced. Louelle hadn't been herself and it was partially everyone else's fault.

They claimed if she was the "perfect" lady, their original plan would succeed. King James would have seen she would have been fit to be queen beside Thatcher. Although she had suppressed her true self and behaved the "proper" way, the king had still moved the arrangement along by declaring the crowned prince was to wed her sister.

Thatcher had emotionally neglected Louelle in that regard. She'd done as she was asked and in return, her entire world was flipped upside down and she was forced to be someone she was not. To make it up to her, he wanted nothing more than to see the defeated look on King James' face when Louelle walked down the aisle instead of Maryann.

"Prince Thatcher," Mister Albernathy called to gain his attention. His hand was gripped around the handle of the door to the king's study - an apprehensive expression knitted on his features.

In their plan, it was William Albernathy's duties to keep a watchful eye and an open ear on everything that was done and said around the castle. With his status as head guard in the castle, he was aware of which servants and guards they were able to trust. If for one moment the king showed any sign of suspicion, he'd alert the queen who in turn would alter their plan to turn the king off course.