One for Cards

Chapter Seven

23/2/2020: Oh my gosh. I've been so bad at updating. I promise I'll try and make putting new chapters up a routine again; I really got into a groove with it with the Lockhart series but I've had so much trouble after my writing hiatus. Here's another two chapter drop, just to make up for lost time.

"PRINCE HASAN!"

Addie whirled around in relief: her father approached them with open arms. She hadn't been entirely sure of how she was handling the situation; nobody had told her how she should navigate her relationship with this man. Her country's relationship with his empire's, after all, was strained, and though she knew diplomacy was always important, she couldn't say if he was friend or foe. He betrayed nothing, offering only a smooth smile and maddeningly vague answers to every question she posed. She managed to give him the same in return so far, but playing this game with him before she'd been briefed made her uneasy.

"Your Majesty," the dark-skinned prince greeted smilingly. "I was just extending my jubilations to your daughter on her coronation."

"I see," King James said. "I'm glad you're now acquainted. May I borrow Adelaide for a few moments?"

"But of course, Sir. I couldn't keep your own daughter from you." Hasan bowed deeply. "Save me a dance, Your Highness."

"Certainly." She smiled her Sunday best at him before letting the King lead her away.

"Father," she asked with a sweet smile meant only to mislead those watching, "did it not occur to you that I should know about a foreign prince after my hand in marriage?"

"I'm sorry, Adelaide," he said, deep lines running between his eyebrows. "I didn't know how to tell you."

"What bothers you about it, Father? The way I see it, I would just have liked to know that he was going to try and court me," she said, keeping her voice low. Although she didn't know why, she knew well enough that this wasn't something for the ton to hear. She didn't believe that her father was feigning the clear distress on his face.

"It's not that simple." King James shook his head and turned away from her. "I can't explain this here. Come with me."

She didn't need him to ask her twice, and followed as he left the ballroom. Their departure invited a few prying eyes, but neither of them really cared. When they arrived at the King's private study, neither sat.

"What's wrong?" she asked, leaning against a bookcase near the doorway.

"Hasan asked to take you as his wife," he answered, as he came to rest against his desk, propping himself up with his arms. His voice showed that he carried all the weight of the world on his shoulders; what he said, however, was no news to her, and she stood listening.

"But he expects you to marry into his family," he went on. "You would have to give your entire life up...your religion, this kingdom."

Her brow crumpled immediately. "Then I reject his offer."

"Therein lies the complication." His mouth thinned into a line. "He...threatened consequences if you should do that."

"Things are already tense between us and the Ottoman," she said, wary. "Surely you do not mean..."

"I'm sorry, Adelaide." He sighed.

"I thought you said it wouldn't come to that. That this was about money, that it always is."

"They want more from us than we should give. I could not – and I cannot – fulfil his conditions there... So he gave me an alternative."

"Couldn't we just come to another agreement? Surely if they could offer one alternative, they could offer another."

"No," he said. "I tried. The man is adamant, and he has his father's backing. The Sultan thinks that having you as his son's concubine would be good for—"