Before He Was Mine (Before Series, Book 2)

Done With Surprises

Will had gotten the idea from Emilia.

You've got to play it like he would.

The king had been threatening to expose Will's family to the public for over two years, and now Will was going to do the same. But he wasn't merely going to walk into Buckingham Palace and wave the letter incriminating Ernest in his face. No, he was going to do what the king would do.

Will pulled his friends into the hallway, away from the ears of his mother and Trevor. He then explained his plan before dictating everyone's roles. They all subsequently dispersed throughout the first floor of his home to figure out the details.

Lord Clemonte and Weston put their heads together in the parlor across the hall. They were trying to decide the most damning approach to expose the king: a tell-all about the monarch and his flirtation with treason. Lord Clemonte had the power to publish the article if it came to that, and Weston had the words to make it ruinous.

Lady Humphries was in the same room but sitting near the fire as it roared in its grate. Her head was bent in concentration over a piece of parchment as she tried to put her own spin on the story for Mischief in Mayfair. Will enjoyed watching Madame Mischief in her natural element, hard at work as she influenced the ton's sensations.

Occasionally, Will would peek through the door to see her leaning over to speak with Clemonte and Weston, and shortly after, he would usually hear their booming laughter float into the hallway.

Leo, on the other hand, was doing what Leo did best. Which was to say...very little of anything. But his presence was appreciated, and he continued to pop into the parlor to annoy the others as they attempted to work. Despite Leo's casual approach to life, he had a sharp mind in the ways of politics, and his input was valuable to Will.

Kingfield was not enjoying himself quite as much. He still sat in the corner of the study guarding Trevor. Only now, Will had added his mother to that jolly group as well.

Lady Trotten spent her time harassing Trevor, berating him for his failed operation in marrying Emilia. Not only that, but she was also irritated that he had come here afterward, thwarting her intentional efforts to arrive and persuade Will to leave Emilia alone.

Will wasn't sure what to do with the madwoman yet, but he did not want her messing up his plans with more of her meddling. She didn't seem pleased at the arrangement to sit in the corner, but she also didn't argue it overmuch.

Will reckoned that she was likely too afraid to cross Theo, who was now glaring violently at the two people responsible for his sister's ruin and misfortunes. Trevor had requested to leave but was denied. He eventually fell asleep, slumped over uncomfortably.

His mother, not one to stay quiet for long, kept trying to make conversation with the stony duke, only to be ignored. Well, at least she was neglected until she commented airily, "Have you met the new princess, Your Grace?"

Will jerked his head toward them, observing Theo's reaction as he turned sharply toward Will's mother. But Theo kept his silence.

"Well, I suppose she is not new, per se. But I have heard the most interesting things about her," his mother hummed, noting Theo's interest.

Theo did not take the bait.

"I heard you were also at Prince George's funeral, Your Grace. Did you hear what that man who shot the princess said?"

She waited until Theo bit out, "Yes."

"That she was a maid. Hiding from the king as a maid! I truly couldn't believe it, but then my friends told me that they believed it to be true."