Another ball, another day. They seemed to run together like a poorly made movie. Astoria had seen more of the world than she had ever dared to dream, and now that she had crossed a line with Joseph, he spent the long rides with her, pointing out everything he could.
The ladies in waiting were there, watching with silent eyes. No doubt they had been instructed to do so by the king and queen. There were to be no scandals to taint their marriage.
It wasn't like the two did much to warrant such blatant spying, but it gave Astoria a reason to be more reserved. Joseph still kissed her, he still let his hands linger on her longer than before, but eyes were watching, waiting for the mistake to be made.
"Where are we now?" Astoria asked as she glanced out the window.
"Somewhere in what used to be Kansas," Joseph replied.
She swore Gerard had said their bunker was in Kansas, but she wasn't sure. Hopefully they were all safe. Hopefully there were working on a way to bring her home.
"How many more balls?" she asked.
"Not many. Why?"
A princess wasn't allowed to say she was tired. She wasn't allowed to say she just wanted to go home. She wasn't allowed to be tired of smiling, of greeting people, of being cooped up in a car, or being watched like a hawk.
"I just want to be with you," she said just loud enough for the ladies in waiting to hear—let then tell the king and queen that.
"In just a month," Joseph promised. His fingers glided up her arm, making her shiver.
It had never crossed his mind that she was doing all of this for show. At first he had assumed as much, but to the royal family and their closest advisers, Astoria was nothing more that a pretty, little thing who would be the perfect arm piece for the future king. So as time wore on Joseph began treating her like such. Everyone did. And underestimating her was going to be their downfall.
*
Oli stood off to one side of the ballroom, occasionally glancing towards his boyfriend, but not making it painfully obvious. Many of the people he'd spent years with were now spending the night pretending they didn't know each other at all. It was hard for those like Austin who had caught sight of Alan. But at least no one was flirting with him. Unlike Josh, who was unintentionally catching everyone's eye that night.
A hand brushed across his back as the person behind him squeezed by, Oli noticed it was Jack, and he began making his way towards the royal family.
He paid his respects to the king and queen, being quickly brushed off for more important people. The crowned prince was the same, and the younger son was nowhere to be found. But Oli didn't pay it any mind. He turned to the next person standing there and smiled.
She was good at hiding her emotions, but Oli could still see the surprise in Astoria's eyes.
"Lady Victoria," he said with a proper bow.
Glancing around, she ensured no one was listening before she answered. "Lord Sykes."
He shook his head. "Would you care for a dance?"
"I'd be honored."
They made their way to the back of the floor near the long tables filled with small dishes of exotic foods and drinks. People were chatting loudly, a perfect place to not be overheard.
"How's Patrick? Did he make it?" she asked the moment she could.
"Fine. Pete's there too."
She sighed in relief.
"How're you? Are you okay?"
"As okay as I can be."
"The crowned prat better not be giving you a hard time."
Astoria smiled. "Not anymore."
Oli knew better than to ask, but he did anyway. "What did you do?"
"Besides making him think I love him, I used some of your best swear words to get my point across one day. I didn't think you mind."
"Taylor's going to kill you if she ever finds out. Patrick will too."
Astoria shrugged as if that idea really bothered her. "What's got you all dressed up acting like you don't know each other?"
"We wanted to crash."
"Seriously."
"Mind giving me a tour, my Lady?" he asked loudly as several people began recognizing them.
"Anything for the English monarchy."
And they were gone before anyone could get any closer.
The backyard was a monstrosity of flowers. Easy enough to get lost in, but not suspicious enough if the two were to be caught.
"I need you to do something for me. For us."
"What?"
It was hard enough watching everyone else in the rebellion act around her as if she wan't there. She knew she had a part to play and she knew they were hinging on that part, but she wanted to do something more. She didn't want to be the side dish to the main course. She wanted what she was born to have.
"Milo and Copeland are going to be joining you. Copeland will be taking the place of one of your ladies in waiting when one falls ill. A staged attack will be happening any minute, Milo will be assigned to protect you after you're found safe by Josh. But what we need you to do is very important.
"No one is sick. Doctor Ramsay discovered the way to reverse the serum that created people like the king and his army. You need to put this in his drinks. And every drink you come in contact with. It's not enough to cause a full on change like some of the serums, but over time it will. When you need more just tell Copeland or Milo.
"Everyone will be helping, but we need you because they're all wrapped around your finger and no one will question a drink coming from you."
"Okay."
A perfume bottle exchanged hands and suddenly there was a commotion from behind her.
"That'll be the attack. Josh will be here shortly. Don't leave."
And just like that, Oli was gone.
